Chapter 7
Eleanor hadn’t tended to the wound on her arm last night, and now the blood had dried and crusted over. But when it was yanked sharply, the wound reopened, staining the sheets with fresh red.
Selene’s anger flared even more upon seeing the blood–soaked bedding.
“You got injured and didn’t even bother to take care of it. Are you trying to make it look like we’re not treating you well on purpose?”
Eleanor felt a wave of unjustness but knew any explanation would be futile; Selene’s stance
said it all.
At that moment, Kane entered the room, his expression serious.
He exchanged a glance with Selene, as if they had reached an unspoken agreement, and then turned to Eleanor. “Eleanor, we need to talk.”
“You shouldn’t have spread rumors about Lillian, saying she’s trying to steal your fiancé.”
“Now, to protect my reputation, she’s decided to marry just anyone. She said she doesn’t know how much time she has left and wants to be a bride before she dies.”
“But marriage isn’t a game; it’s a lifelong commitment! I can’t just hand her over to someone else without a second thought.”
“So, I’ve decided that in three days, the wedding will be between Lillian and me.”
Fearing Eleanor might misunderstand, he quickly added, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m only doing this to stabilize Lillian’s emotions. Once she’s calm, we’ll separate, and then you and I can be
together.”
“This marriage with her will just be on paper. Nothing will happen between us.”
The fragile thread in Eleanor’s heart finally snapped.
She finally understood why Lillian was doing all this.
Eleanor stared blankly at Kane, then at Selene, who remained unruffled. Her voice was barely above a whisper, like a breeze.
“So, you two have already decided this and are just here to inform me, right?”
Selene met Eleanor’s gaze, her eyes flickering, though her words remained firm.
“It’s because you pushed Lillian to this! We had no choice! If anyone’s to blame, it’s you!”
“Yes, it’s all my fault.” Eleanor forced a smile that looked more like a grimace than anything else. “My fault for being born into this family, my fault for hoping for any familial love.”
Selene’s lips twitched as if she wanted to say something, but Eleanor had already turned to Kane, her words sharp and deliberate.
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Chapter 7
“Kane, when did you start having feelings for Lillian?”
She needed to know before she could let go.
Kane reacted as if struck, his temper flaring. “What are you talking about? I told you, I’m doing. this for Lillian’s well–being!”
But Eleanor caught a glint of guilt in his eyes.
Her expression remained eerily calm.
“Kane, you said Lillian’s marriage isn’t a game. Is mine? Is my wedding something you can just toss aside?”
“You know how much I was looking forward to this day.”
She had even seen it as the end of her journey.
“In your eyes, Lillian is precious, untouchable. And me? Am I just a weed?”
But she was human too, and she could feel pain just like anyone else.
The sadness in Eleanor’s eyes was a deep chasm, threatening to swallow everything whole. Kane took a deep breath, unable to meet her gaze.
He softened his tone, “Ellie, I know this isn’t fair to you.”
“But you have to trust me. Once Lillian is stable, we’ll part ways. You are the one I want as my
wife.”
Eleanor, however, had closed her eyes, retreating under the covers.
She wanted to say that there was no future left for her.
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