Chapter 14 A Devoted Mother
The group of people were in a frantic panic, some even bursting into tears.
Seeing Eleanor standing there, they quickly approached and asked, “Miss, have you seen a woman in red, around forty or fifty years old?”
The one asking was a young girl, her eyes red, shoulders trembling. Eleanor couldn’t tell whether it was from worry or fear.
She shook her head.
The girl, still crying, ran off to continue searching elsewhere.
Eleanor recalled reading gossip news about Adele Parker, saying that ever since her daughter went missing, she had suffered mental issues and required constant care. She hadn’t expected such dramatic gossip to be true.
Adele was, in a way, pitiful.
There was no greate; pain in the world than losing a child. It was said that Adele had longed for a daughter and refused to stop giving birth until she had one. After three sons, she finally had a girl, only for the child to disappear before she could enjoy motherhood.
Thinking of this, Eleanor felt a dull ache in her chest.
She could only hope that this devoted mother wouldn’t come to any harm.
At the hospital, Gabriel slowly regained consciousness.
Sienna, who had been keeping watch, choked up with joy when she saw him wake. “Gabe, you’re awake!”
Gabriel’s first words were, “How is she?”
“Who?” Sienna didn’t react immediately..
“Eleanor.”
Feigning sudden realization, Sienna quickly said, “She’s fine. She insisted on being discharged… It seems she went to visit the Xander family to meet the parents.”
The words “meet the parents” made Gabriel press his lips into a tight line.
Sienna carefully observed his expression.
She had heard from a close friend at the Xander family banquet that Eleanor was attending as well.
Of course, she had added some embellishments to the story.
“Gabe, if she truly wants to be with Ethan, shouldn’t we give her our blessing?”
Blessing…
Gabriel sneered. His sharp jawline tensed with restrained anger.
He could give his blessing, but not to her and Ethan.
Seeing his irritation, Sienna quickly grasped his hand affectionately. “Madam Laura said she wants to see us married soon. The date at the beginning of next month is perfect. Gabe, will you marry me?”
Sienna was both nervous and expectant.
Gabe had once promised to take care of her. Now that he was divorced and Laura had given her approval, everything was falling into place. It was time to bring up marriage.
However, as she looked at him with hopeful eyes, Gabriel silently withdrew his hand.
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His deep gaze locked onto her, as if he could see straight into her soul.
“Gabe…” Sienna clenched the fabric of her dress nervously. “Don’t you want to make Madam Laura happy? She really wants to see us married.”
“Does she want you to marry Gabriel or Garrett?”
Sienna froze.
Her face turned white, then red, then black with shame.
“If we hold a wedding, will people call me Garrett or Gabriel? Aren’t you afraid of being exposed during the ceremony?” His voice was low and mocking, laced with cold sarcasm.
Sienna had long considered this issue. She forced a sweet smile. “We don’t have to hold a big wedding. Just a small gathering with close friends. As long as everything is arranged properly, Madam Laura won’t notice.”
Gabriel’s gaze darkened, his voice carrying an icy edge. “My mom already mistakes me for Garrett. Now you want to do the jsame?”
“No, Gabe, 1… Sienna panicked and stood up abruptly. “You know I’ve always loved you all these years. How could I ever see you as Garrett?”
Let’s put this matter aside for now.” Gabriel lowered his eyes. His gaze fell on the time displayed on his phone, and without thinking, he got out of bed.
“Gabe, don’t! The doctor said you need to rest!” Sienna hurried to stop him, her large eyes welling with tears, making her look pitiful and delicate.
Gabriel pursed his lips. When he looked down at his legs, he couldn’t help but recall the moment Eleanor had rushed into the fire to save him.
She must have said those words just to vent her frustration at me.
Touching the spot where she had grabbed him, a faint warmth spread through his chest.
Seeing Gabriel struggle to get up, Sienna’s tears finally fell, large droplets rolling down her cheeks like pearls.
She sobbed as she clung to him. “Are you going to find her?”
“Gabe, she didn’t even care about her own health just to see Ethan. Can’t you just stand by and do nothing?”
Stand by and do nothing
His back tensed, and his fingers clenched into fists.
He could let her go, he could wish her well, but he couldn’t just watch her walk into the fire.
The moment Eleanor rushed into the flames to save him, he had already lost the ability to stand by and do nothing.
Led by Ethan, Eleanor followed him into the villa within the estate.
This time, she wasn’t Mrs. McKenzie. She was just Eleanor.
“I’ll introduce you to my family in a bit.”
His family…
Something about that sounded off to Eleanor.
But she didn’t dwell on it, instead handing him the gift bag in her hand. “This is Mr. Hudson’s birthday present.”
Ethan took the bag and peeked inside, but the wrapping was tight, revealing nothing.
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He raised an eyebrow and smirked mischievously. “I’ll go get them. You can give it to him yourself.”
With that, he dashed off, his steps light and eager, as if he couldn’t wait.
Eleanor, on the other hand, grew nervous as she waited.
The Xander family was the wealthiest in the city, filthy rich, with assets ranking among the nation’s top.
She hadn’t expected Ethan to be so enthusiastic, let alone introduce her to his family.
She was just a small–time designer. It felt wrong to inconvenience the elders by having them meet her.
The more she thought about it, the more inappropriate it felt. She stood up, intending to chase after Ethan, only to bump
into someone head–on.
“Ouch!”
The woman wore a purple gown and had been walking quickly, not seeing Eleanor in her path.
Wine spilled.
The woman in purple sized Eleanor up. A face she didn’t recognize.
She frequently attended all sorts of banquets and had met countless wealthy ladies, there were few she didn’t know.
Seeing that Eleanor was beautiful but unfamiliar, she immediately assumed she came from no notable background, perhaps some internet celebrity who had managed to sneak in.
“You ruined my dress,” she said bluntly, pointing to a spot on her waist, her tone sharp. “Make sure to transfer the money after the banquet. It’s a haute couture piece, and shouldn’t be more than three hundred thousand.”
Eleanor glanced at her dress.
What a coincidence.
She had the exact same dress. But it wasn’t haute couture, it was an off–the–rack piece from a regular brand, released two years ago for just twenty thousand. Charging three hundred thousand was outright extortion.
And just now, it was clearly her who had bumped into Eleanor.
Eleanor’s lips curved into a stunning smile.
“Miss, if I’m not mistaken, you were the one who ran into me just now, weren’t you?”
“I ran into you? Are you blind?” The woman in purple suddenly exploded, rage twisting her face. She then flung the remaining wine in her glass at Eleanor’s dress. “If you can’t afford it, then enjoy this glass of red wine with me.”
Eleanor’s waist was wrapped tightly in a crimson dress, its curve just right, both elegant and alluring.
The red wine splashed against her, blooming like a deep–hued flower at her waist.
