Chapter 16 Where Are You Taking My Wife?
Secing Oscar, Renee finally broke into a smile through her tears. She quickly walked over to his side. “Oscar.
Oscar nodded and gracefully approached Eleanor. “Mrs. McKenzie, to prevent catching a cold, it’s best to change into dry clothes. Don’t worry, we will give you a proper explanation.”
He gestured to a server who had been standing by. The server respectfully walked up to Eleanor.
Oscar’s attitude was gentle. Eleanor glanced at her stained dress before following the server away.
After Eleanor left, Ethan wasn’t willing to let things go. He stood with his arms crossed, lazily eyeing Oscar. “So, how exactly are you going to explain this to her?”
“Ethan, for Uncle Richard’s sake, we shouldn’t make this a big deal.
He wanted to downplay the situation.
That outcome was exactly what Ethan expected.
His dad strongly upheld family values and always protected members of the Xander family.
As his dad often said, since they all bore the Xander name, they had to look out for each other, even those relatives who weren’t the brightest.
“I don’t care how you handle it, as long as Eleanor isn’t wronged,” Ethan stated firmly.
Oscar’s elegant face showed a hint of surprise. “This is the first time I’ve seen you stand up for a woman like this.”
“Oscar” Ethan leaned in mysteriously. “Don’t you think she’s different from other women?”
Different
Oscar lowered his gaze,/his thoughts drifting to the recent rumors about him and Gabriel.
He understood his brother well. It wasn’t how the news made it seem. He had originally planned to suppress the gossip, but Ethan had stopped him.
Ethan did it on purpose to protect that woman named Eleanor.
Under Ethan’s expectant gaze, Oscar teased lightly, “Aside from being pretty there’s nothing particularly special about her.”
Ethan let out a disappointed “Fine.”
As expected, only he, who had lived with their aunt for a while, still remembered what she looked like. The others had long forgotten.
“Ethan, you can play around however you like, but Gabriel’s woman is off–limits,” Oscar warned.
Ethan’s expression remained indifferent. He casually replied, “I see Eleanor as a little sister, nothing more.”
Oscar chuckled. “Sounds like something a playboy would say.”
“Think whatever you want.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “I’m going to check on her.”
Eleanor had been led to a nearby room, a dressing room filled with rows of exquisite clothing.
“This is Ms. Jolene’s dressing room, the maid explained as she guided Eleanor inside. “There are many unworn outfits here. Mr. Oscar said you may choose freely.”
As expected, all the clothes were brand new.
Ms. Jolene, the Xander family’s adopted daughter….
This was merely a dressing room, yet it housed so many expensive garments. It was clear how much the Xander family pampered their adopted daughter.
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Eleanor felt a twinge of envy.
“Ms. Weston, since Mr. Oscar has permitted it, please feel free to choose whatever you like. I’ll wait outside.” The maid assumed Eleanor hesitated out of politeness.
Once the maid stepped out, Eleanor’s gaze swept over the hanging clothes, immediately spotting a familiar dress.
It was identical to the one she was wearing.
She picked it up. Even the size was the same.
What a coincidence.
She pulled aside a curtain, intending to change, but then she saw someone.
A woman sat hunched over, her head buried in her arms.
Eleanor hesitated for a moment.
Suddenly, the woman lifted her head.
For a brief second, Eleanor was stunned.
The woman’s dark eyes were deep and clear, her delicate skin completely smooth, with no signs of wrinkles. Her features were stunning, refined. At a glance, one might mistake her for a celebrity.
The beautiful woman lunged toward her.
Eleanor instinctively stepped back, but the woman smiled warmly and called out, “Joanna! Joanna, come to me.”
Her eyes were bright, and her smile was kind and affectionate. Eleanor’s feet froze in place.
Then, the woman wrapped her arms around Eleanor’s neck, her voice soft as a whisper. “Joanna, how did you know I was here? You win this round of hide–and–seek.”
She reached out, gently patting Eleanor’s head..
A wave of warmth rippled through Eleanor’s heart.
She had already guessed the woman’s identity.
She was Hudson’s wife, Ethan’s mother, Adele.
And the Joanna she was calling for could only be the lost Xander daughter, Joanna.
Perhaps due to her mental condition, Adele remained carefree and was well taken care of. It was as if time had stopped for her at forty.
It was said that Adele came from a wealthy family. In her youth, she was a stunning beauty and had even played a supporting role in a famous TV drama, making her well–known across the country. If not for her family’s opposition forcing her to leave the entertainment industry, she could have easily become a legendary star.
As this gentle and beautiful woman embraced her, Eleanor felt warmth flowing into her desolate heart.
Having never experienced a mother’s love, her heart pounded violently. For a moment, she even imagined, what if she truly were her daughter.
Such a beautiful woman, blessed with an outstanding husband and son, had fallen ill before she could even enjoy a peaceful life. If she were really Adele’s daughter, she might be able to heal some of her pain.
Unfortunately, she was merely an abandoned child, not someone as fortunate as Joanna.
Forcing herself back to reality, she spoke.
“Madam Laura, I’m not Joanna. My name is Eleanor.”
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Adele frantically shook her head. “How could that be? You are my Joanna.”
Seeing her insist so stubbornly, Eleanor chose not to argue further.
She found a maid and entrusted Adele to her.
The maid was overjoyed upon seeing Adele. “Madam Adele! So this is where you were!”
She turned to Eleanor with gratitude. “Ms. Weston, thank you so much.”
“No need to thank me.” Eleanor had a good impression of this polite maid.
As the maid led Adele away, Adele looked back at her reluctantly. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Eleanor smiled and nodded. “Alright.”
The maid’s eyes widened in shock.
Since when did Madam Adele become so familiar with Ms. Weston?
After changing into fresh clothes, Eleanor stepped out and immediately spotted Ethan standing at the door.
“Why didn’t you change into something else?” Ethan gave her a once–over.
“This one is fine. It’s comfortable.”
Ethan nodded, his beautiful, fox–like eyes narrowing slightly.
It would take a week for the DNA test results to come out, and he was getting impatient. He had wanted his mom to meet Eleanor and observe her reaction, but then his mother had suddenly disappeared.
He had once seen a news story about a mentally ill mother who miraculously recovered after reuniting with her lost daughter.
He never believed in miracles, but the wait for an answer was unbearable, so he had wanted to give it a try.
just then, a maid ran over to Ethan. “Mr. Ethan, Mr. Hudson asks for you. Madam Adele has been found.”
Mom has been found?
Ethan’s eyes lit up. He immediately grabbed Eleanor’s hand. “Come on, I’m taking you somewhere.”
Before Eleanor could pull her hand away, Ethan led her straight into someone.
The man was dressed in a black shirt and suit pants, blending almost seamlessly into the darkness. Yet his tall, commanding figure and striking, chiseled features exuded a chilling aura, like a rose blooming in the dead of night, both mesmerizing and dangerous.
“Ethan, where do you think you’re taking my wife?”
His deep, dark eyes glowed with a faint trace of red, and his thin lips were pressed tightly together, suppressing his fury.
