Chapter 5 Is This What You Wanted?
Sienna’s tears fell in large drops. “Gabe, look, she’s always like this, hurting others and not even realizing it, always playing the innocent.”
Gabriel looked at Sienna’s wound, and as he thought about the news his assistant had given him, his brows furrowed deeply.
Sienna was the only daughter of the Sullivan family, and it was rumored that after the funeral, Eleanor’s words blaming Sienna had reached the ears of the Sullivan family members. They were preparing to sue Eleanor.
And this wound, most likely, would leave a scar. The Sullivan family wouldn’t let this go easily.
Thinking of the Sullivan family’s methods, Gabriel frowned.
He looked at Eleanor, his gaze coldening a little more. “Apologize.”
“What did you say?”
Apologize?
Eleanor couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “But she ran into it herself…”
“If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have run into the fish tank,” Gabriel’s eyes darkened, his tone cold as ice.
So, he’s seen it. If I don’t avoid it, am I just going to let Sienna hurt me?
This was blatant favoritism.
Eleanor’s heart trembled violently, her gaze slowly shifting toward him. For the first time, she found his handsome face unfamiliar and terrifying.
She stared at Gabriel as if looking at an executioner. “What if I don’t apologize?”
“Then you will never leave McKenzie Residence,” Gabriel said coldly, as if explaining something simple and ordinary.
There were two meanings to this statement. One was that she should forget about the divorce, her life would be miserable if she stayed. The other was that she would forever be targeted by the McKenzie family.
Oh, Gabriel, I never thought you could be this ruthless.
Eleanor felt like her heart had been torn open, a cold, sharp pain as if wind was rushing in with every breath.
The power of the McKenzie and Sullivan families was indeed something she couldn’t fight against.
After all, she was just a pathetic, helpless person to them.
Her eyes reddened, and she looked at Gabriel resolutely.
“Fine, I’ll apologize.”
She suddenly smiled. As she smiled, the tears streamed down.
“Sienna, I’m sorry.”
Grandma, I’m sorry. I’m powerless, causing your untimely death. Grandma, I’m sorry. I will get justice for you.
Each word of the apology felt like a steel blade stabbing through her body.
It was as though only such blunt pain could make her wake up.
Eleanor, you can’t cry! Don’t cry in front of these two scoundrels!
She bit her lip hard, facing the tears in her eyes.
Unable to stay any longer, she staggered as she turned to leave, but at that moment, someone walked in from outside.
“Ms. Weston.” It was the caregiver, dressed in work clothes, with a gentle expression.
“Didn’t you say she saw Sienna kill Margaret?” Gabriel’s voice came from behind, cold as a frozen lake, sharp enough to pierce the heart. “Then let’s confront her directly.”
What does this mean? Is he really willing to give Grandma justice?
Eleanor’s heart raced wildly.
“Do you believe her?” she asked Gabriel.
If he was willing to believe the caregiver, there might be a chance to get justice for Margaret.
Gabriel didn’t answer her, instead turning to ask the caregiver, “Did you say that Sienna caused Margaret’s death?”
The room fell silent, not even a pin drop could be heard.
Eleanor could hear her heart pounding, as if it would leap out of her chest.
She watched the caregiver, who was just as nervous, and gently reassured her, “Don’t be afraid, just repeat what you told me before.”
Encouraged, the caregiver took a deep breath, blushing as she said, “No, I never said that.”
Clunk. Eleanor’s heart sank to the bottom.
“You clearly said that after Sienna left, my grandma collapsed. Why are you changing your story now?”
“Ms. Weston, I never said that. There’s no change in my story.”
Sienna’s smugness, Gabriel’s indifference, and the caregiver’s words were like cold water, drenching her completely.
“Has someone threatened you?” Eleanor tried to maintain her composure.
The caregiver shook her head, looking miserable. “No one threatened me, Ms. Weston. Please don’t force me to accuse Ms. Sienna. I can’t betray my conscience. I can’t offend the Sullivan family. Please, spare me, Ms. Weston…”
The caregiver gave her a deep bow.
Eleanor suddenly felt cold, from her feet to her thighs, from her fingers to her shoulder blades, as if she had been frozen completely.
She stared at the caregiver until her eyes began to sting, but the caregiver only avoided her gaze, not saying another word.
It was clear the caregiver wasn’t going to tell the truth.
No wonder Sienna and Gabriel had the nerve to bring the caregiver in for a confrontation. They had already set up a trap, waiting for her to fall into it.
Eleanor looked at Gabriel, her eyes red. “Is this the result you wanted?”
The caregiver’s change of story had cost her another piece of evidence to accuse Sienna.
“You must have paid her a hefty sum to change her story.”
Eleanor’s words frightened the caregiver so much that her legs nearly gave way, almost causing her to kneel.
“Ms. Weston, you need to speak with conscience. I didn’t take any money. Please stop forcing me to falsely accuse Ms. Sienna.”
“Eleanor, are you planning to force a confession?” Sienna, trembling with anger, stood from the side.
Just then, Liam entered and quickly began treating Sienna and Gabriel’s wounds.
Eleanor knew that staying here would get her nowhere.
She looked at the caregiver, who wore a face free of guilt, and a vague suspicion began to form in her mind.
Money could make anything happen, especially when it came to a family as powerful as the Sullivan family, ranked among the top five in the city.
People naturally seek to flatter the powerful and avoid danger.
She didn’t blame the caregiver for choosing Sienna. She only blamed herself for being isolated, helpless, and incapable.
But no one stays at the bottom forever, and the Sullivan family won’t stay on top forever, either.
Eleanor suddenly straightened her back and walked out with steady steps.
Watching her leave, Sienna felt an unexpected sense of dread.
She suddenly recalled a saying, The most terrifying person is the one who has nothing left, because they have nothing to lose.
The sunlight outside was blinding. Even though it was early winter, the sun felt hotter than in summer.
Outside the villa, a flashy Lamborghini was parked.
“Eleanor!” The person in the car suddenly waved at her. When she didn’t respond, the person got out and walked toward her.
The newcomer had striking features, and diamond earrings glinted from his ears, making him hard to miss.
“Do you remember me?” he asked with a playful smile, as if afraid she might forget him. “I’m Ethan.”
Eleanor pursed her lips, not speaking. She recognized him, of course. He was the man from the bar.
Not wanting to get involved with him, she forced a smile and began to walk away.
Ethan, seemingly aware of her thoughts, followed closely behind.
“I know you don’t like Sienna, and I don’t either. Why don’t we team up?” he suggested.
Eleanor stopped walking. “Team up?”
So, she did care about Sienna.
Ethan’s smile deepened, his eyes sparkling. “I found out that Sienna is already looking for a lawyer, planning to sue you for defamation and slander. Even if you face her in court, with the Sullivan family’s resources, it’s more likely that you’ll end up in jail.”
His words made Eleanor’s heart sink.
The law relies on evidence. At the moment, she didn’t have the solid evidence to land a blow against Sienna, but Sienna could use the Sullivan family’s money and power to make things difficult for her.
Lawsuits and gathering evidence require both money and connections, and those were the two things she lacked most right now.
She looked at Ethan, and with his confident gaze on her, she asked in a hoarse voice, “What kind of cooperation do you have in mind, Mr. Ethan?”
