Chapter 3
After the surgery, I spent two days in the hospital.
When I finally went home, it felt eerily quiet and empty.
It seemed like Adrian had been with Sienna this whole time.
Just as I was lost in thought, Sienna’s message popped up, right on
cue.
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It was a video.
There was Adrian in the kitchen, wearing an apron, cooking for her.
Sienna sent a message: [Eleanor, so what if you married Adrian? He only loves me.]
I clicked my tongue. Of course, she’d included more pictures, just to rub it in.
Her social media had been flooded with updates, her with Adrian, getting all this attention for being spoiled and doted on.
Everyone was watching, envying her.
I quickly took screenshots of everything and saved them as evidence, then blocked her.
After packing up my things, I checked into a hotel.
I took a long bath, then collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.
I hadn’t gone into work these past few days. just resting at the l
Chapter 3
It was almost laughable.
When Adrian and I first got married, he’d claimed he was too busy to have a wedding, and I didn’t mind..
But then, one night at a gathering, I saw them, Adrian holding Sienna close, surrounded by friends.
He’d said, “I don’t feel much for Eleanor anymore.
“Her mom saved me, and her family’s company helps mine. Giving her a title is just my way of repaying her.
“But my love? That’s for Sienna, and only her.”
I stood there outside the door, my heart breaking as they kissed, oblivious to the pain they were causing.
Our marriage was nothing but a bargain and gesture of sympathy.
And now, I didn’t want it anymore.
Adrian’s eyes were blazing red with anger.
He slammed his hand hard on the steering wheel and shouted, “Eleanor, are you threatening me now?
“All these years you’ve been kissing up to my family like a dog, and you’ve gone to all that trouble just to get pregnant with my kid. What? You don’t want to be my wife anymore?
“It’s not like I didn’t plan on giving you a wedding. I’ll make it up to you next time! We’re already married, and yet Sienna still gets.
Chapter 3
The next morning, I woke up to a dozen missed calls and a barrage of messages from him, each one more desperate than the last.
[Eleanor, so you want to play this game, huh? Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!]
I still didn’t get what he meant.
But when I got to the office and saw that Sienna had been promoted to director, with all my projects now under her name, I finally understood.
Sienna had been parading around in front of me, acting all high and mighty, and I’d just brushed her off as a joke.
Meanwhile, Adrian was picking her up for lunch every day, buying her gifts, and looking at me like I was the enemy.
I honestly wondered if his brain had gone off the rails.
The gossip online was blowing up, but the Blake Group hadn’t said a word in response.
It wasn’t until two days later that Adrian showed up at my door, and the first thing he said was, “Next week, you’re coming with met to a press conference to clear the air. We’re going to announce that Sienna isn’t the mistress.
“It’s you who ruined my relationship with her, and you trapped me into marrying you by getting pregnant.”
“Are you out of your mind?” I shot him a sharp look.
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“Why is it that every time something happens, you never stand by me? I’ve told you a hundred times. I’m done with Adrian!”
Adrian frowned, unable to understand why I was being so
stubborn.
I used to cave in whenever he spoke.
My dad, angry, slammed his fork down and grabbed the ashtray. Without warning, he threw it at my head.
Blood immediately started to trickle down.
He snapped, “Eleanor, you’re not a kid anymore! You’re thirty years old.
“Being with Adrian, you should be grateful and take good care of his family.
“And now you’re talking about divorce? Over something so small at the wedding? You’re not just thinking about yourself. What about our family and the baby you’re carrying?”
The pain in my head was intense.
Adrian was stunned. He rushed to my side, clearly shaken.
“Are you alright? I’ll take you to the hospital.”
He glared at my dad. “Peter, Eleanor is my wife, and she’s carrying my child. If you ever raise your hand to her again, I won’t let it slide.”
My dad’s face changed, and for the first time, he looked a little
Chapter 3
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I smirked internally, curious to see if she’d still be smiling in a
minute.
The interview kicked off, and two reporters immediately stood up, throwing sharp questions my way.
“Ms. Sterling, don’t you feel ashamed for meddling in Ms. Lowell and Mr. Blake’s relationship?”
“I heard you married Mr. Blake by drugging him, sleeping with him, and using dirty tricks to get pregnant. Is that really how the Sterling family raises their daughters?”
“I’ve also heard that Ms. Lowell’s anxiety disorder was caused by you. Is that true?”
Before I could respond, Adrian, looking as though he’d just seen a ghost, snapped, “Who told you to ask that?”
I shot him a cold look, scoffing inwardly.
There was no way he didn’t know what I’d be facing at this press
conference.
He looked like a deer caught in headlights, filled with regret and helplessness, but I wasn’t going to spare him a second glance.
I took the microphone, smiling lightly. “Since you two are obviously such good friends of Sienna, I understand why you’d have no problem spreading rumors. I’ve heard worse.”
They looked guilty but still tried to play tough. “Ms. Sterling, you keep avoiding the question. Are you feeling guilty?”
