Chapter 41 Apologies Are in Order

Eleanor was rendered speechless, watching Vincent's tearstained face. Annoyance surged into a mocking laughter, "You don't have to put on such an act for an Oscar, Vince. Just say the word, and I'll get one custom-made for you."

"Eleanor!" Aaron's voice cut through, icy and stern.

Eleanor glanced up at the man. He had showered; his scent was crisp and unfamiliar to her.

With a defiant tilt to her chin, she said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. You two enjoy your performance."

Aaron took a half-step forward, but Vincent clung to him, pleading, "Aaron, don't scold her. It's my fault for overstepping boundaries. I shouldn't meddle in her personal life when I'm not even her sister-in-law. She's so fond of Edward, I'll keep out of it from now on."

The hospital was on Mid-Mountain Road, a quiet locale perfect for recovery. Eleanor knew all too well whether Vincent was truly ill.

She had a cold that day and had taken medicine before leaving the house. Worrying about driving safely, she had called a cab and instructed it to wait outside the hospital. But in a blink, it had disappeared.

Now, she was walking downhill, her bag in hand. The heavy dew of Mid-Mountain Road in late autumn, blown by the wind, felt almost bone-chilling, and she couldn't help but take a deep breath.

The honk of a car horn came from behind.

Aaron sat in the back seat, analyzing stock charts on his tablet. The morning sun streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on his fair, agile fingers, akin to the sheen of fine jade.

Had it been Wesley, he would have made sure to report Eleanor's roadside presence to Aaron, but Blake, less talkative and emotionally savvy, did not.

"Stop the car," Aaron commanded quietly.

The window rolled down, and Aaron's austere profile came into view. Eleanor stood in the bitter wind, a solitary rose blooming in defiance, her striking features breathtaking against the dark green backdrop of the woods.

"If you're here about Vincent, we have nothing to discuss," she said.

Aaron set aside his tablet. "Get in the car."

"Aaron, you're headed to the New District; I'm going to the Old District. It's out of your way," Eleanor said, her gaze fixed elsewhere, her stubborn profile touched by the cold, tipping her nose a rosy red.

Aaron lifted his gaze to her, offering a 'kind' reminder, "I remember you have a meeting today at Quinn Corporation to discuss a partnership."

Eleanor pressed her lips together – pride must sometimes take a backseat to practicality.

Entering the warmth of the car, heat embraced her, and she exhaled subconsciously. A shiver raced through her, despite herself.

Sneezing involuntarily, her eyes watery, she looked up to meet Aaron's darkened expression.
"Sorry, I've got a bit of a cold and I might have made a mess in Aaron's car," she said apologetically. The aftereffects of the foreign liquor from last night hit her hard, and as soon as she got home, she crashed on the couch and fell asleep.

At that, she sneezed again.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Eleanor wanted to say that Aaron had already given her the cold shoulder; silence was golden in this instance. Why say more?

But Aaron's expression had turned even more sour, so she decided it was best to remain silent.

As the car approached the base of the mountain, Aaron finally broke the ice, his voice icy, "Who gave you the courage to hit Vincent? Was it Edward?"

So that was it. He was here to call her out.

Suppressing the tight feeling in her chest, Eleanor replied nonchalantly, "What's done is done. Aaron, if you want to hit back or punish me, go right ahead."

He was sticking up for Vincent.

But what about all the hurt Vincent had inflicted on her? Had Aaron ever spoken a word against that?

Not once.

She began to wonder if this path she was on was truly passable.

To Aaron, it seemed, she was just a physical interest, while Vincent was his personally chosen fiancée. Aaron wouldn't have consented to the arrangement if there wasn't some degree of affection.

"After work, come with me to apologize to her," Aaron said casually, not looking up from the tablet where he was analyzing stock charts as if it was an afterthought.

But his words sent a tidal wave crashing through Eleanor's heart.On the verge of tears, she chocked out , "I don't want to."

Aaron's fingers paused on the screen. Was she really that fond of Edward?

His tone was cold and mocking, "I thought you were at my disposal?"

"Everything but apologizing," Eleanor said firmly, refusing to back down.

She looked out the window, struggling to compose herself. Aaron glanced at her, taking in the redness at the corners of her eyes, and said darkly, "An apology is the least you can do."

"Aaron, don't push me too far!" she snapped, shaking with restrained anger like a porcupine bristling its spines.

Aaron squinted subtly, "What happened to last night's obedient spirit?"

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over her.

That's right.

She had already decided to use Aaron as a means of getting back at Vincent. Angering him wouldn't do her any good.

But apologize to Vincent? No way.

They were nearing a traffic light, the crossroads where they would part ways - to the left was Old District, where Eleanor's company resided, and to the right, New District, home to Quinn Corporation.

It seemed the moment to decide her fate was at hand.

Biting back her humiliation, her fingers turned white from the grip on her seat, and her eyes rimmed red, she couldn't get past the barrier in her heart. "Aaron, just drop me off ahead, it's out of your way."

Leaning back in his seat, Aaron's hand rested casually on the armrest, his brooding gaze filled with a chill edge, "Not heading to Quinn Corporation?"

"I just remembered I forgot some documents," she lied.
A chuckle cold as ice spilled from his throat. "Such disregard for our partnership," the man sneered. "Makes me question your competence, Eleanor."

Eleanor snapped her gaze to him, catching him nonchalantly caressing his Green Diamonds ring on his left thumb.

He was threatening her, using their deal as leverage.

That wasn't how things had gone that day. Waking up in his Manor, he had even made it clear—their arrangement had nothing to do with the events of the previous evening; it was a rare moment of warmth towards her.

And now, by his own hands, that illusion had been shattered.

Aaron's presence was domineering, his words deliberate and paced. "I'll ask you once more, is it on your way?"

Her pulse raced, nearly suffocating her, the world around her a foggy blur with his indifferent face hovering within it.

"It is," she said, her voice hollow.

"Blake, did you catch that?"

"Yes, Aaron."

The car proceeded along its intended path, heading straight for the Quinn Corporation headquarters.

Pulling up in front of the sleek Quinn Corporation building, Blake stepped out and opened the car door to the back seat. As Aaron got out, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a long black limousine parked just behind his vehicle.

The car's glossy black finish was impeccable, and in Nan City, the distinctive license plates were synonymous with the Quinn family. This one was no exception.

A shadow crossed Aaron's eyes as Grandfather, Bennett, with the assistance of his personal aide, emerged from the limousine. Leaning on a cane, his other hand twirling a string of rosewood prayer beads, his regal bearing was accentuated by the sky-blue, Medieval-style robe he wore.

"Grandpa," Aaron approached, taking over from the aide to offer his support to the old man. "What brings you here?"

Old age has its perks, like insomnia. I was on my way to visit little Wei at the hospital and thought I'd stop by Quinn Corp first. Surprised to see you've just arrived," Bennett remarked, his stately form pausing with each step as he spotted Eleanor stepping out from Aaron's car.

Her heart pounded against her ribs at the sight of Bennett.

Head bowed, demurely standing by the car, she greeted, "Grandpa."

"Mm."

Bennett's eyes, heavy with the passage of time and commanding attention, scrutinized her. "What are you doing here?"