Chapter 43 The Untouchable Boundaries of Her Heart

Eleanor had barely reached the hospital room's threshold when she heard Vincent, his voice breaking with sobs, plead, "Grandpa, it's not Eleanor's fault. It's me—I shouldn't have blabbed. I stepped out of line."

Glancing sideways at Eleanor, who had been listless since getting in the car, Aaron saw her slumped forward as if she could collapse at any moment.

His brow furrowed, and the outraged voice of Bennett thundered from within.

"That's no excuse for violence!"

The decisive thud of a walking stick hitting the floor echoed, and Aaron pushed open the hospital room door.

Bennett's gaze swiftly moved past Aaron to the woman beside him, and he huffed with solemn insistence, "Eleanor, what happened here?"

Vincent's face was even redder and more swollen than that morning. Eleanor knew she was capable of many things, but she couldn't fathom hurting someone so badly—Vincent's appearance screamed full force.

Had she really gotten caught up in her own act?

Feeling a chill down her spine, she murmured, "I have nothing to say."

She had neither the energy nor the desire to argue with them; she just wanted to see the doctor for some cold medicine or an injection—anything to ease her discomfort.

But expressing this to the family patriarch was nothing short of obstinacy.

"How dare you! She's your future sister-in-law, the future lady of the Quinns, and you show no respect whatsoever."

"Grandpa, please don't be upset with Eleanor…" Vincent pretended to plead for Eleanor.

Bennett leaned on his cane, chastising, "The Quinns have never restricted you, and that's led to your utter disrespect for your elders."

His words were a heartbeat from saying Eleanor was without manners.

Her eyes burning, breath scalding, she retorted, "Uncle Quinn never taught me to be two-faced, ask her why I hit her!"

"Eleanor..." Vincent's voice cracked with remorse, "I'm sorry. I won't meddle in your private life anymore."

A flash of anger crossed Eleanor's eyes.

"Eleanor!" Bennett slammed his cane, furious, "How dare you show such insolence before me? Do you have no regard for your grandfather? Apologize to Wei!"

"Grandpa..."

"There's no need to say more, Vincent," reassured Bennett. "I've never interfered with her upbringing. Maybe it's high time I did. She's a small-town girl, fatherless, and clearly never learned better!"
"What gives you the right to talk about my dad!" Eleanor blinked her feverish, fatigued eyes, impassive no matter how Bennett taunted her.

Her father was her untouchable threshold.

"Eleanor!" Aaron gripped her arm, his voice stern, "How dare you speak to Grandfather like that!"

She shook him off violently, her eyes reddening, "Mind your own business!"

Since entering the hospital room, Aaron hadn't uttered a word; naturally, he had insisted she apologize to Vincent.

"So, I just apologize and that’s it, I can leave?" Her gaze was defiant and damp as she looked at him, like a blade coated with frost.

Aaron’s eyes were a deep abyss, like the calm before the tsunami surges.

Eleanor stepped back, sneered at Vincent, and muttered, “Sorry.”

With that, she shoved Aaron aside and strode out of the room.

Bennett glared commandingly, and his bodyguard turned to retrieve Eleanor.

"Blake!"

At Aaron's command, Blake intercepted the bodyguard.

Blake was the most formidable among the Quinns' bodyguards, unmatched in strength.

"Aaron!" Bennett’s voice was heavy.

Aaron looked away, his expression unreadable, “Grandpa, causing a scene in the hospital is bad for everyone. This trivial matter isn’t worth it.”

…

Eleanor walked too quickly, her heartbeat struggling to keep up. Blood supply dropped, vision darkening, she almost collapsed.

A strong, firm hand gripped her arm, a rich baritone cautioned, “Careful.”

For a fleeting moment, she thought it was Aaron. Her vision was dim, her head pounding violently. As her focus sharpened, she realized who it was.

"Mr. Patterson?"

Colin Harris released her, his glance moving over her tear-stained face without comment, then gestured towards the elevator, "Need assistance?"

Feeling mortified as she wiped her tears, she followed him into the elevator, "I’m fine, thanks."

"You're not feeling well, Mr. Patterson?"

He explained, "A family member is ill."

Eleanor nodded, leaning against the elevator's cold metal wall, finding brief comfort before her world started to spin again, barely able to stand.

Reaching the ground floor, she struggled to open her eyes only to find Colin Harris supporting her, "You have a fever?"

Barely able to muster the energy, she hummed in affirmation.

After a glance, he spoke no further, asking a nurse for directions before leading Eleanor towards the doctor.
Her fever was alarmingly high, at 103.1°F. The nurse immediately gave her some fever-reducing medication, then drew blood for a complete blood count test. The results came back quickly: a bacterial infection.

As the doctor prescribed medication, her fever started to drop, leaving her drenched in sweat.

Suddenly, a handkerchief appeared before her, carrying a faint scent of magnolia.

Eleanor looked up in confusion and saw it was Colin Harris offering it to her.

"Thank you, Mr. Patterson."

A handkerchief felt much too personal for Eleanor to accept. Her gaze quickly shifted and spotted a box of tissues on the doctor's desk. She took a couple and wiped her forehead.

Colin Harris's face betrayed no emotion, and he returned the handkerchief to his pocket.

The private hospital's service was impeccable. The nurse brought over her medication, carefully explaining how she should take it.

Leaving the hospital, Colin Harris cast a sidelong glance at Eleanor. After her fever had broken and sweat had washed away, her face looked exceptionally pale, almost delicate and translucent.

He pulled out his car keys. "Did you drive here?"

Eleanor shook her head, about to suggest taking a taxi, but Colin Harris was already stepping down the stairs, "Ride with me."

His tone was almost consultative, yet inexplicably imposing, as though refusal was not an option.

Is this what it's like to be in a position of power?

Aaron was like that, and so was he.

The thought of Aaron brought a sour taste to her mouth. She frowned slightly, pressing her tongue against her palate, trying to suppress the rising bitterness.

She followed Colin Harris, who went around the car to open the driver's door. Eleanor hesitated by the car, unsure.

Rumors had it that Colin Harris might be gay. She wasn't sure whether he was seeing anyone.

What if he had a girlfriend, or, as the rumors suggested, a boyfriend? It wouldn't be appropriate for her to sit in the passenger's seat. But taking the backseat would remind her of that time Aaron had accused her of treating him like just a driver, which was rude.

The thought of Aaron pricked at her heart, bringing tears to her eyes.

Witnessing her distress, Colin Harris mistook it for physical discomfort and said, "Get in, I'm single."

Eleanor fell asleep before they even reached the foot of the mountain. Normally, she wouldn't doze off in a stranger's car, and she barely knew Colin Harris, having only spoken a few words to him. But the medication made her drowsy, and despite her best efforts to stay awake until she got home, she couldn't resist sleep.