Chapter 53 The Opportunity She'd Been Waiting For
After Vincent left, Eleanor stepped into the break room from around the corner.
Upon seeing her, Gal hurriedly reported, "You were right, Ms. Thompson actually has a brooch identical to yours. But she seemed reluctant to tell me where she got it."
"I'll look into it for you later," Eleanor said with a smile, patting Gal's arm, "Thanks."
Watching Eleanor's retreating figure, Gal was puzzled. Why would Eleanor thank her?
Seated at her desk, Eleanor's expression was grave.
The brooch had been a gift from her Uncle Quinn, incredibly dear to her. She thought she'd lost it at Aaron's place during their last getaway and had gone back to search for it, to no avail. She suspected it had been left in Vincent's room.
Her probing through a colleague had paid off today. She was right; Vincent had indeed found the brooch.
It was a one-of-a-kind piece Uncle Quinn had made especially for her. It was only a matter of time before Vincent traced it back to her.
Knowing her personality, Vincent would surely act, and after days of dread, the retaliation would be fierce, more dangerous than ever before, perhaps even life-threatening.
This was precisely the moment Eleanor had been waiting for.
She took out her cellphone and dialed a number.
The call connected, "Eleanor, what brings you to call me today?"
Eleanor got straight to the point, "Eva, could I borrow a few bodyguards from you?"
Eva, Grayson's sister who'd watched Eleanor grow up and always treated her like a younger sibling, did not ask for a reason and agreed without hesitation, "Sure, when do you need them?"
"Immediately, if that's possible?"
"No problem."
With precision and efficiency,Eva had their act together in a mere five minutes. The bodyguard reached out to Eleanor, “Miss Patterson, we’ve got six on our team, ready to follow your lead at a moment’s notice.”
…
After the day’s work, Eleanor visited the Family Ancestral Home.
As she entered, the words to call out to her mother were on her lips, but Niro whispered, “Madam has just fallen asleep.”
Victoria’s sleep schedule had been erratic since she had undergone a frightful experience—dozing off by day and wide awake at night. Timid by nature, the day’s events had truly shaken her, and she often pictured herself in perilous situations.
Eleanor was intent on normalizing her mother's sleep pattern and quietly made her way to the master bedroom. Victoria wasn’t sleeping deeply; a diffuser released a soothing aroma of faint fruits into the room which was designed to aid slumber.
“Mom.” Eleanor bent down by the bed and called softly.
Victoria stirred slowly, her face wearing the marks of tiredness, and in the gentle illumination, she saw Eleanor’s face, “Eleanor.”
“I’m heading back to Guangcheng tomorrow. Dad’s memorial day is coming up.”
Victoria nodded weakly, her mind foggy.
In truth, she barely remembered Eleanor’s father’s memorial day—it was always Eleanor who reminded her. At first, Victoria used to accompany Eleanor to Guangcheng, but as Eleanor grew older, she never returned.
Their marriage had not been particularly deep, and soon after Eleanor's father died, Victoria met the fifth Quinn, marrying into the affluent Quinn family.
Eleanor was well aware of all this, including her mother's love for wealth. The family's farm, managed by her father, though profitable, was incomparable to the wealth of the elite.
Eleanor never forced her mother to choose.
“I won’t be here for the next few days, take care of yourself.”
She didn't know what mishaps might befall her. Despite Eva's bodyguards lurking in the shadows for her protection, she couldn't be entirely certain of security. Yet the opportunity was too promising to pass up—she feared lifelong regret if she didn't take the chance.
Unsure if Victoria was truly listening, Eleanor saw her mother turn over and burrow her head further into the pillows. After calling her name a few times to no reply, Eleanor reluctantly gave up.
On her way down, she reminded Niro to look after certain matters and then left the family annex.
The lights in the vestibule were on, and the sound of a car engine shutting off could be heard in the distance. As she stepped out, she happened to meet Aaron entering.
With Bennett close by, Eleanor had no choice but to greet them, “Grandfather, brother.”
Eleanor had talked back to Grandpa at the hospital that day, and to her surprise, he let it slide. The family patriarch was known for his leniency towards the other grandchildren, but he was always strict with her. It was unlike him not to react to even the slightest disturbance.
"You usually avoid coming back to the family estate, don't you?" Bennett glanced at her with knowing eyes.
"I'm heading to G city tomorrow, just letting Mom know."
G City.
Bennett caught on immediately that it likely had something to do with her dad. He didn't want to get involved.
"Aaron's engagement party—you're not coming back for it?"
Eleanor's gaze flickered over Aaron, who, unfazed, stood lighting a cigarette in the shadowy breeze. The dim outdoor light blurred his edges, painting a hazy silhouette against his broad, towering frame. A colossus in his own right, he exuded an overwhelming presence.
"No time," Eleanor answered truthfully.
Bennett fiddled with his prayer beads, casting her a meaningful look. "Is it really about time, or do you just not want to go?"
Eleanor was taken aback.
She always suspected Grandpa had a hidden message in his words, but she couldn't prove it.
With the click of his lighter, Aaron dropped it into his pocket, his fingers encircling the smoldering cigarette. He strode towards Eleanor who, heart fluttering, involuntarily stepped back.
It wasn't until she heard a cat's meow that Aaron bent down, and Eleanor moved aside to see Natalie Quinn's cat had jumped down from the flower bed.
The cat was stunning, with its snowy white fur and eyes like blue glass beads. Eleanor longed to hold it, but she didn't get along with Natalie Quinn, who wouldn't allow it.
Aaron picked up the cat, diverting the hand with the cigarette, and gently flicked the cat's nose with his index finger. The cat squinted its eyes in contentment, all pretense of dignity gone.
Aaron whispered to the cat with a soft smile, "She already told me it's okay to miss the engagement party. Just being there for the wedding is enough."
A pang of sorrow swelled in Eleanor's chest.
If she wasn't going to his engagement, how could she possibly attend his wedding?
Aaron set the cat down and extinguished his cigarette, turning to Bennett. "The wind's picking up at night, Grandpa should head inside."
After looking at Eleanor for a few more seconds, Bennett leaned on his cane and headed inside, telling Aaron, "Come with me."
The cat circled Aaron's feet. He looked at Eleanor, "Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Eleanor masked her inner ache with an open smile, "I've already offered my best wishes that day."
Aaron cracked a fleeting smile—a sparse flash that vanished as soon as it appeared. Turning away, he retreated into the house, leaving Eleanor with a view of his retreating, dejected figure.
As she drove away from the Quinn family home, the streets busied with traffic, a man's voice reached Eleanor's ear through her earpiece: "Miss Patterson, we're right behind you."
The speaker was her bodyguard, assigned by Eva, named Ryan, the leader of their six-person team.
At that moment, he was in touch with Eleanor through a tiny earpiece.
It had been planted earlier that day in the underground parking garage of her company, concealed within a fire hydrant, which Eleanor had discreetly retrieved when no one was around.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," she responded.
Glancing in her rearview mirror, she saw a trail of vehicles behind her. Unsure which car belonged to Eva, she felt the certainty they were always there.
---