Chapter 133

Eleanor had run away from her wedding for two reasons: she’d fallen for another man and because of Mrs. Quinn.
From the very beginning, Mrs. Quinn had never been truly satisfied with Daniel as a future son-in-law. She thought he was too ambitious, too focused on his career. She worried her daughter would be the one to suffer in the end.
As a brother, Daniel was decent enough.
Well, Mrs. Quinn’s wish had finally come true.
“Stop thinking you’ve been wronged all the time,” Mrs. Quinn said, her voice gentle as she tried to reason with her daughter. “As long as you live well, those who’ve looked down on you will regret it someday.”
“Just like your father. He might have slapped you across the face this afternoon and treated you coldly, but mark my words-from this moment on, you’re the apple of his eye.”
As she spoke, Jordan walked in.
Mrs. Quinn quickly tucked away her private thoughts and lowered her voice to ask, “What did you mean just now, Jordan?”
Glancing around to make sure they were alone, Jordan spoke quietly to his wife and daughter. “Do you know why Mr. Hogan Chambers suddenly decided to step in for Aurora?”
Eleanor shook her head. Mrs. Quinn knew a bit of the inside story herself, but she wasn’t about to interrupt her husband’s moment.
Jordan continued, “Turns out, our family matriarch and the Chambers patriarch go way back. Their relationship seems pretty solid.” He was already working out his own calculations in his mind.
“From now on, be good to Grandma Grace,” he advised. “Pay her more visits, show her you care.”
He hurried off, planning to buy some health supplements for Grandma Grace himself. He was determined that she would live to ninety-nine.
Eleanor clung to her mother’s sleeve, resentment burning in her eyes. “So it was her. She was the one who pleaded for Aurora’s sake.”
It wasn’t fair. Grandma was always so obviously biased.
Mrs. Quinn patted her daughter’s shoulder, soothing her. “So what if she did? Dan still gave you the good news, didn’t he?”
“Just remember what I’ve told you: Dan is your biggest support. As for those with one foot in the grave, don’t worry about them.”
Eleanor wiped her tears away and took her mother’s arm. “Let’s go home, Mom.” “Alright, sweetheart.”
*** ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ.net
At the hospital, Daniel came to see Grandma Grace.
She looked at him sternly. “Where’s Aurora?”
Daniel dropped to his knees in front of her, pride forgotten. He begged, “Grandma, please let us be together. I truly love Aurora-I don’t want a divorce.”
Tears streamed down Grandma Grace’s cheeks as she thought of Aurora and all that she had suffered.
Her voice trembled. “She’s been married to you for three years, carried your child, and you never cherished her. And now you have the nerve to say you don’t want a divorce?”
“How much more are you going to hurt her before you’re satisfied?”
“If you really want her back, you should take it slow-earn her trust again. Locking her up is nothing but disrespect.”
She shook her head in dismay.
Daniel held himself ramrod straight, still kneeling. He seemed to be talking to himself as much as to her. “She’ll forgive me. She will.”
Grandma Grace couldn’t get through to him, so she called for Mr. Hogan Chambers.
She was furious. “He’s your grandson, you deal with him! I just want Aurora!”
Mr. Hogan Chambers didn’t hold back. He struck Daniel’s back hard with his heavy oak cane, demanding he let Aurora go.
The blows were relentless-each one leaving a bloody welt through Daniel’s white shirt. Still, Daniel stayed silent, refusing to yield.
After a dozen strikes, Daniel’s face was ashen, sweat beading on his brow, but he would not back down.
Mr. Hogan Chambers, breathing hard, was spent. He threatened to revoke Daniel’s inheritance, but deep down, he knew it was an empty threat-no one else
in the family could fill Daniel’s shoes. Despite his anger, there was a trace of pity in his eyes.
He turned to Grandma Grace. “Shall we continue tomorrow?”
Grandma Grace let out a heavy sigh. She ached for Aurora, but beating and scolding Daniel hadn’t changed anything. He still wouldn’t budge.
She was left with no choice but to compromise. “At the very least, let me see her.”
Daniel got to his feet, sweat dripping down as blood seeped through the back of his shirt. His handsome face was ghostly pale. “I’ll bring her to see you soon. I promise.”
He walked away, back ramrod straight, blood staining the crisp white of his shirt.