Chapter 271

Eleanor’s heart ached. “But the Cooper family has already called off the engagement.”
“With Daniel involved, that engagement isn’t going anywhere,” Mrs. Quinn soothed, gently stroking her daughter’s hair.
Just then, Daniel walked in.
Eleanor lay on the hospital bed, looking more fragile than ever, her eyes swollen with tears.
Mrs. Quinn dabbed at her own eyes and tearfully complained, “Eleanor hasn’t said a word since she woke up. I’m worried she’s still not coping
Daniel’s expression was clouded with complicated emotions. Hans, determined to break off the engagement, hadn’t even bothered to visit Eleanor.
“Eleanor,” Daniel called softly.
Her eyes were rimmed red, her voice hoarse. “I know he’s here, but he won’t come see me. Is it because I disgust him? He thinks I’m tainted, doesn’t he?”
Fresh tears streamed down her face, pure despair.
“Does he know what really happened back then?”
Eleanor sobbed so hard she looked like she might faint.
Mrs. Quinn wrapped her arms around her daughter, pleading, “Don’t cry, Eleanor. Your body can’t take this.”
Eleanor clutched at Daniel’s sleeve, pulling herself upright on the bed, practically begging. “Please, help me one more time.”
Daniel sighed, visibly moved despite himself.
“Does it have to be Hans?”
He could see it clearly now-Hans never really cared for Eleanor.
Eleanor’s eyes, red and pleading, made her look heartbreakingly pitiful.
“But I only want him,” she whispered.
Before, she’d wanted to marry Hans because she loved him.
Now, she needed to defeat Nora-and marry Hans.
Hans had become her obsession.
“Eleanor
“You promised me,” she choked out, tears rolling down her cheeks, “that you’d help me marry Hans. That’s all I want.”
She clung to his hand, desperate. “You owe me, Daniel. Remember when I saved you? Please, just help me once more.”
Daniel’s throat tightened. “Alright.” Googlᴇ search
He agreed.
A wave of relief swept over Eleanor. She knew that if Daniel gave his word, he’d see it through.
In the end, she would become Hans’s wife.
Daniel owed her that much.
Nora spent two days in the hospital.
She and Daniel were still giving each other the cold shoulder.
When she was discharged, only the family’s housekeeper came to collect her.
To her surprise, Hans showed up as well.
He glanced around, clearly searching for Daniel. When he didn’t find him, his face darkened.
“Where is he?”
Nora couldn’t quite guess what he was after, but she needed more information
about Una, so she forced herself to be patient.
“You know we had a fight,” she said lightly.
Hans picked up her things, then looked her in the eye, serious for once. “I mean it, Nora. The two of you are divorced now. Leave him.”
Nora gave a weary, bitter smile. “It’s not that I don’t want to go. Daniel’s the one who won’t let me.”
He’d said it himself: a life for a life. This was a transaction.
Sometimes, she didn’t want this child. But every time she thought of giving up, the baby would stubbornly cling to life in her belly.
She couldn’t bear it.
Hans seemed lost in thought for a moment, staring into the distance.
Until a shaky, tear-laden voice called from the far end of the corridor.
“Hans.”
It was Eleanor, leaning heavily on Mrs. Quinn, her face streaked with tears.
Hans still had Nora’s bag in his hand. He looked up, expression indifferent. “What is it?”
He was cold, almost bored.
Eleanor bit her lip, moving closer, her eyes shimmering with tears as she forced a smile.
“You… you never came to see me.”
She glanced at the bag in his hand, jealousy flaring in her chest.
Nora really knew how to play her cards.
“I’ve been busy.” Hans clicked his tongue impatiently. “If that’s all, I’ll be going.”
Eleanor dug her nails into her palm, lips trembling. “Hans, we used to be so happy together. How could you just
How could you just stop loving me?
Her voice broke, and she couldn’t finish.