Chapter 9

Lucas's POV

Eleanor's wound-dressing skills were not great. Faced with an array of medicated powders, she somehow managed to pick the one that stung the most.

And yet, this clumsy woman reminded me of my mother.

Like my mother, she was genuinely worried about whether the wound hurt, not just focused on the task of bandaging it. She would blow softly on the cut, trying to soothe me in her own awkward way.

They were so similar, yet so utterly different.

I had to admit, Eleanor had managed to get under my skin.

My mother passed away a month after my father left. She was such a wonderful, gentle person. She loved life, filled our garden with flowers, and spent hours planning my future, imagining over and over what it would be like when I became the head of the family.

Tragically, she never lived to see that day.

I remembered she held my hand tightly before she passed away, her eyes filled with reluctance. I would never forget her tearful eyes as she told me, "You must find a woman who truly loves you, who will stand by your side just as I have. Only then can I rest in peace."

Just now, as Eleanor was tending to my wound, it was as if I could see my mother standing right behind her, smiling at me.

I didn't know if my mother's spirit would be pleased with Eleanor, but my heart was profoundly moved by her.

She was so innocent, so kind. I couldn't imagine the regret the man who first abandoned her must feel. She was such a good woman.

But it wasn't too late. I had found her.

Maybe, with Eleanor, I could finally let my guard down. The stories about my parents I'd never told anyone, the longing, the pain—perhaps I could share it all with her.

As I expected, while I spoke, Eleanor's touch became even lighter, softer, as if terrified of causing me the slightest pain.

She held me tight, like she was comforting a child. "Lucas, I'll always be with you. Until you don't need me anymore."

How could I ever not need her?

I wrapped my arms around her, feeling a weight I didn't know I was carrying finally settle. "My love, I will always need you."

My mother's death had always been a scar in my heart. I told Eleanor about it, which represented my unreserved trust in her.

My arms tightened, a primal urge to pull her into me, to merge our bodies until we were one. If I could, I would spend my entire life protecting her.

Let Campbell come. Let God himself descend. No one was taking her from me.

I would wait, patiently, until Eleanor was ready to give all of herself to me—body and soul. When that time came, what was meant to happen between us would happen naturally.

Eleanor nodded solemnly. She pressed her lips to mine. The kiss held no lust, no fire, only a deep, aching tenderness and love. "I swear, I, Eleanor, will never leave Lucas. As long as you need me, I will be by your side."

It was the most beautiful vow in the world.

I wanted to hide Eleanor away in a place only I knew, where no one could see her, touch her, where she would belong only to me.

Isabella's POV

"I knew it. I knew she was involved with the Costa family."

I showed Theodore the screenshots from the security footage. The expression on his face was strange, but he didn't say a single word of blame. Not towards me, anyway.

What was that reaction? Did he not believe me?

"Look, the proof is right here. What more do you need to be convinced?"

"Eleanor wouldn't do this," he said, blocking my path when I tried to move. "She would never betray us. How did you get this footage? And how can you be so sure that's even her?"

"Darling, are you doubting me?" I looked at him, my voice laced with disbelief.

The suspicion in his eyes was so obvious. Did he really think I couldn't see it?

That damn Eleanor. If she was going to leave, she should have disappeared for good. Why was her ghost still haunting us? Why could she still influence Theodore even when she wasn't here?

No. I absolutely would not allow this.

I let out a small sob, and when Theodore wasn't looking, I dug my nails viciously into my own thigh. The sharp pain brought tears to my eyes. I leaned into his shoulder, my voice a choked whisper. "Darling, I want to believe in Eleanor too, but I got this from a hotel employee. They have no reason to hate her. Why would they frame her for no reason?"

I peeked at Theodore's face. The certainty in his eyes was finally starting to waver.

"Besides, you know what Eleanor is like," I added, twisting the knife. "She's always resented me for being with you. Our families have always been enemies of the Costas. It's not a stretch to think she'd get involved with them just to get back at us."

A muscle twitched in Theodore's jaw. He was almost convinced. "Even if that's true, we need to find her first. We can't condemn her without hearing her side of the story."

He was still defending her.

I knew that if I didn't get rid of Eleanor completely, Theodore's heart would never belong entirely to me.

My tears soaked into his white shirt, my body trembling with manufactured hurt. "Darling, we have to find her. I don't know where she is, but we can contact the Volker family. They can help us look."

"No."

"Why not?" I hadn't expected him to refuse. What did he mean? Was he protecting her?

Theodore's tone was firm. "If Campbell finds out Eleanor is with someone from the Costa family, he won't spare her. I can't be the reason she gets hurt."

He grabbed my hand, his voice bordering on a command. "Isabella, promise me. You will not tell him about this."

"And what about Campbell? What do we tell our fathers?" My voice rose, sharp with indignation. How could Theodore protect Eleanor like this? He was supposed to be on my side, completely and utterly. Not protecting that woman.

"Just give me some time. I'll find her as soon as I can and make sure she fulfills her engagement to Campbell. I'm doing this for our family's reputation, too. We can't let this kind of scandal get out."

I glared at him. This wasn't the man I first knew. The Theodore I fell for had eyes only for me. He would never have contradicted me for Eleanor's sake.

Whatever his reasons, it was unforgivable.

Theodore still chose to believe in her. He looked frantic, telling me again to keep this a secret before rushing out.

I stood frozen, watching his back disappear from view.

"Darling, you can only be mine," I whispered to the empty space. "I will not let anyone take you from me. Especially not Eleanor."

This was the perfect opportunity to get rid of her. It was as if God was helping me.

And as a devout believer, who was I to defy God's will?

I just prayed Theodore would be gone long enough for me to get the message to Campbell.

After the call, Campbell immediately dispatched his men to search for Eleanor.

I put on the lace veil I wore for prayer and stood before the statue of the Holy Mother. Clasping my hands, I made the sign of the cross. "Lord, please grant that Theodore is delayed. Please grant that Campbell finds Eleanor. Amen."