Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Eleanor Walsh was an industrious and ambitious woman with a competitive spirit. It was one of the reasons she was well respected among her peers. She had a relentless drive, always aiming to outdo herself and those around her. Settling for mediocrity was never an option. While others dreamed in silence, she turned her aspirations into action, making bold moves even in the face of uncertainty.  

At an early age, Eleanor was already pitching business ideas to huge firms and companies, waiting for a positive response. Some would listen, entertained by her confidence, while others dismissed her outright, finding her too young, too eager. But rejection never deterred her. She had a sharp mind and an even sharper will. If one door closed, she would knock on another—until she found the one that opened.  

She wasn't the type to be played with. Born into a fairly wealthy family, Eleanor had always been provided for, but comfort never softened her ambition. Her parents, especially her father, admired her drive but often cautioned her about the ruthless nature of business. “Not everything should be done by force, Eleanor,” he would say. But she had her own beliefs—she would carve her path, no matter what.  

Her motto had always been clear: success by any means necessary. If playing fair got her what she wanted, so be it. But if bending the rules was required, she would not hesitate. Some called her ruthless; she considered herself determined. Climbing to the top was a game, and Eleanor was always two steps ahead.  

Then she met David walsh

David was the heir to a massive corporate empire, a man who had wealth, influence, and a name that commanded respect. To Eleanor, he was more than just another wealthy man—he was an opportunity. A stepping stone to power. But David was no fool; he had grown up surrounded by people who wanted something from him. Eleanor knew she had to play this right.  

At first, she made herself seem uninterested. She was polite but distant, allowing David to notice her rather than chasing him. And it worked. He was intrigued by her, by the way she carried herself with confidence and mystery. Unlike the women who threw themselves at him, Eleanor was a challenge, and David enjoyed a good chase.  

Their courtship was a slow, deliberate dance. Eleanor was careful to balance charm with indifference, drawing him in while never making herself too available. David admired her intellect, her wit, and most of all, her ambition. She was different from the others—she had fire.  

When he finally fell for her, Eleanor made sure he fell hard. Their relationship became the talk of high society, a power couple in the making. But Eleanor knew love was secondary; power was the real prize. And she played the game masterfully.  

Once she secured David, she set her sights thr company. She learned everything she could about his business, his family, the internal politics of the company. She charmed his father, impressed his board members, and positioned herself as more than just a wife—she became an asset. A woman with ideas, strategies, and a vision for the future.  

But not everyone was blind to her ambitions. Some within David’s family saw her for what she was—a woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. His mother, in particular, was wary. “Be careful, David,” she warned. “She wants more than just you.”  

David dismissed the warnings. He was in love, and he believed Eleanor was, too. And perhaps she was—in her own way. She admired him, respected him, but above all, she valued what he could give her: a legacy.  

Their marriage was a grand affair, the kind that filled newspapers and tabloids. To the world, they were perfect. But behind closed doors, Eleanor was already planning her next move. She started taking a more active role in David’s company, making subtle but significant changes. She won over key players, replaced those who opposed her, and positioned herself as an unstoppable force within the empire.  

David, at first, supported her. He was proud of her intelligence, her ideas, and her fearlessness. But soon, he began to notice a shift. Eleanor was no longer just his wife—she was becoming the one in control.  

  . They had Ryan and a lot changed for them , knowing he would one day become the leader of Their business, their ambitious lifestyle was the reason they settled for only one child 

        She couldn't be burdened with taking care of multiple children when they had a business to run, and her husband Didn't seem to have any trouble with it 

 As a matter of fact he thought it was best to invest in only one child , would make it easier to put in energy and resources to lead him to the very top 

    It didn't turn out as they expected because ryma wasn't the brightest of bulbs but they still planned on making it work, like she always said there isn't a problem money couldn't solve 

Sophia's alarm blared in her ear as she jolted up from sleep, wide awake. It was still early, and her roommates were fast asleep.

It was 6:50 AM, and lectures started at 8. She quickly seized the opportunity and slid into the bathroom.

She stripped down and turned on the shower. It had a temperature regulator, pretty much unlike anything Sophia had ever seen. Every day she spent here was a testament to how lucky she was to be on a scholarship. She couldn't be more grateful, and it was all the more reason for her to seize the opportunity.

She spent longer than usual in the shower, alternating the temperatures as she bathed, humming a sweet tune as the water poured over her bare body. She felt particularly lighter and happier this morning.

Why?

She didn’t know herself, but she guessed it must have been something linked to lectures beginning.

By the time she was done and out of the shower, Olivia was already up, yawning like someone who had been asleep for days.

"Well, you're up early and ready," Olivia blurted out as she spotted Sophia walking out of the bathroom.

"Good morning. Did I disturb your sleep? I didn’t mean to wake you up."

"No, not at all. You didn’t. I needed to wake up, actually. I need to go through the brochure before heading to class. I see you're a morning person. How long have you been up?"

"I think about an hour now," Sophia replied, clutching her towel tightly to prevent it from falling off. She wasn’t used to being like this in front of strangers.

She walked to her bed and started applying lotion, still keeping the towel on. Mia was still asleep—she seemed to be a deep sleeper.

Without warning, Olivia stood up from her bed and took off her clothes, revealing her bare body. Sophia quickly turned away, wanting to give her privacy, wondering how she was so comfortable being naked around her. Maybe she was just proud of her body.

Sophia kept her eyes averted, pretending to be focused on applying lotion until she was sure Olivia was in the bathroom. She confirmed it when she heard the sound of the shower.

She was already getting dressed when Mia finally woke up—well, half woke up, to be exact.

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up," Sophia teased.

"Hey? Where are you going so early?" Mia mumbled sleepily.

"You might want to get up from that bed, young lady. Classes start in an hour."

"Oh shit, that’s true!" Mia rubbed her eyes furiously as the realization hit her, then jumped out of bed. "Who’s in the bathroom?" she asked when she saw the door was locked.

"Olivia just went in there. You might want to wait for a minute or two."

At that moment, Olivia stepped out of the bathroom—again, naked.

Sophia turned away as usual, but Mia didn’t seem to mind. Instead, she dragged Sophia out of the way and walked straight into the bathroom.

"You all shouldn't leave without me!" she called out.

A few minutes later, they were all done and dressed. Mia, in particular, spent a lot of time in front of the mirror, trying out different outfits.

"We are going for lectures, not a beaut

y pageant," they all teased as they walked out of the room.