Chapter 43… I Know You"Find him"Jonathan froze. His eyeballs dilated as he turned to face Eleanor slowly."Are you out of your fucking mind!?" He yelled.Eleanor shrugged and grabbed her keys. "Maybe""Are you sure about this?" Jonathan asked before she could reach the door. "I mean, I've always trusted anything you do but-""Then don't start doubting now." Eleanor replied dryly and left.Jonathan watched the door close with a soft thud. He was very sure that Eleanor must have lost her mind. With a sigh, he stood up and headed to the bar of the house and picked himself a bottle of whiskey.*****Eleanor drove around the bustling streets of New York City for hours with no destination in mind. This was something she did when she was at crossroads.The sun had long settled when she drove down a very bright alley that looked familiar. As she drove down the road at a very slow pace, she saw the building in one corner.'Castle Of Wine'It read in bold letters that illuminated with colour
Chapter 44… A Different Environment"Y-you have to kno-" she began but couldn't complete her words as she slumped into the table.Damien reached out to her in a haste, scared that she was harmed. He only breathed out when he felt her heart rate and heard her snoring."Is she okay, sir?" Andy asked, shaking at the side.Damien nodded.He pulled out his wallet and fetched some money, not minding how much it was and placed on the table before Andy."That should be enough" Andy nodded, still not convinced that Eleanor was alive."She's alive, right?" He asked again.Damien chuckled. He grabbed Andy's index finger and place it on Eleanor's pulse to feel her pulse. "Felt it?"Andy nodded and breathed in relief. Damien picked Eleanor up bridal style and turned to Andy."I'll take her home. Could you help me with her bag?"Andy nodded and grabbed the bag before following Damien up to his car."I'm sure her car is here somewhere, what would be done about it?" Andy asked.Damien placed Eleano
CHAPTER 45… COINCIDENCES?She asked, not knowing which to ask first. Was it who he was or where he was all this time?Somehow, she had always known that she was not just looking for him for the sake of the kids and right now, the tugs in her chest seemed to be confirming it"I know you have a lot of questions," Damien said calmly, his expression turning calm, placid and plain. "I do too. But, before that, I would like to invite you for breakfast."Eleanor opened her mouth to refuse but Damien beat her to eat."Don't worry, this is my home and I can assure you that you are safe. We can discuss and I'll answer every of your questions over breakfast. Also, you get to tell me about the kids… my kids… our kids"Eleanor froze in shock. He already knew of the kids?How did he know?Who informed him?She swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded. It might just help that he already knew.Damien smiled. He showed her to the bathroom where he had already prepared a pair of Beverly's clo
CHAPTER 46… HIDDEN SECRETSShould he tell her about his mother or just continue with the lie that she was dead?Damien did not know what to respond. If he told her where his mother was, would she keep it a secret until everything is done?But, with the coincidences, it seemed like she was the only one who could help them as Eleanor's mother was dead.Damien sighed.Seems like he would have to take the risk and tell her."Can I trust you with a secret?" Damien asked, looking into her eyes. Eleanor nodded."Are you sure? It is a secret I have kept for years and not ready to share with the world." Damien asked again, wanting to be sure."I swear on my kids" Eleanor replied. She loved her kids and would do anything to keep them safe. So, they were her only oath taking materials.Damien nodded.He sighed and told Eleanor a few things before they left the villa.*****Damien parked the car where he usually did and came out. Eleanor came out from the other side, confused as to what they wer
CHAPTER 47… ANSWERS"By the time she reached her delivery date, Alexander was nowhere to be found. He had gone out with one of his mistresses to flirt. Zera was a strong woman. She called me and I rushed to the Andersons' Villa to get Sophie and Zara. Together, we went to the McKinley manor and brought her to the hospital. I was the only one who knew that she was having twins."When she gave birth to the first child, she named her and begged me to take her away. She told me to take her to Antonio and tell him that she died while giving birth. It was a hard thing to do but, I already promised her. And just like that, you were separated from you twin at birth."When she gave birth to you and named you, she fell unconscious. By the time she woke up, you were in my arms, craddling close to my son, Damien. I loved you just like I loved your mother. She never wanted to tell you this and I promised not to. But, today, I have broken that promise because it has been a weight around my neck." M
CHAPTER 49… SCORES "Child, you need to calm down." Zara whispered, trying in a futile bid to calm her raging niece. "Take it easy."Eleanor scoffed.She turned to Zara and sniffled back a tear."You knew, aunty." She turned to Sophie and flared her nostrils. "You all did! Yet, none of you moved a fucking finger. Why?" She asked."How can you all be so heartless and emotionless!?" She yelled."We could not do anything, Eleanor." Sophie cried out. "Believe me, our hands were tied."Eleanor took a step and knelt before the old woman. Her tears were flowing down without any restrictions."Grandma, she was your daughter! Your own blood. Yet, you watched her die!" Eleanor whispered through gritted teeth. She looked at Zara and scoffed. "She was your sister, your half."Steeling her emotions, she stood up and wiped her tears with the back of her palms. Pulling out her mother's journal from her pants pockets, she handed it to Zara."I think you should read this." She said and turned to leave
CHAPTER 50… DIFFERENT EMOTIONS The McKinley Manor…"I have told you countless times not to spoil that girl but you never listen!" Elaine could no longer keep herself calm. How long have they been searching for Penny, all to no avail. It has been weeks over weeks since she left the house with no traces to track her down. It seemed like she was no longer in New York City and everything done to find her failed woefully.The neighbors had started asking about her and even if they have been feeding them with lies about her being in school, they knew the neighbors did not believe them.Plus, the Huttons were threatening to call off the alliance between their son and Penny. An alliance that would bring them well over three hundred million dollars and lots of collaborations that would help them establish Red Empire was about to go down the drain because of their daughter's nonsensical attitude."Alexander! Did you see how I had to drop my pride and stoop so low as to go on my knees to beg M
CHAPTER 51… SOMETHING FORGOTTEN .*.*.*.*.*.The next morning, Eleanor drove to Damien's address. She had gone to get her car from the bar before coming down here.When she reached the house, she suddenly realized that she did not know if he was home or not as she did not have his number to call him.Eleanor pondered for a while before leaving honking loudly. The gatekeeper, a stout man with a very long beard, poked his head to check who it was.Eleanor poked her head out of the car's window and told the gatekeeper the purpose of her visit.The man informed her that his boss had not returned from his Saturday morning run, but that she could wait for him. Eleanor agreed so he opened the gate and let her in.After parking and coming out, Eleanor was led into the main house where the butler served her a warm cup of coffee.As she slipped the coffee and continued scrolling through her phone, Eleanor did not miss the torturous eyes of the butler that were glued on her. She did not feel com
Eleanor's eyes widened at Damien's suggestion. Disbelief flickered across her face. "Remarried? No, that can't be. Mirabella never mentioned anything about remarrying, and we have no reason to think so."Damien leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms in contemplation. "Well, it's unusual for someone to go by different names within the same family. Could there be something we're missing?"Eleanor shook her head. "Sienna is in her twenties, while Eliora would be the same age as myself since she is my twin."Damien agreed. "Does that mean Sienna is a relative of yours, then?" he inquired thoughtfully.Eleanor shrugged. "That's the only logical explanation for the moment," she rasped out. "Besides, judging by the story Mirabella told us, the man must have loved my mother too much to remarry," she added with a sigh."Or, she is adopted," Eddy, who had been quiet, suddenly chimed in, causing the duo to turn to him."What do you mean?" asked Eleanor, confusedly.Eddy crossed his arms ove
Eddy, still trembling, pulled out the letter and extended it toward Antonio, who took it with a cursory gaze directed at Eddy."Yes, Mr. Huxton," Eddy stammered. "I have a letter for you. It's important, and I was instructed to deliver it personally."Antonio's gaze traveled between the letter and Eddy. Something about Eddy did not sit right with him. Antonio thought that he had met Eddy before but he could not remember where."Who sent you?" He asked, slowly tearing open the letter."Z-zara Anderson-Red, sir," Eddy answered.Antonio's head whipped up to Eddy's face quickly. There was shock clearly etched on it as his eyes widened."The Andersons?" He muttered disbelievingly and Eddy nodded. Antonio quickly pointed to the couch. "Please, sit."Eddy nodded and sat, although he still did not feel comfortable.To Sienna, Antonio said, "Go, get our guest something to drink! Hurry!"Sienna stood up and left. As she made her way to the kitchen, she kept trying to remember where she had hear
Eddy's head quickly whipped to the angle the voice had come from. His jaw dropped the moment he saw the lady who had called him, walking towards him. For a moment, Eddy lost himself in the magnificence way her hips swayed as she walked towards him.Her black hair danced with the wind, making her look like a celebrity. Her eyes were clear and focused on him. Eddy was so lost in her beauty that he did not see her stop in front of him."Hey, mister! Here!" She snapped her fingers before Eddy, jolting him to reality. "Who are you?""Uhm," Eddy suddenly became confused. He scratched his head that was not itching. "I, I, uhm-i..." he suddenly coughed. "I am Martin Derek, a writer. I have a letter for Mr. Antonio.""Martin Derek..." The woman drawled, looking at Eddy's messy red hair. His eyes were a brilliant shade of jade, shinning through the spectacles on the bridge of his nose. "You don't look like a 'Martin Derek'," she stated."W-what?" Eddy chuckled nervously. He adjusted the tie on
Eddy's head quickly whipped to the angle the voice had come from. His jaw dropped the moment he saw the lady who had called him, walking towards him. For a moment, Eddy lost himself in the magnificence way her hips swayed as she walked towards him.Her black hair danced with the wind, making her look like a celebrity. Her eyes were clear and focused on him. Eddy was so lost in her beauty that he did not see her stop in front of him."Hey, mister! Here!" She snapped her fingers before Eddy, jolting him to reality. "Who are you?""Uhm," Eddy suddenly became confused. He scratched his head that was not itching. "I, I, uhm-i..." he suddenly coughed. "I am Martin Derek, a writer. I have a letter for Mr. Antonio.""Martin Derek..." The woman drawled, looking at Eddy's messy red hair. His eyes were a brilliant shade of jade, shinning through the spectacles on the bridge of his nose. "You don't look like a 'Martin Derek'," she stated."W-what?" Eddy chuckled nervously. He adjusted the tie on
"How do we get in?" Damien asked.Eleanor had suggested that they try to get into the Huxton's site, but they needed to find a way in. How to bypass the security at the gate without drawing attention to themselves."Well," Eleanor said, chewing her pen cover under the watchful gazes of Damien and Eddy. "How about we use Eddy?""As a scapegoat?" Eddy asked, with wide eyes. "No, thank you! My boss would not eve-""I agree," Damien nodded, surprising Eddy who shook his head slowly."I knew it!" Eddy cried. "You hated me for a very long time. Now, you are gonna send me to my death."Eleanor smiled."Stop being fussy, Ed." She turned to him. "Nothing's gonna happen to you. I have a plan."Eddy slumped to his knees."She has a plan," he kept muttering."What's with him?" Eleanor asked, turning to Damien who simply smiled."He's fine…" he replied. "What's the plan?".*.*.*.Eddy was sweating. Every step he took was as if he was walking on pins to his demise.How did he let Eleanor and Damien
CHAPTER 56… WE MAKE A PRETTY GOOD COUPLE.*.*.*.*.*.When Eleanor got out of bed the next morning, breakfast had already been served in a tray and placed by her bedside.She yawned, stretched and got out of bed. After her shower and dressing up, she returned to the blue themed bedroom. It was large, about the same size of her bedroom back home.As she was about to sit and dig into the breakfast in the tray, a knock interrupted her."Door's open," She called, watching to see who would come in.Damien walked in. He had already bathed and was dressed in a pair of blue sweatpants, and yet, another thousand dollars Nike shoes."Did not think you would be up already," He said, pointing at her. "And I see you are already dressed up."Eleanor nodded."Hmmm. Good morning," She greeted and turned to her tray of food. "Care to join me for breakfast?" She asked, glancing at him before adding, "it's the least I could do to thank you for bringing me to such a comfortable room."Damien nodded."Enjo
CHAPTER 55… SAD NEWSDamien's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had expected Eleanor to be anything but not a hacker. He was tempted to tell her 'no', but as he looked into her eyes, he could see clearly, the unwavering determination that mirrored his own.Toni turned to Eleanor, her eyes widening in surprise."Can you do it?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of skepticism and hope.Eleanor nodded, a small smile playing on her lips."Yes, I'm a hacker too," she revealed, her tone filled with a quiet confidence. "I can break through that firewall, gather the information we need, and I'll also make sure to log out before the system can trace me."Toni's doubt did not fade away, but she let Eleanor take the seat, then she stood behind her."Let's see what we got here..." Eleanor drawled as she began tapping quickly on the keyboard. Her eyes stuck to the screen of the computer as she worked with a very clear mind.As for Damien, he found himself curious to see if she could really do
CHAPTER 54... A HACKER.*.*.*.*.*.The next morning, Damien looked out at the vibrant city of Spain, feeling a sense of nostalgia washing over him. It had been far too long since he last visited, but the familiarity tugged at his heartstrings, welcoming him back like an old friend.Eleanor sat quietly in the cab, her gaze fixed on the passing streets. Her mind was filled with thoughts as she observed the people around her. While many smiled and exchanged greetings, she could see glimpses of hidden struggles and doubts behind those cheerful facades. It saddened her to realize that there was often more beneath the surface than met the eye."We can finally move out of the hotel," Damien noted, pulling Eleanor's attention back to him as the driver kept driving. His voice was filled with a sense of relief. Curiosity sparked in Eleanor's eyes as she could not help but wonder. "Just how wealthy are you?" she asked, a faint smile playing on her lips.Damien shrugged casually, not giving too
CHAPTER 53… LOOKALIKE .*.*.*.*.*.The next morning, Selena came out of the house pulling a suitcase behind her. Behind her, Cassie was pulling another, and then Penny, who was carrying a lunch basket.Damien was already waiting for her in front of his car. When he saw her, he put his phone away and like a gentleman, reached for the suitcase in her hand.Eleanor hesitated and said, "You do not have to come along if you do not want to, you know."Damien hissed and pulled the suitcase out of her grip gently. "Firstly, I'm going on this trip because I want to. Secondly, I'm going because I have a meeting in Spain. And thirdly," He paused and flashed her a wink. "Let's leave that one for later.""If anything happens to her, you will not make it out of Spain alive!" Cassie yelled sternly.Damien stuck his head out of the trunk and smiled before returning it.Penny brought the bags and gave them to him before going back to bid her goodbyes to Eleanor and returning into the car.The kids we