Turns out the bastard wasn't far after all."Everything that we ever owned and are contending for belongs to Eleanor, mother! Are you so heartless!?" Penny screamed furiously.Precisely how thoughtless was this mother of hers?The previous night, before consideration of coming to face Alexander, she had snuck into the household study. There, she found many unexpected revelations.The manor, the red Empire, the imperial casino, the Sino bar, and all the other businesses that her parents were battling blades and utterances for belonged to Eleanor.Alexander was unexpectedly violent. He lifted his hand and was about to slap Penny, but Elaine was quick to hold him back."Patience, my love. Patience! You wouldn't want to ruin her twenty million and a collaboration face!" Elaine said and Alexander dropped his hand reluctantly.Penny, on the other hand, was confused. Twenty million and a collaboration face? What on Earth was that supposed to mean?Elaine turned to her daughter with a smile.
She retrieved her head and opened the door wide enough for her to pass. Penny carried her suitcase on her head while she tiptoed towards Grandma Cindy's section.She couldn't follow the main entrance as someone might see her, so, Grandma Cindy's back entrance was the most favorable option.She didn't want to risk being seen. Only God knew what Alexander would do to her.Penny told soundless but quick steps and soon she was at the entrance. She grabbed a single key from her pant pockets and unlocked the door. The door opened and Penny stepped out and closed it behind her.Once she was on the road, she quickly hailed a cab and gave an address. Entering into the safety of the moving cab, Penny finally removed the hoodie from her head and let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.Turning to look at the disappearing mansion behind her, tears rolled down her cheek. She felt bad going away from home but she would never regret it.***"It's high time you get married, Damien,"
Penny broke into hard sobs and her body was now quivering under the impact of her tears."Mother and father always made me believe you were a bad person and..." She paused to sniffle. "I believed them. I always did what they said because I thought they were right. I've been a fool and I just realized it. I'm so sorry, Eleanor. Please forgive me!"Angered and yet confused, Eleanor's heart tightened in concern for the crying girl. Standing up, she tried pulling Penny by the shoulder."Stand up, Penny. I have no grudges against you at all." she whispered.That was the truth. She had never harboured any ill feelings against the girl. When Alexander had brought in his mistress and her child, she had actually disliked the child. Then it dawned on her that the child was not at fault, she didn't chose to be born to a cheating couple.Eleanor stopped hating on the girl and transferred her aggression to Elaine and Alexander. She had tried everything she could to become a big sister to the gulli
The morning sun dropped its glorious beauty like showers of rain. The sky was bright and without a trace of gloominess to be found in it.Penny woke up feeling happy. Her heart, for some reason, felt inexplicably light. It was as if she slept on clouds. The atmosphere around her was simply... perfect.But, it was not so for the McKinleys..."Alexander, she is not in her room!" A frantic Elaine screamed in fear as she ran down the stairs.Her daughter was nowhere to be found.Alexander abruptly stood up from the couch. "What!?" he walked to Elaine, "Are you sure about that?"Elaine nodded tearfully. "I searched her room, closet, and bathroom, but she was not in anyone."A frown found its way to Alexander's face. Earlier, when Elaine made mention of Penny not being in the mansion, he had taken it to be one of her useless pranks. It seemed she was serious after all."Did she mention going anywhere to you at any time?" He asked.Elaine shook her head. "She did not. We had a chat yesterday
After breakfast, Penny went out to see a friend while Eleanor returned to her room. She thought she would go through some emails Jonathan had sent some days back before she leaves for the Anderson family villa.It was an hour to noon when Cassie walked into her room to remind her of her date with some guy.Cassie had pressured her some weeks back to give the guy a chance. Eleanor didn't even have an idea who the guy was, so, it was more of a blind lunch date.Eleanor frowned and whined as she closed her laptop. She swirled her chair to face Cassie who was rummaging through her closet, looking for 'God knows what'.Cassie hissed."You promised, El! A promise!" Cassie reminded.Eleanor bit her lips as realization hit her. She had made a promise and she wasn't going to break it. It was definitely not her style: breaking promises."Not like I'm gonna have to listen to anything he says, so..." She muttered under her breath but she knew that Cassie had heard her loud and clear.Cassie prete
"Grandma?" Eleanor called gently.The old woman's eyes instantly snapped open while the other two finally realized another presence in the room.Becca who sat on the other couch screamed, "She's here!"Grandma Sophie stood up excitedly and stretched her arms. "Eleanor? Is that really you?" Eleanor nodded and fell into the old woman's warm embrace. "Yes, grandma. It's me. I missed you!""Oh, child." Grandma Sophie laughed loudly.Becca frowned when the duo didn't break from each other for a while. "Ahem!" She cleared her throat, "Hello! We're not invisible!"The other woman by her side who looked alot like her giggled and said, "You actually are invincible, Becca."Becca turned to her sister and pinched her. "Bella, you're only jealous because Eleanor loves me more than you!""That's not true!" Bella retorted. She turned to the old lady and said, "Grandma, see that?"Eleanor laughed and pulled the two into her arms. "I love you both. The same!"Becca felt satisfied. She stuck her ton
When Eleanor arrived at the cozy coffee shop, she stood at the entrance. Her eyes scanned the entire time for her 'date'. She had no idea who or what he was. Cassie had only told her he wore glasses and had brown hair.Heaven knows how many guys with brown hair with glasses in New York City.As she looked, she finally noticed a man waving to her from his seat in a corner.Eleanor quickly assessed him.Brown hair, check.Glasses, check.Clutching her purse tightly, she walked to where he sat.She could turn around and leave, but that would be a waste of time. She might as well just deal with it now that she was here.Eleanor almost rolled her eyes at the thought of spending an hour or two with a total stranger.When she got to the table, she looked at the man who was standing and looking at her with a wide grin on his face."Hello" He greeted politely.Eleanor now regretted why she hadn
When Eleanor woke up, the kids were no longer in the room with her. She was least bit worried since Becca and Bella were infatuated with twins like them.Eleanor took a quick glance around the room as she folded into a sitting position. The room was not as big as her bedroom at home but it was warm and cozy. The royal blue and white colour tone of the room did not come off as a surprise to her as she knew about her mother's obsession to those colours. Guess it was in the genes after all; she and Tasha had that obsession.After taking a hot water shower, she put on her favorite leather pants and decided to tour the closet since she hadn't seen it.Eleanor noticed a small door at a corner of the room. It was hardly noticeable as it had been painted to blend so perfectly with the royal blue wall surrounding its area. She thought for a while what lies behind the door. After a minute, she decided to push it open and was surprised to find it unlocked.'Hmm' she thought and took a few steps
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