Not sure what Mia Winslow said on the other end of the line, but Adrian Grant looked at Eleanor Winslow, who was staring at him with wide eyes, and said: "She’s still resting."
Adrian then responded with an "Mm," and hung up the phone.
Eleanor carefully observed his expression but found no hint of guilt on his face.
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn around and tell Mia Winslow that you’re deceiving her?" Eleanor was quite curious.
She smiled faintly, as if threatening Adrian Grant.
"How do you plan to tell her?" Adrian asked indifferently.
Eleanor thought for a moment: "I’ll immediately open the door and tell her, oh! I wasn’t sleeping at all, I wasn’t resting at all, it’s Adrian Grant who’s deceiving you! Guess how Mia Winslow would react?"
In the end, Eleanor’s words carried a slightly malicious tone.
Adrian’s eyes flashed with amusement, as if educating a child: "Zia Winslow, these little tricks don’t work much on her; she’s more composed than you."
The smile on Eleanor’s face faded, turning into disinterest.
Adrian was quite right; even when she had told Mia that Adrian might be seeing someone else, Mia had remained calm and negotiated conditions with her.
"You’re quite understanding of my overbearing sister," Eleanor said sarcastically.
Without waiting for his reaction, Eleanor struggled to sit up.
Adrian’s attention seemed to have always been on her, immediately supporting her.
"Bathroom? Let me help you."
Saying that, the man’s arm had already slipped under her knees, ready to carry her to the restroom.
"No! I’m not going!" She definitely didn’t need his help to use the bathroom!
Eleanor straightened up and said, "Let them in."
The group outside was getting impatient and looking sulky, but as soon as the hospital room door opened, they put on smiles, changing expressions faster than flipping a book.
Except for Mia Winslow.
Because just a few minutes ago, Mia had heard Adrian say Eleanor was still resting!
So, Eleanor wasn’t actually resting; he had been deceiving her!
The sense of crisis in Mia’s heart grew stronger, as she repeatedly glanced at Adrian, only to find that his attention was firmly on Eleanor.
As expected, throughout the entire time, Mia acted as if she was a caring eldest sister to Eleanor, as if the phone call hadn’t happened at all. The others also donned a facade of concern for her health.
Third Aunt Grant was probably on guard when Eleanor didn’t accompany Jesse Grant, speaking brazenly in front of Eleanor, yet meek as a quail before Adrian.
"Jesse originally wanted to visit his sister-in-law too, but he got into a conflict at a banquet with some hapless kid, and got injured, so he’s stuck at the old mansion with Old Madam, recuperating. We ask for your understanding." Follow current novᴇls on novel⚑fire.net
Eleanor looked at Adrian.
"He’s not seriously hurt." Adrian responded calmly to Third Aunt Grant, "I was the one who hit him, but I knew how hard to strike."
"You?" Third Aunt Grant’s expression was indescribably rich, torn between being indignant for her son and not daring to offend Adrian.
Third Uncle Grant was the first to react, pulling his wife to silence her, smiling at Adrian: "I know what kind of person my son is; he must have made a mistake, and as an elder brother, it’s only right for you to educate him."
Adrian didn’t bother to respond.
"Eleanor, you still need to take care of yourself. What happened today frightened Old Madam Grant. It was supposed to be a happy occasion..." Mia Winslow expressed concern for Eleanor on the surface, but her words held a double meaning, with no apparent faults.
Eleanor looked at her indifferently: "Adrian isn’t blaming me, Old Madam Grant isn’t blaming me, but you seem quite wise in criticizing me for causing trouble at an inopportune time."
"I, I didn’t mean it that way!" Mia looked at Eleanor with wounded eyes.
Eleanor sneered, finding their acting dull, thinking they were merely disturbing her rest!
"I had an acute allergic reaction; before the incident, I drank lemonade with raw peanuts added," Eleanor looked at Third Aunt Grant and asked, "Why would there be raw peanuts in the lemonade?"
The tea party at Old Madam Grant’s birthday banquet had been organized by Third Aunt Grant.
Eleanor wasn’t allergic to roasted peanuts, only raw ones, and raw peanuts are rarely used in beverages.
"Eleanor, you don’t suspect me, do you?" Third Aunt Grant got agitated, glancing at Jeanette Grant, and pointed at her, "That drink was given to you by Jeanette!"
The members of the second family immediately shielded their daughter: "Our Jeanette just randomly picked a glass of lemonade; don’t make wild accusations!"
The two sides started arguing, fearing Adrian would pin the blame on them.
"Eleanor, believe me, your mother and I were friends for years; I’d never want to harm you!" Third Aunt Grant tried to grab Eleanor’s hand.
Previously, she had said everywhere that Eleanor wasn’t good enough for her son, and now she claimed to be lifelong friends with her mother, it was truly nauseating!
Eleanor subconsciously shrunk back, and Adrian was the first to stand between her and Third Aunt Grant, his gaze sharp.
Reluctantly, Third Aunt Grant backed off, not daring to touch Eleanor.
Why was Adrian guarding so strictly against a woman like her?!
Wait, since when did Adrian care so much about Eleanor?!
When Third Uncle Grant started to explain, Adrian said, "The butler checked the kitchen; no raw peanuts were found."
The fact that Eleanor was allergic to raw peanuts wasn’t widely known, including to other members of the Grant Family, but Adrian had specifically instructed the kitchen not to allow such things.
"Then... am I the only suspect left?" Jeanette pointed at herself, looking around helplessly.
"I trust it’s not you," Eleanor said.
"Eleanor..." Jeanette immediately teared up.
Touched by Eleanor’s trust, Jeanette rushed over to hug her, but was stopped by Adrian’s stern warning look, standing there like a gatekeeper.
"Eleanor, to be honest, even my mom asked me secretly if I drugged you, you’re the only one who believes me!"
Crying earnestly with snot and tears, Jeanette looked pathetic, making Eleanor want to laugh but she held it in.
Seeing Jeanette, the only suspect earlier, Eleanor was reminded of herself five years ago when everyone thought she was responsible for Mia’s serious hand injury; back then, there were no other suspects.
At that time, how she wished someone would come forward and tell everyone: I believe in Eleanor, Eleanor didn’t do it!
Unfortunately, no one did.
"Eleanor, you, you believe in my daughter?" Second Aunt Grant was overjoyed.
Her daughter and Eleanor weren’t even friends; just yesterday, they had an argument!
Eleanor spoke honestly: "If I had been given laxatives today, I might suspect you. But an acute allergen... it’s not something I think you could orchestrate."
Why did she feel like Eleanor was insinuating she was dumb?
"Sister, what do you think about this matter?" Eleanor suddenly turned to Mia, who had been silent the entire time.