He knew that the old man didn’t like Eleanor Hollis, but he didn’t expect him to do that.
Eleanor suddenly didn’t know what to say. She indeed had thoughts of retreating; she wasn’t a saint. If a relationship is denied by everyone, is there still a need to insist?
But looking at Hugo Quinn and Marcus in front of her, she felt a great surge of courage.
"I don’t want you to be in a tough spot with the old man."
Hugo suddenly grabbed her hand.
"There’s nothing difficult about it, I’ll handle everything."
Marcus sat beside them, occasionally glancing at Hugo and then at Eleanor, before speaking softly.
Eleanor’s face immediately turned red. She gave Hugo a playful glare and then served Marcus some food.
"Eat, eat, are you hungry?"
Marcus nodded, not understanding where they found so much to talk about.
After dinner, Eleanor’s phone rang; it was Nicholas Hollis calling.
Eleanor really didn’t want to have anything to do with the Hollis Family, but Nicholas seemed to never give up on wanting her to join the family.
She rubbed her brow and pressed the answer button.
"Eleanor, I heard you injured the old man. His status is noble. If you continue to stay with the Quinton Family, you’ll suffer in the future. You’d better come over, the Hollis Family will protect you."
Nicholas was shocked when he knew the old man was hospitalized and couldn’t wait to have Eleanor return to the Quinton Family.
Annoyance clouded Eleanor’s heart; she really didn’t understand this person’s way of thinking. When they abandoned her, they hesitated not at all, and now to take her back, wouldn’t it be too late?
"Mr. Hollis, you should know Mrs. Lynch doesn’t like me. You surely don’t want the Hollis Family to be shaky because of me, right?"
Nicholas paused, a flash of hurt in his eyes.
"Eleanor, you are my daughter. Returning to the Hollis Family is right, no one will trouble you. I’ve already discussed with Stella; she also agreed."
Would Rachel Lynch agree? Eleanor considered the possibility that it was just a delaying tactic.
"Do you truly want me to return to the Hollis Family?"
She thought of the current situation. Perhaps she shouldn’t let Hugo bear everything. If she returned to the Hollis Family, gained some support, it might help her in the future. She didn’t want to be a woman constantly protected by Hugo; that seemed disgraceful.
Nicholas’s eyes flashed with a hint of light.
"Are you willing to come back?"
Eleanor tightened her grip on her phone and spoke slowly.
"Mr. Hollis, I must remind you of one thing. If I return to the Hollis Family, Mrs. Lynch and your beloved daughter will surely do everything they can to drive me out. At that time, who will you stand by? If you resolutely believe in them, then there’s no need for me to return. I’m just a rural girl with no means to withstand such dirty tricks."
Nicholas’s breath caught; had his daughter come to distrust the Hollis Family to this extent?
"Eleanor, don’t worry, I won’t be partial to any side."
Eleanor’s lips curved into a smile; well, then let’s go back. It’s better to strive for some things at the Hollis Family than to decay in Hugo’s villa.
After all, she was a member of the Hollis Family—was she really willing to let everything fall into Anna’s hands?
In the evening, Eleanor told Hugo about this matter. Seeing Hugo fall silent, she hurried to hug him.
"I’m not agreeing to go to the Hollis Family to escape, Hugo. I just don’t want to be your dependent parasitic plant. I hope we are equal; you can protect me once, twice, but can you protect me for a year, two years? I want to become stronger, more confident. I am the Hollis Family’s daughter, and since Anna hates me so much, the Hollis Family’s assets absolutely shouldn’t entirely fall to her."
It was the first time Hugo saw Eleanor so fierce. He initially felt a bit angry, thinking she was choosing to go to the Hollis Family to escape.
But hearing her explanation, his heart softened.
"Alright, go ahead, don’t let anyone bully you."
Eleanor already had a complete plan in her mind. The ones in the Hollis Family favorable to her were Nicholas and just one old man.
She only needed to grasp these two and fully exploit their guilt towards her.
"I know, no one will bully me."
The next morning, a car from the Hollis Family was parked outside the villa. Eleanor moved her luggage in, and seeing Nicholas inside, she curved her lips.
"Mr. Hollis, morning."
Until now, she was still unwilling to call him Dad.
Nicholas knew patience was needed here and could only manage a wry smile.
The car quickly left, eventually stopping in front of the Hollis Family’s villa.
Heaven knows how unwilling Rachel and Anna were upon hearing Eleanor had agreed to return; but early in the morning, Nicholas went to fetch Eleanor, leaving them no room for discussion.
Eleanor stepped out of the car with her suitcase, meeting the two waiting outside the villa, her face lighting up with a smile. For more chapters visıt 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
"Anna, Mrs. Lynch, morning."
She acted very friendly, at least in Nicholas’s view.
But Anna and Rachel stiffened, unable to fake a smile—this wretched girl must be pretending.
Nicholas frowned discontentedly, "Eleanor is talking to you. Anna, Stella, you should at least respond; it’s very disrespectful otherwise."
Anna suppressed her anger. Seeing Eleanor’s smile made her want to tear her apart, but Rachel gently tugged at her sleeve, signaling that now was not the time to act recklessly, lest they fall into Eleanor’s trap.
"Sister, you’re finally back, and the house has prepared a meal."
Eleanor raised an eyebrow; isn’t acting what she does too?
"Thank you, we’re all family, no need to be so formal. Let’s go inside, Dad, has my room been cleared?"
It was her first time calling him Dad, instantly irritating Anna—who was this wretched woman calling Dad?
"Eleanor Hollis?! Who is your father?! I’ll tell you, just because you entered this house, don’t think we’ll acknowledge you! You’ll be out sooner or later!!"
Eleanor seemed startled by her shout, stepping back and her eyes instantly growing red as she apologized in Nicholas’s direction.
"It was my slip of the tongue, Mr. Hollis."
Nicholas barely had time to be happy before hearing Eleanor say that, glaring angrily at Anna.
"This is my daughter; how can that be false? Anna, I know your temper, but since your sister returned home, even if you’re displeased, you’ll have to endure it."
He took Eleanor’s suitcase and opened the living room door.
Anna was shaking with anger, ready to go up and tear Eleanor apart.
But before she finished her words, she was harshly pulled back by Rachel.