"Compared to you, life is indeed much better."
Eleanor Hollis’s lips curved slightly, exuding confidence.
Grace Lynch looked at her with jealousy in her eyes.
Previously, Eleanor was just a pitiful figure in the Quinton Family; Grace had completely dismissed her. Who would have thought that this person would end up taking everything that belonged to her?
"Eleanor Hollis, let’s make a deal. You get me out of prison, and I’ll tell you this secret. How about it?"
Grace was done with the small talk. She wanted freedom and didn’t want to stay in this dark place any longer. As long as there was freedom, there was hope.
Eleanor raised her eyebrows, thinking Grace considered her a fool. Letting her out would only release a potential danger.
"Grace Lynch, you know exactly what you’ve done in the past. Letting you out would only cause trouble, and I won’t agree to that."
With that, she stood up, giving the impression that she wasn’t interested in hearing the secret at all.
Grace suddenly called out hoarsely, clenching her fists tightly.
"Don’t you want to know who Marcus’s biological mother really is? I’m telling you, only I know this secret. If you leave today, you’ll never know the truth about the child’s real mother!"
Eleanor paused in her steps. Marcus wasn’t Grace’s child?
Then whose could he be...
She slowly turned around, seeing the determined expression on Grace’s face, realizing she was probably telling the truth. Eleanor slowly sat back down, her face composed.
"You know, getting you out is very difficult."
After all, the criminal record remained, and she had no power or authority. Even if she wanted to agree, she’d have to consult Hugo Quinn first.
"Eleanor Hollis, isn’t Hugo completely charmed by you now? Just talk to him. Once I’m out, I’ll immediately tell you that woman’s name."
Grace’s face was full of confidence. Eleanor cared so much about Hugo, she bet Eleanor would be curious—curious about the real woman who had once been with Hugo!
Eleanor pondered for a moment, then stood up.
"I’ll discuss it with him, but don’t get your hopes up. The three of us are doing well together now. No matter whose child Marcus is, I’ll treat him well."
Grace’s lips curled into a mocking smile, "I didn’t know you had the potential to raise someone else’s child."
Eleanor didn’t respond to her and promptly left the place.
Once in the car, her mind was chaotic. From the way Grace spoke, Marcus really might not be Hugo’s child. Then whose could he be?
Which woman could be so fortunate to have been with Hugo...
She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and then returned to the villa.
Standing outside the villa, she caught the scent of food wafting through the air. She opened the living room door and saw the father and son watching TV together.
"Mommy, you’re back!"
Marcus quickly ran over and placed her bag to the side.
"Dad said to wait for you to have dinner together. He wouldn’t let me start without you. Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner."
Marcus’s tone was full of complaint as he touched his stomach, seeming hungry.
Eleanor hurried to the washroom to wash her hands and then sat at the dining table.
Hugo and Marcus were discussing going skiing, with no disagreements between the two.
Eleanor was a novice at skiing and didn’t add much to the conversation.
After lying in bed at night, she tossed and turned, her brows furrowed.
"What’s wrong? Are you bothered?"
Seeing her , Hugo quickly pulled her into his arms.
Eleanor replied sullenly, "Yeah, I went to see Grace today."
Hugo sighed. Grace was already in prison; why would she go to see her and upset herself?
"Did she say something?" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒·𝗇𝗲𝘁
Hugo guessed immediately, reaching out to rub her head.
"Grace said Marcus’s mother was someone else. Hugo, Grace’s methods have always been underhanded. Maybe Marcus really isn’t her child. She said she’d come out and tell us the real mother once she’s released."
Hugo’s face turned serious, his brows furrowed.
He worried Grace might be lying to deceive her. Eleanor had never been one to engage in mind games, and Grace was no match for her, or else she wouldn’t have been so bullied before.
"I’m very sure, Hugo. Don’t you want to know who Marcus’s real mother is?"
Of course he wanted to know, but one thing Hugo was sure of was that Marcus was definitely his child, as Marcus looked just too much like him.
If Grace was telling the truth, then that night, it must have been another woman.
His gaze lingered on Eleanor, and a bold guess formed in his mind, but then he shook his head.
Although he didn’t want to admit it, Eleanor and Nathaniel were in the same room at the time, and it was impossible for her to have come to his room.
Everything would have to wait for Grace to reveal the truth.
The next day, Grace received the news that Eleanor had agreed.
As she walked out of the prison, she saw the world covered in a pristine white and began laughing maniacally. Even the police’s words, "Behave yourself after getting out," fell on deaf ears as she stomped in the snow.
She actually had a day to come out again!
A look of malice appeared on her face as she stomped frantically in the snow.
She used the limited money in her bank card to book a flight out of the country for tonight, and at the moment of boarding, sent over the child’s mother’s name.
Eleanor looked at this unfamiliar name, unable to recall ever meeting this person.
When Hugo saw the name, his eyes flickered with a hint of recognition, but he and Serena were just classmates and had no interactions.
Neither had anticipated that this was a conspiracy by Grace and Serena.
In the days before Eleanor went to see Grace, Serena had already approached her. The deal was that she would scheme to give Grace freedom and take care of her life abroad, but Grace had to tell Eleanor and Hugo she was the child’s biological mother.
This plan was very risky, but Serena wanted to give it a try.
It wasn’t because she liked Hugo or wanted to marry into the Quinton Family; it was to get close to Eleanor.
There was something on Eleanor that she wanted.
Serena was found by Hugo’s people three days later.
She looked at the man and woman sitting before her and smirked.
"Long time no see, you’re still as handsome as ever. I remember your girlfriend wasn’t her at the time."
Her gaze lingered on Eleanor for a moment as she casually stirred the coffee in her cup.
Hugo and Eleanor carefully observed her, without speaking immediately.