Chapter 445
Eleanor quickly caught on and softened her expression to soothe ander. “Xander, don’t cry. I’m here. Nobody’s going to hurt you, okay? You don’t have to be scared.“.
Gradually, Xander calmed down and buried his face in Eleanor’s embrace.
As Anathea watched him behave so well in front of Eleanor, her gaze dropped.
Of course. Xander had been raised by Eleanor for five years. Day after day, his loyalty had completely shifted to her. That was why he felt distant from Anathea.
This was exactly Eleanor’s plan all along. She knew Gregory’s flaws. He was never one for fatherly affection. So all she had to do was get rid of Anathea. She wanted Xander to turn against Anathea and side with her and Natalie so she could finally drive Anathea out of the Sinclair family.
Anathea turned her head away, refusing to look at Xander.
He had sworn he would protect her, but now he had thrown himself into Eleanor’s arms like it meant nothing
Promises from kids, just like those from adults, were meaningless.
As Eleanor comforted Xander, a smirk tugged at her lips. Once his breathing evened out, she bent down and asked softly,” Xandy, can I ask you something? Did you go up to the attic that day?”
At her words, Xander’s voice choked up, and he shook his head repeatedly. “I didn’t see anything…”
“Xander, it’s okay. Don’t be scared.” Eleanor quickly patted his back and softened her voice. “I’m here to protect you. No one can hurt you. So you just have to tell me the truth about what you saw that day, okay?”
“I–I…” Xander sobbed quietly, glancing nervously at Gregory, then at Natalie.
Natalie put on her best pitiful look. Her eyes were wide and hopeful as she waited for Xander’s answer.
She had always spoiled Xander, and he had always admired her and liked to stick by her side. He even wanted to learn skiing
with her.
He had even said he wanted her to be his mother, which meant she still mattered a great deal to him.
Xander hesitated. He lowered his head in fear, unable to speak.
His struggle to find words only made Eleanor more certain. Xander must have seen the truth but was too scared to speak under Gregory’s pressure.
If only Xander would say what he saw that day, it would prove Natalie’s innocence once and for all. Everything was Anathea’s setup. She had staged the fall herself.
Swallowing her aversion, Eleanor wiped Xander’s nose with her bare hand. She put on a tender and patient look as she coaxed him, “Xander, listen. With me here, you don’t have to fear anything. I promise, no matter what you say, I’ll stand up for you. Nobody will ever bully you, okay?”
Xander finally nodded. “Okay…”
“Good boy,” Eleanor said, then shot a pointed glance at Gregory with a hint of triumph.
It was as if she was saying, “Bet you never thought your own son would stab you in the back one day.”
Gregory’s expression remained cold and unreadable. He simply told Xander, “Go on.”
Eleanor waited eagerly, and Natalie held her breath.
Meanwhile, Anathea curled her fingers tensely.
Xander stopped sniffling and slowly spoke up. “I–I saw Ms. Whitman push Mom…”
Thunder rumbled in the distance like a bomb going off.
Eleanor froze as if struck by lightning. Her eyes widened in shock. What did you say?”
Xander pointed at Natalie again and repeated, “I saw it with my own eyes. Ms. Whitman pushed Mom down the stairs! She’s the reason I don’t have a sister anymore!”
