As Anathea stared at Xander, surprise flickered in her eyes.
Natalie stumbled and fell to the floor, shaking her head desperately at Eleanor. It was as if she was telling her that she really didn’t push Anathea.
“You’re lying!” Eleanor shoved Xander away so hard he nearly fell
Martin caught him just in time, but the sudden movement made Xander burst into tears. “Grandma’s so scary! It was Ms. Whitman who pushed Mom-
”
“Shut up!” Eleanor’s finger jabbed sharply at Xander’s nose, her nails nearly scratching him. “You little liar! Who told you to say that? It must’ve been Anathea, right?”
“No one did! I saw it with my own eyes!” Xander rebuked while crying.
“On that day, Mr. Xander was flying a kite in Ms. Eleanor’s yard the whole time. He couldn’t have run into Ms. Anathea,” Martin said, pulling out a broken kite with its string snapped.
“The kite snapped and fell, so Mr. Xander went looking for it. That’s when he happened to walk into the attic and saw Natalie and Ms. Anathea arguing.”
“Not arguing. Natalie attacked Anathea,” Gregory corrected him coldly. His gaze was sharp as it locked on Natalie, as if he wanted to shatter her with it.
Natalie shrank under his icy stare. She lowered her head and trembled uncontrollably.
“Even if Anathea didn’t ask him to lie, he’s just making things up!” Eleanor refused to give up.
“He’s barely six years old. How much could he possibly lie?” Gregory shot back. “If you insist on doubting things, then let’s bring Xander and take it up with Grandpa.”
Eleanor’s breath hitched. She clenched her fingers tightly.
“What’s wrong? Weren’t you all set on having Grandpa sort this out?” Gregory smirked. “Now that there’s an extra witness, why aren’t you heading out right away? But let me remind you. Once Grandpa gets involved, this won’t end so easily. You should think it through.”
Eleanor’s gaze wavered. She took a small step back, as if her footing had faltered.
Holden quickly caught her, whispering, “Yeah, Eleanor. You know how Dad’s temper is. He’s always sided with that brat. Besides, Natalie’s just a goddaughter. Is she worth risking everything over?
“No matter how much of a pain that brat is, he’s still our son. Don’t you get it? Blood’s thicker than water.”
Eleanor froze, looking at Holden with a complicated expression.
While she hesitated, Gregory started slowly, “My demands are simple. First, all of Sinclair Group’s assets in Natalie’s hands must be taken back, including her position and projects in the company.
“Second, all Sinclair family property under her name must be reclaimed, including her houses and cars in Castenea. And finally, Natalie must apologize on her knees to Anathea for everything she’s done.”
Apologize on her knees.
Those four words hit Natalie like the sky crashing down on her.
No way would she ever apologize to that woman on her knees.
And if Gregory took back all the assets and resources she got from the Sinclair family, she would be left with nothing.
She absolutely refused. Despite the cloth gag in Natalie’s mouth, she cried out and looked pleadingly at Eleanor with red eyes.
Chapter 446
+25 BONUS
She pinned her last hope on Eleanor.
If everything Gregory said was true, then Eleanor was her birth mother. What kind of mother would abandon her own daughter? Didn’t Eleanor just go head–to–head with Gregory for her just moments ago? If she could do it once, she could do it again.
Natalie wanted Eleanor to save her again.
But Eleanor stood frozen, no longer emotionally charged like earlier. She looked like she was weighing something deeply before finally lifting her gaze toward Natalie.
Natalie was stunned. She recognized that look all too well.
