hapter 125
Chapter 125
The moment Walter and Franklin turned toward her, Eliana quickly pulled down her scarf to reveal her face and greeted them politely, “It’s very NICH TO
meet you both
“Well now, aren’t you a breath of fresh air!” Walter grinned.
“You’ve got yourself a real gem here, Daniel,” Franklin added with a chuckle.
The two men exchanged a look, still no grandkids of their own, and then shook their heads in mock defeat, half laughing, half–sighing.
Daniel puffed up with pride. “I’ve always had good taste. Ever since she married into the family, Theodore’s eyesight came back. Now tell me that’s not a
miracle.”
“A miracle for sure!”
Walter and Franklin looked at Eliana like she was a living good–luck charm, making her feel more than a little awkward.
“And another thing…” Daniel launched into a glowing monologue about Eliana’s virtues, making her sound like a woman straight out of legend. He finished with, “If only the two of them would hurry up and give us a baby!”
“Better get on with it!” the men agreed.
Eliana could barely take it anymore. They were now tossing around potential baby names. She quickly glanced at Theodore for help.
Amused, Theodore turned to Daniel. “Alright, Grandpa, maybe it’s time we head back?”
“So soon?” Daniel looked surprised. But when he noticed Eliana sniffle a little, he gave in with a nod. “Alright, let’s go.”
As they made their way down, Eliana asked, “Theodore, who exactly were those men?”
“Mr. Walter Reeves and Mr. Franklin Doyle,” he said calmly. “They were Grandpa’s comrades back in the day. Both of them are high–ranking generals
now.”
“What?” Eliana’s eyes widened. “Did I do anything inappropriate just now?”
Theodore smiled at her gently. “Relax. You did great.”
Further down the trail, they reached a narrow, icy stretch where the path could only fit two people side by side. Theodore kept a firm grip on Eliana’s hand, but she still slipped on the snow and nearly tumbled toward the edge.
Thankfully, he caught her just in time. She could’ve fallen right into the ditch below.
Once he had her steady again, he leaned down and asked, “You okay?”
“Yeah, just a little shaken.”
She looked off to the side, still catching her breath. “Why is there a pit down there? If I fell, I probably would’ve broken something.”
He gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her. “I’d never let you fall.”
“Mm.” She nestled into his arms, feeling safe in a way that warmed her more than any coat.
But that warmth turned cold the second they stepped through the doors of Willowmere Hall.
“Anthony, I told you she needs to leave!” Margaret’s voice rang out from the foyer.
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“But Grandmi, Anthony pleaded, “am I not your grandson too? Why can’t you welcome nie the same way you welcome Theadore 1.
You’re Welcome here, Margaret snapped. “But you shouldn’t have brought her with you?
Just then, she caught sight of Theodore and Eliana walking in. Her expression hardened even more as she turned to Alice, “You. Out. You’re not welcome here
Alice turned ghostly pale and staggered. She looked helplessly at Anthony.
ཡིག པ ད ན པ ད པ པ ས ས ས ས ས ས ས དེ དེ ན ན ན ན
He caught her waist and said, voice full of concern, “Grandma, Alice hasn’t been feeling well, but she insisted on coming to see you both for Christmas. Please, just let her stay.”
Margaret opened her mouth to argue, but Alice’s face suddenly went pale. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed before anyone could catch her.
Anthony immediately lifted her into his arms. Glancing down at her pale face, he turned to Margaret. “I’m sorry, Grandma. I’ll take her upstairs to rest and come back to apologize properly.”
What else could Margaret say? As much as she wanted Alice gone, she couldn’t very well throw out an unconscious guest. That would be beyond undignified.
As Anthony carried Alice up the stairs, he crossed paths with Theodore, Eliana, and a very displeased–looking Daniel.
He gave Daniel a respectful “Grandpa,” nodded quickly to Theodore and Eli
and then disappeared down the hall toward the guest rooms.
Margaret let out a long sigh. “He’s completely lost his mind.” She wasn’t as fond of Anthony as she was of Theodore, but she still considered him family.
“Let them stay,” Daniel said with a wave of his hand. “It’s not like they’re going to cause a riot.”
In the guest room, Anthony carried Alice into the bathroom and placed her inside the bathtub. “Alright,” he said, standing over her. “You can open your eyes now.”
Alice blinked, confused to find herself sitting in the tub. “Anthony, what are you doing?”
“You want to stay here, don’t you?” he said coldly. “This is the only way. Just hold still.”
He turned on the shower, cranked the temperature to freezing, and pointed it directly at her.
In an instant, icy water crashed down over her head, soaking her hair and dress in seconds.
This wasn’t just cold. It was humiliating. Alice had never been treated like this in her life.
She let out a terrified cry. “Please… Anthony, stop! I’m freezing… I’ll die like this!”
Anthony pinned her back with one hand and held the showerhead high with the other so she couldn’t escape the spray. “No, you won’t. People are tougher than you think. You know what got me through it when I was a kid?
“When everyone bullied me, shoved my head into a toilet, called me names because I was born to a mistress?”
His eyes locked onto hers, which were bloodshot from the cold. “Hatred. That’s what kept me going. When you have that inside you, you’ll survive anything.”
Alice curled into herself, hugging her knees as tears mixed with the freezing water, and thinking, ‘This… this is who Anthony really is? I trusted a monster!
After a while, a knock came at the door. Anthony shut off the water and stood “Stay in there a little longer. If you’re actually sick, they’ll feel too guilty to kick you out.”
The icy water covered her up to her neck. She could barely breathe, and for a moment, she truly wished she could just pass out.
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Elliot’s voice called out from outside, “Anthony, I brought your luggage.”
Anthony opened the door. “Thanks,” he said.
Elliot stepped forward, intending to bring the suitcase inside, but Anthony quickly blocked him. “Alice is resting,” he said with a polite smile. “I’ll take it
from here.”
“Alright.” Ellict gave a casual glance into the room, only to realize the bed was empty.
Frowning, he scratched his head and walked off, heading straight to Merlin. “Grandpa?”
“Yes?” Merlin asked without looking up.
“I just dropped off Anthony’s suitcase,” Elliot said slowly. “But Alice wasn’t on the bed like he said. Do you think… I should tell Mr. Russell?”
