85%
45
Chapter 78
Felix couldn’t help but wonder what Ellie and Samuel had been talking about earlier. Now, it seemed like Samuel was trying to steal Ellie’s attention away from him.
“Come on, he’s the big brother,” Felix muttered under his breath “Why can’t let me have this seat?”
Samuel rolled his eyes dramatically, thinking it was funny how Felix suddenly remembered their birth order now, when just moments ago his younger brother’d been scratching and hitting him without a care.
“Have you ever respected me as your big brother?” Samuel quipped, not missing a beat. “You’ve got to show me some respect before I can shower you with brotherly love.”
Andrew frowned as he watched Felix’s hand creep towards Samuel’s hair, clearly gearing up for another round of
roughhousing. Before thing’s could escalate, he intervened, “Why don’t you switch places with Dylan, Felix? Come sit next to me instead.”
The dining table was rectangular. Andrew sat at the head, with Eleanor and Samuel on his right, and Dylan and Gloria on his left.
Dylan seemed unfazed by the earlier scene as if he hadn’t witnessed it at all. He calmly stood up and said, “Sure, Felix, you can take my seat.” He then moved to sit on Gloria’s other side.
Felix slumped into the chair across from Eleanor, his face a storm cloud. He snatched up a lobster and chomped off its head with a savage crunch. The way he tore into it, one would think it was Samuel’s noggin he was imagining between his teeth.
Samuel, for his part, played it cool. A smug little grin tugged at the corners of his mouth as he tucked into his meal, clearly riding high. Whether it was getting one over on Felix or something else entirely, he was visibly pleased.
Dylan focused on his meal, his eyes downcast. But beneath his calm exterior, a flicker of suspicion darkened his gaze.
He recalled Gloria’s tearful phone call, complaining about unexplained hostility and how Andrew and Felix, once so fond of her, now gave her the cold shoulder. At the time, he’d found it hard to believe. But after today’s events, he was beginning to see his newly found sister in a different light.
‘She’s got game,’ Dylan mused, chewing thoughtfully. Turning Samuel from critic to ally in record time? That takes some serious manipulation skills. No wonder Gloria doesn’t stand a chance against her.
Just then, a servant came rushing in. “Ms. Eleanor, there’s someone here to see you.”
Eleanor blinked in surprise. “To see me?” It was already dark outside. She wondered who could be looking for her at this hour.
The servant nodded. “Yes, it’s a young man. He looks to be about twenty years old and he’s specifically asking for you.”
–
‘A twenty years old guy?‘ Eleanor only knew one who fit that description – Stephen. But if it really was him, the maid would’ve recognized him and let him in without announcing them.
Gloria, who had been silent until now, was already fuming after seeing Samuel take Eleanor’s side. Hearing about an unknown man coming to see Eleanor, she saw her chance and pounced.
Feigning surprise, Gloria said, “Eleanor, is this a friend you’ve made outside? You’re so popular. Unlike me, raised with such strict rules that I wouldn’t dare befriend strange boys on my own
Eleanor rolled her eyes so hard she could practically see her brain. The garlic lobster in her mouth suddenly soured.
Gloria’s little performance was just short of pointing at Eleanor’s forehead and calling her promiscuous.
1/3
09:59 Wed, Nov 6
Chapter 78
BB
85%
+5
“Did he mention his name?” Eleanor asked.
The servant suddenly remembered and replied, “Oh yes, he said his last name was Anderson.”
‘Anderson?‘ Eleanor’s heart skipped a beat. ‘It’s Ross!‘ Excitement surged through her veins. She leaped to her feet, her chair screeching against the floor. Nightgown swished around her ankles, and she bolted from the room like a shot.
The others at the dining table were left staring at each other in bewilderment.
Ross hadn’t made it back in time. He’d been busy handling various matters since returning to the country, only to realize Eleanor had already completed her University Admissions Testing.
In fact, Ross felt a bit guiltily for not being there. He’d been absent from a major milestone in her life, and he couldn’t shake the nagging worry that she might have felt let down.
The evening air was still, broken only by a sudden, cheerful cry. “Ross!”
Ross turned to see a small figure in pajamas racing towards him. She was like a whirlwind of energy and excitement. In a flash, she had thrown herself into his arms.
For a moment, it felt as if his whole world had brightened. The next instant, his little sister crashed into his embrace, bringing with her the faint scent of shampoo.
“Ross, what are you doing here?” Eleanor exclaimed, surprised and delighted. She hadn’t seen Ross since they parted at the school assembly.
Ross affectionately ruffled her hair. Instead of answering her question, he gently scolded, “Why are you running so fast? What if you’d fallen?” His words were reproachful, but his tone was full of tenderness.
Without hesitation, Eleanor blurted out, “I’m not scared. You’ll always protect me.” His words rippled through the air like a stone tossed into a calm pond, creating waves of tension.
Ross swallowed hard and whispered softly, “I’ll protect you. Always, only you.”
His voice was so faint, carried away by the night breeze, that Eleanor couldn’t quite catch it. She instinctively asked, “What did you just say?”
Ross gazed into her clear eyes and smiled, “Nothing.”
Eleanor was clearly unconvinced. She was certain she’d heard him speak.
“Ellie, I have a graduation gift for you. Want to see if you like it?” Ross said, seemingly changing the subject. He handed her a carefully wrapped box that had been set aside. It was light, and its contents were a mystery.
“What’s this?” Eleanor instantly forgot her intended question, turning her attention to the box in her hands with curiosity,
“Why don’t you open it and see?” Ross suggested.
Eleanor carefully opened the gift box, her eyes widening in awe at the dazzling contents. “Is this a dress?”
“It’s an evening gown,” Ross explained. “Now that you’re pursuing acting, you’ll likely attend many important events. It’s always good to be prepared.”
Deep down, Ross knew that Eleanor, as a member of the prestigious Vanderbilt family, would never want for elegant evening wear. But he had his own selfish reasons – he wanted to see Eleanor wearing something he had given her.
By any measure, this was an exquisitely luxurious evening gown Crafted from priceless opalescent fabric that shimmered
2/3
n
Chapter 78
even in the darkness, it was further adorned with a scattering of lustrous pearls, lending the entire garment an air of graceful elegance.
Eleanor was captivated by the gown, unable to take her eyes off it as she examined every detail. Suddenly, her gaze caught on a familiar mark tucked away in a discreet spot. [K]
It was common practice for designers to leave their personal signature in an inconspicuous place on their creations. This served dual purposes – protecting their intellectual property and providing a distinctive hallmark of their work.
鱼
