Chapter 88
Eloise froze. This was her parents” old house. The pomegranate tree that William mentioned grew in the yard. But wait, didn’t Jacob say they to demolish it today?
in?” he asked.
William placed a key in her hand and smiled. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked.
were going
Eloise stared at the key, her mind racing. “H–How How do you have the key? It was with Jacob. He said he was going to tear down the house. He-“A thought struck her. “Did you buy the house from him?”
“That’s right, I bought it,” William said, smiling
Eloise was stunned. Jacob intended to use this house to punish her. How could he possibly have sold it to William?
“But why would he sell it to you?” she asked
“It’s simple,” William replied. “If he wanted to seal a deal on the partnership between Kilbourne Group and Robinson Group, he had to sell the house to
Eloise blinked. So, William had used the partnership between the two companies to get her house back.
William, hands in his pockets, glanced at the old house. “How about we move in here?” he suggested.
Eloise’s emotions surged. She’d thought she’d made a mistake beyond repair, but William had fixed it for her. Her mistake had felt like a constant, open wound in her heart. But William had stopped the bleeding, helped it heal, and let the scar fall away without a trace.
Without a word, she tumed and hugged William tightly,
“What do y
you say? Do you want to move in here?” William asked.
“It’s a wreck,” Eloise said. “Can we even live here?”
“I bet there’s hidden treasure inside,” William teased, putting her arm around her.
Eloise stood on her tiptoes and kissed his chin. “You’re going to be disappointed. It’s been completely cleared out.”
“There’s gotta be something.” William said playfully.
Eloise chuckled. “Well, I hope you find it.”
Then, she opened the gate and pulled William into the yard. Neglected for ages, the yard was overgrown with weeds, and moss crept up the walls. Most of the pomegranates on the tree had burst open and been picked clean by birds
The front door lock was rusted, and the key wouldn’t work, so Eloise had William break it with a stone. As they pushed the door open, a cloud of dust rose into the air. When the light streamed in, the house looked cold and empty.
Eloise remembered the house full of furniture when it was sold. The buyers had cleared everything out and planned a full renovation, but they’d ended up moving abroad with their kids and never touched it. It was such a waste,
The house was a typical ‘80s design–an open space in the center, bedrooms on either side, stairs at the back, and a kitchen located beneath the stairs. Years of exposure to wind and rain had left the wooden doors and windows rotted.
Eloise tried opening a bedroom door, but it barely took a push before it collapsed with a loud thud, raising a cloud of dust that covered her face. She coughed twice and glanced back at William, who had been inspecting the house.
The moment he saw her, he burst into laughter.
Eloise shot him a glare, huffed, and went outside to wash the dust off her face.
Splashing water on her face, Eloise heard a commotion at the corner store next door, run by one of the alley’s oldest residents. When the neighbors found out that Eloise had bought the house back, they excitedly called everyone over to congratulate her.
“Your mother was so kind,” one of them said. “Whenever anyone got sick, young or old, she’d always help, sometimes even bringing over medicine.” “Ellie, do you remember when you were little? Your mom was often busy, so she’d leave you at my place. I used to look after you,” another chimed in. loved playing with my youngest,” another added, “She was so smart. She’d always finish her schoolwork and then help my kid with his.”
The neighbors‘ voices overlapped, surrounding Eloise with their fond memories. A wave of warmth washed over her. They had been there for her after her mother’s death, offering help and support. She’d never forget their kindness.
Back in the yard, before she even reached the door, William called out to her.
“What is it?” she asked, heading inside.
“I found treasure!” William exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement, malding Eloise curious. He was in the room where she used to stay. When she entered, she found him crouched in a commeE,
“What are you looking at?” Eloise asked.
“A princess on stilts.” William grinned.
