Chapter 4

Back in Lily's room, I quietly packed up all our documents and some essential items.

Just as I lay down, ready to hug Lily to sleep, I heard footsteps stop by the bed.

"Still mad at me, hmm?"

Eleanor's cool voice drifted into my ears. She sat on the edge of the bed, speaking softly.

"Leo, I only arranged that kidnapping to fool you because I was worried you'd get jealous and cause trouble for Spencer. Besides, Jolene's my friend. They wouldn't *think* of hurting you."

The woman sounded utterly convinced, as if she were showing off how well she'd protected me.

But if she'd bothered to truly look at me, she'd have seen that there wasn't a single uninjured spot on my entire body.

I reluctantly looked away, deliberately keeping my distance, and asked calmly,

"So, from now on, I'm supposed to be their punching bag, and let Spencer be Lily's stepdad, right?"

Sensing my attitude, Eleanor clearly lost the last shred of her patience, though she didn't overtly erupt.

"Don't say such unpleasant things. If Lily calls Spencer her stepdad, people will talk even *more*. I'm just having a wedding with him so people won't spread rumors about him seducing me."

She thought my words were unpleasant because I called Spencer a stepdad, not because I called myself a punching bag…

I'd heard enough of her pointless excuses and couldn't be bothered to respond.

Eleanor, finding herself ignored, scanned the room with a puzzled expression.

"Why are you packing? Where are you going?"

I was just trying to come up with an excuse when Spencer's phone call suddenly came through. His piteous, crying voice was audible.

"Eleanor, Leo came back and immediately posted about me online, saying I stole his wife, saying I'm shameless, ruining the peace of the family, and even forcing me to leave…"

"Please, beg him for me. Spencer really knows he was wrong. I'll never mention having a wedding again. If I offended him today, I'll go out and kneel to apologize right now. Please don't make me leave…"

Eleanor opened the link Spencer had sent, her eyebrows knitting together.

The post was from an account with my profile picture, every word a threat against Spencer.

I was about to explain, but a sharp slap landed on my cheek out of nowhere.

"Spencer grew up in an orphanage, with no parents. And you tell him to get out?! How is he supposed to live alone?! You think too highly of yourself!"

With that, Eleanor walked out, trying hard to control her anger, while using the gentlest tone to comfort Spencer.

The immense contrast left me stunned.

I wondered, when she threw me to the kidnappers all those years ago, did she ever think about how *I* was supposed to live alone?

Did she ever worry if I'd run into any danger?

I forced a bitter laugh, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth, but my heart had long since grown numb.

I spent the night sitting there, patting my restless daughter with one hand.

The next morning, Eleanor knocked a few times on the bedroom door, then spoke in a commanding tone.

"Spencer specially prepared a yacht party for you. First, to apologize, and second, to welcome you back. Hurry and bring Lily downstairs."

The time had come. Finally… this was about to end.