Chapter 32

Eleanor suddenly stopped talking halfway through her sentence. She then flashed a smile. “Say, do you want to waveshog with me?”

Sebastian was confused.

In the inpatient ward upstairs, Brenda sat beside the hospital bed, looking at Maurice with concern. “Mo, how are you feeling? I only managed to come now because work’s been keeping me busy.”

Maurice gave her a gentle smile. “I’m feeling much better. I can already walk. Bren, thank you for coming here these past few days.”

Brenda leaned into him, snuggling against his arm. “You’re my husband. Taking care of you is my duty as a wife. As long as you get better soon, I’ll be happy.”

Maurice loved when women depended on him, and Brenda knew it well. So, she always acted fragile and helpless in front of him. Maurice was instantly moved. It was late at night, and the memory of their last time together still lingered. He brushed his hand over Brenda’s cheek, lowering his head to kiss her.

“But I’m sorry, Ma,” Brenda suddenly said.

“Why are you apologizing out of nowhere?” Maurice asked, still feeling touched.

Brenda bit her lip, looking guilty. “The other day, Mallory came over to our place. I was busy packing your things for the hospital, so I left her on her own. I didn’t think she’d go through our drawers and find the hospital record of Ella’s surgery. She stole it.”

Marie’s face darkened instantly. “What did you say? She took that record? She didn’t make it public, did she?”

Brenda averted her gaze. “I already reprimanded her. She never got along with Elle back in high school. When she saw that hospital record, she thought it would be a good way to teach Elle a lesson. So, she revealed it at her birthday party.”

She already made it public? Maurice immediately reached for his phone, unable to imagine what kind of backlash Eleanor might be facing. He had never wanted to destroy her like this! Brenda hadn’t expected Maurice to react so strongly. She quickly added, “B–But Elle denied it, and everyone believed her. It didn’t cause any damage to her at all.”

Maurice let out a breath of relief at first, but then anger flared in him at the thought of Eleanor denying it. “That smooth-talking Leder way out again!” he thought.

“It’s a good thing Elle isn’t affected. Otherwise, I’d feel terrible. But still, how could Elle have ever had a child? Mo, where did that document even come from?” Frenda asked cautiously. Maurice’s emotions had been on a rollercoaster in the span of a few minutes. He fell silent for a moment before saying coolly, “It’s nothing, Bren. I’m tired. I want to sleep. You should go…”

A dangerous glint flashed through Brenda’s eyes. She had suspected in her past life that Maurice had some lingering feelings for Eleanor. Now, she was certain about it. He had held onto such a massive secret about Eleanor, yet he never exposed it, even when she crushed him in their previous life. If Brenda hadn’t opened that drawer and accidentally seen it that day, she never would have known Eleanor had such a past. Even Maurice had fallen for Eleanor. He was just another one of her admirers.

Brenda’s heart burned with hatred. Maurice had ruined her in her past life. No matter what, he had to be hers.

She clutched Maurice’s clothes, tears welling in her eyes. “Mu, are you mad at me? I’m so sorry. From now on, I’ll keep a closer watch on my friends. I won’t ever let them rummage through our home again. I’ll apologize to Elle. This is all my fault.”

She turned, acting as if she wanted to leave. Maurice had always been weak against her tears. He quickly grabbed her and softened his tone. “Bren, it’s not your fault. I know what Mallory is like. She’s out of control. No one can rein her in.” Brenda continued crying. Maurice licked his lips and finally said, “That document was sent to me by the court seven years ago.”