Chapter 15

In the corner of the room, something glinted faintly—a screw, likely left by the guards when they boarded the windows. Without hesitation, she grabbed it. Clenching her jaw, she worked at the wooden planks, her hands blistering against the sharp edges. After much effort, the boards groaned and gave way, creating a gap just wide enough.

She peeked outside; the downstairs area was empty. Swallowing back tears, she pushed the window open and swung herself through. The moment her feet left the ledge, she plummeted, landing with a muffled thud in the bushes below. Pain shot through her ankle, sharp and searing, but she had no time to tend to it. Scrambling to her feet, she limped toward the gate.

The moonlight was cruelly bright, illuminating every shadow. As Eleanor stumbled from the villa, her heart sank. At the gate stood a tall figure—Dominick. His broad shoulders and commanding presence were unmistakable.

He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto hers with a mocking glint. His lips curved into a cold, contemptuous smirk, and Eleanor felt her defiance crumble. Her voice wavered as she whispered, "Dominick…"

"Eleanor," he drawled, the derision in his voice sharp. "I knew you wouldn't stay put. That promise to attend the wedding was a lie, wasn't it?"

Eleanor stood frozen. "You're here to take me back, aren't you?"

Dominick didn't answer. Instead, he strode toward her with predatory grace, his hand shooting out to grip her jaw, forcing her face upward. The sharp pain made her gasp. His eyes flickered with loathing as he studied her, then, without warning, he shoved her away. "Your face makes me sick!"

Eleanor hit the ground hard, the impact sending a fresh wave of pain through her body. Before she could process the humiliation, she saw him pull out his phone and call the Reed family.

"Wait!" she shouted, forcing herself upright despite the agony. "Dominick, wait!"

His fingers hovered over the screen, pausing. He glanced at her, mildly intrigued by her audacity.

"Tell me," she demanded, her voice raw with desperation. "Why are you so determined to force me to marry someone else? Did you forget I was once yours? Or does that mean nothing to you?"

Dominick laughed coldly. "That's precisely why I want you gone. You were once mine, Eleanor. And the thought disgusts me."

Eleanor's chest tightened, but she refused to yield. Instead, she let out a bitter laugh. "I see. And Alexis doesn't disgust you, does she?"

"You're not even worthy of comparison to Alexis," he said icily. "You'll never measure up to a single strand of her hair." Eleanor's fists clenched, fury coursing through her veins. She glared at him, spitting out her words with venom, "You're a jerk, Dominick. I've never met anyone as pathetically stupid as you."

Dominick let out a snort and dialed Gregory. Hearing of Eleanor's escape, Gregory was shocked. Moments later, the entire family rushed out.

Gregory spotted Eleanor sprawled on the ground, his face contorting with rage. Without a word, he stormed over and slapped her twice. "You brat! You've been nothing but trouble since the day you were born! How could I have raised something as wretched as you?"

Eleanor's cheek stung, but she met his anger with a chilling smirk. "You tell me. I'd love to know how I ended up cursed with a father like you." Gregory was shaking, his fury boiling over.

Nearby, Dominick stood silently, his expression unreadable. Jennifer tugged at Gregory's sleeve, giving him a wary glance. Gregory quickly turned to Dominick, his anger extinguished as he fumbled for amends. "Mr. Vandertali, this is entirely our fault. We should have kept a closer eye on her. I assure you, it won't happen again."

Dominick waved off his apology. "Make sure she stays put." Without another glance at Eleanor, he turned and walked away.

Eleanor glared at Dominick for a moment, then jerked her head away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break. Gregory stormed toward her, ready to kick her. "Get up and come with me, you little—"

Jennifer interrupted, stepping between them. She crouched, pretending to help Eleanor up. "Ellie, come on, let's go back…"

Without changing her expression, Eleanor coldly replied, "Move."

Jennifer, having no real intention of helping, instantly pulled back her hand. Biting her lip, Eleanor pushed herself upright and hobbled back toward the room. Every step was agony, but she refused to let them see her crumble. Not them, not anyone.

After her escape attempt, the guards tightened their grip, but she stubbornly refused to beg.

Weeks soon vanished, and the day of the dreaded wedding arrived. Early that morning, the door to Eleanor's room swung open. "Ellie, time to get you ready for your big day?"

Eleanor lay there, unmoving, gaunt and pale from days without food or water. Her lips were cracked, her eyes dull. She lacked the energy to try, let alone fight. Alexis, however, was practically glowing with malicious glee.

A parade of maids wheeled makeup kits and gowns into her room. Alexis stood there, pretending to adjust Eleanor's tattered clothes. In a low voice, dripping with malice, she murmured, "Look at you, you pathetic thing. This is what happens when you go up against us. You see that now, don't you?"

Eleanor met Alexis's calm gaze. Without warning, she lifted her hand and slapped Alexis across the face. The sound echoed in the room like a whip.

Alexis was stunned. For a moment, she couldn't process what had just happened. She thought, In this state, she can still fight. "I know you're here to fight. You think you've won, but let me remind you, Dominick and Gregory aren't here right now. No one's protecting you," Eleanor said, her voice cold and steady despite her exhaustion.

Rage boiled beneath Alexis's polished exterior, her nails digging into her palms. She hadn't expected Eleanor to still possess such fight. For a split second, she raised her hand, ready to strike back.

"You can try," Eleanor said, staring straight at her with icy determination. "Go ahead. But before you do, think about the fallout. You lay a finger on me today, and what do you think will happen?"

Alexis's hand stopped in mid-air. She hesitated, her jaw tightening as anger simmered. Gritting her teeth, she dropped her hand and turned to the maids. "Get in here. Start dressing her up."

The maids filed in, their arms laden with cosmetics and clothes. Eleanor watched the scene unfold and couldn't help but chuckle. "Really, Alexis? You think I'm such a threat? You can't even let me leave this room for makeup!"

Alexis's smile was sweet, but the venom in her tone was unmistakable. "Ellie, after everything you've done, I'm just making sure you don't make another mistake. After all, getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime event, isn't it? Especially to a husband handpicked by Dominick himself."

Eleanor's expression didn't waver. She warned, "Don't get too full of yourself, Alexis. You think you're Dominick's exception! One day, you'll get a taste of your own medicine. And trust me, your downfall will be even uglier."

Alexis laughed bitterly. "Please, I'm nothing like you, Eleanor. Between us, the one destined for misery will always be you, always."