Chapter 6

Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at Jennifer’s words. She sneered inwardly, "Find a good man for me? She's ridiculous."

She watched Gregory and Jennifer depart, fully aware of the venom lacing Jennifer's pronouncements. Jennifer was always so adept at putting on a show. Before Eleanor's imprisonment, Jennifer had played the perfect stepmother, showering her with gifts and feigned kindness. Everyone who saw them together believed Jennifer to be the world's best stepmother—loving, caring, and always prioritizing Eleanor's needs.

Even three years ago, when Alexis had framed her and everything had fallen apart, Jennifer had maintained the charade of a supportive and heartbroken stepmother. Even though her biological daughter was the culprit, Jennifer ensured a flawless performance for the public. She acted the part, portraying herself as a mother who loved her children equally.

Had she not spent those three years in prison, Eleanor might still have been naive enough to believe Jennifer genuinely cared. But after meeting a fellow inmate, she'd seen the truth—what they'd called love was merely backhanded flattery.

Out in the world, people had labeled Eleanor a spoiled, unreasonable princess, someone who believed the world revolved around her. From a young age, she'd used her privileged position to bully the weak, venting her frustrations on the staff and targeting less fortunate girls at school. Even among wealthy peers, she'd feigned sweetness while privately speaking ill of them.

Three years ago, Eleanor hadn't given those rumors a second thought, dismissing them as jealous lies. But once incarcerated, the truth struck her with brutal force. Jennifer had leveraged Eleanor's "bad reputation" to elevate Alexis, constructing Alexis's image by dismantling Eleanor's, turning her into the villain while portraying Alexis as a saint.

Now, with Jennifer offering to find her a suitable husband, Eleanor recognized the scheme—a maneuver to prevent her from disrupting Alexis's wedding plans. Eleanor snorted in disgust. She was certain this "good man" would be anything but. Given Jennifer's calculating nature, there was no telling how low she'd stoop to find someone for Eleanor.

Back in her room, Eleanor sat quietly by the window, lost in thought. She watched the birds fly past, the rain falling softly, and inhaled the thick air heavy with the scent of soil and grass.

Every time she thought of Dominick calling her disgusting, it felt as though her heart were being crushed in a vise. Eleanor clenched her fists, a fiery glint in her eyes. "You said I was disgusting? Fine. This is just the beginning," she whispered to herself.

"Alexis, you want to marry Dominick so badly, don't you? You've schemed for so long to take everything from me. You think I'm just going to stand by and let you play me for a fool? I won't let you have your way, not for a second," she vowed silently.

Soon, news of Dominick taking Alexis to the mall to select engagement rings spread like wildfire. Countless women in town envied Alexis for capturing such a powerful man, their jealousy practically suffocating them. The media buzzed with reports of their impending engagement. Dominick, the ultimate golden bachelor, had a reputation for being untouchable. Women rarely dared to flirt with him, well aware of his ruthlessness.

Once, a high-society woman had attempted to drug him, hoping to seduce him. Not only did she fail, but her family crumbled, and she ended up working as a hostess in a club, a far cry from her privileged life.

"I heard that ring's worth over a million dollars. I can't imagine affording a ring that expensive in my whole life," a maid whispered.

Another maid added, "Mr. Vanderbilt really treats Ms. Foster well. It's just too bad about her legs. Otherwise, they'd be the perfect couple—a match made in heaven."

"It's all Eleanor's fault. If she hadn't pushed Ms. Foster, her legs would still be fine. Three years in prison was way too easy on her," someone else chimed in.

Eleanor, lacking a phone, learned of their ring shopping from the servants' gossip. Eric had even tried to cut off her food supply, but Eleanor no longer cared about dignity. Since the Reed family wouldn't feed her, she would find a way to feed herself—whether it was through Gregory's questionable morals or the staff's leftovers; as long as it filled her stomach, she would accept it.

Chapter 7

She spent the entire day holed up in her room, meticulously crafting her plan. She thought with hatred, "Dominick thinks Alexis is disgusting, does he? Well, I'm curious how he feels after sleeping with the woman he despises. As for Alexis, she likes pretending to be weak and forgiving. Let's see if she can maintain that act when I've had my way with Dominick."

But before enacting her plan, Eleanor decided to wait until she'd recovered from her injuries and had time to gather information. She learned that Dominick and Alexis were planning to attend the Johnson family party.

The Johnson family brought back memories of Rachel Johnson, Eleanor's best friend. After Eleanor's arrest, she hadn't seen or heard from Rachel. Now, she was no longer the princess she once was, and she wasn't even sure if Rachel would still want to be her friend, but she had to try.

When Eric wasn't paying attention, Eleanor slipped out and found a nearby internet cafe. Using the last of her savings, she accessed a computer. Her phone had long been confiscated, along with all her contacts. The only way to reach anyone from her past was through Skype.

Rachel and Eleanor had been close schoolmates. Rachel had always looked out for Eleanor and even warned her about Jennifer and Alexis. At the time, Eleanor had felt it was overprotective, but now… it was too late.

Eleanor hadn't logged into her account in over three years. After searching, she finally found Rachel, who happened to be online, and quickly typed a message.

Rachel: Holy crap, is this for real? Did you hack this account or something?

Eleanor: [Rachel, it's me, Eleanor. I'm back.]

Rachel: OMG! It's really you, Ellie? I heard you were released, and I've been trying to figure out how to get in touch with you!

Eleanor felt her chest tighten as she read the message. After all this time, Rachel was the first person to reach out. She quickly replied.

Eleanor: [Rachel, I need your help. Can I meet you now?]

Rachel: Where are you? I'll come.

Eleanor told her to meet at their high school. Then, she logged off and rushed over. Her stomach churned with nerves. She wasn't sure how Rachel would react after seeing her. Will she look down on me for serving time? Will she still want anything to do with me? she wondered.