Chapter 7

“Ellie!” Rachel called, her voice brimming with excitement. After three years apart, Rachel hadn’t changed a bit. Still the same stylish woman in her trendy long dress, she rushed to hug Eleanor the moment she saw her.

“Rachel,” Eleanor managed, hugging her tightly and trying to control her tears. “It’s been forever.”

“Silly girl, why didn’t you tell me what happened?” Rachel asked.

After their emotional reunion, they found a cozy café near campus. Rachel didn’t need to ask to know Eleanor had suffered; her pale, exhausted face spoke volumes. Rachel dismissed the rumors about Eleanor hunting Alexis.

Glaring at Eleanor with a mixture of frustration and concern, Rachel snapped, “Didn’t I warn you not to let your guard down around Jennifer and Alexis? Look what happened! Do you even know how horrible the things people have been saying about you since this mess started?”

Rachel had tried several times to visit Eleanor in prison, but her parents had forbidden it, terrified of alerting Alexis or, worse, Dominick.

“I didn’t see it coming either,” Eleanor replied with a bitter smile. Being betrayed by those closest to her was a nightmare no one could prepare for.

Eleanor wasted no time, outlining her plan with unwavering determination. Locking eyes with Rachel, she said firmly, “I won’t let Alexis win. Even if Dominick despises me now, she’s not getting her claws into him.”

“Ellie, have you lost your mind? Remember what happened to that rich girl who tried to drug Dominick? That man is a devil in a designer suit. You’re playing with fire!”

“With his schemes and power, you can’t fight him. He once gave you everything, but in the end, he sent you to prison. If you try to…”

“I’ve got nothing left to lose,” Eleanor interrupted, shaking her head. “And besides, I still love him. If I can’t… sleep with him one more time, I’ll regret it.”

“Wait… one more time?” Rachel stared, wide-eyed.

Eleanor’s cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded. “Yeah… You know, that time he was drugged.”

Rachel’s jaw dropped, but after a moment, she sighed. Pulling a brand-new phone from her bag, she slid it across the table. “Here, take this. I just got it, but you need it more. I’ll help you with your plan. Just wait for my call.”

Eleanor accepted the phone without ceremony, and their conversation shifted to lighter topics.

Two days later, Eleanor received a text from Rachel. Taking a deep breath, she slipped out of the house while Eric was distracted. Jennifer hadn’t been bluffing when she said she’d find Eleanor a suitable partner. Over the past few days, Eleanor had observed Jennifer’s parade of “candidates”—all of them terrible.

There was the seemingly polite man with a history of domestic violence; the innocent-acting creep; and the ultimate mama’s boy whose mother was a nightmare. Every single one was a deadbeat. Marrying any of them would be a death sentence for her future.

Eleanor smirked coldly. She knew Jennifer and Alexis would stop at nothing to ruin her. If she didn’t act first, they would ensure she ended up in the worst possible situation. Regardless of Dominick’s current feelings, Eleanor was certain: a woman as vile and conniving as Alexis had no right to…

Taking a deep breath, Eleanor slipped into the waitress uniform Rachel had provided, ready to execute her plan. She intended to drug Dominick and sleep with him, ensuring the whole world knew about it. She’d arranged for a swarm of reporters to get the scoop.

Online chatter had long forgotten Eleanor, the woman Dominick once treated like a queen. All anyone discussed was Alexis, his supposed love. Nobody seemed to remember Eleanor was the one who’d actually dated him.

Eleanor knew this would cause a storm. The internet would rip her apart, calling her shameless. Alexis had already warned her to stay away, but a woman who’d survived prison wouldn’t crumble over a few insults. She’d heard and suffered far worse. Besides, she wasn’t the “other woman”—she’d been with Dominick from the start.

Her chest tightened as she recalled the night before her arrest. Drugged, Dominick had lost control and slept with her. She’d been naive enough to believe that night would bring them closer. The next day, she’d walked straight into Alexis’s trap. Dominick had stood there, cold as ice, watching her get taken away, as if their wild night never happened. His eyes showed no remorse, only disdain.

Snapping back to the present, Eleanor stared at her wine. Carefully, she added the drug she’d saved painstakingly to acquire. Through gritted teeth, she muttered, “Dominick Vanderbalt, you bastard. Call me disgusting? Fine, let’s see how disgusted I can make you.”

The event was held at the Johnson family home, and with Rachel’s help, everything was proceeding according to plan. Eleanor remained in the shadows, her eyes fixed on the spiked drink. When Dominick picked it up and took a sip, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Rachel, stunning in a designer gown, appeared moments later. She handed Eleanor a key card, whispering, “He’s in the room. Just be careful.”

“Dear, I owe you so much,” Eleanor said earnestly. She knew her plan wouldn’t have gone so smoothly without Rachel’s help.

Rachel, however, looked at Eleanor with a mixture of helplessness and worry. She knew how risky Eleanor’s plan was, but Eleanor was determined.

“Cut it out, girl. Remember, I didn’t do anything tonight. I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I sure as hell didn’t help you,” Rachel said lightly.

Eleanor gripped the key card, nodded resolutely, and darted off before Rachel could say more.

Watching her friend disappear, Rachel sighed. She had no idea if she’d just helped Eleanor get revenge or walked her straight into disaster.

Turning to leave, she froze. Two of Dominick’s men stood behind her, their expressions unreadable, their presence menacing. Her stomach dropped, and she instinctively turned to flee.

“Let go of me! Touch me again, and I’ll scream harassment!” she hissed, yanking her arm.

Bruce grabbed Rachel’s arm, smirking faintly. “Before you start yelling, Ms. Johnson, you should think about how to explain this to Mr. Vanderbilt,” he said icily. “Or better yet, how to stop him from turning his wrath on the entire Johnson family. Trying to pull something like this on him? I respect your courage…”

Rachel’s face paled. “What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean,” she stammered, staring at the two men in disbelief.

Bruce tightened his grip, steering her toward a quieter corner. His tone was casual, almost too calm. “You know exactly what I mean, Ms. Johnson. No need to play dumb with me.”