Up on the second floor, after shutting the door, Jonathan turned back, only to realize the bedroom was already empty of Eleanor.
His attention shifted to the window left wide open, and his expression darkened.
She moved more quickly than he expected. Not even fear of falling seemed to stop her.
Dropping down from the second floor, Eleanor landed badly and twisted her ankle. The rose bushes below tore into her hand, and blood seeped out. Even so, she rushed toward the back building, determined not to be seen.
"Eleanor?"
The harder she tried to stay out of sight, the worse things became.
A sharp, taunting voice sounded behind her, and she recognized it instantly without turning.
Closing the distance in a few brisk steps, Jenna stopped right in front of Eleanor and looked her over from head to toe.
"What were you doing? You didn't even bring Shawn his breakfast this morning. Were you out messing around instead? He can't satisfy you, so you couldn't handle it anymore?"
Jenna never acknowledged Eleanor as family, and every word she spoke dripped with mockery and disdain.
Eleanor halted in place and raised her eyes to meet Jenna's.
Her attention landed on the container Jenna carried, and she reached out her hand. "Give it to me. I'll take it to him."
That submissive tone only made Jenna more arrogant.
"Nothing to say for yourself? In my opinion, Shawn should've thrown you out a long time ago," Jenna said with a sneer.
Moving closer, she studied Eleanor's slightly disheveled appearance and the bruises on her body, her eyes narrowing. "You really went off to see another man, didn't you? If you ever betray Shawn, you won't walk away from it."
Since Shawn became crippled, his personality had grown harsh and cruel. Even Jenna, his own sister, was sometimes rebuked, and Eleanor fared far worse.
"If you have time to gossip about me, you should worry about keeping your own affairs hidden before your fiancé from the Dixon family finds out."
Without paying Jenna attention, Eleanor took the container and started walking toward Shawn's room.
Anger flared instantly, and Jenna lunged forward to seize Eleanor's wrist.
"You shameless bitch, how dare you talk to me like that? The Dixon family doesn't matter to me. I have no intention of marrying into them!"
She lifted her hand and swung it toward Eleanor.
Before the strike could land, Eleanor seized her wrist firmly, locking it in place no matter how much Jenna tried to pull free.
"You..." Jenna shook with fury. "Eleanor, let go of me!"
Jonathan had already ruined Eleanor's mood earlier, and now Jenna's attitude only pushed her closer to her limit. Instead of releasing her, she tugged Jenna forward.
Lowering her voice, Eleanor spoke with a slow, husky edge that carried a clear warning. "Jenna, since I'm married into this family, let me remind you of something. Robert is planning to work with the Dixon family, so whether you accept it or not, you're going to marry into that household. Instead of letting your engagement fall apart because of your behavior, you should focus on keeping those men of yours hidden. Otherwise, once Robert loses his temper, you won't be able to handle the consequences."
After saying that, Eleanor shoved her away.
Caught off guard in her heels, Jenna staggered backward several steps before dropping onto a nearby garden bench.
Anger flared up inside her.
She lifted her head, ready to fire back, but the moment her eyes met Eleanor's cold stare, an unexplainable hesitation crept in.
Something about Eleanor felt different, and she couldn't ignore it.
Even so, her pride wouldn't allow her to back down.
Springing up from the bench, she fixed Eleanor with a harsh glare.
"Eleanor, who do you think you are? You're nothing but a purchased bride, someone from a bankrupt family, yet you talk to me like you have any standing here. Just because you married into the Fletcher family doesn't make you my sister-in-law. Stop fooling yourself."
"Whether you like it or not, I'm legally married to Shawn. You don't have to acknowledge me, but as long as there's no divorce, I am your sister-in-law."
"Once Shawn gets better, he'll throw you out sooner or later!"
"I wouldn't mind that at all."
With a brief sideways glance at Jenna, Eleanor turned and walked out of the garden.
After breaking away from Jenna, Eleanor turned the corner and ran straight into Jonathan, who had come downstairs in casual clothes.
She couldn't say a word.
Jonathan really wouldn't let her go. Even after she escaped from his room, he still caught up.
Her eyes swept the area. Luckily, the garden was empty, and Jenna hadn't come after her.
"Mr. Fletcher."
The words felt forced as Eleanor spoke.
Right after addressing him, she moved to walk past.
Yet as she stepped by, his hand shot out and caught her wrist.
"That's not what you called me last night in bed."
His voice sounded relaxed, almost careless, yet it sent her pulse racing uncontrollably.
Instinctively, she checked her surroundings again, only easing up once she was sure no one else was around.
Noticing her unease, Jonathan let out a mocking laugh. "You climbed into my bed, and now you're rushing off to take care of that useless man? You're really something."
"Enough!"
Hearing him humiliate her like that, Eleanor finally snapped.
She knew she had drunk too much last night, and she accepted that mistake.
However, Jonathan had been completely sober, and he could've turned her away.
Now he stood there acting like he had been forced into this, and it only made things worse.
"Jonathan, let's act like nothing happened last night. You wouldn't want trouble with the Fletcher family right after coming back, would you?"
Taking a steady breath, Eleanor tried to keep her voice calm and reason things out.
But the instant she finished speaking, Jonathan's face turned even colder.
His gaze locked onto her with a sharp intensity, and without warning, he bent down, slid an arm beneath her knees, and lifted her into his arms.
"Jonathan!" Eleanor's face went pale as she cried out in shock.
