CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR HUSBAND

Trevor Hawthorne called a secretary to escort Pearl Morgan home and find a pharmacy on the way to tend to her facial wounds.

Pearl is the only daughter of the Morgan Family, and her mother is from the Grant Family, so by relation, she should address Adrian Grant as uncle. Pearl initially believed that with her mother backing her through the Grant Family and Aunt Hawthorne supporting her through the Hawthorne Family, she wouldn’t be mistreated.

However, today’s grievances were caused by Eleanor Winslow and Blake Lockwood, with Adrian Grant and Trevor Hawthorne right there, yet she still had to suffer!

"Trevor Hawthorne, aren’t you seeing her off?" Blake Lockwood, ever the troublemaker, gestured towards Pearl Morgan, who was leaving in tears, "Isn’t she your mom’s precious one, her favored daughter-in-law?"

There were no others around, so Trevor Hawthorne sat back on the nearest sofa, sprawling comfortably, with one arm stretched out, in a very relaxed posture. He even loosened his tie a bit, expressing disdain for its tightness.

"Blake Lockwood, are you the head of The Bureau of Metaphysical Affairs? Can’t speak directly?" Trevor Hawthorne had less of the elegance Adrian Grant had and more of a wildness that emanated from him.

He moved impatiently, stretching his long legs, and the tip of his shoe lightly touched Blake Lockwood’s high heel, "Mrs. Hawthorne, instead of worrying about others, why not check on your husband hidden in some corner of your phone?"

Blake Lockwood: "..."

Block?

Blake Lockwood thought this was absolutely impossible!

"See, there’s no you in my blocked list." She immediately opened her contacts, revealing the blocked list to Trevor Hawthorne, "Although I’m unhappy seeing you return with another woman spending money and competing with me for things, this is because you embarrassed me, not—"

"Stop!" Trevor Hawthorne interrupted her suddenly, "The third one, it’s me."

"???" Blake Lockwood looked at the unfamiliar number, then confusedly at Trevor Hawthorne, "It’s you?"

Blake Lockwood then turned to Eleanor Winslow, seeking confirmation, "Isn’t this the guy who insisted on getting our numbers at the bar?"

"You guys?"

Eleanor felt the man’s gaze beside her suddenly grow sharp.

Adrian Grant glanced at her.

Which bar? Wanting to exchange numbers too?

"..." Eleanor felt a sudden surge of guilt, unexpectedly too filled with a sense of morality.

She tried to remind Blake Lockwood, "No, we gave a fake number back then."

"Oh." Blake Lockwood wasn’t feeling guilty like that.

She couldn’t believe she’d do something so ridiculous and immediately removed Trevor from the blocked list.

Then she received a live, face-to-face call from Trevor Hawthorne.

Blake Lockwood: "..."

Eleanor Winslow: "..."

It was so hard to defend her bestie.

Blake Lockwood gave an awkward laugh, "You can’t blame me. Trevor Hawthorne, you’ve been away for so long that I hardly know you—besides, I didn’t mind you taking what I love and giving it to another woman, yet you mind me putting you on the blocked list?"

In the second half of the sentence, Blake Lockwood grew particularly confident, almost ready to ’settle accounts if you keep minding.’

Trevor Hawthorne didn’t argue with women over such trivial matters and said, "I won’t be leaving for the time being, Mrs. Hawthorne. You’ll have a chance to get familiar with me."

"..." Blake Lockwood wasn’t quite prepared for a distant husband returning home, "I’m going out with Eleanor tonight, not coming home."

Trevor Hawthorne looked at Adrian Grant with a bit of playful banter, "Young Master Grant, is your wife not coming home too?"

The word "too" was used with exquisite finesse.

Clearly, Trevor Hawthorne had caught wind of the divorce rumors between Adrian Grant and Eleanor Winslow.

Adrian Grant showed no good expression, ignoring him.

"Eleanor, this is from your mother. You must keep it!" Jude Winslow said before leaving, handing her a sandalwood jewelry box containing a jade bead string, "And... I’m sorry..."

Originally, it was the Winslow Family’s agreement to retrieve the item, but eventually, Adrian Grant paid for it.

"It’s not you who needs to apologize," Eleanor recognized that Jude Winslow wasn’t at fault.

With Jude Winslow’s mindset, he might have only learned that day that Yvonne Vance and Mia Winslow had tampered with her mother’s relics.

At this point, Eleanor suddenly noticed a man in a suit who was the proxy bidder.

Eleanor quickly went over: "Thank you for earlier!"

"Miss Winslow, you’re welcome. Your mother’s belongings should return to their rightful owner." The proxy bidder gave a professional smile, "The original client intended to buy it as a gift for you upon learning it was your item."

So when Eleanor asked if the other party could give it up, they readily abandoned the bidding.

Eleanor was stunned: "May I ask who your client is?"

The bidder replied, "The client’s last name is Jacobs."

Eleanor searched her memory but couldn’t think of any prominent Jacobs families she knew. Across the country, the only grand family carrying the Jacobs name were the Jacobs Family of Solis.

But she had no connections with the Solis Jacobs Family, so it couldn’t be them...

Who could it be?

The surrounding guests exchanged glances.

Gift?

This was tens of millions, not mere thousands!

Could this be some admirer of Eleanor’s?

Thinking of this, everyone’s gaze inadvertently turned to Adrian Grant.

But Adrian Grant was always a stoic person, not revealing his true feelings. One could only vaguely tell... he wasn’t very pleased.

Who would be happy when someone is coveting their wife?

Moreover, the over 30 million Adrian Grant just spent was only because the other party, considering Eleanor, gave up the bid; otherwise, they were willing to spend even more for Eleanor!

Just thinking about it was disheartening!

-

The Maserati sped through the night.

Eleanor’s apartment was downtown, close by. The two returned to the apartment and ordered takeout along the way.

An hour later, Eleanor received a call from the delivery person, saying the property management wouldn’t let them in and asking if Eleanor could collect it at the gate.

Eleanor didn’t think it was a big deal, informed Blake Lockwood, who was freshening up in the bathroom, and slipped out in her slippers.

She was wearing slippers and had just reached the door when a shadow suddenly leaped out from the corridor.

Eleanor instinctively went to block, but the other person was skilled, covering Eleanor’s mouth first, restraining her hands, gripping her waist, and in an instant, pushing her into the stairwell.

"Mmm... mmm..."

Eleanor smelled a strong scent of alcohol.

Just about to call for help, the shadow holding her down spoke, "Zia Winslow."

The voice was low and deep, not activating the sound-controlled lighting in the stairwell.

Eleanor quickly calmed, raised her eyes, looking up at the man who was a head taller than her.

The light was too dim, and she couldn’t see his face, only a vague outline.

But she could still feel the heat of his gaze.

Seeing Eleanor wasn’t struggling anymore, Adrian Grant let go of her mouth, his hand caressed from her chin to her cheek, like an intimate, gentle lover’s touch.

"Adrian Grant, what are you doing!"

Eleanor’s soft voice held anger.

This shout activated the sound-controlled light in the stairwell, and the sudden brightness made Eleanor squint.

Adrian Grant was still wearing the suit from the auction, with a face as handsome as jade, strikingly attractive.