CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: ADRIAN GRANT HOLDS ELEANOR WINSLOW IN HIS ARMS

Rushing in?

Indeed, in the eyes of these people, she really seems like such a person.

If it were Eleanor Winslow from more than a month ago, she might have been hurt by Aunt Grant’s words.

But now, her heart was unruffled.

Eleanor Winslow smiled faintly: "Aunt, even if Adrian Grant doesn’t like me, as long as we’re not divorced, I am still Third Young Madam Grant, just like when I slapped Vivian Quinn, no one would say a word against me."

Vivian Quinn’s mother is close to Aunt Grant, and Aunt Grant’s difficult stance today was a consolidation of old and new grievances.

Eleanor Winslow fiddled with her right hand using her left: "To say something harsher, even if I slap you right now, once inside, others will only ask how you provoked me to such anger."

"You, you...!" Aunt Grant was trembling with anger, pointing her hand at Eleanor Winslow.

After two seconds, Aunt Grant seemed to remember something and suddenly laughed.

"Eleanor, you haven’t met Selene Keane yet, have you? You only have the Old Madam protecting you, Selene doesn’t approve of you, I want to see how long you can remain proud as Third Young Madam!"

Selene Keane is Adrian Grant’s mother.

-

"Third Young Madam, the old master requests your presence!"

An attendant announced as Eleanor Winslow returned to the living room.

Eleanor followed the attendant to the study.

In the main seat sat an energetic white-haired old man, his expression serious, his gaze clouded with age, yet filled with sharpness, revealing that he was quite a formidable figure in his youth.

Adrian Grant sat to his left, calmly drinking tea, his demeanor almost equal to that of the old man.

"Grandfather, how have you been lately?" Eleanor Winslow approached, greeting him courteously.

"I’ve been quite well." Old Master Grant got straight to the point, "Did you and Adrian have a quarrel?"

Eleanor Winslow instinctively glanced at Adrian Grant.

She had planned to keep it hidden until after the Old Madam’s birthday, but she didn’t expect to be questioned by the old master and the Old Madam as soon as she returned!

"Don’t look at him." Old Master Grant said, "I want to hear the truth from you."

Eleanor Winslow turned her eyes back to Old Master Grant, "Grandfather, how did you know?"

Old Master Grant didn’t answer, only said, "Marriage is not a game, it’s not easy for you two to be together, I hope you treat it with seriousness."

Upon hearing those words ’treat with seriousness’, Eleanor Winslow’s expression subtly changed.

Old Master Grant had clearly expressed his stance, he did not want to see her and Adrian Grant divorced.

Divorce, after all, would be a scandal, Old Master Grant had too much pride to allow it to happen.

However, Old Master Grant loved his wife, if she managed to persuade Old Madam Grant, there might be room for maneuver.

After saying his piece, Old Master Grant waved his hand: "Go on, your mother is waiting for you in the small building."

Mentioning his mother made Adrian Grant frown instinctively.

He stood up, nodded farewell to Old Master Grant: "I’ll go see mother myself, Eleanor can stay here and talk to grandmother."

Old Master Grant frowned disapprovingly: "Oh, Third, you want to protect her, but not regarding something like this, what daughter-in-law doesn’t see her mother-in-law when she comes home?"

Hearing him say ’you want to protect her’, Eleanor Winslow was taken aback, turning her gaze to Adrian Grant.

Was... he protecting her?

-

Adrian Grant’s mother lived alone for many years, staying in a small building a few dozen meters outside the main house when visiting the old residence; secluded yet uniquely charming.

"If you don’t want to go in, you can wait outside."

Just at the door, Adrian Grant said to Eleanor Winslow.

"Why?" Eleanor Winslow looked up at Adrian Grant, asking impulsively, "Grandfather said you wanted to protect me, is that true?"

Adrian Grant pursed his lips, saying nothing.

Staring at the main door of the small building, Eleanor Winslow sneered at herself: "Your mother doesn’t approve of me, I really shouldn’t meet her as a daughter-in-law."

Adrian Grant frowned: "Eleanor, you are the wife in my partner column, you don’t need her approval. You don’t need to find discomfort there."

"Let’s go."

Eleanor Winslow lifted her skirt and stepped through the front door.

If she didn’t enter, Selene Keane would probably send someone to ’invite’ her.

Inside.

Selene Keane was wearing a long white satin dress, to her left was a black-and-white portrait, she stared at it dazedly. Her features were elegant and delicate, a typical lady of breeding, sitting there like a beautiful painting, but lacking a bit of vitality.

"Mom." Adrian Grant’s tone was unprecedentedly cold.

"Mother." Eleanor Winslow tried to remain calm.

"Here you are." Selene Keane turned her head, glancing at Adrian Grant, then at Eleanor Winslow, her face expressionless as she asked, "Did you pay respects to Jonah yet?"

"Not yet." Before Eleanor Winslow could speak, Adrian Grant took a step forward, half shielding Eleanor Winslow with his body, "We plan to visit my brother this afternoon."

Eleanor Winslow looked at Adrian Grant in surprise, how did he know she had the habit of visiting Jonah Grant in the afternoon?

Jonah Grant was Adrian Grant’s full brother, frail and sickly since childhood. Four years ago, Jonah Grant succumbed to his illness and passed away.

Adrian Grant had been remarkably intelligent since childhood, and with Mr. and Mrs. Grant busy caring for their frail elder son, Old Master Grant took Adrian Grant under his own wing, personally raising him, while Jonah Grant grew up with their parents, receiving their full love.

All along, Selene Keane had favored her elder son, with eyes only for Jonah Grant.

"Adrian Grant, I’m talking to Eleanor Winslow, why are you interrupting!" Selene Keane’s gaze instantly became fierce, trying to push Adrian Grant aside, but Adrian Grant stood firmly, blocking Eleanor Winslow.

"Mom, I—"

Eleanor Winslow just opened her mouth, only to be cut off by Selene Keane again.

"Eleanor Winslow, my son was so good to you when he was alive, have you forgotten? He’s now all alone, and you didn’t visit him the moment you came back, what are you dawdling for? Have you forgotten who accompanied you as a child, who remembered to save you from the mental hospital before dying, it was my son! Are you ungrateful!"

Eleanor Winslow’s face turned pale.

She was born in Hongkong, and due to Mr. Winslow being from Aethelgard, she would spend long holidays in Aethelgard with Mr. Winslow. Because she didn’t speak the language well, she was mocked by other children, at first only Jonah Grant, the big brother, was willing to play with her;

When Mia Winslow injured her hand, The Winslow Family, citing her mental instability, put the sixteen-year-old Eleanor into a psychiatric hospital. It was Jonah Grant, on his deathbed, who begged the Grant Family to bring Eleanor out to lead a normal life.

—Eleanor Winslow knew if not for leaving Jonah Grant’s spirit unburdened, Old Master Grant wouldn’t have negotiated with The Winslow Family for her.

"Mom, I’m also your son." Adrian Grant entirely shielded Eleanor Winslow behind him, his voice turning colder.

Selene Keane glared at Adrian Grant intensely, suddenly standing up, delivering an unexpected slap.

"Adrian Grant!"

Eleanor Winslow reacted faster than she could think, instinctively pulling Adrian Grant aside.

In a flash, Adrian Grant came alive, swiftly pulling Eleanor Winslow into his arms, spinning her around.

"Slap!"

The slap landed squarely on Adrian Grant’s back.

Eleanor Winslow’s heart twinged.

She was held so tightly, all she saw was the color of white shirts, and next to her ear was the strong heartbeat of Adrian Grant.