CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: COLD SHOWERS TO SUFFOCATE HIM

Adrian Grant held Miss Winslow’s hand, exchanging pleasantries with some of the new guests.

Blake Lockwood arrived arm in arm with Trevor Hawthorne, and from afar, she saw Eleanor Winslow. She raised her hand to greet her but then noticed Eleanor and Adrian holding hands and raised her eyebrows.

Eleanor: "..." She inexplicably felt like she had done something wrong and was too guilty to meet the real wife’s eyes. Damn!

Trevor casually handed the gift he brought to the Grant Family’s steward who was in charge of receiving them, and glanced at the hands Adrian and Eleanor were holding. He said, "Young Master Grant seems to be in a good mood today. It’s the old lady’s birthday, no wonder you’re so spirited."

Adrian glanced at Blake, who was clinging to Trevor’s arm, and said, "You too."

Both of them spoke with hidden meanings, adding a subtle tension to the atmosphere.

Eleanor and Blake exchanged glances for a second, and almost simultaneously, withdrew their hands from their men.

"Trevor, I’m going to the bathroom," Blake said.

Eleanor pointed at Blake, "I’ll take her to the bathroom."

After speaking, the two of them left hand in hand.

Adrian: "..."

Trevor: "..."

In the secluded garden, Eleanor and Blake simultaneously pointed at each other, "What’s going on?"

Two seconds later, Blake spoke first, "In my eyes, being Mrs. Hawthorne is a professional role. I am always dedicated to my job."

Blake had just entered with Trevor on her arm, fulfilling her duties as Mrs. Hawthorne, not as Blake Lockwood.

"Things are a bit complicated on my end." Eleanor clicked her tongue.

"Then tell me the juicy details," Blake said.

"The juicy part is—" Eleanor thought for a moment, keeping it concise, "Last night, I took the initiative with Adrian Grant."

Blake was shocked, her mouth agape, and slowly raised a big thumbs up.

"Well done!"

"..."

Blake cleared her throat and asked, "Why did you take the initiative with him? Did he do something good for you to reward him?"

"I just felt, since we’re still married, apart from not loving me, he does quite well in other aspects—" Eleanor added, "Especially in the past couple of days, he’s been particularly good, and seeing him hold back to take cold showers, it was kind of pitiful."

"?" Blake looked at Eleanor and shook her head.

"What do you mean?" Eleanor asked.

"I suddenly feel that Young Master Hawthorne is a bit pitiful, Miss Winslow, you’re too soft-hearted, I don’t care about appearances," Blake giggled, "If it were me, I’d hope he holds it in until he can’t get it up for the rest of his life."

Eleanor: "... Just say that to me, don’t let a third person know."

It was well-known that Eleanor and Blake had a good relationship. Except during the main ceremony of the birthday banquet, they were together almost the entire time. Eleanor was the apple of the old woman’s eye today, and Blake was notoriously spoiled, with no parents to discipline her, so no one dared to mess with her casually.

Eleanor and Blake enjoyed their peace.

Until an aristocratic lady blatantly glared at Eleanor, full of warnings.

"Who is that?" Blake asked curiously.

Eleanor said, "Jesse Grant’s mom."

-

Eleanor hadn’t rested well last night, so in the afternoon, she found a secluded place to take a nap.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when there was a knock on the lounge door.

Confused, Eleanor opened the door to find a young man in his twenties standing outside.

The man was dressed in a formal three-piece suit, handsome in appearance, with facial features somewhat resembling Adrian Grant but lacking his sharpness and maturity, exuding the dual aura of a fresh graduate and a privileged young gentleman.

Eleanor’s initially gentle expression turned cold immediately, and she went to shut the door without saying a word.

But the man was quick to block the door with his hand:

"Eleanor! I have something to say to you!"

Eleanor was unable to close the door or step outside, feeling extremely unlucky.

"Jesse Grant, I’ll give you five minutes." Eleanor glanced at her watch and started timing, "Say what you have to say."

The man stared intently at the beautiful Eleanor, his eyes filled with overwhelming joy and affection.

"Eleanor, I heard you’re divorcing my third brother! I’ve never let go of my feelings for you; I still love you. I want to take care of you for a lifetime! For the past three years, I’ve been waiting for you to divorce my third brother. I want to start anew with you!"

The last four words were shouted with particular emphasis, as if making a declaration.

Clearly, there was nothing important to discuss.

It was just sheer madness!

Eleanor felt utterly unlucky today, restraining her anger, "Jesse Grant, please step aside!"

"Eleanor, my third brother doesn’t love you; he married you out of obligation! But I’m different! I love you, I don’t mind that you’ve been married, I’ll be good to you for a lifetime! Believe me!"

It’s like everyone feels the need to remind her that Adrian Grant married her out of obligation!

Eleanor chuckled angrily, "Jesse Grant, your words sound like you think I’m somehow lesser after divorce?"

"I didn’t mean that!" Jesse Grant hurriedly explained, "But most people do think that way."

Eleanor was too tired to argue further, "Jesse Grant, you and your parents were the ones who canceled the engagement when I needed it most; what right do you have to say you love me?"

Jesse Grant was the fifth in the Grant Family, a cousin to Adrian. Jesse’s mother and Eleanor’s mother were university roommates, and both married into Aethelgard, forming close friendships. Before her death, Eleanor’s mother arranged an engagement for Eleanor and Jesse, hoping her daughter would have someone to lean on after her passing.

But human hearts are the most unreliable things!

Soon after Eleanor’s mother passed away, Eugene Winslow married Yvonne Vance, and Eleanor’s engagement was annulled. With no more reservations, The Winslow Family managed to send Eleanor, friendless and isolated, into a mental institution two years later, exploiting her injury to Mia Winslow as an excuse.

"Eleanor, I didn’t want to cancel the engagement. That was my parents’ decision, not mine! But things are different now, I’ve grown up, I have the ability to protect you, I can take care of you, I—"

"You think you can afford it?"

Jesse Grant’s voice was interrupted by a familiar male voice.

Jesse froze, his face turning a bit paler, and stiffly turned around.

Leaning against the door, Eleanor lazily looked at Adrian Grant walking over.

Adrian’s face appeared normal, but upon closer inspection, his eyes were filled with a terrifying coldness.