Andrew rushed over, pulling Anna into his arms as he shot his mother a pleading look. “Eleanor, enough. Anna just took her medication and she can’t handle this stress.”

Eleanor red at Anna but held her tongue, unwilling to cause a scene at the Hayes family event.

Then Anna gagged and vomited. The room froze.

A doctor, one of the guests, hurried over and checked her pulse, his face grim. “Anna, what did you eat? These are poisoning symptoms.”

The moment the doctor mentioned poisoning, the room erupted in shock. The mere suggestion that someone might have tampered with the party food was unthinkable.

Anna swayed, barely conscious. Weakly, she whispered, “I didn’t eat anything except the pastries Max brought.”

Max whirled on Ste, his face twisted with fury. “It’s you! You poisoned them.”

Eleanor cut in sharply, “Don’t be ridiculous. Ste would never do such a thing.”

“It has to be her,” Max spat. “When I picked her up, the pastries were in the back seat. She loves them. I even asked if she took any, and she said no. Anna wouldn’t have been suffering unless she’dced them with something.”

Eleanor seized Ste’s hand. “No way. There’s another exnation. I know Ste didn’t do this.”

“Of course she did.” Max’s voice was venomous. “The second Dad and Fiona chose Anna over her with those kidnappers, she’s been plotting revenge. Now that she’s back? This was her n all along.”

Eleanor trembled with rage. The usation alone was brutal-but seeing Ste’s ice-cold fingers in hers, her granddaughter’s face drained of color, was unbearable.

Ste finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm, “I didn’t do it.”

“Liar!” Max jabbed a finger at her. “You’ve always been maniptive.”

Her expression hardened. “And you’ve always seen what you wanted to see. I said I’m innocent.”

Fiona intervened, urgency sharp in her tone. “Max, arguing won’t help. Get Anna to the hospital now.”

Scooping Anna into his arms, Max shot Ste a final re before rushing out, Fiona on his heels.

Andrew, pale with worry, turned to Lionel. “Sorry, we need to end this. The guests have waited long enough, so just cancel the rest of the event.”

Lionel nodded and smoothly handled the dispersing crowd. Though curiosity hung thick in the air at the possibility of Ste striking back so soon, no one dared linger openly.

As thest guests trickled out, Lionel moved toward Ste, but she spoke first, her eyes on Eleanor. She said, “Let’s go home.”

“Can you stand?” Eleanor asked.

Ste smiled, “I’ll manage.”

When Lionel reached out to help, Ste pushed him away without a nce. For five agonizing minutes, the room stood silent as she fought to rise on sheer willpower. Atst, swaying but upright, she let Eleanor guide her out.

Lionel watched them leave, then turned toward the hospital.

At home, Ste guided Eleanor to her bedroom-the first time Eleanor had set foot in this house in years.

Nancy, Eleanor’s maid, murmured softly, “Eleanor refused to leave the old mansion all this time. She kept waiting, hoping you’de home. And finally, here you are.”

Three years ago, Eleanor had been in perfect health. But after Ste’s kidnapping, day after day of uncertainty had worn her down.

The guilt twisted in Ste’s chest. She pulled Eleanor into a tight embrace, resting her forehead against the older woman’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry for making you worry like this.”

Eleanor patted her hand gently. “Nonsense. Having you back is all I need. I’ll get stronger every day now. You’ll see.”

“Grandma…” Ste’s voice wavered. She’d nned to leave this family behind. But she couldn’t walk away from Eleanor, the only family she cared about.

“You mustn’t fret over Anna,” Eleanor said firmly. “I know you’d never harm anyone.”

Ste nodded, the weight of her emotions threatening to spill over. Only with Eleanor could she be this vulnerable and raw.

“My dear girl.” Eleanor’s heart ached as she studied Ste’s tired eyes. “When I learned what happened back then, I gave your parents hell. I know what they did is unforgivable, and we won’t forgive them.

“But you must focus on healing now. You’re still so young, with your whole life ahead. Let them pay for your treatments, at least until you’re back on your feet.”

Ste gave a quiet nod. Eleanor always understood her thoughts. Just like in the past, when sadness drove her straight to Eleanor’s arms. Eleanor said this because she sensed Ste might want to leave.

“Tell me, darling,” Eleanor pressed gently, “what did you endure all these years?”

Ste squeezed her hand instead. “Sorry, I think I wanna grab some rest now.”

The evasion wasn’t lost on Eleanor. Whatever horrors Ste had survived were clearly worse than tonight’s humiliation. If she couldn’t bear to speak of them now, after finallying home, Eleanor didn’t want to push it.

“Of course,” Eleanor relented. “Rest now. I’ll move back in tomorrow. You’ll see me every day from now on.”

A soft hum was Ste’s only reply.

Eleanor watched Ste stumble away, step by painful step. Only when she was sure Ste was out of earshot did she finally let her tears fall. Afraid her sobs might carry, she pressed a hand tightly over her mouth.

Beside her, Nancy’s eyes welled up too. “Mrs. Hayes, they say fortune follows suffering. Ste has never had a cruel bone in her body. Surely fate will be kinder to her from now on.”

“Her body will heal,” Eleanor whispered, voice breaking. “But what about her heart? I don’t know how anyonees back from that kind of pain.”

Nancy squeezed her arm. “At least she still has you. You have to stay strong. If you don’t, who else does she have left to love

her?”

Ste had always been the quiet observer, bubbly in conversation, yet perceptive in ways most overlooked. While the family 2/3

showered Anna with attention, Ste never showed a hint of resentment. Time after time, she’d smoothed over Anna’s missteps without expectation of gratitude.

Eleanor’s throat tightened. The world had no right being this cruel to someone who gave so much and asked so little.