Chapter 193

Two days later, Eleanor told the staff she was ready to leave the hospital.

The doctor stared at her like she had lost her mind."That's absurd. Your injuries were serious. You won't be fit to walk out of here for at least another month."

Her tone, however, left no room for debate.

Backed into a corner, the doctor tried another approach. "Fine. We'll let the tests decide. I'll run a complete examination. If your body meets the standard, you go. If not, you stay put without argument."

When the results came in, his jaw nearly hit the floor.

He checked once. He checked again.

Could he have misread the data? Injuries that should have taken weeks, maybe even months, had practically vanished in just a few days.

The situation was unreal.

What he failed to understand was that Eleanor wasn't just any patient. She was the Soul Surgeon, a woman who could pull life back from the edge of the grave.For her, recovery was nothing out of the ordinary.

For him, it was beyond comprehension.

Still rubbing his eyes, he admitted defeat. The results were undeniable.

A promise was a promise, and he had to sign her dischargepapers.

News spread quickly, and Lillian burst into the room as soon as she heard.

While fussing with Eleanor's things, she mumbled,"You nearly scared me to death! If something had happened to you, l'd have hunted down that reckless driver myself." Eleanor let out a quiet laugh, her lips curving at Lillian's fiery outburst.

She opened her mouth to reassure her friend, but the door swung wide before she could speak.

Hilda and Jeff walked in.

The days of recovery had left Eleanor looking slimmer, her delicate features now carrying an almost breakable fragility.

Hilda's eyes softened with instant worry.

Why had she lost more weight?

Surely she hadn't been resting properly.

The heavy stare unsettled Eleanor, stirring an odd mixture of discomfort and yearning.

Maternal tenderness was something she had never truly known, yet a part of her longed for it.

Jeff's voice cut through the silence, steady and grave. "From what we've uncovered, there's a strong chance you're the daughter Hilda's brother lost years ago. By blood, that makes her your aunt."

He spoke not just to clarify things but to smooth over the tension in the room.

For the first time, he had a reason that made sense of the strange bond between Hilda and Eleanor.

Still, he didn't let the moment linger. "But if you ever bring harm to Lainey again, I won't forgive you."

Turning to his wife, he added curtly, "I'm heading home. Lainey's probably frightened without me there."

Moments later, the room held only three women.

Lillian's fists clenched, her temper flaring. She almost ran after him.

That insufferable old man!

He had seemed reasonable before, but now it was clear-every word about family was nothing more than an excuse to shield Lainey.

Hilda, on the other hand, paid no mind to his harshness. Her resolve did not waver.

She stepped forward, clasped Eleanor's cold hand in her own, and tears streamed freely down her cheeks."Even if he refuses to accept you, I will. In my heart,you are already my child, and no one can take that away."

Eleanor's lips parted, but no words came.

The way Jeff carried himself told her everything-another DNA test had been done in secret, and the results must have confirmed Lainey was his flesh and blood.

Her heart ached with the weight of unspoken longing, and though every instinct told her to retreat,she couldn't bring herself to pull her hand away.

Sensing her struggle, Lillian shifted her gaze toward the window as if she had noticed something outside."Eleanor, Nolan's waiting. We should go."

Reluctance flickered across Hilda's face, but she slowly let Eleanor's hand slip free. Without hesitation, Lillian clasped Eleanor's wrist and guided her toward the door. The Benton family were an unusual group, each one more peculiar than the next. For Eleanor's sake, distance was the wisest choice.

Hilda didn't call after them. She simply stood rooted to the spot, her eyes following Eleanor until she disappeared from sight.

Despite the test results, she felt no doubt in her soul.That girl was hers. She had to be.

But then there was Lainey, the child who had stolen the life that should have belonged to Eleanor.

The few details Hilda had managed to uncover revealed a disturbing truth-Lainey's protectors were tied to Zerovia's criminal underworld.

For Eleanor's safety, she had to hold back for now.

As for Jeff, his stubbornness blinded him. If he refused to believe, then let him stay in denial.

One day, the truth would break through, and he would regret every word he spoke today.