Chapter 41

Half an hour later, news of Sallie's collapse reached Eleanor. Without hesitation, she raced straight to the hospital, her pulse hammering with dread.

When she pushed open the door to Sallie's room, the scene made her pause. Not a single member of the Todd family was present, only the loyal maid and the weary butler kept watch by the bedside.

Eleanor didn't waste time questioning it. She hurried to the bedside and examined Sallie.

Her tense brow relaxed after a brief examination.

Sallie's condition was weak, but her pulse was stable.

For the moment, her life wasn't in danger.

Still, something gnawed at her.

"I left her medication with clear instructions. It was supposed to be given on schedule. How could things have deteriorated to the point of a coma?" Eleanor said.

The maid's face drained of color. She wrung her hands before stammering, "It... it was when Mrs.Todd suddenly worsened. At that moment, Miss Gilbert happened to come in,and..."

Before she could finish, a sharp voice sliced through the air. "Well, well. Miss Warren." Lainey swept into the room like she owned it, her lips curling into a poisonous smile. "You've divorced Jonny. Don't you think it's rather improper to meddle in his family matters now?"

The rvalry between the two women crackled in the air. The maid, knowing better than to get caught in the crossfire, quickly slipped away with the butler.

As she was left alone with Lainey, Eleanor's eyes hardened. If Lainey was responsible for Sallie's hospitalization, then she would make sure Lainey rotted in jail. She gave a cold, dismissive laugh. "If I'm not mistaken, Miss Gilbert, you're still not part of the Todd family,are you?"

The barb hit its mark. Lainey's expression twisted,venom flashing in her eyes.

"It won't be long before Jonny and I marry," she spat."Unlike a slut like you! Who's spread her legs for countless men. Jonny despises you!"

Her voice grew louder and harsher, each insult more vicious than the last. "You're nothing but Sallie's lapdog. Do us all a favor and leave Elepdon. Stop shamelessly trying to seduce Jonny!"

Lainey's fury wasn't without reason. She remembered clearly that Jonny had left home late one night, claiming urgent work at the office.

Suspicious, she had had someone look into it. He hadn't gone anywhere near the office. Instead, he had gone straight to Eleanor's neighborhood.

The thought burned Lainey alive. It must be this bitch! She was dragging him back!

Eleanor, however, didn't flinch. A soft, mocking laugh escaped her lips as she slowly retrieved her phone from her bag, waving it lightly. "Miss Gilbert," she said smoothly, "your tongue is certainly sharp. I wonder how Jonny would react if he heard every word of it?"

The blood drained from Lainey's face. She recorded it?

Her composure snapped. With a snarl, she lunged toward Eleanor, clawing for the phone. "You bitch!"

She had always been soft-spoken and composed around Jonny. If he heard the recording,her carefully curated image would shatter. No! She couldn't let that happen.

But Eleanor moved with deadly precision. In an instant, she blocked Lainey's reach and pushed her back.

Eleanor's lips curved into a cutting smile. "Jonny doesn't interest me. If he's your prize, go ahead and take him. But watch your little games-if I find out you had anything to do with Sallie's coma..."

She let the threat hang in the air.

Lainey sank to the floor, completely undone.

Had Eleanor already discovered what she had done?

She couldn't have known! At the time, it had just been her and the maid, and she had been careful.Eleanor must be bluffing.

Trying to salvage her composure, Lainey stammered,her eyes flicking nervously, "You're... you're making baseless accusations. I don't know what you mean."

But Eleanor's gaze was unwavering.

She was certain Lainey was involved in Sallie's condition, but the exact details remained a mystery.

She would need to speak with the maid later to uncover the truth.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Eleanor retorted, her words slow and deliberate. "And don't think that just because you're in the hospital room pretending to help, you can harm Sallie without consequences. There's surveillance everywhere. One wrong move, and your days of scheming are over."

With that, she turned on her heel and left,leaving Lainey seething in place.

"That bitch! Slandering me without proof! I'll make her pay once I'm Jonny's wife!" she muttered under her breath.

Then her mind snapped back to the recording.

Her stomach churned. She needed a plan, and fast,before Eleanor could use it against her.