Chapter 7

Eleanor's throat tightened as she clutched the edge of her shawl. But in the end, she slowly loosened her grip and slipped it off. She knew that even if she refused, Dominic would've had someone take it from her anyway. When she handed it over, Ashley reached out with an apologetic smile. "Thanks. I'll have it cleaned and return it to you." "No!" Eleanor shook her head quickly, her tone urgent. "It can't be soaked. It needs to be dry-cleaned. I'll send someone to pick it up tomorrow." Ashley nodded. "Got it." Right then, the driver pulled up and parked at the curb. Dominic glanced at Ashley. Noticing how pale she was, he frowned. Then, he turned to Eleanor, saying, "Ashley's coming down with a cold. I'll take her home. But it's out of the way, so you'll have to get back on your own." Without waiting for an answer, he led Ashley to the car. The doors shut with a click, and the engine rumbled to life. Just like that, the black sedan disappeared into the rainy night. Eleanor stood alone at the entrance, her soaked dress clinging to her legs. The storm had driven everyone indoors, leaving the streets empty. She waited in the cold for 40 minutes before she finally got a ride. By the time Eleanor got home, she was drenched, lightheaded, and burning up. She barely managed to take a fever pill before collapsing into bed and falling asleep immediately. In the middle of the night, her phone kept buzzing. But her head throbbed so badly, she couldn't even lift her hand. So, she let it vibrate until it finally went quiet. … By morning, the fever had broken. However, Eleanor's throat burned, dry and raw. She pushed herself upright, took a sip of water, then reached for her phone. There were over a dozen unread messages—all from Ashley. Eleanor opened them, and the first image made her stomach drop. The cashmere shawl—her most treasured piece—was submerged in water. The once-soft fibers were matted, warped out of shape. One message after another followed. The first one read, "Sorry! I forgot it couldn't get wet. I soaked it right after I got home." Ashley wrote, "I'm so sorry. How much did it cost? I'll pay you. The fabric's nice, so I might turn it into a scarf or something." She added, "If you don't reply, I'll assume you're fine with it. I've wired you 30 dollars. You said your grandmother made it, so that should be enough, right?" The final image hit harder than the rest. The shawl had been cut into pieces, and the edges were ragged and ruined. Eleanor's hands trembled as a wave of fury surged through her. Ignoring the fever still pulsing in her body, she flung off the covers and stormed out. … When Eleanor arrived at Ashley's apartment, she rang the doorbell, her gaze icy. A moment later, Ashley opened the door in loungewear. The surprise on her face was instant. "Ms. Robinson? What are you doing here?" "Where's my shawl?" Eleanor demanded, her voice cold. Ashley turned and picked up the shredded shawl from the couch. "You mean this? I already paid for it, didn't I?" She then glanced down at her phone. "Didn't you get the 30 dollars I sent you? Is that not enough for you? I can throw in another 20 dollars. Your grandmother made it, right? It can't be worth that much." Before her words could fully settle, Eleanor slapped her hard. Ashley stumbled back as she clutched her cheek. "D-Did you just hit me?" she asked in disbelief. Eleanor's gaze was sharp and unwavering. She spoke slowly, each word deliberate. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?" In an instant, tears welled up in Ashley's eyes. Her voice choked with sobs as she replied, "What are you talking about? I don't even know what you mean." "You didn't just come back by chance. You called Dominic when your mom needed a bone marrow donor, and you said all those things to me outside the OR on purpose. You walked in on us kissing, and now you've destroyed my shawl." Eleanor stepped closer and continued, her voice colder than ever, "Ashley Lowell, I've seen through every move you've made. Just because I didn't call you out before doesn't mean I'll keep letting you walk all over me." Ashley's face fell, but the tears kept coming. "I didn't… I honestly don't know what you're talking about." Eleanor gritted her teeth. Just as she was about to speak, a sharp voice cut in from behind. "Eleanor Robinson! What the hell are you doing?" She spun around, only to see Dominic standing in the doorway, his expression dark with fury.