Chapter 42

Eliana tried her best to hold back her tears at Aidan’s harsh words - she knew that the latter would never understand just how deeply his sharp words cut into her. Aidan couldn’t help but frown at the way that Eliana was acting - and so, he shoved her away and got up from where he was seated. “You’d better go back to your room this instant,” the former scowled, “I don’t want to see your disgusting face now.” Eliana sat up and quickly straightened her clothes before returning quietly to her room - as soon as she closed the door behind her, she pressed her back against it as she felt a chill shoot up her spine. … Aidan felt detest and resentment spread throughout him at the sight of the pictures on the table - when Robert came back from his phone call, he found the former scrutinizing the pictures one by one. After a long while, Aidan selected the picture which most clearly showed the face of the man whom Eliana had been with - he handed it to Robert and ordered, “I want you to enlarge this picture, frame it, and hang it on the wall of Eliana’s room.” “Second Young Master,” Robert couldn’t help but gasp - he couldn’t believe that Aidan would actually do such a thing to Eliana. “What is it?” Aidan growled, “Do I have to repeat myself?” “That’s not it,” Robert hesitated for a moment before he continued, “I just...I just think that it’s a little too much...to be frank, I think that Miss Harvey has had quite enough.” “She’s had enough?” Aidan scoffed, “She’s barely had anything - I want to utterly and thoroughly ruin her.” This is what you deserve, Eliana - for stabbing me in the back. For breaking my heart over and over. I want that filthy and remorseless woman to pay for just how much she has made me suffer. Knowing that there was nothing that he could do to talk Aidan through, Robert had no choice but to take the picture and obey the former’s demands. Just as Robert was about to step out of the door, however, Aidan stopped him - “Hang on a second.” Robert immediately halted and turned around, hoping with all of his heart that Aidan had changed his mind - only for the latter to add, “Find this man for me by all means - do whatever it takes to get him.” Sighing internally, Robert relented, “Yes, Second Young Master.” … At noon, one of the servants came into Eliana’s room and asked her to go for dinner. And so, the latter exited the room cautiously and warily - to her relief, Aidan was nowhere in sight. She couldn’t help but sigh internally at this. Even though the servant who’d come in to inform her to go for dinner was cold and indifferent towards her, Eliana couldn’t really be bothered with her - after all, she didn’t see why there was a need to waste time and energy on people who were insignificant and not worth it. She didn’t see the need to feel any sort of annoyance and anger so long as these types of people did not try and push her buttons. After dinner, Eliana was about to return to her room when a thought came into her mind - she paused for a moment before turning to leave. Just as she was about to go, however, a servant stepped forward and stopped her - “Miss Harvey,” she started in a rather aloof voice, “Second Young Master has ordered that you are not allowed to leave Blanchard Garden.” “I’m not leaving,” Eliana replied calmly, “I’m just going to get some fresh air in the yard.” She then opened the door and headed out. As soon as she left, the servant darted upstairs to report the matter to Aidan - she could not risk not informing him about the former’s actions. … Meanwhile, Eliana headed towards the basement - even though she was still quite traumatized from being locked up in this place, she mustered up her courage to go there and open the door - she could tell from the faint light which shone into the room that it was empty. The bloodstains that had been on the floor had been cleaned at some point in time - Eliana was not sure when. Eliana couldn’t help but feel confused and puzzled - Where has Aidan moved Bryan to then? The former couldn’t help but fret for some reason - she had a bad feeling about this. Just as she was about to exit the basement, she heard a pair of footsteps sounding from behind her. Since there was no place to hide, Eliana could only pray that it was a servant coming - alas, her recurring bad luck befell on her once again as she found herself locking eyes with Aidan yet once again. He sneered at her - “What’s wrong? Do you feel more comfortable here? Do you like it so much that you’re dying to live here?” Eliana ignored Aidan’s sarcastic jab and questioned, “Where’s Bryan?” Aidan scoffed, “You can’t even take care of yourself - what makes you think that you can take care of him?” Eliana pursed her lips - even though she actually disliked Bryan, he was, after all, her brother, the eldest son of her dear and beloved late mother...she couldn’t let anything happen to him no matter what. Besides, she wanted to question him about why he’d so willingly thrown her under the bus. And so, Eliana remained firm - “Where did you move Bryan to?” she repeated. Aidan growled as he stepped towards Eliana, such that he loomed above her - he asked in a threatening and icy voice, “What did you think happened to him after he’d pissed me off, hmm?”