Chapter 19

Chapter19

Taking into account the maid's testimony and Isabella's hesitation, Margaret weighed her options and made a decision. She turned to Eleanor and snapped, "Eleanor Thompson!"

She would have slapped Eleanor right then if Nathaniel weren't present. She continued to berate Eleanor, "Isabella is your younger sister, and we Thompsons see her as our daughter! Who do you think you are? And what do you take this family for?"

Eleanor didn't respond. After glancing at the tearful Isabella, she turned to Nathaniel, who was staring at her with a grim expression. Naturally, he was upset to hear that his wife had made such crude remarks about others. He must have been appalled that his childhood friend had been insulted in such a manner.

What devastated Eleanor the most was Nathaniel's unwavering trust in Isabella. He believed Isabella had every right to lash out at others. Yet, he never bothered to ask why Eleanor had argued with Olivia at the mall—it simply wasn't worth his time.

Nathaniel would never stand up for her. All he would do was drag her to the Thompson residence and force her to apologize to Isabella.

Eleanor suddenly laughed. Staring at Margaret, she confessed in a calm, clear voice, "Yes, I said that. And I wasn't wrong."

Her words stunned everyone. Margaret was trembling with rage.

Nathaniel warned her, "Eleanor."

Eleanor locked eyes with Isabella. She declared, "Isabella is a bastard child you adopted. I know she fits your idea of the perfect daughter, but I'm sorry to tell you that I'm your flesh and blood. Even if you refuse to acknowledge me, that doesn't change the fact that I'm your daughter. I carry your DNA."

Nathaniel's eyes darkened. "What nonsense is this?"

"That's not nonsense," she replied, eerily calm. "Am I wrong?"

"Apologize to your mother and Isabella," Nathaniel ordered, avoiding her question.

"Why should I apologize?" she shot back. "And who are you to order me around?"

"Eleanor Thompson!" Nathaniel clenched his jaw, a rare display of fury. He gripped her wrist so tightly it hurt, but the pain in her heart was far worse.

Eleanor had long known that no one in Coppersville would take her side. She might have returned to her biological family, but they never truly accepted her. Nathaniel was no different.

She laughed again and pulled her hand free. Then, without hesitation, she walked away.

"Eleanor Thompson!" Nathaniel called after her, but she didn't look back or stop.

Eleanor drove straight back to the villa she shared with Nathaniel. His car followed closely behind.

Nathaniel arrived at her bedroom door just in time to see her pulling the divorce papers from the drawer.

She handed them to him. "Please sign."

His eyes skimmed the bold header. His expression darkened. "What are you doing?"

"Can't you read?" she chuckled softly. "Should I read it out loud for you?"

Nathaniel didn't respond, and Eleanor's smile faded. She shoved the papers into his hands. "Nathaniel Carter, let's get a divorce."

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