Chapter 40

Margaret's words plunged Eleanor into a heavy silence. The already cramped room felt even more suffocating with her quiet presence. Margaret's heart raced as Eleanor's calm gaze fixed on her.

She furrowed her brows and began, "E..."

"Please leave," Eleanor stated firmly.

Her request left Margaret stunned. After a moment, she asked in disbelief, "What did you say?"

"Please leave and never come here again," Eleanor repeated with confidence. "If I wasn't clear enough, I'll inform the media and make a public statement that I'll sever ties with the Thompsons. Therefore, you don't have to worry about me humiliating your family."

Margaret sprang up at her words and delivered a harsh slap across Eleanor's face. She had recently done a new set of manicures, with diamonds inlaid on her nails. When her long nails slashed across Eleanor's cheek, they tore her flesh, and blood slowly emerged from the wound.

However, Eleanor barely flinched from the pain. Instead, she stared as calmly as always at Margaret. "You... You think you're all tough now, don't you? You're my daughter, Eleanor. How dare you be so defiant?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're making me marry the Hughes family for your benefit, aren't you?" Eleanor interrupted her. "Otherwise, you guys wouldn't be so eager to see me."

She asked, "Did something happen to the company? Never mind. I don't care. It's not like I want anything from the Thompsons, anyway."

"How mighty of you! Let me remind you that we were the ones who raised and nurtured you. Where did you think that money came from?" Margaret became bold. "And that woman lying in the hospital? If it weren't for us, she would've died a long time ago!"

She continued, "I know you never see me as your mother. Instead, you've long regarded that woman as your family. I bet you would've lived at the hospital if we hadn't stopped you from seeing her."

"What can she even offer you? She's nothing but an illiterate country bumpkin."

"She gave me love. A lot of it," Eleanor interjected. "If she hadn't protected me with her life, I would've been assaulted by that bastard. Now, my biological mother, what did you do at that time?"

"You can argue that we were separated. I don't blame you for that. But all I ever did upon returning was try to please you and mend our relationship. What about you?"

Eleanor chuckled. "What you did was suspect that I carried HIV. You were damn scared to be infected, weren't you?"

Her voice was as calm as the sea, yet her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. The sharp pain served as a constant reminder not to back down or yield.

At this point, it was better to tear open the wound than to let it fester and rot.

Her words clearly hit a nerve with Margaret, leaving her momentarily frozen.

"Please leave. I know you don't love me." Eleanor smiled wryly. "They say blood is thicker than water, but some bonds are gone for good once broken. That... is something you and I know."