Chapter 50

Eleanor Thompson spent the entire night wide awake. Each time she tried to close her eyes, the nightmares would come rushing back.

A damp, dark room. A door that never fully closed. Clothes mysteriously soiled. Drawers rifled through. And then, that man's repulsive, leering face.

Eight years had passed, yet Eleanor couldn't escape the haunting memories. And now, her adoptive father, Samuel Nelson, was out of prison.

He was free!

Eleanor didn't know how Samuel had gotten her number, but the suffocating feeling it brought—the sense that she could never outrun him—was all too familiar.

Even this apartment, the one she had only recently rented, no longer felt safe. She couldn't shake the sensation of unseen eyes watching her, waiting to strike.

Eleanor couldn't stay here anymore.

But where could she go?

In the end, she went to the hospital.

Eleanor knew there wasn't much Diana Moore could do for her, nor could she tell her anything. But being there and seeing her gave Eleanor a small measure of comfort.

Diana was the only person who could make her feel even a little bit safe.

But Eleanor didn't dare stay long.

She knew if Samuel really had come to Coppersville, the first place he would go would be the Harrison family residence. And given how strained her relationship with them was now, she couldn't rule out the possibility that they might give him the hospital's address.

After giving a few instructions to the nurse, Eleanor left the hospital.

Then, she turned on her phone and booked a ticket to leave Coppersville. She didn't tell anyone she was leaving. She didn't even cancel her lease. Packing only the essentials, she quietly made her way to the airport.

She booked the earliest flight she could find, not caring about the destination. It wasn't until the plane landed in an unfamiliar city that she finally began to feel a sense of clarity.

When Eleanor turned her phone back on, a string of missed calls from the Harrison family filled her screen.

Hailing a cab, she gave the driver the address of the hotel she had just booked. Once she had settled into her room, Eleanor finally returned Edward Harrison's call.

"Where are you?" His voice was sharp and cold.

"Is something wrong?" Eleanor countered.

"Someone said they saw you at the airport. Where are you going?"

She hadn't expected him to have people keep an eye on her. The realization hit like a punch to the gut, momentarily stealing her breath.

"I'm on a business trip," she answered carefully.

"Your job requires you to travel now?"

"Don't worry," Eleanor said, clutching the phone tightly to steady her voice. "I'll come back. But as for the Hughes family's matter... Let's drop it."

"Nathaniel already reached out to me. He doesn't want the rumors affecting him and even said if the Thompson family is in trouble, he's willing to help. So—"

Edward cut her off with a harsh laugh. "He's not our son-in-law anymore. What help could he possibly give us? The Thompson family needs a partner, someone who can grow with us. Nathaniel isn't a philanthropist, Eleanor. Do you really think he's acting out of kindness?"

He paused for a moment, his tone hardening. "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. Even if you sabotage the Hughes family arrangement, I'll find you a second, a third, however many suitors it takes. It's your responsibility as a daughter of the Thompson family!"

"You have three days to come back. If you don't, prepare to take that woman to the crematorium!" Then, the line went dead.

Eleanor gripped her phone tightly. Her throat constricted as if someone was choking her, and she was unable to make a sound. The weight of her father's words pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She glanced around the room, her mind racing with thoughts of escape, but she knew there was no way out. The walls seemed to close in on her, and she felt trapped in a web of familial obligations and expectations.

Her thoughts drifted to Nathaniel, the man she once loved, the man who had promised to stand by her side no matter what. But now, he was just another pawn in her father's game, a tool to secure the family's future. She wondered if he truly cared about her or if he was just playing along to maintain appearances.

Eleanor's heart ached as she thought about her mother, lying in a hospital bed, unaware of the turmoil surrounding her. She had always been the one person Eleanor could count on, the one who understood her struggles and supported her dreams. But now, even she was being used as leverage against her.

Tears welled up in Eleanor's eyes as she realized the gravity of her situation. She was caught between a rock and a hard place, forced to choose between her family and her own happiness. The thought of returning to the life she had fought so hard to escape filled her with dread, but the alternative was unthinkable.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She knew she had to be strong, for herself and for her mother. She couldn't let her father's threats break her. She had to find a way out, a way to protect the people she loved without sacrificing her own freedom.

Eleanor's mind raced as she considered her options. She needed a plan, a way to outmaneuver her father and secure her future. She thought about reaching out to Julian, her old friend, but she wasn't sure if she could trust him. He had always been kind to her, but she knew he had his own agenda.

She also thought about Benjamin Hughes, the man her father wanted her to marry. He was kind and gentle, but she couldn't see herself spending the rest of her life with him. She needed someone who understood her, someone who would stand by her side no matter what.

As the minutes ticked by, Eleanor's resolve hardened. She knew she couldn't let her father control her life any longer. She had to take a stand, no matter the cost. She would find a way to protect her mother and secure her own future, even if it meant going against her family.

With a determined look in her eyes, Eleanor picked up her phone and dialed a number. She knew it was a risk, but she had to try. She had to fight for her freedom, for her happiness, and for the life she deserved.

The phone rang once, twice, and then a familiar voice answered. "Hello?"

"Julian," Eleanor said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I need your help."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Julian replied, "What's going on, Eleanor?"

She took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I need to get out of here. I need to escape my father's control. Can you help me?"

There was another pause, and then Julian said, "I'll do whatever I can. But you need to be careful. Your father is a powerful man."

"I know," Eleanor replied, her voice trembling. "But I can't do this anymore. I can't let him control my life."

"Alright," Julian said. "Meet me at the usual place in an hour. We'll figure something out."

Eleanor nodded, even though Julian couldn't see her. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

She hung up the phone and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She knew this was just the beginning, but she also knew she couldn't back down now. She had to fight for her freedom, no matter what it took.

As she gathered her things and prepared to leave, Eleanor felt a sense of determination wash over her. She was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, ready to fight for the life she deserved. And no matter what happened, she knew she would never let her father control her again.