Adrian Grant keenly sensed the shift in Eleanor Winslow’s mood from casual impatience to sudden seriousness. "Alright, come meet me now." Eleanor didn’t hesitate for a moment. Having just gone through a kidnapping, Adrian was now highly alert, and before Eleanor hung up the phone, he asked directly, "What’s wrong? Who?" "Mia Winslow’s mom," Eleanor answered straightforwardly. "Have her come here to meet you." Adrian felt uneasy about Eleanor meeting the Winslow Family alone and added, "For your safety, Eleanor." Eleanor gave Yvonne Vance the hospital address. Adrian didn’t ask further, knowing without being told that Yvonne must be coming to plead for Mia Winslow. Eleanor had initially planned to leave, but now she had to stay here and wait for Yvonne. She looked at Adrian and said, "If no one provides clues, the police wouldn’t initially trace it to Mia." Adrian didn’t hide anything and admitted, "I was the one who told them." Eleanor had anticipated this, but hearing Adrian personally admit it still surprised her a little. This information made Eleanor reconfirm that when he said he didn’t like Mia, he was telling the truth. This time, he finally chose her over Mia. Eleanor felt a bittersweet sense of humor. "What are you laughing at?" Adrian’s face, usually wearing a hypocritical smile, showed genuine perplexity. Only then did Eleanor realize she had actually laughed out loud. She gazed at the sky outside the window and said leisurely, "I’m laughing at how fate toys with people. If you had done this months ago, I would have been very happy." Rolling on the bed unable to sleep. "Did what?" Adrian, unusually, couldn’t figure out what was going on. Before Adrian finished speaking, a knock on the door suddenly sounded. "Is Yvonne already here?" Eleanor glanced at Adrian in surprise and went to open the door in confusion. When the door opened, she was stunned. "...Mom." Eleanor was startled to see the person before her. Selene Keane was dressed in a tailor-made cheongsam, exuding a subtle arrogance, with two female elders from the Grant Family behind her. The two elders glanced proudly at Eleanor; obviously, Selene was someone they had called in for backup, planning to follow her to see Adrian. "What, do I need to be stopped too?" Selene said with no pleasant expression. "Adrian is awake, please come in." Eleanor immediately stepped aside to let Selene in. Adrian had just heard Eleanor’s call, knowing it was Selene, and sat against the bed with a cold expression. Selene scrutinized Adrian from top to bottom, seeing that his complexion wasn’t too bad, she moved her lips as if wanting to say something but couldn’t, looking awkward. Adrian wasn’t interested in what Selene wanted to say; he looked at the two Grant elders behind her: "I’d like to speak to my mother alone, please leave." Adrian’s words forced the two to leave the ward reluctantly. He now wasn’t even willing to engage in polite small talk or niceties. After leaving the ward, the two dared to whisper: "We called his mom to see him, why does it seem he’s not happy?" ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel※fire.net "Hmph, it appears there’s a reason Selene doesn’t son; he’s so rude! No wonder he lacks proper upbringing!" Adrian and Selene looked at each other, neither willing to speak first. "Mom, have some water." Eleanor poured a cup of warm water for Selene. Her hand hadn’t fully healed yet; now, though her fingers could move, there were still scabs on her palm, and her wrist was wrapped in bandages, which made Adrian frown. Selene glanced at the cup but didn’t take it, instead starting to scrutinize Eleanor. Eleanor’s hand holding the cup paused in midair, caught in an awkward position. "Eleanor." Adrian spoke coldly, "Water, give it to me." Eleanor thought he was thirsty and handed the cup to him. Adrian took it and placed it directly on the bedside table with a "bang," showing a display of the owner’s feelings. This was Adrian providing Eleanor a way out, which instantly irritated Selene: "Adrian, lying in bed here, who is responsible? Get clear! Defending outsiders, disrespecting me, you’re truly not as good as your brother!" ——You’re truly not as good as your brother. Those words were cutting. Eleanor immediately looked at Adrian, but the man’s expression didn’t change, he even chuckled, "What else can be done? My brother and father are dead, so you have no choice." Every word was like a poison-tipped needle piercing Selene’s heart. She took a deep breath in anger, her eyes furious, and suddenly rushed towards Adrian, one hand raised, ready to strike. Without thinking, Eleanor intercepted Selene’s hand mid-air. "Let go!" Selene ordered Eleanor with a glare, "I’m disciplining my own son!" "You didn’t educate him from a young age; he’s been an adult for how long now, there’s no need to educate him." The woman’s voice echoed and fell in the large ward, leaving only a deafening silence. Adrian stared unblinkingly at Eleanor, emotions flickering in his eyes, before deepening into an unfathomable depth like a silent pool, ready to pull someone in. Adrian knew that due to Selene’s past favoritism and care towards Eleanor, Eleanor had always respected Selene. But now, she was standing against Selene for him! Adrian felt a desire to laugh, but it froze upon seeing Eleanor’s hand. He sat upright, using his height advantage to move Eleanor’s hand aside, inspecting it to ensure the scabs hadn’t broken, then let out a quiet sigh of relief. Adrian looked at Selene sharply, "Mom, my body is recovering well. I’ll have Charles Rhodes take you back." If words won’t be civil, then let’s issue an eviction notice! "Fine, fine!" Selene backed away two steps in anger, her earlier dignity gone, pointing at Adrian and Eleanor repetitively, "You both, betraying Jonah, bullying his mother!" She never saw herself as Adrian’s mother from start to finish. Eleanor couldn’t help but feel sorry for Adrian and quickly said, "Auntie, I’ll escort you out." Selene shot Adrian a disdainful glance and left the ward ahead of Eleanor. "You should just call me Auntie," Selene emotionally unstable, adjusted her hair, reverting to her dignified demeanor. Eleanor originally called her ’Mom,’ firstly because of her marriage to Adrian whom she loved, and secondly out of respect for Selene. "When are you divorcing Adrian?" Selene asked impatiently. Eleanor pressed her lips together. Selene saw through Eleanor’s thoughts and mocked, "You wouldn’t refuse to divorce him just because he saved you, right? Eleanor, I’ve watched you grow up; I don’t wish to harm you. Listen to me as an aunt: he doesn’t love you; leaving him will not harm you!"