A week ago, Eleanor Taylor returned home during her vacation and inadvertently overheard her parents talking. That day, the Taylor Clan received an invitation to the Scott family’s birthday banquet. Eleanor’s parents wanted to seek the Scott family’s help due to the Taylor Clan’s financial crisis, and upon learning that Aaron Scott had a fondness for collecting antiques, they set their sights on those artifacts. In the conversation, Helena Wills mentioned that she had a way to acquire an antique that would please Aaron Scott, speaking with great confidence, which reassured Mr. Taylor. Later, after Mr. Taylor left, Eleanor wanted to chat with Helena Wills but then accidentally overheard Helena making a phone call. It was through this call that Eleanor discovered that Helena, who claimed to be an orphan, actually had a father, and that her father’s family had an ancestral golden cicada, a genuine piece of significant value. With the family facing bankruptcy, her mother fabricated the lie of being an orphan... The information was overwhelming, and Eleanor was too shocked to speak to anyone about it, so she could only secretly follow Helena Wills. The first time, she lost track of her. The second time, on the day Nora Scott was at the fruit store, she successfully followed her. She secretly stayed in the fruit store for a day, witnessing Helena Wills quarreling with Nora Scott, seeing Helena bringing bodyguards to settle accounts, and watching them flee in disarray... Later, she made up a lie and, through a few shops near the fruit store, found out Ward’s residence, only to learn that he had been hospitalized due to Helena’s anger. Eleanor knew well that this was unfair on Helena’s part, so when she met Nora Scott that day, she didn’t dare to acknowledge her and fled. For the past few days, she hesitated for a long time before finding out about Ward’s ward and decided to come see him. However, if she hadn’t run into Nora Scott unexpectedly, she might have backed out at the door. "I don’t mean anything else, nor am I here to speak well of Mom. I just purely wanted to come and see you." Eleanor stood up, placed the bag she was holding on the chair, then obediently stood to the side, bowed her head, and said, "I’m sorry, seeing you’re in good health is really...really great." While speaking, Eleanor’s voice grew quieter, muffled, with a hint of a sob. She stealthily found out many things, like how her grandfather sacrificed a lot to raise Helena Wills and how Helena heartlessly abandoned him after marrying into a wealthy family, choosing to live as an "orphan." If anyone else had done what Helena did, Eleanor would think they were a bad person. But Helena is her mom. Even if Eleanor thinks Helena is bad, she’s still her mom. On one hand, she felt sorry for her grandfather; on the other hand, she found it hard to criticize her mom. After speaking, she stood nervously, waiting for Ward’s reaction of either scolding or reproach. After a long while, Ward merely composed himself and asked, "Are you Eleanor Taylor?" Eleanor nodded, "Yes, the ’Le’ in joy." "Lele." Ward called her and then asked, "Are you in college?" "Yes, I’m an animation student at East Transmission University. Currently a junior." Eleanor answered honestly. The elderly and the young, one asking and one answering. The atmosphere gradually eased. Discover more novels at NoveIFire.net Slowly, Eleanor no longer felt so nervous or uneasy and could talk to Ward normally. Nora Scott sat by Antonio Easton’s hospital bed, peeling two tangerines. Antonio ate one segment, and she ate the rest. Antonio Easton: "Marcus Shaw said he’s staying at your place on weekends recently." "What do you two eat?" Antonio’s brows gradually knitted. He knew Nora’s situation very well, and getting her to cook was harder than ascending to heaven. "He cooks." Nora replied assertively. "...Oh," Antonio nodded and asked, "Is it edible?" Nora thought for a moment and objectively evaluated, "Slightly better than ’just edible.’" Antonio said, "Practice more, and it’ll be fine. If it doesn’t suit your taste, just tell him directly." Just like that, with a few words, they established Marcus Shaw’s role as the budding chef. Eleanor received a call, and Helena Wills was urging her to go home. After responding promptly, Eleanor hung up the phone. She glanced at Ward, subconsciously putting her phone behind her, as if receiving a call from Helena was something she felt guilty about, and cautiously said, "Grandfather, something’s come up at home, I need to go back." Ward nodded, looking quite desolate and reluctant. After gazing at him for a few seconds, Eleanor turned around and walked towards the door. After taking just two steps, Eleanor stopped, turned back, hesitantly asking, "Can I come again next time?" Ward, whose expression had just become downcast, suddenly lit up with a hint of vitality.
