She left with a casual remark, and then departed from here. Cole Crawford stood still, his eyes slowly narrowing. Scary? People have been saying that about him since he was a child, but he never cared. After his parents passed away, he and his brother depended on each other, and he promised himself then to give the best to his brother. Eleanor Hollis was clearly not the best woman. She didn’t fit his standards, so she had to leave. Xavier Crawford carried the soaking Eleanor back to the manor, laying her on the bed. Eleanor was in the throes of a nightmare, dreaming of hands pulling her deeper into the sea. But she didn’t want to die, she wanted to live. She kept struggling in vain, being dragged deeper into the ocean’s depths where shark eyes lay everywhere, their mouths open as if wanting to swallow her whole. She screamed and woke to find herself lying on a bed, with Xavier by her side. Xavier’s eyes were filled with excitement, and he immediately asked the servants to bring food. If not for the residual fear in her body, Eleanor would have thought last night was just a nightmare, but she vividly remembered the events of the night. Was she saved? "I’m sorry, Eleanor, I had to leave last night because of something, didn’t expect Martha to be so bold." Thinking of Martha, Eleanor’s face paled slightly; that person had pushed her into the sea without hesitation, full of hatred, wishing she would quickly be devoured by sharks. But facing Xavier’s apology, she couldn’t utter a word. Martha was a princess of the Royal Family, was Xavier really going to go against her? If she told the truth, given Xavier’s nature, he’d likely offend members of the royal family immediately. That’s something she didn’t want to see. Moreover, Xavier’s brother, that cold man seemed to be in league with Martha. "Eleanor, eat something first." Xavier placed a bowl of porridge before her, stirring it with a spoon. Eleanor suddenly looked at this man with pity; she used to think Xavier was free and unrestrained, but at this moment she suddenly understood that Xavier had never truly escaped his brother’s grip. Cole seemed like an almighty deity, watching all of his brother’s rebellions, giving him the greatest freedom on the surface, but in reality, he knew every detail of Xavier’s life clearly. Once Xavier’s actions deviated, he would appear to correct them. Just time Xavier brought her back, Cole didn’t like her, so he could mess with her as he pleased. She and Xavier were both pawns in his hand. "Why are you daydreaming? Hurry and drink the porridge." Xavier saw Eleanor dazing off and brought a spoonful of porridge to her lips. Eleanor’s eyes flickered as she tightly gripped the sheets beneath her. "How did I... return last night?" If what she guessed was true, then Cole was terrifying. "My brother saved you, I originally thought my brother was also involved in Martha’s plan, but unexpectedly he was kept in the dark too. Once he found out Martha took you, he rushed to rescue you; had it not been for him, I wouldn’t see you now." Looking at the gratitude on Xavier’s face, Eleanor’s heart sank; it was true, a man like Cole Crawford really was terrifying. It seems not only her and Xavier, even the princess Martha is a pawn in his hand. He controls everyone, playing with them as he pleases, and yet makes Xavier grateful to him. Eleanor slowly closed her eyes, sipping a mouthful of porridge. "Xavier, does your brother treat you well?" If Cole planned on killing Xavier, she had to reveal everything, she couldn’t let him stay ignorant. Xavier said almost without any hesitation. "After our parents died in a plane crash, it was my brother who took care of me. The Crawford Family had vast wealth, and we were young, everything was taken by those relatives. I thought I’d always be a poor wretch, but my brother was amazing; he quickly took back all that belonged to us. I was locked in a small room then, and when I saw him open the door to save me, he seemed like a deity." Talking about Cole, his tone was full of admiration. Eleanor suddenly felt deflated; it seemed Cole did care for his brother, she merely didn’t measure up in his eyes, thus using this method, hoping she’d leave. "My brother called Hugo Quinn, he should arrive soon. I’m sorry, Eleanor, I thought having you by my side could keep you safe, but if not for my brother, you’d be dead, I’d feel forever guilty. Though Hugo’s family opposes you, at least Hugo can stand against them, that man declared to break away from the Quinton Family for you." Xavier slowly lowered his head, realizing that after everything last night, he was no match for Hugo Quinn. If Martha had succeeded in killing Eleanor, perhaps he wouldn’t have even the chance to retaliate. With the Royal Family behind her, without relying on the Crawford Family, he couldn’t touch her. But from when he left the Crawford Family to venture outside, he had told Cole that he didn’t care about the Crawford wealth, he wanted freedom. Having never contributed anything to the Crawford Family over the years, how could he utilize the family ties for revenge once Eleanor was dead? Last night he saw everything clearly, those boiling emotions subdued within him. Eleanor felt a pang seeing him . Xavier was like a naïve young master, thinking living life licking blood from the knife’s edge had taught him the world’s dangers; yet the true menace was the human heart, and inside his was still pristine, destined to see through these things. "Eleanor, I don’t want to let go, but I have nothing to offer you. Hugo Quinn can give you Grandeur Group, his everything, but I have nothing." Xavier fed her the porridge spoon by spoon, eyes glistening with moisture. "I used to think I was great, after all, I was The King of Assassins, but confronting real-world interests, I amounted to nothing." With the bowl of porridge finished, Eleanor felt full. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱 Seeing the tears in Xavier’s eyes, she suddenly took hold of his hand. "Xavier, you... you’re actually good, you just haven’t realized it yet." Xavier remained silent; he wasn’t interested in good person plaques. "You’re the kindest person here. I’ll always remember you." Not knowing what comforting words to say, Eleanor slowly let go of his hand. Someone was knocking outside the door, and Cole walked in.