Chapter 4 Real Family Affection

Eleanor's gaze remained steady as she took in Maverick's words, her emotions a swirl of confusion and hurt. She exhaled deeply before answering, her voice quiet but firm, "The Marsh family kicked me out."

Maverick's eyes widened in shock as he jumped to his feet. "What did you say?!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "They kicked you out? How could this happen?"

Eleanor observed Maverick's reaction, noting the sincerity in his outrage. She arched an eyebrow, the quiet sadness in her voice betraying a depth of loss. "They found their biological daughter, and as the replacement, I no longer held any value."

Maverick's fury erupted, his fists clenching in frustration. "Despicable!" he spat, the word dripping with anger. "Louis swore to take care of you, which is why your mother and I trusted you to him. And now he dared cast you aside? This is unacceptable. I'm going to confront him-right now."

"Maverick, stop," Lily interjected quickly, her voice laced with urgency. "The Marsh family is one of the wealthiest and most powerful in Isonsea. We're barely scraping by here. How could we possibly stand up to them?"

"But they can't just walk all over people like this!" Maverick's eyes filled with fury, his jaw clenched tightly. "If Eleanor hadn't been so frail and sickly back then, making us fear for her life, I would never have sent her to that family. I never asked for her to be pampered with riches-just for her to be safe and loved. But now..."

Maverick's voice faltered as he looked at Eleanor, a deep, instinctive sorrow stirring within him as if he could feel her pain echoing through time. "Eighteen years of nurturing her, and now they cast her aside like nothing... How can they be so heartless?"

Lily stepped forward, her voice steady yet soft as she reached out to Maverick. "I know, Maverick." Her hand rested on his, the weight of her own regret palpable in her touch. "But perhaps, just perhaps, this is the moment we've been waiting for-the chance to make things right."

Maverick's eyes flickered with a mixture of confusion and hope, as though struggling to grasp her meaning. "Lily... what are you saying?"

Lily's focus shifted to Eleanor, her voice steady but filled with regret. "Eleanor, giving you to Louis was our mistake. I don't expect your forgiveness, but please allow us the opportunity to make things right. If you're willing to come back, I'll do everything in my power to make up for what we've done. And if that's not possible, we'll find another way to atone."

Eleanor stared into Lily's eyes, her gaze searching for any sign of deceit, but all she found was an undeniable sincerity that pulled at her heartstrings. A wave of bittersweet emotion washed over her as she absorbed the weight of Lily's words.

"Are you truly certain?" Eleanor's voice faltered, raw with the turmoil bubbling beneath the surface. "Not only was I cast out by the Marsh family, but now they're demanding I repay every penny they spent on me-a million dollars. After everything... do you still want to bring me back into your life?"

Maverick's face darkened with frustration, his fists clenched in impotent anger. "This is beyond infuriating!" he spat, his words sharp and tinged with regret. "Had I known they'd do this, I would've begged on the streets for money to raise you rather than allow them to take you. I made a mistake, Eleanor-a huge mistake-and I will not make another. If you're willing to come back, I swear I'll do anything to support you."

Lily, wiping away the last of her tears, managed a weary but determined smile. "You're our family, Eleanor. That hasn't changed."

Eleanor's gaze wavered, her disbelief palpable as she absorbed the weight of their words. "But... a million? That's an insurmountable amount of money," she said, her voice edged with disbelief.

Maverick and Lily exchanged a silent glance, their resolve unyielding. Maverick spoke with quiet conviction. "A million is a staggering sum for us, but your mother and I have made our decision. Even if we must sell everything we own, we'll find a way to help you pay it back."

"Yes," Lily replied softly, her voice heavy with emotion. "No matter how challenging the future may be, we will face it together as a family. We won't let you suffer any longer, my dear."

She squeezed Eleanor's hand, her touch rough yet comforting, sending waves of warmth through Eleanor's heart. "Sweetheart, I... I can't bear the thought of losing you again."

Eleanor felt an unexpected surge of emotion, her eyes stinging with tears. She had once believed that family affection was something distant, an idea more than a reality. But now, in this moment, it felt real-something tangible and deeply intimate, more alive than she had ever known.

"Dad, Mom..." Eleanor spoke, her voice awkward but filled with a quiet peace.

"Oh, Eleanor..." Lily's voice trembled, her red-rimmed eyes reflecting both anguish and relief as she pulled her daughter close, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

For a moment, Eleanor allowed herself to sink into the comfort of her mother's arms, but then, suddenly, a sharp groan escaped her lips, her expression twisting with pain.

"My dear, what's wrong?" Lily and Maverick exchanged alarmed glances, rushing to her side. Their worry deepened as Eleanor's face lost color, and a cold sweat broke out across her brow.

When Eleanor's eyes finally fluttered open, she found herself lying in a bed, her body drained, both physically and mentally. The emotional strain of the past few days, the weight of her recent turmoil, had finally taken its toll, causing her to faint in the warmth of her family's care.

"Dad, Mom..." Eleanor murmured, her voice weak, struggling to sit up.

She called for them, but there was no reply. She pushed herself from the bed, her steps slow and unsure, and wandered into the dim living room, only to find it empty.

A creeping sense of unease gripped her, and she instinctively reached for her phone, dialing a number with a growing sense of urgency.

"Isabel, can you find out where my parents are?" Eleanor asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

There was a slight pause on the other end before Isabel Hughes's voice broke through, tinged with surprise. "Your parents?" she repeated, as if caught off guard.

"My biological parents-Maverick Harris and Lily Harris," Eleanor clarified, her worry growing.

"Understood. I'll check right away," Isabel responded, though her tone was tinged with disbelief. Still, as Eleanor's most trusted subordinate and closest confidante, she quickly suppressed her shock and set about finding the information.

A moment later, Isabel's voice broke through the silence again, more urgent this time. "Eleanor, things aren't looking good. Your dad... he took a knife and went to the Marsh family..."

Before Isabel could finish, Eleanor, propelled by instinct and rising panic, had already hung up. With no time to waste, she hurried toward the Marsh family residence, her heart pounding in her chest.