The Billionaire's Shackled Bride

Chapter 1 Get Released From Prison

A deafening clap of thunder split the sky, and in the blink of an eye, a torrential downpour followed. The heavy rain pounded down like a waterfall. In this miserable weather, the heavy gates of the prison in the southern district of Avaris creaked open.

"Make sure you turn a new leaf and live a better life after this. Don't ever do anything against the law," said the prison guard, his expression stern as he handed Eleanor Reed an umbrella.

He looked her up and down, his eyes flickering with both pity and disgust, though it vanished in an instant.

"Thanks," Eleanor replied calmly and accepted the umbrella. She stepped through the prison gates, unfazed by the storm outside, and her heart swelled with a quiet joy.

She had spent three long years in this dark and suffocating place, where freedom had been nothing more than a distant memory. From 18 to 21, she had gone from the beloved, glamorous Ms. Eleanor Reed to the notorious, despised criminal.

She had fallen from grace like a fallen angel, and there was no coming back. Her life, once so bright, was now irreparably ruined by her time behind bars.

Outside the prison, a black car waited and a middle-aged man stepped out and walked towards Eleanor with a black umbrella as she came out. His face was unreadable as he said, "Ms. Reed, Mr. Vanderbilt sent me to pick you up and take you home."

Eleanor blinked in surprise and then broke into a sharp smile. She had a gorgeous face, yet her eyes simmered immense gloominess and disdain. She scoffed, "Home? I can still go back?"

"Mr. Vanderbilt said you were born and raised there. Three years is enough of a lesson for you, and once you apologize to Ms. Foster, everything will be forgiven."

"Apologize?" Eleanor's tone was oddly calm. "Fine, I'll apologize."

Her compliance caught the man off guard. Everyone knew that Eleanor, with Dominick's adoration, had previously been too proud to apologize to anyone. For someone like her to apologize to others was like a miracle.

But now, the arrogant woman seemed to have turned humble. The man couldn't help but soften his gaze as he wondered, ' It seems like the prison life has taught her enough lessons, or she wouldn't have been so meek.'

Eleanor didn't care about the man's attitude. She got into the car and stared out the window at the passing scenery with a blank expression.

Her reflection flickered in the glass. As she thought about the apology the man mentioned, her beautiful eyes glimmered with a bitter, mocking light.

She couldn't help but think to herself, 'Apologize to that woman? No way. She's the one who owes me an apology.'

Her mind drifted to Alexis, and her light brown eyes darkened with intense hatred. Never had she imagined that her life would be destroyed by an insignificant woman. Even the man who had once adored her turned his back on her overnight and sent her straight to the prison.

Eleanor had sworn in the prison that if she ever made it out alive, she would tear Alexis's fake skin off with her bare hands. All the humiliation and the suffering she had endured would all be paid back tenfold.

"Ms. Reed, when we get home, you'll apologize to Ms. Foster in front of everyone," the man said flatly, his tone cold. "Ms. Foster is a kind-hearted girl. Mr. Vanderbilt just hopes you've truly turned over a new leaf."

The car then took a winding path through the meticulously trimmed trees and finally pulled up to Reed Villa.

By now, the downpour had turned into a drizzle. Eleanor stepped out of the car, her gaze flat as she looked at the house where she had lived for 18 years. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides with veins standing out on her skin.

"Ms. Reed, everyone's waiting for you inside," said Eric, the butler who had worked for the Reed family for over a decade. His wrinkled and sour face showed no hint of the flattering and doting attitude he used to have toward Eleanor.

Eleanor shot Eric a cold glance. She was fully aware of his nature—a double-faced man. Now that she was no longer the adored young lady, Eric had no reason to kiss up to her.

In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if he used her fall from grace to please his new bosses, even if it meant hurting Eleanor's feelings.

Thinking back on everything that had happened with the Reed family, Eleanor couldn't help but feel like a fool.

She scoffed in her mind, 'How could I have ever thought those devils were family? If it weren't for these so-called family members, how could Alexis have so easily framed me and left me unable to explain?'

The living room was crowded with people. It was clear that the storm outside wasn't enough to dampen their curiosity.

Word had spread that Eleanor would be released from prison today, and nearly everyone with any connection to the Reed family came to see the show. The living room was nearly packed.

As soon as Eleanor walked in, dozens of eyes fixed on her—some curious, some disdainful, and others gleeful at her downfall. But one pair of eyes stood apart.

Sitting on the sofa in the middle, with the head of the Reed family forced to sit beside him, was a man with an aggressively commanding presence.

His short, brown hair framed a pair of deep, hunter-green eyes that seemed to gleam with a predatory light—like a beast in the night, sending a chill down everyone's spine.

Dressed in a custom black shirt and matching pants, he let his chiseled collarbone visible and exuded an air of lazy danger. He looked like a king on a throne, who made people feel small and should bow their heads in front of him.

This was Dominick Vanderbilt, the kingpin in the business world, the head of the Vanderbilt family, and Avaris's devil.

Eleanor's gaze lingered on him, her eyes welling with unshed tears, betraying the turmoil beneath her calm facade.

"Eleanor, I'm so glad you're back." The voice broke the tense silence. Alexis, sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed by a servant to Dominick's side. She flashed a mild smile and added, "I wanted to ask Dad to throw you a welcome-home party, but Dominick insisted that you apologize to me."

Alexis's voice was as sweet as ever. She wore a faint, almost pitying smile. "We grew up together, Eleanor. Whether or not you apologize, I'll forgive you. Honestly, Dominick's overreacting, so don't hold it against him."

"No, sweetie," Gregory Reed, the head of the Reed family, snapped from his seat with disgust clear in his voice as he glared at Eleanor. "You ungrateful brat, get over here and apologize to Alexis. You've embarrassed the Reed family enough."

Eleanor's gaze flickered over to her father—the man who had once spoiled her so much. Now, after taking everything she owned, he couldn't even pretend to care about her.

Eleanor took a deep breath, looked away from Dominick, and walked toward Alexis.

But just as everyone expected her to apologize, Eleanor moved with blinding speed. In one swift motion, her hand slapped across Alexis's face, the sharp sound echoing through the room.

She stood tall and looked down at Alexis with a cold, mocking smile. "Apologize? You think I owe you one? In your next life!"

Chapter 2 You'll Never Win Against Me

No one expected Eleanor to be so brazen after three years in prison. Not only did she refuse to apologize to the victim, but she slapped Alexis right in front of everyone. The room went silent in shock, only to erupt into an uproar moments later.

The relatives began to murmur angrily and shook their heads.

A man said with a shocked face, "A murderer comes out and still acts like this? That's typical Eleanor—spoiled beyond belief. After three years in prison, she still can't control her nasty temper. Does she really think she's still that high-and-mighty princess?"

Another middle-aged woman added, "Back then, she had Mr. Vanderbilt to protect her. But now? Alexis is the one engaged to him. Just wait, Mr. Vanderbilt will make her pay for this."

Another woman pointed at Eleanor and scolded, "Eleanor, this is too much. You caused Alexis to lose her legs three years ago, and now you're still picking on her? Do you really think you can get away with anything?"

Gregory was beyond furious. He took a step forward and raised his hand to slap Eleanor, but she dodged with swift grace and avoided the blow.

Eleanor scanned the room with her cold eyes. Finally, her gaze landed on Alexis, who acted like a helpless, fragile victim.

Eleanor sneered, "Alexis, stop playing the innocent angel. You can fool these idiots, but you can't fool me. You're a venomous snake in disguise. Since I made it out of prison alive, believe me, I will make you pay for what you've done."

Feigning shock, Alexis blinked at Dominick with teary eyes and collapsed into his arms. "I can't believe Eleanor hates me so much," she said with a bitter laugh.

Gregory, now flushed with anger, clenched his fists and trembled. He shouted, "This is outrageous! You're shameless!" The nerve of his daughter to defy him in front of everyone made him feel so humiliated.

Meanwhile, Dominick sat unmoving on the sofa, his face a mask of indifference as he watched the unfolding drama. When Alexis spoke, his icy eyes shifted to Eleanor. His voice was low and smooth but with an unmistakable command. "Apologize to Alexis."

Eleanor shuddered upon hearing Dominick's order. She looked at Dominick, who had been her ally since her youth. Yet he was standing up for Alexis, that deceitful witch. Eleanor's eyes filled with anger and disbelief as she shot back, "What did you just say, Dominick?"

Dominick never repeated his words. His command was final, and there was no mistaking the coldness behind it. The room went dead silent.

Dominick's right-hand men, who had been by his side for years, moved forward, grabbed Eleanor's arms, and pinned her down, forcing her to bow to Alexis.

Struggling to break free, Eleanor had her head raised high. Her red eyes burned with a mixture of sorrow and frustration as she met Dominick's gaze. She shouted, her voice raw with emotion, "Why? Why don't you believe me? I didn't do any of those things. Why won't you trust me?!"

Even after Dominick sent her into prison, she couldn't bring herself to believe that the man who had once sworn to love her forever, would stand against her and distrust her like this.

Over the past three years, she had asked herself countless times, but she couldn't figure out the reason.

Her desperate plea echoed in the room, and the audacity of her words had everyone stunned.

In Avaris, no one dared to call Dominick by his name and question him like this.

Dominick rose slowly and walked in front of Eleanor. He towered over her, his presence like an unmovable mountain. His gaze, deep and unyielding, was like an endless abyss too hard to read.

"Eleanor, it's been three years. You still haven't learned your lessons," he said, his voice low but laced with authority.

Still covering her sore cheek, Alexis spoke softly, "Forget it, Nick. If Eleanor doesn't want to apologize, just don't force her. I'm older than her. I should be more lenient."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a saint offering forgiveness, but Eleanor could hardly contain the disgust rising in her throat.

"No? Fine, stay here and reflect until you're ready to apologize," Dominick said coldly.

Eleanor tried to struggle again, but his men held her down with a vice-like grip. She couldn't move an inch.

Seizing the moment, Gregory stormed up to Eleanor and slapped her across the face. "Ungrateful brat! After everything, you're still acting like this? If it weren't for Mr. Vanderbilt, I would have kicked you out.

"I tell you what, no one in this house welcomes you. Alexis is being gracious to you, but you? How dare you slap her? You're a pure snake."

The slap hit hard, making Eleanor dizzy. Her pale cheek began to swell, and she could feel the sting searing through her.

Eleanor smirked with blood dripping from her split lip. "You're right. I'm a snake, and you're no better."

Her eyes shifted to Dominick, and a bitter laugh escaped her lips. She should have figured it out long ago. Three years ago, she had lost everything. Now, she stood here again because of the last shred of longing for Dominick.

The naive girl who had been spoiled and sheltered, thinking the world was hers, was long gone. She only returned to take back what was hers.

"You've lost your mind," Gregory hissed and threw another slap on her face. This time, his anger was almost palpable. "I should have killed you when you were born. I never thought I'd be cursed by my own daughter."

Eleanor's gaze was full of contempt as she stared back at Gregory and wiped the blood from her lips.

The prison life had taken its toll. She was thinner and rougher by her appearance. People in the room never stopped whispering in disgust, but it didn't matter to her.

Dominick said she hadn't learned her lesson. Exactly, she was never the kind of person who ever learned to just bow her head.

He even wanted her to apologize to Alexis, and obviously, it would never ever happen in her whole life.

"Nick..." Alexis sighed softly, her voice smooth as silk. "I don't want to push Eleanor too hard. How about just giving her a small punishment? Have her stay here for one night to reflect on her actions. That should count as an apology, right? Just don't force her."

Gregory chimed in, "Alexis, don't be too kind to the witch. She ruined your life, and you want to let her off easy? You don't want to force her, but she has zero remorse and even holds a grudge against you for putting her in prison."

Gregory turned to Alexis, his eyes filled with rage and an almost fatherly protectiveness. For outsiders, it was convincing that Gregory must be Alexis's birth father.

The others nodded in agreement. They all felt sorry for Alexis, a beautiful girl reduced to someone who could barely move on her own. And they couldn't help but praise Alexis's generosity and kindness.

At the same time, their gazes toward Eleanor carried more disgust.

Dominick, however, simply furrowed his brow and replied, "Up to you." With that, he turned around and walked out of the room. As soon as he was gone, the tension in the room lifted slightly.

Gregory glared at Eleanor and snapped, "Just stay here and reflect on what you've done. When Alexis decides to forgive you, you can leave. And don't you dare try to run away."

Since Dominick's men were still around, Gregory didn't dare lay a hand on her again.

Alexis gave a soft smile and wheeled herself over to Eleanor. She looked up at the two men holding Eleanor down and said, "I just want to talk to Eleanor for a second. Can you..."

The two men stepped back a bit immediately after Alexis's command. Still, they kept a firm grip on Eleanor to ensure she wouldn't hurt Alexis again.

Eleanor's gaze was filled with cold fury as she looked up at Alexis, her eyes practically spitting venom. But Alexis, completely unfazed by her hatred, leaned in closer, and whispered, "I'll be engaged to Dominick soon. Eleanor, you're still as stupid as ever. You'll never win against me."

Chapter 3 She Was Back For Revenge

Eleanor's blood boiled upon hearing the word "engaged". Her brown eyes suddenly shrank. She locked her gaze on Alexis, who had the fakest smile on her face.

Her hands, bound tightly, turned into fists. If it weren't for the two men holding her down, Eleanor was sure she would have launched herself at Alexis and punched her right in the face.

"I don't believe it." Eleanor gritted out, her teeth clenched with every word.

Alexis watched Eleanor's livid face, clearly enjoying her reaction. She ran her fingers through her hair with a soft sigh, acting all innocent. "Eleanor, I know you've always had feelings for Dominick, but you know, a lot has happened over the years.

"I mean, you've hurt me, but I've always considered you my family. You and Dominick grew up together. As a friend and family, I really hope you can sincerely give us your best wishes."

"Shut up! Alexis, you're so damn hypocritical. You make me sick." Eleanor's eyes were bloodshot, her disgust for Alexis overflowing.

Alexis gave her a pitying look, shaking her head as if she were dealing with a lost cause. Then, she turned her wheelchair around to leave. Before she left, she told Dominick's men, "Once Eleanor has reflected enough, just let her go. Don't make it harder for her."

"Got it, Ms. Foster," the men replied in unison.

The two men, Bruce Willis and Brutus Willis, were twin brothers and Dominick's most trusted men. They were both tall with serious faces.

Alexis wasn't just showing her generosity by saying so. She was warning them to keep a close eye on Eleanor and make sure she stayed there and reflected on herself properly.

Bruce and Brutus were once on relatively good terms with Eleanor.

Under their watchful eyes, Eleanor was forced to stand barefoot in the middle of the living room on the cold marble floor for an entire day. Only the next morning was she dragged back to her room by the servants.

Eleanor's room had been taken over by Alexis. Now, Eleanor was stuck in a small, dark, and cramped room—a spare storage room that was barely furnished with just a simple bed.

It was even smaller and more depressing than even the servants' quarters.

Eleanor lay on the narrow bed, feeling the ache in her legs from standing all day. Her once delicate face had grown pale from hunger. Her stomach growled, but she just stared at the ceiling and scoffed bitterly.

This was the home she had lived in for 18 years, but after just three years, there was no sign of her existence left. Everything she owned had been tossed into the trash by Gregory, as if she had never been a part of the Reed family at all.

She thought she had been used to Gregory's cold, indifferent nature over the years, but it still stung to come back to this house and be treated like that. This was supposed to be her home, yet she was treated even worse than a stranger.

She thought back to all those years when she trusted Alexis so much and treated her like real family. It made her want to smash the younger version of herself, that naive fool who had been so blinded.

'How could I have been so blind to allow a devil into my life?' Eleanor thought with a sneer.

Alexis's mother, Jennifer, had been best friends with Eleanor's mother. After Eleanor's mother died when Eleanor was just ten, Jennifer often came to Reed Villa to take care of her. Gradually, Jennifer hooked up with Gregory.

Before all that went down, Jennifer and Alexis had been kind to Eleanor, and Eleanor had even naively accepted Jennifer as her stepmother. To her surprise, they were not as kind-hearted as she had thought.

To achieve their goal, Jennifer and Alexis had been playing their parts for years, only to reveal their true faces to Eleanor. With only one move, they sent Eleanor straight from the clouds into hell. It was too late for Eleanor to realize their hidden agenda.

"I'm so hungry," Eleanor grumbled, her eyes misting over with tears.

Even after the hardships she'd endured in prison, the loneliness of lying in this tiny, dark room still hit her hard. Her ankles were swollen from standing on the cold floor for so long, and even the lightest touch sent sharp pain shooting up her legs.

Though she was exhausted and starving, she knew that the entire Reed family was under Alexis's control now. That woman hated her to the bone, so there was no way she'd send any food here.

After standing all day without a single drop of water, Eleanor's body felt like it was on the edge of giving up.

She took a deep breath and tried to gather the strength to get up and find something to eat. But as soon as she moved, the door to her tiny room was kicked open with a loud crash.

Eric stood in the doorway and looked down at Eleanor with a sneer, his face dark and unreadable. "Mr. Reed says you were not a part of the Reed family three years ago. If you want to stay here, you'll have to work. The family doesn't take in freeloaders."

"Ridiculous," Eleanor laughed bitterly, her eyes full of fire. "Who the hell isn't part of this family? This house belonged to my grandparents. Gregory is nothing but an orphan they adopted. He doesn't even know his real parents, and now he claims he owes the house? What a joke."

Eric frowned in irritation, his voice growing sharper, "Those are just old stories. All you need to know is that Mr. Reed is the owner of this villa now. Everything else doesn't matter..."

"Enough," Eleanor cut him off. "Eric, you've been living here for decades. I never expected you'd wag your tail for some outsiders after my grandparents were gone. Even if I'm not part of the Reed family anymore, you think you are?"

Eric's face turned beet red with anger. He raised his hand to slap Eleanor, but Eleanor was no longer the weak princess after her prison life. She grabbed his wrist and stopped him cold.

With a sharp jerk, she threw Eric's hand off, her eyes blazing with disgust. "This is my home. No one's kicking me out. Go tell Gregory, even if he used his dirty tricks to steal everything my grandparents and my mother left to me, I'll make sure he pays the price."

There was nothing left for her to lose, so she was afraid of anyone. Gregory had shown her no mercy, so why should she show him any?

Eric was silenced and frozen by the menacing glint in Eleanor's eyes. The Eleanor he once knew—the spoiled, defiant princess—was gone.

The person who stood before him now was a woman with fire in her eyes. She was like a rabbit pushed to the edge, and even a rabbit could bite when it was desperate.

Eric could feel it: Eleanor wasn't back for reconciliation—she was here for revenge. She might be hurt, but she wasn't going down without a fight.

Eric's pride wouldn't let him back down entirely. Still seething, he spat, "Fine. If you're not gonna work, don't even think about eating anything from the Reed family. Let's see how long you can last."

With that, he turned and stormed off, leaving Eleanor in the room. Outside, the other servants exchanged uncomfortable looks, not knowing what to do.

Chapter 4 Had A Lavish Breakfast

It didn't take long for the argument between Eleanor and Eric to reach Alexis's ears. Currently, Alexis was living in the very room Eleanor had once called her own— the best room in the entire villa, with the best lighting and view.

The princess-like decor in pastel pinks and whites was every bit as romantic as a young girl's dream, with every detail carefully chosen to reflect sweetness and youth.

Sipping her favorite latte, Jennifer watched her daughter's sweet face and asked with genuine confusion, "That little witch is already at rock bottom. Why don't you just kick her out? Having her around is still a risk."

Alexis smiled brightly at her mother and replied, "Why kick her out? The more miserable and humiliated she gets, the better it makes me feel."

"But..." Jennifer frowned, her concern not quite gone. "She was once the woman Dominick held so close to his heart. What if one day..."

"Easy, Mom," Alexis interrupted with a confident wave of her hand. "Dominick will never rekindle anything with her. As long as she's under my nose, that possibility is zero."

Jennifer still looked uneasy, her worry lines deepening. "Better safe than sorry. Dominick's young, but he's very calculating."

"Mom, I've got it all under control," Alexis said while casually reaching for a pair of pearl earrings and slipping them on.

'That stupid girl will never understand how much Dominick hates her. She thought she could waltz back into his life? I've been waiting for this moment for years. I'm not going to let such a perfect opportunity slip away,' Alexis thought.

As she thought this, Alexis stood up from her wheelchair, her legs moving gracefully as she walked across the room and pulled a moon-white dress from the wardrobe.

It was obvious that there was nothing wrong with her legs, and Jennifer didn't seem to find this strange at all.

After changing into the dress, Alexis looked at herself in the mirror with a satisfied smile. She lightly touched her face, admiring her reflection before saying, "Mom, there's one thing you're right about. Better safe than sorry."

She was confident that Dominick had long forgotten Eleanor, but she couldn't allow any possibilities to arise. She could only rest assured when she destroyed Eleanor.

Meanwhile, Eleanor still didn't realize Alexis had orchestrated her return to the Reed family for all the wrong reasons. After the argument with Eric, Eleanor's hunger had only increased.

No one brought her food. All the familiar servants she once trusted had been replaced by Alexis and Jennifer. Eric was the only one left. Unfortunately, he was nothing more than a lapdog for Alexis and Jennifer, and he didn't bother to make her life any harder.

By midnight, Eleanor's legs had finally regained some feeling. She pushed through the pain and slowly dragged herself out of bed. She used the walls for support as she made her way to the kitchen.

The villa was dark, with just one dim light flickering. When she reached the kitchen, Eleanor found it completely empty with no food, not even a scrap.

She knew this was deliberate. They'd figured out she'd come looking for something to eat, and they'd made sure to clear everything out.

Eleanor put on a long face. She wasn't about to go back empty-handed. Grabbing a bowl, she filled it with cold water and gulped it down, which was enough to make her stomach feel a little fuller.

It wasn't the first time she'd had to make do with nothing but water. In prison, she'd learned to find humor in her suffering.

But she wasn't about to submit that easily. Looking around the empty kitchen, she couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

After a night's rest, Eleanor felt much better. The pain in her legs had eased significantly. Given her years in prison, her body had grown accustomed to injury, so it wasn't surprising she was recovering so quickly.

She woke up at around 5:30 a.m. and strained her ears to listen for any sounds from the kitchen and dining room. She knew the Reed family's breakfasts were always lavish, and she wasn't about to miss it.

When the servants announced breakfast and called the family members downstairs, Alexis and the others walked into the dining room, only to be greeted by the sight of a small figure hungrily devouring the spread.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Maria, the cook, screeched while seeing her carefully prepared breakfast being devoured by a disheveled woman. She stormed over and shoved Eleanor away.

Eleanor swallowed a bite of the delicious omelet and flashed a bright smirk. "I'm hungry. This is my home. I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. Who's gonna stop me?"

"The food was meant for the masters, not you," Maria snapped, glaring at the mess Eleanor had made of the table.

Eleanor rolled her eyes with a sandwich in her hand. She took a big bite, completely ignoring Maria's rant.

"Goddamn it! Where's your decency and table manners? You're acting like a beggar. You're embarrassing us all." Gregory's voice was seething with anger.

Gritting her teeth from the pain in her legs, Eleanor simply plopped down in a chair, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "If you don't eat for days, you'll forget the damn table manners and decency too."

"Dad, don't get worked up," Alexis finally interjected after soaking enough in the drama. She wheeled herself over and added, "Eleanor's just starving. She probably went through a lot in prison."

Gregory was a man obsessed with dignity. He used to pamper Eleanor when she made him look proud. But after her scandal and prison sentence, he had avoided large gatherings for years, terrified of facing people who might bring up the topic of his incarcerated daughter.

At the word of prison, Gregory's face turned even more gloomy. He shouted, "Get back to your room, Eleanor. I don't want to see you."

"Dad, calm down," Alexis cooed, flashing a sweet smile as she glanced over at Eleanor. "Dominick is taking me out soon to pick out our wedding rings."

The moment Eleanor heard "wedding rings", her face froze for a second, and even the sandwich she was holding suddenly lost all its appeal.

A cold glint flashed in Alexis's eyes. As she expected, Eleanor still hadn't let go of Dominick.

Gregory's expression softened, and he turned to Alexis with a look of fondness. "Well, then make sure you pick out something nice. If you see something you like, just tell me. I'll pay it for you."

"Dad, you're so sweet," Alexis beamed, her smile as sweet as sugar.

Eleanor could only watch them with a detached, cold gaze. The sight of their fake father-daughter affection made her stomach turn. But then, her eyes dropped to the table as the thought hit her—Dominick was actually planning to marry this disgusting woman. The fact made her heart clench painfully.

She hadn't come back just to reclaim what was hers; she was here to confront the man who had once held her in his heart.

She wanted to ask him why he didn't trust her. Just because of Alexis's words, he sentenced her for good. Was the bond they had so fragile?

As she brooded, a servant trotted into the room, practically bursting with excitement. "Mr. Vanderbilt's car is waiting outside."

Chapter 5 You're Disgusting

Dominick's name echoed far beyond Avaris; it was known across the entire country. No one really knew his background, but what was clear was that this man appeared out of nowhere seven years ago and took control of Avaris's economic lifeblood without breaking a sweat.

Vanderbilt Group, the empire he built, spanned multiple industries, and his fortune was in the tens of billions. Naturally, he attracted admirers from all corners.

But Dominick himself was a mystery. He was cold, calculating, and ruthless in the business field. Anyone who offended him wouldn't end up on the winning side.

Years ago, Eleanor had been the woman everyone envied, the one Dominick had treated like royalty. Back then, Dominick would get Eleanor everything she wanted. Anyone who dared upset her would would feel the full wrath of Dominick.

But now, that same man was about to marry Alexis.

Eleanor sat in the corner, watching as Gregory beamed with joy at Dominick's arrival, completely ignoring the harsh words he'd just thrown at her. It felt like the previous outburst was an illusion.

Dominick stood at nearly 6.5 feet, and the moment he stepped through the door, all eyes were naturally drawn to him.

He wore a simple black shirt, the neckline casually revealing a hint of his chiseled collarbones. His back was straight, and those long, perfect legs could cause the young women in the room to gasp.

His cold, aloof gaze never flickered, and his facial features were sharp and delicate, as if he'd stepped out of a Greek myth. Anyone who met his eyes felt like they were looking up at some unattainable being. Even the emperors in the old days probably paled in comparison to him.

"Morning, Nick." Even Alexis, usually the picture of poise, couldn't hide the tenderness and affection in her voice when she greeted him.

Eleanor's eyes had sparkled with light and glued to Dominick ever since he came in.

They met just yesterday, but still, her heart tightened painfully when she saw him. She could feel the overwhelming sense of sadness flooding over her.

But she knew deep down that the man standing before her wasn't the same person he used to be. He wasn't the man who had once pampered her and made her feel like she was the center of his world.

Her legs, which had been aching from standing all day, were screaming in pain. If this was the old Dominick, he would never have let her suffer like this.

Alexis was all smiles as she looked up at him, her eyes fixed on him like he were the sun. She grabbed his hand and puffed out her cheeks in a playful way. "You could've just waited outside."

Dominick didn't respond but just silently met her gaze. There was something unsettling about him. With no warmth and emotion, he was an enigma that no one could figure out.

"It's still raining outside?" Alexis said, "Your hair's a bit damp."

She took a handkerchief and gently wiped his hair, clearly unbothered by his cold demeanor.

She was sitting in a wheelchair and unable to reach his hair, but Dominick bent down to meet her level so that she could wipe his hair. It was a silent but unmistakable gesture that he treated her with a special kind of care.

Eleanor watched this scene, and it made her eyes feel stung. Her heart ached as she staggered forward to lock eyes with him. "Dominick, I'm out of prison. Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Dominick's expression was unreadable, his deep eyes offering no trace of emotion. If anyone else had been stared at by him, they'd probably have buckled. But Eleanor wasn't afraid of his piercing gaze.

Eleanor grabbed Dominick's arm with a pleading look in her eyes and asked, "Are you really going to marry Alexis? You promised me... I'd be the only woman in your life! Don't you remember?"

Dominick shot her a cold look and easily shook her hand off. His brow furrowed, and for the first time, a look of disgust flashed across his perfect features. "Don't touch me. You're disgusting." The simple words cut deep, laying bare his feelings.

Eleanor's face turned pale as she stared at him. "Disgusting? You think I'm disgusting?"

Dominick didn't even acknowledge her. He turned to push Alexis and made his way toward the door. "Let's go shopping."

Eleanor wasn't about to let it go. She stepped into their path with a bitter smile on her lips. "Dominick, why do you say I'm disgusting? Just because I've been to prison? But I swear I never hurt Alexis. This whole mess is all her scheme!"

"Eleanor!" Alexis immediately chimed in, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "I know how you feel about Dominick, but that's all in the past. I've forgiven you for your mistakes. Why can't you just let him go?"

With that, she clutched Dominick's sleeve and looked at Eleanor with feigned pity. "Nick and I are getting engaged soon, and he'll be my future husband. If your mother were still alive, do you think she'd want you to be called a mistress?"

Gregory, who had been standing off to the side, couldn't hold it in anymore. His face darkened as he stormed over to Eleanor and grabbed her roughly. "Get back to your room now. You're just as shameless as your mother!"

"Shameless?" Eleanor couldn't help but laugh bitterly. She had long seen through Gregory's true nature. "Who's really shameless here? You don't get to insult my mother."

The reliance she had once felt for her father had turned to deep loathing. She didn't understand how a man could be so shameless. Back when her mother was alive, Gregory had doted on her, but now...

Her gaze flickered toward Jennifer, her eyes full of scorn.

Dominick's cold voice sounded. "Eleanor, do you know what you look like right now?"

He walked up to her, raised a hand to grip her chin, and forced her to look directly into his eyes. His words came out slow and deliberate. "You look like a clown. Everyone is laughing at you."

Eleanor's eyes drifted around the room at Dominic, the staff, and the bodyguards he'd brought with him.

He was right. At that moment, she was nothing more than a clown. The gazes of those around her were filled with indifference, mockery, and disdain.

They all believed she lied about not hurting Alexis back then. And now that she was out of prison, she was trying to tear apart Dominick and Alexis.

Eleanor mumbled, "I didn't do it..." But she knew no one would believe her, and no one ever did.

Dominick didn't spare her another glance as he continued to push Alexis out the door, not even pausing for a second.

The girl who had once been his everything was now left behind, like a stray dog, abandoned and alone.

Gregory walked over and barked at her. "If you want to stay in this house, then keep your head down and stop trying to mess with Dominick and Alexis. If you keep this up, I swear I won't let you get away with it."

Jennifer also stepped forward with a fake smile. "Ellie, let's just move past all that. With the Reed family's status now, I'm sure I can find you a good man, and you can live a peaceful life."

Chapter 6 Made Her Plan

Eleanor couldn't help but laugh bitterly at Jennifer's words. She sneered in her mind, "Find a good man for me? She's ridiculous."

She watched as Gregory and Jennifer left, fully aware of the venom in Jennifer's words. Jennifer was always so good at putting on a show. Before Eleanor went to prison, Jennifer had acted like the perfect stepmother, showering her with gifts and kindness.

Everyone who saw them together thought Jennifer was the best stepmother in the world—loving, caring, always putting Eleanor's needs first.

Even three years ago, when Alexis had set her up and everything fell apart, Jennifer still pretended to be the most supportive and heartbroken stepmother.

Even though her real daughter was the one who'd been hurt, Jennifer still made sure to put on a perfect performance in front of everyone.

She acted like she was torn, like she were a mother who loved her children equally.

If she hadn't been in prison for those three years, Eleanor might have still been naive enough to think Jennifer truly cared for her. But after meeting a fellow inmate, she had seen the truth—what they had called love was just backhanded compliments.

Out there, people had called Eleanor a spoiled, unreasonable princess, someone who thought the world revolved around her.

From the servants, she'd always used her position to bully the weak, take out her frustrations on the staff, or pick on poorer girls at school. Even for rich girls, she pretended to be sweet in front of them but spoke ill of them behind their backs.

Three years ago, Eleanor never cared about those rumors. She thought people just made up lies out of jealousy. But once she was in prison, the truth hit her like a ton of bricks.

Jennifer used Eleanor's "bad reputation" to make Alexis look kind. Jennifer built Alexis's image by stepping on Eleanor, turning her into the villain while making Alexis look like a saint.

Now Jennifer was offering to find her a good man to marry. Eleanor knew exactly what that was about—it was all a scheme to make sure she wouldn't ruin Alexis's wedding plans.

Eleanor snorted in disgust. She could bet this good man Jennifer spoke of would be anything but good. With Jennifer's calculating nature, there was no telling if she'd dig through the gutter to find someone for Eleanor.

Back in her room, Eleanor sat quietly by the window, lost in thought. She watched the birds fly by outside, the rain softly falling, and the thick air with the smell of soil and grass.

Every time she thought about Dominick calling her disgusting, it felt like her heart was being twisted in a vice. Eleanor clenched her fists with a fire glint in her eyes. "You said I was disgusting... Fine, this is just the beginning."

She whispered in her mind, 'Alexis, you want to marry Dominick so badly, don't you? You've schemed for so long to take everything from me. You think I'm just going to stand by and let you play me for a fool? I won't let you have your way, not for one second.'

*****

Soon, news about Dominick taking Alexis to the mall to pick out engagement rings spread like wildfire. Countless women in the town couldn't help but envy Alexis for landing such a powerful man, and the jealousy was practically choking them.

Even the media was full of reports about their upcoming engagement. Dominick, the ultimate golden bachelor, had a reputation for being untouchable. Women rarely dared to even try and flirt with him, knowing full well how ruthless he could be.

Once, a high-society woman tried to drug him, hoping to sleep with him. Not only did she fail, but her family fell apart, and she ended up working as a hostess in a club, a far cry from the privileged life she once had.

"I heard that ring's worth over a million dollars. I can't imagine affording a ring that expensive in my whole life," a maid whispered.

Another maid said, "Mr. Vanderbilt really treats Ms. Foster well. It's just too bad about her legs. Otherwise, they'd be the perfect couple, you know, a match made in heaven."

"It's all Eleanor's fault. If she hadn't pushed Ms. Foster, her legs would still be fine. Three years in prison was way too easy on her," someone else chimed in.

Eleanor didn't have a phone to read the news now, so she heard the gossip about their ring shopping from the servants.

Eric still tried to cut off her food supply. But Eleanor didn't care about dignity anymore. Since the Reed family wasn't going to feed her, she'd find a way to feed herself. Whether it was Gregory's meals or the staff's leftovers, as long as it filled her stomach, she could accept it.

She spent the whole day holed up in her room and made her plan carefully.

She thought with hatred, 'Dominick thinks I'm disgusting, huh? Well, I'm curious how he feels after sleeping with the woman he despises. As for Alexis, she likes pretending to be weak and forgiving. Let's see if she can keep up that act when I've had my way with Dominick."

But before making her move, Eleanor decided to wait until she'd healed from her wounds and used the time to gather information. She finally learned that Dominick and Alexis were planning to attend the Johnson family's party.

The Johnson family brought back memories of Rachel Johnson, Eleanor's best friend. After Eleanor was arrested, she hadn't seen or heard from Rachel again.

Now, she was no longer the princess she used to be, and she wasn't even sure if Rachel would still want to be her friend. But she had to try.

When Eric wasn't paying attention, Eleanor snuck out and found a nearby Internet café. Using the last bit of her savings, she rented a computer.

Her phone had long been taken away, and with it, all the contacts she'd once stored. The only way to reach anyone from her past was through Skype.

Rachel and Eleanor were high school classmates and went on well. Rachel always watched out for Eleanor and even warned her about Jennifer and Alexis. At that time, Eleanor thought Rachel was overreacting, but now... it was too late.

Eleanor hadn't logged into her accountant in over three years. After searching for a while, she finally found Rachel, who just happened to be online, and she quickly typed out a message.

Rachel: [Holy crap, is this for real? Did you hack this account or something?]

Eleanor: [Rachel, it's me, Eleanor. I'm back.]

Rachel: [OMG! It's really you, Ellie?! I heard you were released, and I've been trying to figure out how to get in touch with you.]

Eleanor felt her throat tighten as she read the message. After all this time, Rachel was the first person to reach out to her. She quickly sniffled and typed back.

Eleanor: [Rachel, I need your help. Can I meet you now?]

Rachel: [Where are you? I'll come.]

Eleanor told her to meet at their high school. Then, she logged off and rushed over.

Her stomach churned with nerves. She wasn't sure how Rachel would react after meeting her. She thought, 'Will she look down on me for serving time? Will she still want anything to do with me?'