Chapter 11
At the news, Elena’s eyelids merely twitched.
A cool voice cut through the air. “No.”
Victor Whitmore straightened, meeting Lawrence’s gaze. “Uncle Bennett, an engagement is no trifling matter. Since Elena and I are already promised, I intend to honor that commitment.”
Lawrence frowned. “Victor, you’ve seen it yourself-Ellie spent a year at that prison and still behaves this way. I’m afraid she’ll only bring trouble to your family. Don’t let a mere contract bind you.”
Victor turned and cast Elena a look so dark it was impossible to read.
“She’ll be my wife; I know how to discipline her,” he said evenly.
“But…” Lawrence hesitated; he knew his younger daughter’s feelings and wanted only to grant her wish.
Elena spoke calmly. “President Whitmore, my father is right. The Bennett heiress named in the contract is Annabelle-the true apple of this family’s eye- so she, not I, should fulfill the engagement.”
“What did you say?” Victor’s brows snapped together.
“I said I’m willing to step aside and return the future title of Mrs. Whitmore to Miss Bennett.”
A storm cloud seemed to swallow Victor whole. He fixed his gaze on Elena, fingers curling into a fist so tight it looked capable of tearing her apart.
He bit down on his molars, a mocking curve lifting his lips. “Fine, Elena Bennett-just don’t regret it. From this moment on, Annie is my fiancée!”
With that, Victor lowered his head and offered Annabelle a gentle smile.
Delight sparkled in Annabelle’s eyes; she ducked her head, cheeks rosy, and murmured in her soft drawl, “Victor, don’t say that-we haven’t held the engagement yet.”
The change of fiancé was something Lawrence and his wife had arranged beforehand; with their precious daughter, how could they deny her anything?
They had assumed Elena would throw a fit-cry, scream, threaten to keep Victor for herself, and had already prepared countermeasures should she
dare resist.
Elena’s unexpectedly calm acceptance stunned them all. Still, the fact that she agreed was, at the end of the day, good news-the three members of the
Bennett household practically beamed with delight.
Elena knew very well that the family had long since paired Victor Whitmore with Annabelle in their minds.
Seeing that the matter no longer concerned her, she turned to leave, but Adaline called her back.
Adaline coaxed, “Ellie, it’s taken so much to get our family back under one roof-let’s not quarrel. I know you feel wronged, but you still have to eat. Come sit, dear. Mrs. Woods, bring Ellie’s bowl.”
Lawrence still looked displeased, yet Elena had agreed so readily that he could hardly lecture her further.
Mrs. Woods set the bowl down again, but Elena stayed where she was.
Julian snapped, “Why are you still standing there? Do you want Mom to invite you over personally?”
Elena replied without a hint of expression, No. I’m allergic to seafood.”
The room fell into an awkward hush as realization spread. Before Annabelle’s return, seafood had never once appeared on the Bennett table.
1/2
Chapter 11
They had forgotten Fiena’s allergy forgotten it so completely that only now did the oversight dawn on them, not when she left home, but from the very day Annabelle walked back through the door.
Staring at the crab meat in the bowl, Adaline felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her
Adaline murmured apologetically, “Ellie, I’m so sorry I completely forgot about your allergy”
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.