65
After having lunch with Sasha, Eloise headed straight home.
As soon as she entered, she noticed a pair of women’s high heels by the door. She changed into her slippers and walked into the living room, where she found a visitor, Caroline.
Cosmo was quietly drinking tea, calm and elegant in his movements. When he heard Eloise arrive, he looked at her with a gentle smile.
Caroline was slightly forced to speak. “Hi, Eloise.”
Eloise walked over, bag in hand, and smiled as she asked, “What’s the occasion, cousin-in-law?”
Since Cosmo was there, Caroline held back her usual arrogance. She behaved properly, though it was clearly an act.
She subtly frowned but managed to give a polite smile.
“Mom sent over some vitamins for Cosmo. And since I haven’t seen him in a while, I thought I’d drop by.”
Eloise sat on the couch, looked at Caroline, and gave a soft smile. “If you have time to think about your cousin Cosmo, maybe you should also spare some concern for your brother.”
Caroline frowned. “What about my brother? You know him?”
“I know him very well,” Eloise said in a calm tone. “He drops by from time to time, asking for help to bring your cousin down.”
Caroline already knew that Gabriel and Cosmo didn’t get along. So hearing that made her instantly angry.
“What are you talking about? Stop making up stories.”
Eloise just smiled. “If you think I’m lying, feel free to ask your brother yourself.”
Caroline froze for a moment. Though she was suspicious, she couldn’t tell if Eloise was bluffing or telling the truth.
A few minutes later, Cosmo came in, talking on the phone. It seemed like he had something urgent to handle, so he left Caroline alone with Eloise and went upstairs to his study.
Once Cosmo was out of sight, Caroline clearly became more relaxed, and her irritation toward Eloise showed.
“I don’t think you’re right for Cosmo. But you two seem pretty close now, huh?”
Eloise paused. So Caroline noticed something changing between her and Cosmo?
She stayed quiet for a moment, then replied, “Are you concerned about whether Cosmo and I are doing well?”
“You know I’ve never liked you,” Caroline said bluntly. “I still can’t accept that you’re his wife. I’m just waiting for the day you two split.”
Caroline's tone was harsh and unapologetic. She didn’t show any respect toward Eloise.
Eloise smiled. “And what do you get out of that? Oh, I guess it means you won’t have to call me Ate anymore.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Cosmo’s never going to love you. If you had even a shred of decency, you’d be the one to walk away.”
Eloise paid close attention to her words. There was something loaded in what Caroline said. She looked at her directly and asked, “Does Cosmo like someone else? Do you know who it is? Is that why you’re saying all this?”
Caroline’s expression turned smug. “Yes. He’s in love with someone, and you’ll never compare to her.”
This wasn’t the first time Eloise had heard about another woman. Caroline had hinted at it before, and even Gabriel had brought it up. Given his hatred toward Cosmo, Eloise assumed he might have been exaggerating. But still, she never completely dismissed it.
So despite everything, Eloise had learned to be cautious. She didn’t want to invest herself in a man whose heart might already belong to someone else. She wasn’t about to fight for something that was never really hers to begin with.
That’s why she asked, “Who is it you’re talking about? A friend? Someone I know?”
Caroline refused to answer. “I’m not telling you. All you need to know is, there is someone.”
Eloise frowned. “So you know there’s someone else, but you won’t tell me who? Don’t you want things to be clear between me and your cousin? If we really end up separating, doesn’t that mean you’ll have no chance with Lander?”
Eloise knew Caroline’s weakness, Lander.
And just as she expected, Caroline’s face changed the moment she mentioned him.
“Don’t you dare, Eloise!” Caroline snapped.
Eloise smiled calmly, as if she meant no harm. “It’s hard for a divorced woman to remarry. But if there’s a man from a good family, good-looking, someone I already know well... I might not be able to say no if he tries to pursue me.”
Caroline’s fingers trembled in rage as she pointed at Eloise. “You used to say there was nothing going on between you and Lander. Now you’re saying something else! Are you trying to get back together with him?!”
Eloise replied casually, “That depends on your attitude.”
Caroline knew exactly what she meant.
The truth was, Lander had recently been spending more and more time around her. He was even helping Sasha with an upcoming drama, really hands-on. But it was obvious, he was doing it because of Eloise.
Caroline was furious. She knew she never really stood a chance with Lander, but the fact that he still hadn’t given up on Eloise made her even more upset.
She was filled with rage every time she saw Eloise’s sweet and beautiful face.
Caroline forced herself to calm down. She took a deep breath and spoke with a condescending tone, “You don’t have to provoke me. I still won’t tell you. If you really want to know, ask Cosmo yourself.”
Eloise felt a bit disappointed. She had already tried everything to annoy her, but Caroline still wouldn’t talk.
“Why can’t you just tell me?” she asked.
Caroline had her reasons. She wasn’t someone you could easily fool. She gave Eloise a sharp look. “Eloise, stay away from Lander.”
Eloise didn’t say anything back. Caroline rolled her eyes, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the house, her anger showing with every step.
She had only taken a few steps away when someone called out to her. A gentle female voice said, “Caroline, do you have time to eat with me?”
Without hesitation, Caroline replied, “Sure! Where are we eating, Ate Chloe?”
Back inside the house, Eloise stared at the gifts Caroline had left on the table. Then she stood up and went to her room.
It was cold inside. She sat on the sofa, read for a bit, and eventually fell asleep. Caroline and Gabriel’s words kept echoing in her mind.
She stayed in her room almost the whole afternoon. Around six in the evening, she went downstairs to look for Cosmo.
Cosmo was busy playing chess with Paolo. He looked relaxed, even though he said he still had work to do.
When Eloise’s grandfather was still alive, he often played chess with her. She wasn’t great at it, but she wasn’t terrible either.
In the middle of the game, Cosmo picked up a black piece and looked at her.
“What time did Caroline leave?”
Still staring at the chessboard, Eloise answered, “She left not long after you went upstairs. We only talked for a bit.”
Cosmo made a move and managed to take three white pieces.
Just as Paolo was about to move, Eloise subtly pointed to a position on the board as a hint.
Cosmo noticed. “You’re not supposed to talk while watching chess.”
Eloise bit her lip. “I didn’t say anything.”
Paolo laughed and placed his piece where she had pointed. He captured four black pieces.
Cosmo paused.
Eloise quickly changed the topic and went back to his earlier question. “Caroline and Elaine are friends.”
Paolo was surprised. “You mean the woman Sir Cosmo was supposed to marry?”
Cosmo stayed silent.
Eloise smiled. “Well, if that’s what you want to call her, then sure.”
The game ended, and the three of them headed to the dining room together.
After dinner, they took a walk around the compound. The neighborhood was nice, quiet, spacious, and not crowded.
Eloise walked silently beside them.
“You’re quiet. What are you thinking about?” Cosmo said.
She looked at him. “What do you want to talk about?”
Truthfully, she wanted to ask who Cosmo really liked. But she knew he wouldn’t admit it.
If she asked, he might think she was concerned, and she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of teasing her again.
Right now, they were okay being around each other, but they never talked about their feelings.
If she asked, she might just end up embarrassing herself. So, she chose to keep quiet.
Cosmo could tell something was off. “What did Caroline say to you?”
Men and women, both have sharp instincts when it comes to this.
Eloise quickly replied, “Nothing new. Just more stuff about Lander again.”