Reborn as the Villainess

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Wed, Oct 30 Chapter 15

Stephen, as calm as ever, followed behind Eleanor and Albert as they made their way inside the house. He moved with the quiet confidence of someone who knew precisely where he stood, a steady anchor in the storm of emotions swirling around him However, Liam wasn't so composed. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the scene before him. "Wait... Grandpa knows my war buddy too?" The realization hit him like a cold slap, and he felt the stirrings of confusion and shock bubbling up inside. Oscar, overhearing this, nearly stumbled, his heart skipping a beat. He prayed Liam wouldn't charge ahead and get himself into trouble. With a heavy sigh, Oscar advised, "Mr. Liam. Miss Vanderbilt is Mr. Stephen's fiancée. It might be wise to... maybe, speak less from now on."

In his head, Oscar was thinking, "Please start using your brain.

Liam stood there, frozen in shock, as if a bolt of lightning had just struck him. "My war buddy betrayed me? he thought, dazed. The war hasn't even begun and I've already lost?"

Meanwhile. Eleanor wasn't having the best time either. She had expected that Albert would clear up the misunderstanding about the so-called engagement as soon as she arrived. After that, she'd be free to leave. But here she was, long after dinner had been served, and not a single word about the engagement had come up.

Instead, Stephen sat nearby, casually flipping through a newspaper, acting like the entire matter was someone else's problem. Only Liam had some reaction. He had been shooting her death glares ever since they walked through the door, as if she were a traitor to his cause,

As the evening wore on. Eleanor grew anxious! If I don't head back soon, my family's going to get anxious!

Unable to hold it in any longer, she finally spoke up. "General Lloyd, actually, the reason I came today was to clear up the misunderstanding about the engagement."

Albert blinked, as though he had just remembered something important. He lightly knocked his cane on the floor. "Ah, my memory. I knew I was forgetting something important."

Eleanor gave him a polite smile, waiting for what would come next.

With a nod, Albert turned to Stephen, who was lounging on the couch. "Go, fetch that box your grandmother left behind."

Without a word, Stephen stood up and headed upstairs. When he returned, he was carrying a small, intricately carved rosewood box.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Albert took the box from him, and with careful hands, opened it. Inside was a silver-gray bracelet, faintly sparkling with tiny diamonds, its surface etched with delicate patterns that seemed almost alive in their detail. The bracelet had an air of quiet elegance, understated yet mysteriously captivating

Eleanor blinked, puzzled by the sight. "This is..." She didn't quite understand why Albert was showing her a bracelet out of

the blue.

Before she could figure out what was happening, Albert's hands proved quickly-or perhaps the bracelet was simply that easy to wear-but the next thing Eleanor knew, the cool metal had slipped around her wrist, fastening itself there as if it belonged

The muted silver of the bracelet gleamed against Eleanor's clear, flawless skin, its gentle shimmer highlighting the natural grace of her wrist. It looked almost regal, as though it had always been meant for her.

"General Lloyd, what are you doing?" Eleanor asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Albert paused, equally surprised. He hadn't expected the bracelet to slide so easily from his hand onto Eleanor's wrist. For a brief second, it seemed the bracelet had a will of its ownL

Then Albert laughed, his voice warm and full of life, "Well, would you look at that. Fate, pure fate." With a chuckle, he slowly. stood up, leaning on his cane for support. His eyes, which had been soft with affection, now held a more serious glint. "Eleanor, this was my wife's wish" Eleanor glanced down at the bracelet, and for a moment, she could have sworn it moved, but when she looked again, it was still as ever, resting snugly against her wrist. 'Did I imagine that?

When she lifted her head, Albert had already begun to shuffle away, leaning on his cane, his back turned as he left her alone with the strange, undeniable weight of the bracelet around her wrist..

The room felt quieter, heavier. Eleanor could sense that something far more significant had just happened than she could grasp. "General Lloyd, wait a minute. I can't keep this bracelet. Eleanor shot up from her seat, desperately tugging at the silver band around her wrist as she hurried to catch up to him.

But the bracelet had other ideas. No matter how hard she pulled or twisted, it refused to budge. It was as if it had shrunk in size, tightening its grip the moment it latched onto her. 'How strange, she thought, "It went on so easily just moments ago."

Her wrist started to redden from the force she applied, but she kept pulling, as if she couldn't feel the growing pain. Stephen, watching her struggle, felt a pang of guilt. He reached out, gently grabbing her hand to stop the self-destructive motion.

"Enough," he said, his voice calm but firm. This bracelet was my grandmother's. She always said it had a will of its own. It chooses its owner. Supposedly, it's made from some special metal that can't be melted down or cut off. Once it's found its wearer, it won't come off easily. Even my grandmother could only take it off after she passed."

Eleanor glared at him, pulling her hand away from his touch. Her eyes were cold, distant. "So, what exactly are you trying to

say?"

The iciness in her gaze was so cutting that Stephen, for a moment, found himself at a loss for words. He could feel her seeing right through him, as if she could read every hidden thought, every intention.

"I thought I made myself clear from the beginning." she said coolly. "Whatever this so-called engagement is, it's nothing more than an old joke between our grandfathers. And even if it weren't, my grandfather is still abroad and there's no way to verify it. For all we know, this whole thing could be a misunderstanding.

"So let's end this here, once and for all. You go your way, and I'll go mine. We have nothing to do with each other. As for this bracelet, I'll find a way to take it off and return it. No need to see me out. See you around. No, actually, I hope we never see each other again" With that, Eleanor turned on her heel and strode toward the door, her entire demeanor exuding finality. Even her retreating figure seemed to radiate rejection, as if she was putting as much distance as possible between them in every sense.

Stephen stood frozen, watching her leave. He let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples. "Looks like I was too aggressive. This little hedgehog is even more stubborn than I thought.

"She doesn't respond to violence. She's the kind who only opens lip when handled with care-If I keep this up, I'll just push her further away. I'll need a different approach to get through to her

"Oscar" Stephen called out, his voice resigned, "make sure she gets home safely." But then he hesitated, thinking back to the cold look Eleanor had given him. With another sigh, he changed his mind. "On second thought, don't disturb her. Just follow from a distance and make sure she's okay."

Oscar, standing dutifully by, nodded. "Yes, sir."

Meanwhile, in a dim corner of the room, Lain watched Eleanor's retreat with wide-eyed admiration, almost as if he were witnessing some kind of miracle.

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Wow, he thought, that was impressive. I've never seen anyone talk to Stephen like that and live to tell the tale. And what's even crazier is that Stephen didn't get mad. He's actually... reflecting on it? My goodness, how do I learn moves like that?" Outside the mansion, Eleanor's expression remained stony as she hailed a cali. Once inside, she glanced down at the bracelet still clinging stubbornly to her wrist. The ornate design stood out in the dim light, the intricate patterns winding around the seemingly unremarkable silver band like tendrils of ivy. She tugged on it again, but it didn't budge.

Stephen's words from earlier echoed in her mind, and she couldn't help but scoff inwardly. "Made from some special metal? Seriously? Does he think I'm a child who'd believe that nonsens

Sull, something about the situation didn't sit right with her. The Lloyd family is far more powerful than the Vanderbilts, she pondered. They have nothing to gain by getting close to me, so why the interest? It wouldn't benefit them in the slightest

She mused further, 'Albert's fondness for me must stem from the fact that I saved his life. But what about Stephen? What's his angle? Surely, he can't just be hanging around for the sake of that flippant engagement joke, right?"

The questions danced in her mind, each one twisting like the intricate patterns of her bracelet, leaving her more intrigued than ever about the true intentions behind the