Standing at the edge of the parking lot, Eleanor Harcourt watched Hugo Sinclair do what he did best—disrespect her in broad daylight—with her arms firmly crossed over her chest.

Hugo was laughing with her, leaning toward him as if he had just said the most beautiful thing she had ever heard. Hugo was delightful; that much was certain. He used this to draw ladies in.

The dilemma is that he's not single. He was participating. Toward her.

And yet here she was, seeing him blatantly neglect her, as though she were not the lady he was meant to wed in a few months.

"He's disgusting," Lily mumbled next to her, arms likewise crossed.

Eleanor blinked just once in passing. "I know."

Though, "Do you, too?" Lily turned to stare at her. "Because you are still here."

Eleanor grumbled.

"What am I meant to do, Lily? Leave here. Leave?" She pointed to the scene before their eyes. "You think he will even notice?"

Lily grimaced. "I suggest you stop allowing this trash to influence you."

The concept is straightforward to understand. More difficult to perform.

Eleanor told herself she didn't care, but it still stung no matter how hard she tried to ignore the murmurs behind her back.

Hugo Sinclair was a walking showpiece. One individual saw devotion as an annoyance.

And she was the fool bound to him by an old pact nobody dared to challenge.

"You ought to have been born into another family," Lily said. "One where people truly lament about you."

Eleanor burst out in a dry chuckle. Share with me about it.

Her family's fixation on authority and commitment to preserving customs were precisely what was trapping her.

Yes, the Harcourt women had been marrying into the Sinclair family. It contained a contract. A duty. Whether love was involved made no difference.

What counted was the alliance.

Edmund Sinclair, the eldest of the two brothers, had already assured Beatrice of promises.

Eleanor did not envy that fate.

Edmund was another sort of monster. Frost. Computes. Men people dreaded, even in quiet.

Still, Eleanor couldn't decide who was more evil than Hugo.

Lily said, "Run away."

Eleanor is blinking. 'What?'

Lily repeated, "Run." "We are in a financial position. Not a lot— a lot, but just enough. I have accumulated savings. You own savings as well. It's plenty for a fresh start.

Eleanor looked at her best friend, who seemed serious despite all her carelessness.

"You believe they will not find me?"

"You think they would disturb looking?" Lily questions. "Not like they care about you, Eva."

Eleanor yearned to dispute.

But then what was there to say?

Lily was correct.

As his daughter, Reginald Harcourt had never really paid close attention to her. She was more than just a name on a family tree; she was an obligation. She was the offspring of a previous marriage. An error.

The mother? Too busy caring for the daughter her husband truly loved to give much attention to Eleanor, she lived in Beatrice's shadow.

Then Beatrice?

From the start, she had made it abundantly evident that Eleanor was just an annoyance.

Why, therefore, was she still here?

"Eva, kindly," Lily muttered. "Don't treat yourself differently."

Eleanor's jaw tightened.

She wishes she could be selfish.

She yearned to be gone without turning around.

But should she flee, the Sinclair family wouldn't let it go.

They had power. Merciless.

Her family initially, Mily would face various challenges.

At last, "I can't."

Lily gazed at her with almost heartbreaking intensity.

"Then let's at least go to a club and pretend your life isn't rubbish for a few hours."

She sighed. Eleanor. "Finer."

Their detour away from the parking lot left Hugo behind.

He hardly noticed at all.

The club had a loud presence. Eleanor stood at the bar, a drink in hand, as the music throbbed in her chest.

At the back and observed.

Not in the mood?"

Her turn astonished her.

Beside her stood a man with dark hair and sharp jaws who casually smiled.

"To forget"

He nodded as though he knew. "Well, should your perspective change, I will be over there."

She followed him as he turned away.

She even did not know his name.

Still, he had already treated her with more dignity than Hugo ever experienced.

Sympathetic.

She drank the remaining portion down.

"Lily," she asked. "Let’s dance."

Her friend whooped and dragged her to the floor.

And Eleanor let herself forget for a little instant.

Eleanor and Lily strolled back to their flat, the city skyline glittering far away.

Lily answered, "Feel better?"

Eleanor gave it thought.

"I feel better rather than worse."

Lily snorted. "I will take that."

They ascended the second-story steps to their apartment. Eleanor kicked off her shoes and dropped onto the couch after pushing the door open.

Ugh.

Lily sloppily lay next to her. "So, tomorrow are we planning your escape, or are we pretending none of this is happening? "What's happening?" Eleanor looked up.

At the ceiling.

Lily gasps.

Then at least quit allowing this marriage to ruin your life.

Eleanor answered no.

Deep down she understood the truth.

This dealt She was content with more than just her marriage.

Everything.

The apathetic attitude of her father.

Neglect of her mother.

Brutality of Beatrice.

Hugo's turn from trust.

Her existence had never belonged to her; she was drowning in another.

The worst of all is also.

She knew there was nowhere to escape.

The Sinclair estate functioned as a fortification.

Rising behind towering gates and guards, hidden beyond the metropolis, it loomed like a kingdom cut off from the world.

Inside Edmund Sinclair was in his study going over records from his most recent acquisition.

Knocks on the door.

Come in.

The butler came in, slightly bowed. Mr. Sinclair, the Harcourts have asked to meet.

Edmund turned not to look. "Around?"

"The younger daughter." Eleanor Harcourt."

He raised his eyes at last.

"And what about her?" they also ask.

The butler faltered. "It looks like there have been... complications."

Edmund slanted back in his chair, fingers steepled.

" Interesting."

He had never really paid any attention to the younger Harcourt girl.

She had no bearing on things. Just a formality in their long-standing agreement.

But should issues arise,...

Maybe that was the right moment he did.

Eleanor's phone rang as she just entered her flat.

She wrinkled her eyebrows and pulled it out.

The quantity is unknown.

She stopped before responding.

"Hello?"

Silence.

Afterwards

"Elexon Harcourt."

Her blood was frigid.

She understood vocal expression.

Everybody did.

Sinclair, Edmund.

Fiancé of her sister.

The man bear held the Sinclair empire in his hands.

One word has the power to ruin people.

"Mr. Sinclair," she said. "Mrs. Sinclair,"

" Pack your things," he said. "You are joining me."

The line went dead. Hea

Eleanor stared at the phone.

Lily turned to face her, worry in her eyes.

"Who was that?"

Eleanor felt her throat tighten.

"Edmond Sinclair."

Lily's face went blank.

Eva: What the devil did you do?

Eleanor gave no response.

One thing was very evident, though.

Her life was no more under her control.