Eleanor's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Sebastian. "Liam is your cousin?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian nodded, looking just as stunned. "Yeah, I...I didn't know he was your husband."
Just then, the door behind them swung open, and Liam stepped out. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the scene before him.
Liam's gaze landed on Sebastian, and his expression darkened. For a moment, he seemed taken aback.
Sebastian tried to sound friendly. "Hey, Liam! What's up, cuz?"
But Liam wasn't having it. He ignored Sebastian's attempt at camaraderie and turned to Eleanor instead.
"Let's go," Liam said abruptly, his voice low and commanding.
Eleanor felt a shiver run down her spine as Liam's eyes seemed to bore into hers. She nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation.
"Step into the car, Eleanor," Liam ordered, his tone possessive. "Now!."
Eleanor's heart skipped a beat. She nodded hastily and followed Liam to the car.
As they drove away, Eleanor couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Liam's behavior had been strange, to say the least.
When they arrived home, Liam's anger boiled over. "What were you doing with Sebastian?" he thundered, slamming the car door shut.
Eleanor took a step back, feeling intimidated. "I-I just bumped into him outside your office," she stammered.
Liam's eyes narrowed. "And what did you talk about?"
Eleanor hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But before she could answer, Liam's face twisted in anger.
"I don't pay you to make friends or socialize," he spat. "Your only job is to be my wife."
Eleanor felt a sting from Liam's words, and tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. She nodded, feeling a sense of resignation wash over her.
Liam's anger seemed to dissipate as quickly as it had arisen. He turned and walked away, leaving Eleanor standing alone in the foyer.
Eleanor took a deep breath and followed Liam into the house. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking on eggshells around him.
As she entered the living room, she saw Liam pouring himself a glass of whiskey. He didn't even glance at her.
Eleanor felt a pang of sadness. This wasn't the marriage she had envisioned. She had thought they would be partners, equals. But now, she felt like a possession, a trophy for Liam to own and control.
Just then, Agatha appeared in the doorway. "Dinner is served, sir," she said, her eyes flicking to Eleanor.
Liam nodded and walked over to the dining table. Eleanor followed, feeling like she was trapped in a nightmare.
As they sat down to eat, Eleanor couldn't help but wonder what other secrets Liam was hiding. And what would happen if she discovered them?
The rest of the dinner was eaten in silence, the tension between them palpable. Eleanor felt like she was suffocating under the weight of Liam's expectations.
As soon as dinner was over, Eleanor excused herself and went to her room. She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.
But as she looked around her luxurious prison, she knew she couldn't stay here forever. She needed a plan, a way to escape the gilded cage that Liam had built for her.
Eleanor sighed and began to undress, her mind racing with thoughts of Sebastian, Liam, and her uncertain future.
As she lay down in bed, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She hesitated for a moment before picking it up.
"Mia?" Eleanor said, surprised. "What's going on?"
"Hey, girl! I'm so sorry about earlier today," Mia said, her voice cheerful and friendly. "I feel awful for just showing up at Liam's office like that."
Eleanor's instincts told her to be cautious, but Mia's apologetic tone put her at ease. "It's okay, Mia. I was just surprised to see you."
"Yeah, I can imagine," Mia said with a laugh. "I didn't mean to cause any tension. I just needed to see Liam about something."
Eleanor's curiosity was piqued. "What did you need to see him about?"
Mia's tone turned slightly evasive. "Oh, just some business stuff. Don't worry about it, Ellie."
Eleanor felt a twinge of unease, but Mia's friendly demeanor reassured her. "Okay, no worries. But Mia?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, girl! What's up?"
Eleanor hesitated, unsure how to phrase her question. "Do you know anything about Liam's family? He's always been kind of... secretive about them."
Mia's laughter sounded forced. "Oh, Ellie, you know how rich families are. They're always complicated. But don't worry about it, okay? You're part of the family now."
Eleanor felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something in Mia's tone that didn't quite add up.
"Thanks, Mia," Eleanor said, trying to sound casual. "I'll talk to you soon, okay?"
"Sounds good, girl! Sweet dreams!"
As Eleanor hung up the phone, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Mia was hiding something. And what did she mean by "rich families are always complicated"?
Eleanor's mind was racing with questions and doubts. She knew she had to be careful around Mia, but she also needed to uncover the truth about Liam's family.
And as she lay in bed that night, her mind was racing with possibilities. She would find a way out, no matter what it took.
As she drifted off to sleep, Eleanor felt a sense of unease settle over her. She knew that she was caught in a web of secrets and lies, and she wasn't sure how to escape.
The next morning, Eleanor slowly opened her eyes, groggily taking in her surroundings. She was lying in her bed, the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. But as she tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through her body, making her gasp.
She fell back against her pillow, her mind racing. Eleanor realized that she was feeling suffocated. The room was too hot. She needed to get outside, to feel the cool air on her face.
She stumbled to the door, her vision blurring. She flung it open and stepped out into the bright sunlight.
For a moment, she just stood there, feeling the warmth on her face. It was a small moment of peace, a small moment of freedom.