Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Jordan didn’t even look at Monroe. His eyes were locked on Anna. “Why don’t you ask her, Monroe?”
But Monroe would never do that. His faith in Anna was absolute. “Listen to me, Mr. Erwin. I know there’s history between Stella and Anna.
“But don’t believe whatever Stella’s been feeding you. The world she came from taught her how to be a fantastic liar. You’ll regret falling for it when it’s already too late.”
Jordan smirked, his eyes back on Anna. Anna felt this sick shame, like he’d just called her out completely. She looked at Monroe nervously and said, “Monroe, let’s just go. I tripped, that’s all. I’m fine.”
Monroe said, “Thank god I was here to see it this time. But what if I hadn’t been? It’s bad enough your sister is mean to you. Now her husband’s doing it, too. Do you think there’s no one willing to stand up for you?”
Then he glared hard at Jordan. “You know damn well how I’ve been coming after you lately. I suggest you apologize. Now. Or don’t come crying to me when things get worse. Consider this your final warning.”
Jordan sneered, “Thanks for the warning. But honestly, watching you stand there, so proud and clueless… I almost feel sorry for you.”
Right then, Eleanor walked over. “What’s going on here?”
Anna said sweetly, “Grandma.”
Eleanor’s expression made it clear she’d rather be anywhere else, but she couldn’t ignore her completely. She gave Anna a barely–there nod.
Monroe recognized Eleanor and immediately put on a charming smile. “Mrs. Hayes, what a pleasure. I’m Monroe. I do apologize. If I’d had any
idea I’d be meeting you, I would have come bearing gifts.”
“Don’t bother,” Eleanor said coolly. Her eyes then shifted to Jordan. “You guys look like you’re having some kind of issue. What happened,
Jordan?”
Monroe’s eyebrows shot up. Eleanor had asked Jordan first, not even glancing at Anna. Monroe shot Anna a confused look.
“It was nothing, Mrs. Hayes. We should get going,” Jordan said, showing no intention of explaining himself.
To Monroe, Jordan’s attitude was a confession–clear proof that he was guilty and afraid to admit it in front of Eleanor..
“Mrs. Hayes, please, just a moment of your time,” Monroe said, stepping forward.
Eleanor turned to look at Monroe. Anna stayed quiet, but Monroe felt he had to stand up for her.
“Mrs. Hayes,” Monroe began, “I know we’ve only just met, and it’s not my place to say anything. But I can’t stand by and watch Anna be treated this way. It breaks my heart. I have to tell you what happened.”
He shot a smug glance at Jordan. He felt like he was doing the right thing and was sure he’d trash Jordan’s image with Eleanor.
Monroe kept going, “Anna wasn’t feeling well, so I brought her in for a checkup. We bumped into Mr. Erwin here. The moment he saw Anna, he shoved her to the ground just because of whatever grudge between Stella and Anna.
“Mrs. Hayes, you know how fragile Anna’s health is. For Mr. Erwin to do that… Don’t you think he crossed the line?”
Eleanor turned to Jordan.
- n. “Did you shove Anna?”
“Yes,” Jordan said bluntly.
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Chapter 139
“Why?” Eleanor asked.
“She threw herself at me,” Jordan stated flatly. “I’m keeping my distance from every woman who isn’t Stella. I don’t think I did anything wrong,” Jordan said.
Monroe’s face flushed with rage. “Mrs. Hayes, Anna is with me now. I know she’s not head over heels for me yet, but there’s no way she’d pull something like that. Anna is your granddaughter. You should stand up for her.”
Eleanor looked over at Anna, who immediately lowered her head, looking uneasy. “Anna, I know exactly what you’ve been doing. Are you really gonna cut ties with your parents?” Eleanor asked, disappointment in her voice.
Monroe jumped in front of Anna like some white knight. “Mrs. Hayes, that’s not what happened. Anna told me everything. She didn’t cut ties with them. It’s just… They’ve always been so unfair, always favoring Stella.
“And ever since Stella came back, they’ve blamed Anna for every bad thing that ever happened to Stella. They were awful to Anna. Anna didn’t have a choice.”
Jordan had to fight the urge to laugh out loud. He looked at Anna with this knowing smirk. She couldn’t meet his eyes.
Eleanor gave a faint smile. “And that’s the story she fed you?”
Anna realized the ground was crumbling beneath her feet. She grabbed Monroe’s arm, her grip desperate. “Monroe, we should go.”
“No,” he said, lost in his own hero narrative. “I won’t let them get away with this. You might be a pushover, Anna, but I’m not. I’ve told you a million times: you chose me, and I will protect you.
“I’m gonna fight for you. Now that your grandmother is here, she is gonna hear how they’ve been screwing you
over.”
“No, really. Let’s just go,” Anna said, her voice tight with panic.
“We’re not done here,” Monroe insisted, turning his gaze back to Eleanor. I get that it’s impossible for you to treat Anna and Stella the same.
“And yes, what Stella went through was awful. But what’s Anna got to do with any of that? She shouldn’t have to pay for it. All I’m asking is that you be fair to her.”
Monroe shot a pointed look at Jordan, a clear warning to never lay a hand on Anna again.
“Anna,” Eleanor said, her eyes boring straight into her. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Grandma, I’m so sorry,” Anna stammered. “I know I was wrong. I never should have aired our family’s dirty laundry to an outsider. It won’t happen again, I swear.”
But Monroe figured Anna was just so crushed by her family that she couldn’t even stand up for herself anymore.
“Mrs. Hayes,” he declared dramatically, “if you can’t find it in your heart to be fair to Anna… Then, consider her relationship with the Hayes family ended. From now on, I will be her family. I will take care of her.”
Eleanor sighed, “Monroe, you’re not a bad person. You’re capable and strong. But you’re a fool in love.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Monroe looked confused.
“Figure it out yourself,” Eleanor said, turning to Jordan. “Jordan, we’re leaving.” She didn’t want to waste any more time and motioned for him to get her out of there.
Monroe took a step to follow, but Anna’s hand shot out and yanked him back. “Don’t bother,” she said, her voice flat. “Whatever you say won’t change anything.”
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Monroe couldn’t believe the Hayes family could be this heartless toward Anna. He knew Eleanor’s reputation and thought she’d at least listen to reason. But now, he realized she was more cold–blooded and hateful than he’d imagined.
“Anna,” Monroe said, his heart aching for her. “I had no idea you’ve been living in a nightmare like this all these years. It must have been so hard. Don’t worry. If they won’t protect you, I will. I’m all the family you need now.”
Anna looked at this simp who was defending her, a slow smirk spreading across her face. ‘I do wonder how Stella will feel, she thought, ‘when she realizes the person she saved has been stabbing her in the back this whole time.
‘Then again, maybe Stella already knows. And if she does? So what? Even if Jordan can’t stand me right now, he’ll eventually fall for me. As for Eleanor…‘
A dangerous glint suddenly flashed in Anna’s eyes. ‘That old hag had the nerve to treat me like that. I’ll make her pay for this, she thought.
During the quiet drive back, a soft sigh escaped Eleanor’s lips. “Something on your mind, Mrs. Hayes?” Jordan asked.
“I always suspected Anna had a scheming streak,” Eleanor said, her voice heavy. “I saw glimpses of her true nature. But what she is now… It’s a whole different level of twisted. I don’t know how a human heart gets to be so dark.”
AD
