Hearing the door open, Eleanor Spencer turned her head and froze in surprise when she saw Mason Nightshade walking in. Her thoughts flew to him, her eyes glued to him as he strode in.
He wore a neat and crisp black suit. The white shirt underlined his cold and pale face, making it even more indifferent, and he exuded an aura of aloofness that kept people away.
Out of jealousy, Eleanor's face twisted slightly but then magically shifted into a shy and gentle smile. She bashfully said, "Brother Mason."
Mason didn't spare her a glance, striding directly towards Aurelia Shaw, who was on the hospital bed.
"Brother Mason, is Aurelia's leg okay? I heard you talking to the doctor for quite a while just now." Eleanor attempted to draw Mason's attention to her.
She knew Mason despised his wife. If not for Aurelia's persistent efforts, leveraging her family background to make deals with Mason, he would never have married her.
Someone as proud as Mason has never compromised for anything, not even when Uncle Nightshade unexpectedly passed away three years ago, causing the Nightshade Family business to plummet, forcing Grandpa Nightshade to call Mason back from the army to manage the family company.
At that time, a marriage alliance with the Shaw Family was the best option for the Nightshade Family.
Eleanor knew that even if she asked, Mason wouldn't give Aurelia any explanations.
The colder Mason's attitude was, the more uncertain Aurelia felt.
She could pretend to be calm; she just didn't believe that she truly didn't care about being disabled.
"What does it matter to you whether her leg is okay?"
Mason's voice was cold as he lifted his gaze, looking at her icily, "If there's nothing else, you should leave. Don't disturb her rest here."
Eleanor shivered under Mason's gaze, her heart skipped a beat, and tears welled up in her eyes as she cried pathetically under Mason's pressure.
"But I worry about Sister Aurelia's health."
Her watery eyes blinked, enough to make any man's heart flutter.
However, Mason only gave a cold smile. Thinking of something, his gaze towards Eleanor softened a bit as he aloofly said, "She doesn't need your concern."
Eleanor didn't understand why Mason's attitude towards her suddenly became so cold. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but a mocking voice with a hint of jealousy spoke from behind.
"What she really wants to see is her Brother Mason. My leg's crippled, so what does it matter?"
Hearing this bitter tone, Mason glanced at Aurelia, his eyes softening slightly. He lightly chuckled, "Don't say such nonsense. Your body hasn't recovered yet; rest more, and don't worry needlessly."
What Mason wanted to say was not to waste energy on someone she doesn't care about, but in Aurelia's ears, it distorted.
Aurelia coldly turned her face to the other side, a self-mocking smile in her heart.
Ha! She had already expected his reaction. One childhood friend and one forced spouse; naturally, he would side with the childhood friend. A bond of over twenty years, growing up together, how could she compare?
But fortunately, she no longer loved him. Whoever he loves, whoever he prefers, no longer concerns her.
"Don't be recklessly jealous!" Mason, seeing her refusing to speak in her sulk, said. Remembering something, he frowned and said sternly, "What crippled leg? You have a bone fracture that requires about a month of rest. Don't curse yourself that way."
Aurelia raised her beautiful eyes to look at Eleanor, who nervously avoided her gaze.
Aurelia smiled, "But your lovely sister Isabel told me that my leg might be crippled. Oh yes, she also said I might spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair."
Eleanor's mouth fell open, looking at Aurelia with disbelief and grievance, "Sister Aurelia, how... how can you accuse me like this!"
Slander?
Eleanor's eyes reddened, tears swirling at the rims, about to fall, her upper teeth bit on her lower lip. In an instant, a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Sister Aurelia, I know you've always minded my relationship with Brother Mason, but you can't slander me like this in front of him."
She bit down on her lip, looking stubbornly dignified.
Mason hated it when Aurelia got jealous over small things. Eleanor deliberately said that to provoke deeper resentment toward Aurelia within Mason.
Aurelia exhaled, realizing she had lost her composure. Knowing Eleanor's talent for acting, how dared she reveal her true feelings so easily?
Unmoved, she smiled, "Hmm? When did I ever mention minding your relationship with Mason? I've always been generous and reasonable. If Mason truly likes you and you like him, I'll withdraw and voluntarily divorce, making way for you two."
Eleanor's eyes widened in shock, then a feeling of excitement surged in her heart, even forgetting to hide her true feelings on her face.
"You're... you're serious?!" she blurted out, realizing her slip, she corrected herself, "No... I mean, would you really agree to divorce Brother Mason? You clung desperately to marry him at first, making demands through your parents with Uncle Nightshade and Grandpa. How could you really agree to divorce?"
Eleanor looked at Aurelia with a glimmer of hope and doubt.
Mason, at some point, also lifted his gaze to look at her, albeit with a deep, indecipherable gaze in his pitch-black eyes.
"As long as Mason is willing to sign the divorce papers, I will absolutely sign as well."
If she mentioned divorce to Mason alone, someone as sharp as him would surely be suspicious. But now, with Eleanor stirring things up, it was much more logical for her to propose it.
"I disagree!"
Mason's voice suddenly rang out, tinged with anger.
He looked at Aurelia with serious, emphatic words, repeating with determination as if trying to calm his heart, "I will never agree to a divorce! Don't even think about it!"
Aurelia's astonished eyes slightly lifted to look at him.
Mason's reaction was clearly unexpected for her, but upon further thought, it made sense.
It hadn't even been a month since their marriage, and some conditions the Shaw Family promised to Mason before the wedding hadn't been officially handed over yet.
And as long as she remained his nominal wife for one more day, it would benefit him for one more day.
Understanding this, Aurelia sneered internally, her hatred for Mason deepened further.
Seeing that she wasn't going to bring up the matter again, Mason's stern expression slightly eased as he turned his gaze to Eleanor, his eyes once again becoming cold and a bit impatient. His tone was like dipped in ice, "I'll have Gustavo Yates take you home. Don't come here for a while. Your presence isn't appropriate here."
What Mason meant was not to disturb Aurelia's rest, but in their ears, it sounded like it would negatively impact Eleanor.
Eleanor obediently nodded, shyly smiling, "I understand, Brother Mason."
Indeed, Mason's heart still had a place for her, right?
If it weren't for Aurelia, Mason's wife would certainly be her!
It's all Aurelia's fault!