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But I was quick enough to screenshot them.
Alexander never came back that night.
The next morning, the butler informed me that Chloe had overheard us arguing and, unable to bear feeling like a burden.
She had threatened suicide in her room.
Alexander stayed by her side all night.
The butler watched my calm expression, hesitating, "Madam, doesn't Miss Sinclair's behavior anger you?"
I glanced at her, slightly surprised.
I'd assumed she, like Alex, would feel sorry for Chloe—after all, she had watched Chloe grow up.
The butler lowered her eyes and sighed, "Miss Chloe always had been rather complicated. The Dowager Duchess never cared for her."
She suggested I seek help from Alexander's mother.
Given my current relationship with my mother-in-law, she'd surely side with me.
I smiled faintly but didn’t respond.
It wasn't about others' opinions. Alexander himself couldn't let go. That was the problem.
Watching my expression, the butler looked sympathetic and urged gently, "Madam, the Master truly does care for you deep down. Why not fight for him?"
Fight? Why should I fight?
I was his lawful wife.
Now he’s cheated on me, and I was supposed to beg him to come back to me?
I wasn't that desperate.
My feelings for Alexander evaporated the day he brought Chloe home.
Any heartache I still felt was just habit.
Alexander sent me 999 roses. I knew it was an apology for last night.
I glanced at them once and told the maid working her way through college to sell them off in batches to help with household expenses.
Later, the same maid told me she saw Alexander give Chloe a pink diamond rose gold necklace – the very one I'd admired, worth a fortune.
Chloe wore the necklace and posed in front of me, "Beautiful, isn't it... Eleanor?"
"How old are you?"
I asked calmly, looking at her overly dressed-up appearance.
Chloe's smile froze, her eyes glaring angrily.
I smiled, "If you’re older than me, stop pretending to be cute. We're not in some period drama."
Puffin gently nibbled at the hem of my dress, purring softly.
I knew he wanted to play.
I stood up, cradling Puffin, and instructed the butler, "It’s time for Miss Sinclair to take her medication. She's unwell—make sure someone stays with her and doesn’t let her wander."
The butler smiled and nodded, immediately arranging a car for me.
As for Chloe, she could only glare resentfully as the maid led her back to her room.
She brought this on herself.
If Alexander had kept her outside, I might not have been able to intervene.
But since she insisted on invading my home, stepping into my territory. I wouldn't be polite either.
After three years of building my position meant I was secure as Mrs. Cunningham.
Even if the Sinclairs hadn’t fallen from grace with a criminal record, and even if Chloe weren’t mentally ill—I was confident I could hold my own, even at her best.
A placeholder? Ridiculous.
When the placeholder gains more love and power than the original muse, she is no longer the substitute—she becomes the real thing!
I took Puffin to the Cunningham estate, played golf with my mother-in-law, chatted.
She asked how things were between Alexander and me lately.
I knew what she meant, but I said nothing specific—only that all was well.
The next day, my mother-in-law sent someone to take Chloe away.
Chloe screamed, hiding behind Alexander, "I won't go! I won't leave Alex!"
Alexander's face darkened with rage. He glared at me, "Eleanor Winthrop! How can you be so jealous!"
"Chloe is extremely fragile right now! Only I can help her! Did you really have to go running to Mother to have her thrown out? You’ve disappointed me!"
The way Alexander looked at me not as his wife, but as an enemy.
I leaned back on the sofa, smiling faintly, "I should be the one who’s disappointed, Alexander. You’re the one who cheated, yet you have the nerve to say that to me?"
Alexander exploded, "What are you implying? How many times do I have to tell you—Chloe and I are just friends! My concern for her is purely familial! Hers for me is the same! We’ve never crossed the line! Stop making it sound so dirty!"
"I've never cheated on you. If anything, you’re the one who keeps overreacting about Chloe. Maybe it's because you're the one with something to hide?"
