Facing this unknown note, Eleanor naturally would not go.
As for the words in the letter like 'theft,' 'that matter back then,' 'Gabriel hates her,' if it were ordinary people, even if they had never done these things, they might be scared by these few words and subconsciously think they had been caught with some secret.
But Eleanor would not. She had met too many such baseless tricks. If the other side had the ability, they would have made the matter bigger and confronted her directly. Otherwise, wanting her to follow their words? Maybe in the next life.
As for 'Gabriel hates her'? Ha, Gabriel already hated her.
Eleanor folded the letter and put it away.
Gabriel had a white moonlight, and the white moonlight's name was Servant Lian. Over the years, he never avoided Eleanor or others on purpose.
Maybe because he had found no trace of Servant Lian for many years, Gabriel no longer cared about this occasional leak of news, nor did he care if it could become a weakness others used against him. He only hoped that someone could provide even a little bit of news about Servant Lian.
So among the top nobles of Anhai City, many more or less knew about this, but most just treated it as a man's romantic debt and did not pay much attention.
Eleanor had also received messages from others purposely using Servant Lian to provoke her before.
At first, she would find those people one by one and handle them personally, making them feel double the sting she felt in her heart.
But now Eleanor was losing the impulse she once had. Even her emotions no longer fluctuated so much.
Maybe she had gotten used to it or maybe there was some other reason. As long as the other side did not directly provoke her, she could even turn a blind eye and pretend not to see, not wanting to bother or care anymore.
However, since the letter had given an address, it felt 'wrong' not to check it out, considering the effort the sender had made.
Eleanor glanced at the letter in her hand, then scanned the surroundings with no abnormalities, and turned back to the banquet hall.
Inside the hall, Bernard was already drunk.
His gentle face was flushed. The previously elegant and steady demeanor he showed while chatting with guests had disappeared under the influence of alcohol.
His expression no longer showed the joy and boldness when discussing politics. Even when Alex loudly talked about "martial governance," Bernard did not argue.
Only when people mentioned Lily and Rex did he react slightly, frowning tighter and looking paler and weaker, as if a gust of wind could topple him.
Mrs. Mo came quickly after hearing the news and hurried to help Bernard up. She apologized with a smile to everyone, saying Bernard was weak and could not handle alcohol well, and the reception was poor. She told the guests to feel free to leave.
She and the servants carefully helped Bernard back to his room.
Everyone laughed and accepted Mrs. Mo's explanation, kindly reminding Bernard to take care of his health.
But who really did not know Bernard's state was because of Alex's words about Lily?
Bernard, the most celebrated literary talent in the southern Republic, with an enviable family and talent, had become like this because of a woman. It was really pitiful and even laughable.
Alex, still drinking, sneered and whispered to others, "Such a coward." Then he stood and strode away.
After he left, the guests began to leave as well.
Bernard was the host and the eldest son of the Mo family. Now drunk and leaving early for such a ridiculous reason, there was no point in staying.
They might even disturb the bad mood of the Mo family's head, so no one wanted to make themselves look foolish and stayed.
When Eleanor returned to the banquet hall, she saw that the event had ended early and guests were leaving.
She had planned to check on Melisa, but when the servant said Bernard was drunk and Melisa had gone to care for him, Eleanor did not stay and left the banquet directly.
After getting into the car, she handed the letter to Maid Yu, who was driving.
"Tomorrow night, have Autumn dress up like me and go to this place."
Autumn was one of the maids Eleanor personally trained. Autumn's role was special. She rarely appeared or served others.
Only when Eleanor could not or did not want to appear in some situations did Autumn disguise herself as Eleanor and go in her place.
Maid Yu took the envelope without asking and said, "Yes."
...
Mo Family
After Mrs. Mo helped Bernard back to his bedroom, she looked at his weak body, now drunk like this, feeling heartbroken.
Seeing Melisa, who had already changed his clothes and was caring for him, she became even angrier and scolded.
"Bernard's body is weak. He should not drink. You didn't even try to stop him at the banquet? When I married you to Bernard, it was to bring him good luck. But these years, his health has not improved one bit. If his condition worsens now, get out of the Mo family! Don't bring bad luck to Bernard!"
Bernard had been drinking earlier, and Melisa had to change clothes because someone spilled wine on her, so she wasn't there to stop him.
Even if she were there, when it came to Lily, Bernard probably wouldn't listen to her warnings.
Melisa said nothing and bowed her head in agreement.
Seeing Bernard like this, she was full of worry, afraid he would fall ill again. She was used to the scolding over the years and only wanted to serve Bernard medicine and let him sleep peacefully.
Mrs. Mo looked at her and felt she was not up to standard. She snorted and went out to find a doctor for Bernard.
Melisa then got up, took the basin and warm towel the maid brought, and carefully began wiping Bernard's body.
When she finished wiping his face, neck, and chest, Bernard suddenly grabbed her hand.
Then, with the soft sound of the towel dropping and the maids nearby holding their breath silently, the usually distant and cold Bernard held her arm and rolled over, pressing her beneath him.
"Sir?" Seeing Bernard's face close to hers, Melisa's heart raced uncontrollably. She smelled the intoxicating warm breath mixed with alcohol.
Bernard was always gentle, polite, and distant. He rarely got this close to her.
His eyes were glazed with drunkenness and unfocused.
Yet under his gaze, Melisa's whole body warmed up.
Bernard slowly leaned down. His hoarse drunken voice carried pain he could not hide. "Lily…"
Melisa's pounding heart suddenly cooled, as if doused with cold water.
She opened her mouth to tell him she was not Lily.
But seeing the pain in his eyes, she could not say a word.
"Lily…"
Bernard pressed down more. Melisa's heart ached painfully from those two words.
Hearing his suffering, tears formed at her eyes, but she smiled faintly and slowly raised her arms to hold him.
He was already suffering. She could not let him feel worse. When he woke up, he would recognize her.
The maids silently tidied up and left the room.
Sounds of sheets being tossed echoed softly, mixed with a woman's low sobbing.
…..
The next night
Gu Mansion
Eleanor sat in the back garden of the Gu mansion, watching Maid Yu, who looked almost exactly like her, escorted by a servant out of the mansion's main gate and get into the car parked outside.
At the address from the letter
At the foot of the mountain, an abandoned small pavilion sat empty.
A car drove from a distance and stopped about two hundred meters away.
The door opened. 'Eleanor' got out alone without anyone else. She walked along the winding path covered with wild grass and weeds, casually glanced around, and sat on the stone bench in the pavilion.
She leaned slightly against the railing, sitting comfortably and quietly waiting.
Autumn's posture was Eleanor's usual sitting style. It was exactly the same, like carved from the same mold.
Even those close to her might not tell the difference without careful looking.
Far away, hidden in the dense forest and surrounded by wild grass, two people stood.
One was tall and muscular with a rough face and a bandit-like air.
He looked at the pavilion and sneered.
"Just like the legend says, the Republic's number one lady really loves Gabriel. Even though his heart belongs to another woman, she still dares to come. Should we act immediately?"
Behind him stood a thin man, his face hidden in shadows. A string of black pearl pendants hung from his neck, shining faintly in the moonlight.
His hoarse voice sounded like it had been burnt by fire. "No, this is not her. Master Ronald, don't rush."
The rough-faced man was Ronald, head of the Hong family.
Ronald frowned. "How do you know this is not her?"
A woman who would come out alone at night and sit so calmly could only be Eleanor in Anhai City.
The shadowy man laughed harshly, like a scraped duck voice.
"How I know? Don't ask, Master Ronald. But it's normal she isn't here tonight."
If Eleanor appeared so easily, even for Gabriel, he would think she had become boring over the years.
This way fits her nature better: bold yet cautious and ruthless.
The thin man took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Ronald.
"Please send this letter out again, Master Ronald. I guarantee Eleanor will come herself next time."
If Eleanor sees it, she will come out? Then this letter must contain secrets to control Eleanor.