CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105: BRAKE FAILURE

At that moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

Eleanor Winslow could hear the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves outside the window.

Adrian Grant sat on the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees, turned slightly to look at her, his gaze deep, filled with emotions she couldn’t comprehend.

Sunlight streamed through the window, landing on his knees, but his upper body remained hidden in the shadows, making him appear somewhat lonely and desolate.

"What about you?"

After a few seconds, the man spoke up.

"Eleanor, from childhood to adulthood, have you ever liked someone? Have you ever had feelings for anyone?"

Adrian Grant asked straightforwardly, eager for the answer, yet afraid to hear it—as to whether he was on her list of heartthrobs.

Eleanor’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t fall for it, saying: "I asked you first."

Adrian Grant was very assertive, staring intently at Eleanor, repeating his question: "Have you? Who? Who have you had feelings for?"

This felt like a silent battle, a prolonged stalemate.

Neither was willing to speak first, neither willing to compromise first.

Until a phone ringing interrupted them.

It was Eleanor’s phone.

Eleanor glanced at the caller display and found it was Mia Winslow.

She instinctively glanced at Adrian Grant, then hung up, unwilling to answer.

A few seconds later, Mia Winslow sent a message: [Jude Winslow is sick and hospitalized]

"Where are you going?" Adrian Grant asked as he saw Eleanor preparing to leave.

"Something came up, Blake is coming to get me." Eleanor said, "I’ll be back for dinner."

Jude Winslow’s issue was a family matter; Eleanor didn’t want Adrian Grant involved and didn’t want to see both Adrian Grant and Mia Winslow at the same time.

Upon hearing this, as expected, the man who had planned to keep her in his sights changed his mind about following.

Adrian Grant asked: "What do you want for dinner?"

Was it a figment of her imagination, or did Adrian Grant’s voice seem a bit softer, a touch better mood?

Eleanor casually listed a few dishes and hurried out.

As for whether she’d be back for dinner, that was uncertain.

-

Private hospital.

Mia Winslow sat on a chair outside the ward, her left hand still wrapped in thick bandages, looking somewhat haggard.

"I thought you weren’t coming." Mia Winslow glanced around Eleanor, asked with a light smile, "Didn’t Adrian come with you?"

"Are you that eager to see him?" Eleanor countered.

"I just had something to discuss with him." Mia Winslow spoke vaguely.

It was her usual tactic, easily making people mistakenly think she was close to Adrian Grant. If Eleanor hadn’t recently been honest with Adrian Grant, hearing this would have made her feel the same sick feeling as before.

But now, she found it amusing.

Eleanor actually laughed, a sound that was cold yet carried a touch of sweetness and charm, which was particularly grating to Mia Winslow’s ears.

Mia Winslow’s smile froze, "What are you laughing at?"

"Take a guess."

Mia Winslow’s expression changed, "Did Adrian tell you that he doesn’t have romantic feelings for me? And you believe that? He doesn’t want to divorce you for now, of course he’ll say anything he can—"

"I believe him."

Eleanor interrupted her, and indeed saw the expression on Mia Winslow’s face like a mask cracking.

"Eleanor, aren’t you afraid of being schemed against coming alone?" Mia Winslow gritted her teeth.

Regarding the injury, the two individuals involved knew exactly what was going on, whether it was a scheme or being schemed against.

Of course, Eleanor didn’t trust Mia Winslow; upon arriving at the hospital, she first checked through the front desk to confirm that Jude Winslow was indeed admitted before going up.

Eleanor no longer paid attention to Mia Winslow and knocked on the ward door, entering.

Jude Winslow was lying in the hospital bed receiving an infusion, his face terribly pale. The medical report indicated he had taken excessive cold medicine, ingesting too much acetaminophen, leading to acute renal failure.

Fortunately, the treatment was timely, and he was no longer in life-threatening danger.

"Eleanor, why are you here?" Jude Winslow asked weakly.

"Mia called me." Eleanor confirmed he was not in critical condition and sighed in relief, asking, "Is Mia the only one taking care of you? Where’s your mom?"

Eleanor thought it wasn’t right; Yvonne Vance treasured Jude Winslow very much.

"She went on a business trip to the USA with Dad." Jude Winslow looked away, unwilling to talk about it.

Eleanor immediately understood—Yvonne probably got caught up with Mia, causing Eugene Winslow’s displeasure. Over the years, Eugene Winslow had been the steadfast rock at home while enjoying affairs outside; Yvonne, feeling threatened, followed her husband abroad, wanting to keep an eye on him.

Who would’ve thought, as soon as she left, her treasured son would fall ill and end up hospitalized.

Jude Winslow found it odd that Mia Winslow proactively contacted Eleanor, glanced at the door, confirmed that Mia hadn’t come in, and whispered to Eleanor: "Her hand isn’t recovering well, she’s emotionally unstable lately, avoid her! You should leave, or she’ll start spouting nonsense again."

Eleanor chuckled, unwilling to let Jude Winslow be caught in between, nodded agreeing, and advised him to take good care of himself.

Mia Winslow’s care for Jude Winslow had always been more talk than action, doing only the bare minimum. As Eleanor left the room, Mia sat at the door daydreaming.

"Eleanor!" Mia Winslow called to her, "I drove Jude’s car here, and in a rush had a minor accident causing the hood to deform; why don’t you take it to the auto shop for repairs? I can’t leave the hospital now."

Because it was Jude Winslow’s beloved car, Eleanor didn’t mind spending more time and money, readily agreeing.

Mia Winslow gave her the car keys.

Finding Jude Winslow’s car in the parking lot, the Ferrari needed not only the hood repaired but also the bumper and side mirrors replaced. Such extensive repairs would at least cost six figures.

But Eleanor didn’t think Mia Winslow would ask for money just to cover repair fees.

She cautiously didn’t get in the car, instead calling the auto shop to send a tow truck for repairs.

Jude Winslow would be hospitalized for another week; Eleanor arranged a week’s worth of private nutritious meals for him and left by taxi.

She hadn’t decided where to go, nor wanted to go home, momentarily indecisive about her destination as she got into the car.

A few minutes later, as she regained her composure, she found the taxi had already left the hospital far behind, heading north without hesitation.

Eleanor was startled, looked towards the driver’s seat.

The man in the driver’s seat wore a baseball cap, and seen from behind, his face was obscured. He appeared thin, resembling a young man.

Eleanor pretended not to notice anything amiss, discreetly taking out her phone to call the police.

"Don’t bother; there’s a signal jammer in the car."

A chilling male voice came from the driver’s seat, carrying a malicious tone.

Eleanor sat upright, hairs on the back of her neck standing, her voice trembling: "Who are you?"

The man in the driver’s seat removed the baseball cap, revealing a face so thin it was gaunt.

In the rearview mirror, she could see one of his eyes moving mechanically, not in sync with the other.

A prosthetic eye!

"You—you are Vincent Preston?!"

...

Adrian Grant was still reasonably assured about Blake Lockwood; despite Blake’s slight negative influence on Eleanor, Blake was indeed Eleanor’s most reliable friend.

With Blake taking care of Eleanor, Adrian Grant felt at ease.

Coincidentally, there was a project he needed to discuss with Trevor Hawthorne; after a brief contact with Trevor, he asked about Eleanor and Blake’s plans for the day.

Hopefully they’re not heading to a male model club again!

Trevor Hawthorne frowned in confusion: "Blake is at home, not with Eleanor."

His words shook Adrian Grant’s nerves.

Blake wasn’t with Eleanor?

Did she lie to him to leave the house?

Did she go to Julian Jacobs?

Adrian Grant felt a sharp pain in his chest, looking at the vegetables and fresh meat prepared in the kitchen, intending to cook himself, only to find it extremely ironic.

He took out his phone, instinctively wanting to call Eleanor Winslow.

But he and Eleanor had just managed to ease their relationship a bit over the past couple of days, and if he called her out of suspicion, Eleanor might get angry.

She was still on her period, which made her temper even worse!

He didn’t want her to kick him out right away!

Adrian Grant ground his teeth and placed the phone back on the table, bitterly gulping down a mouthful of water.

But inexplicably, the water cup slipped from his hand, "Clash!" and shattered on the ground.

Adrian Grant felt a sudden wave of panic.

He glanced at his phone, realizing it had only been less than five minutes.

Still, he held back.

He couldn’t hold back anymore.

He picked up the phone again to call Eleanor Winslow.

"The number you are calling is currently unavailable..."

Adrian Grant frowned immediately, the unease in his heart intensifying.

He called several more times, but it was always unreachable.

Without hesitation, he dialed Julian Jacobs: "Is Eleanor with you?"

Julian Jacobs was a bit confused but quickly responded: "No, has something happened to Eleanor?"

Adrian Grant abruptly hung up and called Charles Rhodes to have someone search for her.

While Eleanor was abroad, Adrian Grant had arranged for secret bodyguards for her protection. After returning to Aethelgard, even when he was not there, such arrangements were still in place. Since Eleanor had started talking about divorce, she insisted on personal privacy and refused to allow anyone around her.

Initially, Adrian Grant thought Aethelgard was safe and nothing would happen, but unexpectedly...

Time ticked away slowly.

Adrian Grant paced back and forth in the living room, restless.

Where did she go?

Why couldn’t she be reached on the phone?

What happened?

"President Grant, after Madam went out today, she visited the hospital where her brother, Young Master Winslow, was admitted. She was probably visiting him."

Visiting Jude Winslow, why didn’t Eleanor mention this when she went out, why hide it from him?

"Who else is at the hospital?" Adrian Grant asked.

"Miss Mia Winslow."

...

At the hospital.

"Adrian." Mia Winslow answered, with a subtle smile.

"Where’s Eleanor?" Adrian Grant asked directly, his voice icy.

"Eleanor?" Mia Winslow responded with confusion, "Isn’t she home yet? She left the hospital two hours ago!"

Before the words even settled, a series of rapid footsteps approached.

Adrian Grant, holding the phone in one hand, walked briskly toward Mia Winslow as they spoke.

Without giving anyone time to react, he grabbed Mia Winslow by the throat and pinned her against the wall.

"Mia Winslow, what exactly did you do?" A black storm loomed in Adrian Grant’s eyes.

Mia Winslow held his hand that gripped her throat, her face flushed, and painfully said, "I...I didn’t do...anything..."

"Let go, let go!"

"Call Security!"

"Security!"

The surrounding doctors and nurses were in a panic.

Adrian Grant’s rationality was a taut string; he knew what he was doing, watching Mia Winslow’s expression, only releasing her when she was about to suffocate.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Mia Winslow helplessly sat on the ground, her injured left hand instinctively supporting her on the floor, causing an agonizing pain. She clutched her throat, coughing violently, her eyes filled with the terror of narrowly escaping death.

"Mia Winslow, where is Eleanor?" Adrian Grant asked again.

Mia Winslow caught her breath, weakly saying, "I just had her help Jude fix the car, the passing nurses can attest! What happened?"

Mia Winslow seemed utterly innocent, her performance flawless, the surrounding doctors and nurses all persuaded, forming a protective circle around her, the victim.

Charles Rhodes hurried over, saying, "President Grant, that’s indeed the case. Young Master Winslow’s car collided on the way to the hospital, parked downstairs in the garage."

Mia Winslow lowered her eyes, hiding the anticipation and delight within her gaze.

Charles Rhodes continued, "However, Madam didn’t get in that car; instead, she called someone from the 4S shop to tow it."

Mia Winslow’s head jerked up, her previous joy fading, leaving only rigidity and shock.

"The people from the 4S shop said that not only did the car have appearance issues, but the brakes also failed."

Adrian Grant’s gaze pierced Mia Winslow like a cold sharp sword.

Mia Winslow reacted quickly, showing a shocked expression: "How could it...it was fine on the way here, and that car has always been driven by Jude..."

The car belonged to Jude Winslow, not her, and it was fine when driven here, no checks would trace back to her.

A perfect story of a traffic accident, a destroyed car, and a fatality.

Unfortunately, why didn’t Eleanor get in the car?

"Then where did Eleanor go?" Mia Winslow urgently asked.

Charles Rhodes didn’t want to tell Mia Winslow, but Adrian Grant was also waiting for an answer.

Charles Rhodes replied, "Madam got into a taxi, the last monitoring showed the taxi heading in the direction of Mount Norcrest."

The area around Mount Norcrest lay at the convergence of two cities, a barren region untouched by tourism or human habitations, and devoid of surveillance.

The sun set in the west, and shadows descended.

The night engulfed the city, heralding the ominous curtain of lurking danger.

...

Eleanor Winslow had only met Vincent Preston of the Preston Family twice, both during parties, leaving little impression. She nearly didn’t recognize him this time.

She immediately tried to open the car door, but Vincent Preston had prepared for this, and the door was already locked.

"Eleanor, I’m glad you remember me," Vincent Preston said with a smile, flooring the accelerator.

"What do you want?" Eleanor tried to stay calm, observing that Vincent Preston seemed to be an addict, probably on drugs, "Is it money you want?"

"Money, of course! As Adrian Grant’s wife, you’re probably worth a lot."

Money was one of the desires, clearly not the only one.

"Jude Winslow injured your eye, and your father responded by privately settling as per my wishes. Do you hate me? Want revenge?" Eleanor guessed.

"No, no, no!" Vincent Preston said cheerfully, "Eleanor, do you know why I fought with Jude Winslow?"

Eleanor wasn’t particularly interested but knew she couldn’t agitate the lunatic now.

She needed to wait for the car to stop, then find a chance to escape!

She followed his lead, asking, "Why?"

Vincent Preston’s remaining healthy eye gleamed with intensity: "Because I said—I want to sleep with you!"

Eleanor finally understood what that emotion was.

It wasn’t affection, but a pathologically distorted obsession.

Vincent Preston said, "The target of my revenge also includes Adrian Grant!"