âEllinor, please, Iâm begging you. Dadâs in a bad place right now; he doesnât want to live anymore. Iâm afraid heâs going to do something stupid. Please, I need your help.â
Ellinor barely reacted. Tm sorry, but I canât help you with this.â
She had no emotional connection or any memories of her supposed father, so she wasnât concerned about or interested in his matters. Besides, it was that man who caused her motherâs disappearance. If she were to visit him, wouldnât that be betraying her own mother?
Absolutely not!
After she finished speaking with Bryan, she turned and began to head back to her room.
Thump!
Someone blocked her path and knelt in front of her.
It was Bryan.
Ellinor froze and frowned at him. âWhat on earth are you doing?â
Bryanâs eyes were red and swollen. âSis, Iâm begging you⦠Please, can you come and talk to dad? He wonât take his medicine or eat. Iâm really worried. If there was another way, I wouldnât have asked you.
Big bro told me not to bother you.â
Upon seeing Bryanâs distress, Ellinor fell silent. She was unsure of what to say.
Bryan tugged at the hem of Ellinorâs dress. âSis, please⦠Iâll repay you. Iâll do anything you ask.â
Ellinor was annoyed. He wouldnât stand up, claiming heâd kneel there all day if she didnât agree. This was nothing but moral blackmail.
But Bryan was a simple soul who lived an uncomplicated life. He wouldnât plot or scheme. He was just desperate.
After a long hesitation, Ellinor took a deep breath. âGet up! Iâll go change, and then we can leave.â
Bryan immediately jumped up and engulfed Ellinor in a bear hug. âSis! Thank you! I knew you were the best!â
Ellinor simply gave him a wry smile.
The Howards should be grateful for Bryan. How could such a simple soul be born into such a complex family? He was a rarity.
Ellinor wasnât just appeasing Bryan. She genuinely couldnât bear to see him kneeling like that in the Blanchet household. It was embarrassing.
After changing her clothes and reminding her three little ones to mind their aunt, she told Marissa and Putnam what was happening and left, with Bryan.
In the car, Ellinor maintained a stoic expression. Bryan glanced at her. âSis, I know you donât want to do this, but when you see Dad, could you maybe put on a smile?â
Ellinor gave him a disgusted look. âYouâre asking for too much!â
Bryan felt awkward. âSis, Iâm sorry⦠I guess Iâm pushing it. But considering Dadâs close shave with death, could you be a bit nicer?â
Ellinor snapped. âShut up! Just drive! Any more talk, and Iâm not going!â
Bryan quickly agreed. âOkay! Iâll be quiet! Sis, just relax, okay?â
Ellinor stared out the window at the passing scenery as she lost herself in thought.
Before long, they arrived at the hospital.
Bryan had called ahead to the servant who was watching McNeil in his hospital room to make sure his brother wasnât there before leading Ellinor upstairs.