Upon seeing Collin, Elinor scowled and said. âHow did he know I was in the hospitalâ
This moming. Theo only dropped her off at the Mendoza familyâs front door Did he have someone tailing me?
Collin explained, âBecause you have his phone, he can track its location.â
âOh.â
Elinor looked down at the phone in her hand, feeling a bit peeved at being remotely monitored.
Collin continued, âHe also knew you called an ambulance, but because of an important meeting in the company today, he couldnât leave and asked me to check on you.â
âIâm fine, itâs my stepmother who got a bit hurtâ
âGlad to hear youâre okay. Mrs Blanchetâ
The way Collin kept addressing her as Mrs. Blanchet made Elinor feel uncomfortable She remembered that before this, Collin always called her Ms. Mendoza, she wasnât sure why he suddenly changed his tune.
She didnât want to delve into the issue of a simple address, so she asked, âWhere does Theo want you to take me?â, Collin replied, âNowhere in particular, he just ordered me to get you home safely.â
It seemed that last nightâs kidnapping incident had made Theo more cautious âAlright, letâs go then!â Elinor nodded, saving herself the hassle of hailing a cab.
She was worn out and just wanted to get home and rest!
As the car drove along. Elinor rested her cheek on her hand and stared out the window, lost in thought, her emotions a jumble.
Today, Chase told her that she wasnât Arnoldâs biological child, and the news was a big blow to her.
If she wasnât Arnoldâs daughter, then whose daughter was she?
Who was her biological father? Why did he abandon her and her mother?
And why did Arnold take her back to the Mendoza family, raising a child with no blood ties to him?
What was his motive?
Moreover, Arnold didnât really want to raise her. Not long after he brought her home, he sent her to the countryside!
All these questions formed a giant puzzle in her mind.
By the time the car reached the Blanchet family home, Elinor had fallen asleep.
Collin carefully woke her up âWeâre here.â
Elinor rubbed her eyes and woke up. She looked out the window to confirm they were at the Blanchets, then unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.
Collin quickly followed, saying, âWait a moment, please!â
Elinor stopped and turned around, asking sleepily, âWhatâs up?â
Collin went around to the back of the car and opened the trunk. âHe had some stuff for me to give to you; come see if itâs what you were looking forâ
What stuff?
Elinor was puzzled, walked over, and saw in the trunk three beautifully wrapped paintingsâthe three remaining works of her mother from the Bartlett Rex gallery!
Collin explained. âThese are the three paintings he bought for you; check if theyâre the ones you wantedâ
Elinor was momentarily stunned, then realization hit her: âOh, yes! But how did Theo get this painting?
Didnât Bartlett say he wouldnât sell it?â
Collin explained, âBartlett and Mr. Blanchet are old friends, and a lot of Bartlettâs business relies on cooperation with the Blanchet family, so naturally he would give Mr. Blanchet some special privilegesâ
So thatâs how it was!
Elinor gently stroked the paintings, feeling deeply moved. It felt like, through these paintings, she could touch the warmth of her long lost motherâ¦.
So, when Theo said he would treat her well this morning, this was what he meant!