Ellinor calmly stated, âIâm the guest Patricia made a face like she just smelled something foul âGuest? Would we ever invite you?â
Ellinor gave a small smile. Grandpa Dean and Grandma Alyssa warmly invited me today I couldnât say no, so here I am What?
Shocked, Patricia blurted out. âMy grandparents invited you? Are you the one who saved my grandpa?â
Ellinor replied evenly. âI wouldnât say Iâm a hero, but yes, I was indeed invited as a quest to your homeâ
Patricia was having none of it. She had made an effort to look her best for their guest, and now it turned out to be her nemesis, Ellinorf Ellinor was the one who saved her grandpa?
Suspicion soon crept into Patriciaâs thoughts. She eyed Ellinor skeptically âWas this all part of your plan, Ellinor? Setting a trap to get close to my grandpa, then pretending to save him?â
âMs. Howard, youâre reading too much into this. I have no reason to get close to your grandpa, nor the time to set up some elaborate scheme.â
Patricia frowned as her gaze on Ellinor darkened. She descended a few stairs to stand in front of her With the stairs creating a height difference between them, Patricia tried to use her elevated position to intimidate Ellinor, glaring down at her But Ellinor just laughed. âWhatâs the plan, Ms. Howard? Are you going to tumble down the stairs and blame me, or slap yourself and say it was me? Got any new tricks up your sleeve?â
Patricia gritted her teeth, her glare intensifying.
Just then, she remembered something her mother had recently told her.
She cooled down and then bowed. âEllinor, Iâve done some inappropriate things to you because I was blinded by love. I know I was wrong, and I apologize. Iâm sorry!â
This apology came out of nowhere. Ellinor glanced around. Who was Patricia putting on a show for?
Patricia gave a deep sigh, her voice heavy with relief. âI realize now that Theo only has eyes for you.
Nothing I do will change that. So, Iâve decided not to get in the way of you and Theo anymore.
Ellinor, Iâm over Theo. Letâs not fight over a guy anymore. Letâs call it water under the bridge, okay?â
Ellinor squinted her eyes. Was Patricia up to something new, or had she genuinely moved on from Theo?
Before Ellinor could respond, Patricia had already sidled up to her, linking her arm with Ellinorâs. âIf you stay silent, Iâll take it as a sign that youâve forgiven me I misunderstood you the last time you visited. Let me make it up to you by giving you a proper tour of our home.â
Ellinor calmly extricated her arm, maintaining a safe distance from Patricia. âThat wonât be necessary. I have other things to attend to.â
She didnât like physical contact with strangers, especially with someone she disliked, like Patricia.
Tears welled up in Patriciaâs eyes, making her look wronged âEllinor, you still wonât forgive me? I swear, I genuinely want to make peace with you. Iâll show you every room in our house. It might be boring, but our house has a century-old history You wonât lose anything by taking a look.â
Every room?
Did that include the room her mom used to live in?
This thought piqued Ellinorâs interest. Regardless of Patriciaâs motives today, she didnât want to miss this opportunity.