Chapter 249: My Fault
After Louise Jordan and Howard Rhodes left, Archie Summers stood up. He had just taken a few steps when he saw Eleanor at the top of the stairs, holding Rory and looking at him with a slightly vacant gaze.
"Why aren’t you asleep yet?" he asked with a frown, his voice deep.
"Archie, I’m sorry..."
Archie Summers frowned, looking at Eleanor Bishop in confusion. "Hm?"
"Archie, I didn’t want to do this, but... but I had no other choice. Please don’t blame me."
Seeing Eleanor Bishop start to cry, Archie felt a flicker of unease before he snapped angrily, "Eleanor Bishop, what in the world are you trying to say!"
"On the way to the Lockwood estate today, Jason Lockwood used..."
Before Eleanor Bishop could finish her sentence, Howard Rhodes and Louise Jordan rushed back in. "Boss, we have a problem!"
"What is it?" The unease in Archie’s chest grew stronger.
Howard Rhodes shot Eleanor Bishop a cold look, took a few quick steps to Archie’s side, and whispered in his ear.
After hearing everything Howard had to say, Archie wasn’t surprised. Instead, it felt like this was all to be expected. He shoved his hands in his pockets, a cruel, cold smile touching his lips.
Looking at Archie now, Eleanor Bishop knew her fears had been realized. ’He must know everything.’
She hugged Rory tighter and explained in a panicked, uneasy voice, "Archie, I was forced. If there was any other way, I never would have done it." ’If Jason Lockwood hadn’t threatened me with Rory and the Bishop Family, I would never have betrayed Archie. But with Rory and my family on the line, I had no choice...’
’I’ve been thinking about this all day since I got home. I know what Archie is capable of, but I’m even more aware of Jason Lockwood’s power. I wanted to tell Archie before he found out, to see if the situation could be salvaged. But I never imagined that in just half a day, Jason Lockwood would actually...’
"Eleanor Bishop, so this is what you call loving me." Archie found it laughable. ’A revenge plot five years in the making, and now it’s all come to nothing because of one woman!’
"Archie, listen to my explanation! I had no other choice..."
But why would Archie listen to her explanations now? He, Howard Rhodes, and Louise Jordan left.
Mika Summers and the others were all on the first floor, so Eleanor Bishop’s shouts and sobs startled them.
Mika Summers ran out to see Eleanor Bishop sitting at the top of the stairs, crying as she held Rory.
Just then, Una Sullivan came out of her room, shrugging on a coat. She took Rory from Eleanor’s arms and asked with concern, "What’s going on? Why are you fighting? Everything was fine."
Eleanor Bishop bit her lip and shook her head.
Mika wasn’t concerned about their fight; she immediately looked for Archie. "Where’s my brother?" ’Even though Eleanor had always been kind to her, she never felt that close. Besides, she was always going to be on her brother’s side.’
At the sound of Mika’s voice, Eleanor Bishop’s head shot up. She choked out, "Mika, Mika, you have to save your brother! You’re the only one who can save him now."
"Save my brother?" Mika was stunned by Eleanor’s words...
"Yes, that’s right... Only you can save Archie now... *sob*... This is all my fault... It’s all my fault..."
Joseph Summers’s expression immediately grew serious. "Eleanor, stop crying. Tell us clearly what happened so we can all figure out a solution."
Eleanor wiped her tears, stood, and walked over to Mika. Before Mika could react, she sank to her knees. "I know this is a huge thing to ask, but Mika, you have to save your brother. Because right now, only the Grayson Family can save him." ’She knew how much Archie hated the Lockwood Family; he would absolutely never ask them for help.’
’Besides, she couldn’t ask the Lockwood Family for help either. She knew Jason Lockwood’s methods... He would definitely force her to marry him...’
’She didn’t love him, and she certainly didn’t want to marry that terrifying man...’