Chapter 77: The Indifference
The Clifford family and the Whitmore family had long suspected that someone was backing Eleanor. After weighing the possibilities, they concluded it must have been Elliot Grant. Given Eleanor’s mother’s past association with him, he seemed like the most likely candidate.
But now, seeing her beside Edward Miller, it was evident they had all been wrong.
She hadn’t just found protection, and she had found it in the highest of places. Eleanor Whitmore had become a plaything of Edward Miller.
It all made sense now... how she had vanished without a trace, how not even the combined efforts of the Cliffords, the Whitmores, or the police had found her. Of course, they hadn’t. The Miller family had the power and means to make someone disappear and remain invisible for years. If they wanted to hide someone, no force in the city could uncover that person’s whereabouts.
Back then, although only James and his mother had truly tried to search for her. At least the Clifford family name was behind them. And now, it was clear why the police had been so uninterested in pursuing her case. She had been under the protection of the Millers from the very beginning.
"That bitch," James thought through gritted teeth. "She wouldn’t even let me touch her when we were dating. Now she’s sleeping with an old man without shame?"
His fists clenched, his face flushed with rage. But a second later, he caught himself.
"Calm down. It’s not worth getting worked up over." He reminded himself, forcing a deep breath.
Fearing he might explode in front of everyone, James decided to take a moment to cool off. He turned to his companions with a forced smile.
"I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back," he said.
The others barely noticed his departure, too preoccupied with selecting which woman each of them would approach later in the evening.