Chapter 36

• As soon as Eleanor stepped inside the cab, she reached for a wet wipe from the outside pocket of her purse and began wiping her face clean. She removed dried tears, morning dust, and a little speck of dry spit from the corner of her lips with the wipe. After witnessing the events that unfolded in the master bedroom, she was unable to clean herself up, much to her disappointment. She simply snatched her belongings and bolted, with little thought to what she would do next. Even though she had no plans to leave at the time, finding that Zachary and his woman were still in the home and that she had discovered them in that condition crushed her heart even more, and there were only a few pieces left for her to hold onto after everything that had happened. She departed because she understood that she had no choice but to do so or else she would be in much greater anguish. The anguish caused by all of the things Zachary was making her feel was too much for her to bear, and she did not want to lose herself in it.
• After she had finished washing herself up with wet wipes, she put her hair up in a high ponytail and tied it back. As soon as she was finished, the cab arrived and promptly parked in front of the convenience shop she had specified. Before stepping out of the cab, she reached for her money and handed it to the driver.
• She walked inside the store with her bag on her shoulder, just as her stomach groaned in hunger, and then out again. Her teeth clenched as she moved her gaze across the store till she came upon a vending machine that sold instant coffee. She placed some money on the counter and waited for the coffee to be finished before grabbing a piece of sandwich and paying for it at the counter with her card. Once she was finished, she sat in one of the empty seats in the corner and ate the breakfast she had purchased earlier. Meanwhile, she continued to eat while contemplating where she should next travel. For fear that her foster family might just throw her away or worse, sell her at another auction, she did not dare to even consider returning to her foster home.