Chapter 10 Strength Of A Mother

• In her current state, Eleanor was just like a puppet who was being controlled.
• She did not put up any resistance while being dragged into the office by Emmanuel.
• “You... Are you all right?” Emmanuel asked in concern.
• He felt his heart clench when he saw Eleanor in a daze with tears in her eyes.
• However, the woman did not reply.
• She did not even look at Emmanuel but was facing the windows and staring into space instead.
• The man continued to ask her more questions but Eleanor remained quiet.
• Emmanuel sighed before asking, “Can you just say something?”
• “What should I say?” Eleanor finally replied.
• Taking a pause, she continued, “What do you want to hear? Since I'm your assistant now, I'll do anything you say.”
• Her expression was cold, and her eyes were lifeless. Seeing that, Emmanuel could not help but feel his heart wrench.
• Only someone who had completely given up on life would behave that way.
• The scariest thing in the world was to lose all hope.
• In that state, nothing would seem important, not even one's own life.
• At that moment, even if Eleanor were to slap Emmanuel or threaten to stab him with a knife to vent her internal frustrations, the man would gladly let her do it.
• He would feel comforted even, because that would mean that Eleanor still had some feelings within her.
• However, it seemed as if Eleanor was completely numb.
• Talking to the woman was like talking to air.
• As Emmanuel was feeling rather helpless that he wasn't able to get any response out of her, he turned around and sat down on the couch.
• Then, the man lit a cigarette and said softly, “Eleanor, I know you hate me, but—”
• “Can I also have a cigarette in your office?” Eleanor suddenly asked, interrupting Emmanuel.
• “Sure.” Emmanuel nodded slightly as he watched the woman take out a cigarette from her pocket, then lit it.
• She had completed the series of actions smoothly and in an extremely graceful manner.
• However, to Emmanuel, that habit of hers was like torture to him.
• She was supposed to be a talented and highly regarded dancer.
• Moreover, she was supposed to have a perfect life, perhaps having a fancy corporate job sitting in a top-floor office and sipping expensive coffee every day.
• However, she ended up becoming a smoker and a drinker, in addition to being treated like a loony and mocked by everyone.
• Everyone around her was doing well and enjoyed successful careers.
• Meanwhile, Eleanor was living such a pathetic life, all by herself, and it was all because of him.
• “If there is anything you want, feel free to tell me. I can give you anything.” Emmanuel spoke after a brief moment of silence.
• “I don't want anything,” replied Eleanor, shaking her head, her eyes still soulless.
• “As long as you don't disrupt my life with Eva, I won't ask anything of you. You don't have to make up for anything as well. If you would allow me to leave Bellridge Group and promise to leave Eva and me alone, we would be even.”
• Seeing Eleanor's current state, Emmanuel clenched his fists tight as a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.
• He needed to change Eleanor.
• There was no way he would allow her to remain dejected and hopeless for the rest of her life.
• She still had a long life ahead of her, and there were many wonderful experiences that she had yet to have.
• What's the point of living if she was no different from a zombie?
• Emmanuel was determined to pull her out of that darkness and encourage her to find meaning in life again.
• “But you've already signed the contract,” the man replied softly.
• “What do you mean?”
• A glimpse of hope flitted across Eleanor's eyes as she looked toward Emmanuel with a crease between her brows.
• “It's a five-year contract. As long as you signed the contract, you would have to work at Bellridge Group for the next five years. If you want to leave, there will be a penalty of thirty million for breaking the contract,” Emmanuel said.
• When Eleanor heard that, she bit her lip as she felt tears prickling in her eyes.
• “I don't have thirty million, but I won't stay here either. You can take my life if you want.”
• “I don't want your life, but if you are in a thirty million debt, it would be easy for me to file a lawsuit and take over the custody of Eva. That's because I can give her a better future. I'm definitely getting her custody.”
• After saying that, Emmanuel closed his eyes briefly in preparation for receiving the woman's rage.
• Indeed, it was just as he had expected!
• “Emmanuel, what are you planning to do?” Eleanor bellowed in agony before dashing toward the man in a frantic state and slapping him across his face.
• “Listen up, you can do anything you want to me, but if you're thinking of taking Eva away from me, I'll kill you before killing myself.”
• Emmanuel kept his eyes closed and did not respond even after being slapped by Eleanor.
• To him, that was what he deserved!
• “Emmanuel, would you please let me off? I'm begging you. Please... just let me off.”
• Eleanor grabbed the man's arms with a look of desperation on her face.
• “I'll do anything you want, but you can't take Eva away. She's my life! You've already destroyed me once. Please don't do it again.”
• Emmanuel could almost feel his heart stop beating when he heard the woman's words. He was overwhelmed with so much guilt that he could hardly breathe.
• However, he kept his eyes closed and his fists clenched.
• “Eleanor, I can let Eva stay with you. I can also let you leave Bellridge Group, but it would be on one condition.”
• “What is it? Tell me,” replied Eleanor with a gleam of hope appearing in her eyes.
• The next moment, Emmanuel took out a contract from the drawer and tossed it on the desk before saying, “This is an employment contract for the role of a salesperson in Bellridge Group. If you can make eighty million in sales within the next two years, I will allow you to leave the company. Not only that, but I will also leave Summerbank immediately and promise not to come back ever again and disrupt your life with Eva. I'm a man of my word.”
• Eighty million within two years!
• Eleanor froze for a moment when she heard that since it sounded like an impossible figure.
• She started to tremble in despair as she stared at the contract in front of her.
• Although she had done some sales before, her performance had always been mediocre.
• Without the support of a huge network, there was no way she could achieve that kind of result.
• “You don't want it? If you don't dare to accept the offer, hand Eva over to me. I'll take care of her from now on,” Emmanuel said coldly.
• “Sure, I agree. I'll do it.”
• Eleanor picked up the pen at once and signed her name on the contract.
• Earlier on, she was indeed shocked when she heard that she had to make eighty million in sales.
• However, when she thought about Evangeline, she knew that she had no other choice but to take up the man's offer.
• I would never allow him to take Evangeline away!
• She would sign the contract even if it was eight hundred million, not to mention eighty million, because Eva was her world.
• The girl was everything she had, and she wouldn't allow anyone to take her away.
• “You have to keep your promise. If I'm able to meet the sales target, you would have to leave Summerbank at once and stay away from Eva and me forever.”
• “I promise.”
• “All right then.” Eleanor nodded firmly.
• Then, she picked up a copy of the contract and turned to leave the office.
• Looking at the woman's determined figure as she walked away, Emmanuel massaged his temples as his body started trembling slightly.
• Judging by what happened that day, he realized that Eleanor's hatred toward him was far deeper than he had imagined.
• She did not even hesitate to sign an eighty million sales contract in order for him to disappear from her life.
• Emmanuel knew that it had definitely taken the woman a lot of courage to agree to that, given that she barely had any working experience.
• That was the strength of a mother's love.
• In order to protect her daughter, Eleanor would not hesitate to give up her life, not to mention to produce eighty million in sales.
• That evening, Eleanor and Evangeline moved into the mansion with the help of Juliet.
• “Wow. What a huge house.”
• Eleanor and Evangeline were both shocked when they saw the magnificently decorated mansion.
• “How do you find this place? Do you like it?” Juliet asked with a smile on her face.
• Standing in the center of the hall, Juliet behaved as if she was the lady of the house, introducing her house to her guests.
• “This mansion belongs to the three of us from the moment the two of you walked through the gate. Come on in! We will enjoy the luxuries of life together from now onward.”
• “Eva, do you like it here?” Eleanor asked, nudging her daughter lightly.
• When Evangeline heard that, she looked up at Eleanor at once and replied, “I like it, Mommy.”
• “Let's go in. We'll be staying here from now on.”
• Without speaking any further, Eleanor held Evangeline's hand and headed into the mansion.
• However, Eleanor did not feel any sense of joy as she lay on the huge and soft bed. All that she could think about was the eighty million sales contract that she had just signed.
• Suddenly, she felt like a joke. She could barely believe that she had dared to sign such a contract without any proper educational qualifications.
• However, at the thought of Evangeline, the woman clenched her fists.
• Eva, Mommy would do anything for you. It's just eighty million, right? I can do it! I'll let Emmanuel know that he can't defeat me with his childish tactics. As long as both of us are together, there's nothing we can't overcome.