Chapter 7 Angry! Mom's Room Is Occupied

Isabella swaggered up, showing off. "Tsk, it is Eleanor. You've been away from home for so long, you probably don't know that your mother's room has been given to Vivian by your grandfather. This has long been Vivian's bedroom." Vivian lowered her head coyly. "Mom, stop it. If you keep talking, Eleanor will be mad." Isabella couldn't hold back the look of triumph in her eyes. It seemed that during the years I was in the countryside, Vivian and Isabella had won over grandfather emotionally. Grandfather already regarded Vivian as his dearest granddaughter. Of course, if Vivian wanted a bedroom, he'd give it to her. The room was given to Vivian! My expression turned cold. "What about my mother's belongings?" Isabella shouted, trying to provoke me. "Things belonging to the dead are so unlucky. Of course, they were thrown away. I'm the lady of the Lancaster family now. Everything related to your mother shouldn't exist — Aah! What do you think you're doing?" I squeezed Isabella's neck tightly. "How dare you throw away my mother's things?" Vivian shook her head, crying. "Eleanor, don't do this. Your mother passed away early. It's inauspicious. Keeping her things here isn't good for grandpa either. We threw them away for your own good…" Isabella couldn't help but curse. "So what if I threw them away? You want to hit me? What right do you, a shameless interloper, have to—" Slap! Slap! I grabbed Isabella's chin and gave her two crisp slaps. Isabella felt like her chin was about to be crushed by me. Vivian promptly burst into tears. "Grandpa, come quick! Eleanor is trying to kill us!" Hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs. Grandpa took one look at the scene and spoke without hesitation. "Eleanor, what are you up to now? Let go of Isabella. She's your stepmother after all. How could you do this? Apologize at once!" Isabella dropped her arrogance and cried, "Dad, it's okay. Eleanor had always had such a temper. I'm used to it." With that pitiful look, it seemed as if I had been bullying their mother - daughter duo all along. Vivian's tears slid down silently. Grandpa frowned. "Eleanor, now that you're home, don't bring those bad habits from the countryside back with you." I asked coldly, "Grandpa, Isabella said you threw away Mom's belongings. Is that true?" Grandpa's face flushed for a moment, then he turned his head and gave instructions. "Vivian, take your mother to put some medicine on first. Isabella, go to the storeroom and pick a piece of jewelry you like. Consider it an apology from Eleanor to you." Isabella wiped her tears in a pitiful way. "Dad, as long as Eleanor isn't angry." "All right. I promised to give it to you. Vivian, help your mother downstairs." Isabella gave me a triumphant look. After the figures of the two disappeared, Grandpa started to scold me disapprovingly. "Eleanor, they're your stepmother and sister after all. How could you hit people as soon as you get home!" Suddenly, I felt that something had changed. I looked at Grandpa. "Why has my mother's room become Vivian's bedroom?" Grandpa turned around, avoiding my gaze. "It's just a bedroom. Why are you making such a fuss? Your mother's belongings are still with me. But I decided to give some things to Vivian. She's going to an auction tonight, and the family arranged for her to donate that 'Ocean’s Heart' necklace…" My mind went blank with a buzz. "That was my mother's!" "Eleanor, Grandpa is doing this for the sake of the Lancaster family! Although that necklace belonged to your mother, it's been in the Lancaster family for so many years. What's wrong with using it to help Vivian through this difficult time? Your father and I both agreed. You're the elder sister. Be more generous!" My heart grew colder by the second, and a sense of betrayal welled up. Why did I come back, knowing full well that these people were no good? One reason was for Arthur, and the other was for Grandpa. But it turned out that Arthur had been secretly dating Vivian for ages, and Grandpa had been so charmed by Isabella and her daughter that he didn't care about me at all. I closed my eyes. "Vivian stole my fiancé, so her reputation is bad. That's why you want to use my mother's things to improve Vivian's reputation?" Grandpa sighed. "Vivian has had a hard time too. Because of her status as an illegitimate daughter, she's suffered a lot of grievances. Eleanor, be kind. Don't always bully her!" I enunciated each word. "It was me who lost my mother and was sent to the countryside; it was me whose fiancé was snatched away. I was left homeless, while she, an illegitimate daughter, was being pampered. "Do you really think I'm the one bullying her?!" Grandpa looked embarrassed, a hint of annoyance at being exposed showing on his face. "Enough, Eleanor! It's just a necklace. All your mother's belongings are the Lancaster family's property. Why can't we use them? Don't be so petty!" I was truly furious. In the past, whenever Vivian took my things, everyone in the Lancaster family would turn around and accuse me of being stingy. I thought Grandpa was different, but it seems I was wrong again. I sneered and nodded. "Fine, Grandpa. From now on, I won't need to consider your feelings when I do things." Grandpa shouted, "Eleanor, what are you up to? Don't cause trouble!" I walked out with a cold laugh. In the past, to keep Grandpa from being upset, I let Vivian get away with her antics, making them all think I was easy to bully. The images of Isabella and Vivian swaggering out just now flashed through my mind. Trying to turn things around at the auction? Dream on! After I walked out of the villa, I took out my phone and pressed a few keys. I raised an eyebrow. Good. I'll give Vivian a big gift at tonight's auction! You just wait. In the evening, outside the auction hall. I waited deliberately by the entrance and looked over from afar. Isabella and Vivian, dressed in beautiful gowns, flanked Henry on either side as they walked along with many high - society guests. "Miss Lancaster is indeed a paragon among socialites, just as the rumors say. Henry is so fortunate to have such a daughter!" Isabella beamed with joy upon hearing the compliments from others. Isabella walked to the outside of the auction hall triumphantly. Suddenly, she caught sight of me, and her face paled instantly. Her voice involuntarily became much shriller. "What are you doing here? This isn't a place for you!" Everyone turned around instinctively. Seeing that I wasn't in a gown and was blocking the entrance to the auction, they all frowned. "Henry, who is this? One needs an invitation to enter the auction. Henry, don't let some scheming person latch onto you." Henry's face darkened. He hadn't expected me to be waiting for them at the auction! He said in disgust, "You heard them. Scram!" "Why should I?" I glanced at the people in front of me, feigning confusion. "The invitation says it's for all members of the Lancaster family. Dad, am I not a Lancaster?" There was an immediate hush all around. It took everyone a while to react, and they exclaimed in surprise, "What? This is Eleanor from the Lancaster family?" Everyone knew about the goings-on in the Lancaster family. After Henry's wife died, he married his mistress, brought in his illegitimate daughter, and sent his late wife's daughter to the countryside. People had never seen me before. They'd only heard that I was raised in the countryside and was a vulgar bumpkin. Today, I was standing at the entrance precisely to show everyone this biased father. They said the invitation was for all members of the Lancaster family, yet the illegitimate daughter was attending in a luxurious gown while I was being snapped at to 'scram'. Henry's expression froze on his face. He felt extremely annoyed, but with so many people around, he couldn't just chase me away. He could only force a helpless smile. "Ah, everyone, you don't know. My eldest daughter is being difficult. I didn't mean to leave her out. Eleanor, how could Dad forget about you? Come in with me quickly." Isabella rushed forward, pretending to be a kind stepmother. "Eleanor, you said you weren't coming just now. Oh, it's all my fault. I didn't ask clearly and made you feel wronged." It made it sound like I'd thrown a tantrum and refused to come earlier, and now I was eagerly trying to get in. After the people nearby left, Henry suppressed his anger and lowered his voice. "You'd better not cause trouble today. If you mess this up, you'll see what I'll do to you. Behave yourself!" "And, Vivian can't hold her liquor well. If anyone tries to toast Vivian, you block it for her. Vivian is so beautiful, there are bound to be some bad-intentioned people. Be smart, you hear me!" My expression turned cold, and I let out a powerful aura. "Why should I block drinks for Vivian? Dad, you don't think I'm stupid, do you?" "You!" Henry was furious, gritting his teeth. "Eleanor, you've got some nerve? I'm already doing you a huge favor by letting you into the auction. If you don't agree, get out!" I sneered, too lazy to argue. "Got it." Henry didn't expect me to agree so readily. He was taken aback. "All right, stop embarrassing us at the door. Follow me in!" I smiled faintly, glanced at Vivian, and then followed Henry inside. Entering the auction hall was just the first step. I still had a big 'gift' to give.