Back inside the quiet sanctuary of the grand mansion, Eleanor sat by the roaring fireplace in the formal sitting room. The warmth chased away the lingering chill from her bones, though her hands still trembled slightly around a cup of hot tea. Mr. Henderson sat across from her, reviewing a separate set of private investigation files that had just been delivered to the house. The documents detailed Sarah’s hidden past, revealing a trail of previous marriages and mysterious financial settlements. Eleanor looked down at the infant sleeping peacefully in her arms, wondering how she had ever allowed herself to get caught up in this nightmare. Richard walked into the room quietly, removing his suit jacket and tossing it over the back of an armchair. He poured himself another cup of tea and took a seat beside Eleanor, his expression heavy with exhaustion.
Richard: You don't ever have to worry about her coming back here again, Eleanor. It's completely over.
Eleanor looked up, her dark eyes searching his face for any sign of deception or lingering doubt.
Eleanor: How did she even get hired as part of the domestic staff in the first place, Richard? Didn't you vet her?
Richard sighed deeply, rubbing his temples with his thumb and forefinger as regret washed over him.
Richard: She used forged credentials and a fake identity agency. I trusted the wrong people.
Mr. Henderson slid the investigation folder across the coffee table toward Eleanor for her to inspect.
Mr. Henderson: She has a history of targeting wealthy executives through fraudulent background checks and forced marriages.
Eleanor flipped through the pages, her jaw dropping as she saw the sheer scale of the deception.
Eleanor: She was planning this entire hostile takeover of your estate from the very beginning.
Richard nodded grimly, placing a comforting hand gently over Eleanor’s shaking fingers on the table.
Richard: Which is why my new will and trust fund allocations are being rewritten tonight to protect both of you.
Eleanor pulled her hand back slightly, a wave of caution washing over her amidst the overwhelming relief.
Eleanor: I didn't come here for your money, Richard. I just wanted a safe home for my child.
Richard smiled softly, his eyes reflecting a genuine warmth that Eleanor had never seen before.
Richard: I know you didn't, Eleanor. That is precisely why you are the only one I trust now.
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