Three Years After They Abandoned Me novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Andrew rushed over, pulling Anna into his arms as he shot his mother a pleading look. “Eleanor, enough. Anna just took her medication and she can’t handle this stress.”

Eleanor glared at Anna but held her tongue, unwilling to cause a scene at the Hayes family event.

Then Anna gagged and vomited. The room froze.

A doctor, one of the guests, hurried over and checked her pulse, his face grim. “Anna, what did you eat? These are poisoning symptoms.”

The moment the doctor mentioned poisoning, the room erupted in shock. The mere suggestion that someone might have tampered with the party food was unthinkable.

Anna swayed, barely conscious. Weakly, she whispered, “I didn’t eat anything except the pastries Max brought.”

Max whirled on Stella, his face twisted with fury. “It’s you! You poisoned them.”

Eleanor cut in sharply, “Don’t be ridiculous. Stella would never do such a thing.”

“It has to be her,” Max spat. “When I picked her up, the pastries were in the back seat. She loves them. I even asked if she took any, and she said no. Anna wouldn’t have been suffering unless she’d laced them with something.”

Eleanor seized Stella’s hand. “No way. There’s another explanation. I know Stella didn’t do this.”

“Of course she did.” Max’s voice was venomous. “The second Dad and Fiona chose Anna over her with those kidnappers, she’s been plotting revenge. Now that she’s back? This was her plan all along.”

Eleanor trembled with rage. The accusation alone was brutal-but seeing Stella’s ice-cold fingers in hers, her granddaughter’s face drained of color, was unbearable.

Stella finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm, “I didn’t do it.”

“Liar!” Max jabbed a finger at her. “You’ve always been manipulative.”

Her expression hardened. “And you’ve always seen what you wanted to see. I said I’m innocent.”

Fiona intervened, urgency sharp in her tone. “Max, arguing won’t help. Get Anna to the hospital now.”

Scooping Anna into his arms, Max shot Stella a final glare before rushing out, Fiona on his heels.

Andrew, pale with worry, turned to Lionel. “Sorry, we need to end this. The guests have waited long enough, so just cancel the rest of the event.”

Lionel nodded and smoothly handled the dispersing crowd. Though curiosity hung thick in the air at the possibility of Stella striking back so soon, no one dared linger openly.

As the last guests trickled out, Lionel moved toward Stella, but she spoke first, her eyes on Eleanor. She said, “Let’s go home.”

“Can you stand?” Eleanor asked.

Stella smiled, “I’ll manage.”

When Lionel reached out to help, Stella pushed him away without a glance. For five agonizing minutes, the room stood silent as she fought to rise on sheer willpower. At last, swaying but upright, she let Eleanor guide her out.

1/3

Lionel watched them leave, then turned toward the hospital.

At home, Stella guided Eleanor to her bedroom-the first time Eleanor had set foot in this house in years.

Nancy, Eleanor’s maid, murmured softly, “Eleanor refused to leave the old mansion all this time. She kept waiting, hoping you’d come home. And finally, here you are.”

Three years ago, Eleanor had been in perfect health. But after Stella’s kidnapping, day after day of uncertainty had worn her down.

The guilt twisted in Stella’s chest. She pulled Eleanor into a tight embrace, resting her forehead against the older woman’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry for making you worry like this.”

Eleanor patted her hand gently. “Nonsense. Having you back is all I need. I’ll get stronger every day now. You’ll see.”

“Grandma…” Stella’s voice wavered. She’d planned to leave this family behind. But she couldn’t walk away from Eleanor, the only family she cared about.

“You mustn’t fret over Anna,” Eleanor said firmly. “I know you’d never harm anyone.”

Stella nodded, the weight of her emotions threatening to spill over. Only with Eleanor could she be this vulnerable and raw.

“My dear girl.” Eleanor’s heart ached as she studied Stella’s tired eyes. “When I learned what happened back then, I gave your parents hell. I know what they did is unforgivable, and we won’t forgive them.

“But you must focus on healing now. You’re still so young, with your whole life ahead. Let them pay for your treatments, at least until you’re back on your feet.”

Stella gave a quiet nod. Eleanor always understood her thoughts. Just like in the past, when sadness drove her straight to Eleanor’s arms. Eleanor said this because she sensed Stella might want to leave.

“Tell me, darling,” Eleanor pressed gently, “what did you endure all these years?”

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