Chapter 15 - ELEANOR’S CONDO
Eleanor’s new condo was beautiful. Smaller.
No banquet room. No household staff except weekly cleaner.
She hated grocery shopping. I found that funny.
Then she invited us to dinner. First time since incident.
I almost said no. Then yes.
We brought Owen. No wealthy donor guests.
No performance. She cooked badly.
We ate anyway. Then halfway through, she said: “I owe you something besides apology.”
She gave me a folder. I groaned.
She smiled. Inside were every pregnancy-related note she had kept.
Copies. She said originals required retention where legal.
These were personal duplicates. “Do what you want.”
I shredded them later. Then: “I also changed my estate plan.”
I stiffened. She raised a hand.
“Not asking you to read.” Good.
Then: “Owen gets no money conditioned on education, marriage, career, or family role.” That mattered.
Then she said: “I used to think conditions were love stretched into future.” I answered: “Sometimes they’re control after death.”
She nodded. Then she apologized for one specific thing I had almost forgotten.
Calling me incubator. Actually Eleanor said that directly at banquet? Yes.
She said: “I reduced you to the part of you I was afraid to lose.” That was accurate.
Then I asked: “Do you understand why I may never trust you alone with Owen?” Her face fell. Then: “Yes.” Good.
Later, years later, I did trust her alone briefly. Earned.
Not promised. Then dinner ended.
No drama. No cliffhanger? Need Chapter 15 can end with a new reveal. Let's add.
Before leaving, Eleanor said: “There is one more thing Sebastian doesn’t know.” Sebastian groaned.
“What now?” She looked at him.
“Your father knew the health clause was hurting you before he died.” Then she handed him a sealed letter from Thomas.
May you like
Never opened. She had kept it because she was afraid it would undermine her authority.
Sebastian stared. And for the first time in years, Eleanor placed a secret on the table before anyone had to discover it.
