While My Husband Cheated, I Married His Powerful Brother

Chapter 161: Chapter 161 A New Scheme

Three years ago, the Thorne family had been completely shattered by tragedy.

Percy Thorne and his beloved wife, Lydia, had tragically died together in a devastating plane crash. Their sweet little daughter, Little Lily, had been left behind as a helpless orphan, leaving the entire family utterly heartbroken.

From that dark moment onward, Little Lily became an inviolable taboo within the family estate. No one ever dared to speak the names of her late parents in her presence, nor did anyone ever mention the details of that terrible accident. The entire family wrapped the young child in cotton wool, shielding her from every harsh reality of the world.

However, just half a month ago, Little Lily had been suddenly kidnapped.

In the immediate chaos, the Thorne family had initially placed all the blame on Veyra. She was the one tasked with watching the child that afternoon, and she was the one who had inadvertently let her be taken from under her nose. Furious and frantic, they had wanted to tear Veyra apart for her failure.

Then Dorian stepped in and uncovered the shocking truth.

It was actually Eleanor who had mastermind and planned the entire kidnapping. She had secretly hired the criminals herself, purely out of a bitter desire to frame and destroy Veyra once and for all.

The appalling revelation sent shockwaves through the entire household. As punishment for her cruel scheme, Eleanor was locked inside the cold family meditation room for seven full days. Seven long days without a single ray of sunlight, without any sound, and without any human contact.

Her husband, Phillip, was so deeply humiliated by his wife’s disgraceful actions that he fled the local business community under the convenient pretext of an urgent business trip, refusing to return home.

When Eleanor was finally released from the dark room after seven days, she fully expected to be welcomed back into the fold. She expected tears, forgiveness, and for the family to eventually understand her motives.

Instead, she was met with cold silence.

The Old Madam ignored her presence entirely, walking past her without a word. Beatrice Hawthorne flatly refused to speak to her, and Harold Thorne looked straight through her as if she were completely invisible.

Furious at her family’s icy cold shoulder, Eleanor angrily packed her heavy bags and retreated to her parents’ house, where she stayed for a full week.

She sat there waiting for her phone to ring, arrogantly assuming they would eventually break down and beg her to return home.

That call never came.

Today, Eleanor was hosting an elaborate afternoon banquet.

Her young niece had just received an official admission notice from the prestigious Etland University of Medicine, a massive honor for their family name.

Determined to project strength, Eleanor had booked an expensive private room at a high-end restaurant, inviting several key university leaders and department heads. She had spent the entire morning personally organizing every minor detail, eager to prove to the Thorne family that she was still a powerful, influential woman who commanded respect.

So far, the banquet was going remarkably well. Premium wine was flowing freely, the conversation was lively, and the university officials were thoroughly impressed by her hospitality.

Suddenly, Eleanor’s phone buzzed sharply in her hand.

She glanced down at the illuminated screen, seeing the caller ID: Naya Whitmore.

Excusing herself from the dining table with a polite smile, Eleanor stepped out of the private room and slid the door shut behind her. She was just lifting the phone to her ear to answer the call when she froze in her tracks.

A small group was walking down the narrow hallway toward the back dining suites. There was a tall man in a dark tailored suit, a sharp-looking young woman with dark hair, another female companion, and a stern bodyguard bringing up the rear.

Eleanor’s eyes instantly locked onto the bodyguard.

It was Leon, Dorian’s personal, highly trusted man.

Her gaze shifted immediately to the woman walking right in front of him.

Veyra.

In an instant, Eleanor’s blood began to boil with pure hatred. Her hands tightly curled into rigid fists, her jaw locking so hard her teeth ached.

Instinctively, she took a swift step back, pressing her back against the paper wall and slipping silently into the shadowy recess behind a large decorative pillar.

Veyra didn’t notice her. She was chatting casually with the woman beside her, soft laughter escaping her lips.

Eleanor watched her intently from the shadows. She hated that lighthearted laughter, that effortless ease, and the confident way Veyra moved as if she owned every room she stepped into.

Horrible memories flooded Eleanor’s mind. She remembered the pitch-black meditation room, the stifling silence, and the freezing cold that had seeped into her bones. She remembered her shameful confession, and how she had been tricked into admitting her role in the kidnapping.

Most of all, she remembered the look of sheer contempt on Dorian’s face.

It was all Veyra’s fault. Every single bit of her humiliation belonged to that wretched girl.

As Veyra walked past the large pillar, a strange prickle hit the back of her neck, the unmistakable sensation of hostile eyes watching her.

Veyra stopped in her tracks, turning around to scan the hallway.

The corridor appeared completely quiet. The wooden screen doors were all shut, and the paper walls remained still.

She knit her brows in slight confusion.

Mia paused beside her, looking back. "Is something wrong, Veyra?"

Veyra shook her head slowly. "Nothing... I just thought I saw something."

"Saw what?"

"Or rather, someone," Veyra murmured, giving the quiet hallway another careful sweep. "I felt like someone was standing there, staring at me."

Mia glanced down the empty hall. "I don’t see anyone around."

Veyra remained quiet for a moment longer before letting out a soft sigh. "It’s probably just my imagination playing tricks on me."

Turning back around, Veyra stepped over the threshold into their reserved dining room.

Once the door slid shut behind them, Eleanor stepped out from the shadows of the pillar.

Her dark eyes were icy cold, her fingers still trembling with anger, though her breathing had slowed to a deliberate pace.

She had seen it clearly. She had seen Xander Hale himself walking right alongside Veyra.

Eleanor knew all about Xander Hale. She knew the ruthless rumors surrounding him, that he was a dangerous gang figure who controlled the entire Riverside District with an iron fist.

Yet Veyra was casually strolling into private dining rooms with a man like that.

Eleanor’s mind began to race with frantic possibilities. Ever since her release, she had been desperately searching for a weapon to destroy Veyra, waiting for the perfect scandal to drop into her lap.

Now, an incredible opportunity had presented itself.

She turned her head to look at her personal bodyguard, who was standing quietly a few feet behind her in the hallway.

His name was David Cole. He had been in her personal employ for years, always remaining completely loyal and exceptionally discreet.

"Did you see that just now?" Eleanor whispered in a low, sharp voice.

David gave a firm nod. "Yes, ma’am, I saw them."

"The woman walking beside Xander Hale is Veyra," Eleanor instructed, her voice dropping into a venomous hush.

David’s stoic face didn’t register any emotion.

"I need you to launch an immediate investigation," Eleanor commanded coldly. "Find out every single detail about her connection to Xander Hale. Discover why they were together today, what business they are conducting, and what they discussed."

"Understood, ma’am."

"Handle it quickly and without making a sound," she added sternly. "I do not want Dorian or anyone else in the family finding out about this digging."

David gave a single nod, turned on his heel, and walked briskly down the corridor.

Eleanor watched his departing figure until he disappeared around the corner.

A slow, cruel smile spread across her face.

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