Chapter 264
The crisp winter air carried the scent of pine as Vanessa Hart arrived at Whitmore Manor before dawn on Christmas Eve.
Her arms were laden with exquisitely wrapped presents, each carefully selected to impress. She moved through the grand halls with practiced ease, distributing gifts to every member of the Whitmore family.
Vanessa had spent weeks planning this moment.
She wanted everything perfect—the decorations, the dinner, even the way she smiled when handing Eleanor her gift.
Sophia Ellis accepted the velvet box with delight, her eyes gleaming. "Grace, your brother has found himself a gem. Vanessa is so thoughtful—arriving at sunrise to oversee preparations, assisting the staff, and remembering every single family member."
Eleanor's lips thinned.
The Whitmores were no ordinary family. As Ethan Caldwell's wife, Vanessa shouldn't be lifting a finger. With one word, she could command an entire household staff.
Ethan was the heir to the Whitmore legacy.
Yet here was his wife, behaving like a glorified maid?
Something wasn’t right.
Eleanor watched as Vanessa laughed too brightly at a servant’s joke, her fingers nervously adjusting the ribbon on another gift.
Why was she trying so hard?
And what was she really after?
Eleanor's nails dug into her palms as she watched the scene unfold. "She's tarnishing our family reputation!" The bitter thought twisted in her mind. "That illegitimate wretch. Even Ethan's status is suffering because of her."
When Sophia carefully unwrapped the velvet box to reveal an exquisite set of handcrafted sapphire jewelry, Eleanor's lips thinned into a razor-sharp line.
"Theodore is Harold's bastard," she seethed silently. "Why waste such luxury on them? Do they even deserve it? Does Vanessa think money falls from the sky? The Caldwells may be affluent, but wealth isn't infinite!"
Her glare could have melted steel as she snapped at Vanessa. "A word. Now."
The moment the study door closed, Eleanor unleashed her fury. "Exactly how much does Ethan allocate for your monthly expenses?"
Vanessa stiffened, then understood. "I purchased the gift myself," she said quietly. "It was meant as a gesture of respect. Not a single penny came from Ethan."
Eleanor's eyes turned glacial. "And what is that supposed to imply? That the Caldwells are miserly? That my son is cheap?"
Vanessa's lower lip trembled, her vision blurring with unshed tears. "I never said—"
Eleanor had always scrutinized her like a flawed specimen. Every visit to Whitmore Manor left Vanessa feeling like an intruder in her own supposed home. The walls seemed to whisper judgments, the chandeliers casting shadows that mocked her efforts.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. No matter what she did, it was never enough.
Eleanor's voice dripped with disdain. "You think throwing money around will make them accept you? That’s not how this family works."
Vanessa's fingers curled into fists. The sapphires had cost her months of savings, but she'd hoped—
A knock interrupted them.
Grace's cheerful voice floated through the door. "Mother? Harold wants everyone for the toast."
Eleanor smoothed her expression, but the venom remained in her eyes as she hissed one last warning. "Know your place."
Vanessa blinked rapidly, forcing her tears back.
As she followed Eleanor out, the weight of the jewelry box in her clutch felt heavier than lead.
What had she been thinking?
No gift could ever buy their approval.
And deep down, she’d always known that.
The rare warmth from Eleanor should have comforted Vanessa.
Yet... Eleanor remained as sharp as ever, a master at uncovering hidden agendas.
"Don't pretend with me," Eleanor scoffed. "I was young once too. I know all the tricks."
"Tears at the slightest provocation. Do you really think I'm as gullible as Ethan? Vanessa, don't assume marriage into the Caldwell family guarantees you anything."
"My son is the heir to the Caldwell fortune. With your background, you're not fit to stand in his shadow. You should be thanking your stars he even married you!"
Eleanor's cutting words left Vanessa speechless—should she defend herself or stay silent?
The old saying about good intentions backfiring had never felt truer.
She was crushed. All she wanted was to find the perfect gifts for the Caldwells, and somehow, she'd managed to anger her mother-in-law instead.
The weight on Vanessa's shoulders had grown unbearable lately, especially since Ethan had mentioned divorce.
How long had they even been married? How had everything unraveled so quickly?
Tears streamed down Vanessa's face as she clutched Ethan's sleeve, her voice breaking with desperation.
"Please," she begged, her words barely audible between sobs. "Don't go. I'll change—I swear it. Just tell me what to do."
Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, the humiliation burning through her like fire. Never in her life had she felt so utterly shattered.
Perhaps it was the raw devastation in her expression that made Ethan hesitate. His jaw tightened, but he didn't speak.
Instead, he gently—yet firmly—pulled his arm free.
Without another word, he turned away, his footsteps echoing in the heavy silence between them.
Vanessa sank to her knees, the weight of her mistakes crushing her.
But why?
Why had it come to this?