Chapter 16

Isabella Whitlock was still reeling from the sudden appearance of Sebastian Sinclair when all that remained before her was a cloud of dust. She staggered to her feet, the scrapes on her knees burning sharply.

“Eleanor Knight, you’ll never beat me!” She turned with a defiant tilt of her chin, only to meet eyes as cold as ice.

Eleanor descended the steps slowly, the click of her heels against the ground like the ticking of a countdown. Without warning, she seized Isabella’s chin, her grip so tight it twisted the other woman’s face in pain.

“You should’ve known this day would come the moment you broke that pocket watch,” Eleanor murmured, her voice feather-light, but her fingers sharp as blades.

Slap!

Isabella’s head snapped to the side, her carefully styled curls now tangled against her reddened cheek. She gaped in disbelief. “You dare hit me?”

“This is just the first one.” Eleanor flexed her wrist, cold fury glinting in her eyes. “The next is for my grandmother.”

When the second slap came with a sharp crack, Isabella shrieked and collapsed to the ground. Trembling, she fumbled for her phone, only for Eleanor to kick it away.

“Go ahead. Call Sebastian back,” Eleanor said, looking down at her with icy disdain. “Let him see you like this.”

The attic window suddenly flew open, and Lucas Chase leaned out, his expression dark. He took the stairs two at a time but slowed his steps as he approached.

“Does your hand hurt?” He cradled Eleanor’s reddened palm, his brows furrowed so deeply they could crush a fly.

Before Eleanor could answer, he swept her into his arms. As he kicked the door open, he cast a chilling glance back at Isabella. “If you provoke her again, I’ll be the one dealing with you next time.”

The kitchen was filled with the sweet scent of simmering pears, but Lucas insisted on boiling eggs instead. Eleanor studied his tense profile, then playfully nudged his calf with her toe. “Really that mad?”

“The finest watchmaker in Europe is in Zurich,” he said abruptly, pulling a simple silver ring from his pocket. “Once the watch is fixed, we’ll visit your grandmother’s grave.”

The ring gleamed softly under the light. Eleanor’s eyes stung suddenly, as if the stopped pocket watch had begun ticking again in her chest.

“What if it can’t be repaired—”

“Then we’ll buy a new one.” Lucas slid the ring onto her finger, his breath warm against her ear as he leaned in. “But you have to let me try.”