"You’re... Archie?" The man’s voice was so familiar it made Eleanor’s heart tremble.

"What? Are you disappointed that it’s me?" Archie Lockwood let out a self-mocking laugh as he released her, then turned to switch on the light.

The rims of Eleanor’s eyes were red as she explained frantically, "No, I’m not." ’Only she knew how much she missed Archie. How could she possibly be disappointed?’

"Eleanor Bishop, I never thought you’d become this kind of person—willing to do anything, even climb into another man’s bed, just for money." Archie Lockwood sneered. He paused, as if remembering something, and let out another self-mocking laugh. "Oh, my mistake. You were the same person who did whatever it took to climb into my bed back then. I guess I just thought too highly of you."

She stared at Archie Lockwood in disbelief, her voice trembling with anxiety. "You... Archie, how... how could you say that about me?"

"Hah. And why can’t I? Eleanor Bishop, why don’t you tell me? Over the past two years, how many other men have you climbed into bed with?" ’The very thought that what happened tonight might have happened countless times before made him want to strangle her.’

Eleanor’s whole body trembled with rage. "Archie, you’ve gone too far!"

"Too far? Eleanor Bishop, you truly have no shame. Seducing Jason Lockwood wasn’t enough for you? Now you’re trying to seduce Silas Kent?" Archie Lockwood continued to taunt her.

Tears welled up in Eleanor’s eyes, and she trembled violently. "What nonsense are you talking about!" ’How could he say such things about her? How could he...’

"Am I talking nonsense? You know better than I do."

Faced with Archie Lockwood’s aggressive accusations, Eleanor gave a self-deprecating smile as tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. "Archie, is this really the kind of person you think I am?"

Seeing Eleanor cry, Archie Lockwood felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of irritation. He turned his head away and said in a cold, heavy voice, "What other kind of person would you be?"

"You’re right. I am that kind of person." ’In Archie’s eyes, she had always been the villain. From the beginning to the end, always the villain.’

’Every step she had taken with Archie had been part of a meticulous plot.’

’She had nothing to say, nothing to explain.’

’This was the kind of person she was.’ 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’It was only right that Archie hated her...’

She raised a hand to casually wipe away her tears, then walked up to Archie and pressed the check into his hand. "I assume this two million for my mother came from you," she said, her voice choked with sobs. "Here, I’m giving it back."

"What’s this? Not enough money for you?" Archie Lockwood stared at the check in his hand, the irony of it all stinging him.

Eleanor didn’t say a word. Instead, she turned and headed for the door.

Seeing her leave, Archie Lockwood grabbed her arm tightly. "How much do you want?" ’She doesn’t want my money? Is it because she’s planning to find some other rich man?’

"I don’t want money. Let me go." Archie Lockwood’s words sent a dull ache through Eleanor’s heart.

"Don’t want money? Cut the act, Eleanor Bishop. Weren’t you only with me for the money in the first place? So now you’re saying you don’t want it? What is it you want, then?" ’Doesn’t want money? If she thinks it’s not enough, she should just say so...’

"Archie, can’t you just trust me, for once?" ’It was true she’d been after money before, but couldn’t she change? Why did he have to keep holding the past against her?’

Archie Lockwood held her fast, his voice cold. "Trust you? Eleanor Bishop, haven’t I trusted you enough times already? You don’t want money? Are you trying to tell me the Bishop Family doesn’t need money anymore? Or are you trying to tell me you have a richer sponsor waiting for you?"