Chapter 8

Eleanor knocked three times on Harriet's door, but she was denied. Eleanor took a deep breath before deciding to leave Harriet alone. But it bothers her that her sister has been acting this way since yesterday. She never eats her dinner, let alone her breakfast!

Harriet genuinely enjoys eating, so it's an unusual occurrence that Eleanor witnessed when she least expected it.

"Fine, just eat your lunch!" Eleanor exclaimed, leaving the food tray outside Harriet's door. Eleanor began to open their shop, and one by one, customers began to arrive, which kept Eleanor so busy that she hadn't noticed Edith looking at her just across their shop, wearing her big sun glasses and an all black outfit.

Edith is standing and looking at Eleanor while crossing her arms. She removed her sunglasses and fixed her gaze on Eleanor. Edith is intrigued. Eleanor has piqued her interest.

Henry, who was with Edith, cleared his throat to get her attention, and he was successful. When Edith looked at Henry, he shook his head, indicating that what they were doing was not good! But Edith simply raised her brow at him.

"You're being too obvious!" cried Henry, trying to blend in but failing because he was wearing his favorite bright red pants! He was aware that he was being observed by everyone walking down the street, and he was embarrassed.

"Said the one wearing the head turner pants," Edith smirked as she continued to watch Eleanor.

"Your tactic isn't going to work," Henry murmured, but Edith clearly heard him. Edith simply gave him a lethal glare and returned her sun glasses.

Henry rolled his eyes and fished his phone from his pocket, texting Antonio to chastise Edith for being so obvious while they were undertaking their assigned tasks. He waited for him to respond, but Antonio appears to be preoccupied because he has yet to respond to Henry's messages!

"Oh hoo," Edith says, causing Henry's head to turn to look in her direction. When Henry noticed Antonio talking to Eleanor, he realized why he hadn't responded to his messages.

"Is he close to her?" Edith asked the smirking Henry.

"What do you think?" Henry responded.

"Good morning, Eleanor!" Antonio said cheerfully, and Eleanor smiled and motioned him to wait for her because she was busy. Antonio waited, and when there were no more customers, he placed his brown beret hat on top of the glass pantry. Eleanor, of course, quickly took it out and returned it to him.

"No hats on our pantry, sir!" Eleanor exclaimed dramatically, laughing.

They had the same conversation they had a few days ago about Eleanor befriending Bethy. Eleanor is not opposed to Antonio's request, but she does not want to frighten Bethy.

"If you really want to be friends with her, why go through me when you can do it yourself?" Eleanor wondered.

"But it's much easier if it's the same gender...judging by her appearance, she doesn't seem to want any male friends," Antonio lied for the first time. Since their last interaction, he knew Bethy was easy to befriend... And this caused him to pause for a moment, looking at the perplexed Eleanor.

"What a pathetic excuse, Antonio," Eleanor observed. Antonio sighed, realizing Eleanor was correct.

"I'm sorry... I guess—I should do... it," he says, uncertain. Eleanor gave a warm smile.

"That's a lot better!"

Antonio simply smiled and told Eleanor that he was leaving, Eleanor nodded and waved her hand goodbye.

Antonio paid a visit to the Collins, and Bethy's parents simply stared at him as they entered their mansion. Grace acknowledged Antonio's presence with a smile, whereas the owner of the mansion does not appear to acknowledge their visitor.

"Why are we given the pleasure of having you visit us, Mr. Walter?" Mr. Collins forced a smile on his lips, but he clearly is firm, and he can't stop himself from glaring at Antonio, while Mrs Collins simply crossed her arms and stared at their visitor. Antonio begins to sweat profusely.

"Well... about Bethy—"

Mrs Collins exclaimed, "You're not worth it!" Mr Collins quickly calmed his wife.

Antonio is baffled! He began to realize that his plan was not ideal! He hopes to leave the mansion soon!

Antonio boldly stated, "I just wanted to be a friend to your daughter," but Mrs. Collins started to become upset.

She yelled, "I told you, you're not worthy!" Grace hurriedly dragged her boss's wife to the other room after Mr. Collins ordered her to remove her wife from the room.

Mr. Collins inhaled deeply and lit his cigarette after Mrs. Collins left.

He said emphatically, "Not a chance Mr. Walter. Not a chance." Antonio stood up while holding a shaking hand.

Antonio said calmly, "I was just wondering, but then, I respect both of your decision." He then took the chance to leave the Collinses' mansion.

Mrs. Collins confronts her husband after he has left and gets upset.

"Why is he so daring to be so close to our daughter? Does he forget his place?" she screamed. Mr Collins was so irritated by her screams that he ignored his wife and went out to the town.

"I am rejected," Antonio told Eleanor, who was now walking alongside him. When Eleanor noticed how horrified Antonio is, she decided to close their shop early and walk with him to help him feel better.

"They don't want you to be Bethy's friend?" she inquired. Antonio responded with a nod.

Eleanor cocked her head, perplexed. "Hmm... It's their loss, Bethy won't have an incredible friend," she remarked, making Antonio smile.

"You think I'm amazing?" he smirked, and Eleanor laughed.

"I'm beginning to suspect you're not." She joked while acting that she's thinking carefully about what she said. Antonio smiled sheepishly and took consecutive coughs to stop himself from smiling.

On the other hand, Edith and Henry are eyeing Eleanor and Antonio from afar.

Edith squint her eyes when she noticed how comfortable Antonio is with the woman she's with. It's not that she likes Antonio, Edith just seems proud that Antonio, her ever shy best friend can now meet someone and be comfortable with them.

Henry pulled Edith behind the big Oak tree because Eleanor look back, and when she sees nothing she gave her attention back to Antonio. Edith and Henry decided not to follow them that early, so the both of them waited for the right moment while still hiding.

Henry glance at Edith to check if she's comfortable hiding, he noticed how focused she is while observing the two.

"I think he likes her," Henry said as he looked at Edith. When Edith smiled in response to his statement, he appears surprised because this is not the reaction he expected to see.

"He finally likes someone... Huh?" she asked quietly. Henry was about to say something, but Edith noticed that the two were going too far, so she smacked Henry on the back and dashed off to catch up with them. Henry was taken aback, but he immediately followed Edith.

"I'm going to see Grace, so I'll take a different route," Eleanor explained. Antonio smiled and told her to be careful. He insisted on accompanying her, but Eleanor made it clear that he didn't have to, so he let her go.

Edith and Henry were disappointed when the two separated. Henry kicked the guileless rock on the ground while Edith punched the air.

"Argh! I haven't heard any of their conversations!" exclaimed Edith. Henry mocks her.

"Too nosy," he teased, and when Edith looked at him, he began running while Edith pursued him. They were so focused on chasing each other that they missed Eleanor's movement.

Eleanor was skipping on her way to a dear friend's house. When she arrived at Grace's house, she knocked and even called for Grace, but her dear friend does not appear to be at home. As a result, she decided to leave and return later.

While walking back to her house, she admires the scenery and nature. She greeted some of the villagers she encountered, and some even gave her a high five. She then proceeded to walk past Benjamin's house. She was sad while remembering him, but happy because she knew he was starting his real life.

She greeted Benjamin's parents, who invited her to pay them a visit. She assured them that she would return when she had time.

Eleanor bid them farewell as the sun began to set. She was walking back home when she heard a light whimper and stopped to listen to where it came from. The whimper appears to have originated from the mushy bushes.

She shoved the bushes and gasped when she saw Bethy, who had a cut on her forehead!

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