The next morning when she woke up, the half of the bed beside her was already cold. Eleanor recalled the taste of Gabriel from last night, and a faint annoyance rose in her heart. She hadn't held back at all.
Only when the scent of other women's perfume on Gabriel had completely faded from being bumped away did she start to ease her strength a little. Even so, with that little restraint, Gabriel couldn't have been in a good condition either. Eleanor reached out and gently touched the bedding that still held traces of Gabriel's scent.
He'd been messed up like that and still managed to show up on time at the Jiang residence. After all these years, he was still as ruthless to her as ever.
Eleanor sat on the bed for a while, then got up and stepped down. With the help of the servants, she washed up and finished her breakfast.
Yesterday's gossip newspaper was still lying on the living room table. Eleanor draped a coat over her shoulders and waited as the maid came over to apply her soft and elegant makeup.
In the mirror, Eleanor's bare face was so stunning it was almost aggressive.
Her features were better suited to heavy, bright makeup. Only rich, vivid colors could best highlight the advantages of her face.
Before she married Gabriel, Eleanor had loved bold makeup. That fiery and unrestrained feeling wasn't about beauty or charm, it was simply the passionate freedom she loved in her youth.
But after marrying Gabriel and becoming Madam Gu, overly bold makeup would only cause him trouble. It also didn't suit her identity, so over the years, she gradually got used to gentler styles.
"Prepare the car."
The maid lowered her head respectfully after putting down the brow pencil. "Yes, Madam. Where would you like to go?"
"Yelaixiang."
The maid trembled.
Yelaixiang Nightclub was where Gabriel had spent the night and didn't return. It was also where his rumored lover, Ming Caiyue, was located.
Having followed Eleanor for many years, the maid could already guess what she intended to do.
Thinking of how Madam had dealt with those bold women who dared throw themselves at the master in the past, the maid shivered.
She was even more afraid that if the master found out afterward, the situation between him and Madam would become worse.
Eleanor glanced at her and said casually, "I'm not going to eat her. What are you so scared of?"
The maid gathered her thoughts and steadied her hands. "Yes, I'll prepare it right away."
But no matter what Madam wanted to do, a maid like her couldn't change anything.
She could only hope that once the master found out, things between them wouldn't become even more difficult.
Eleanor sat in the main seat, her posture slightly lazy but her presence was imposing.
The nightclub owner stood respectfully beside her, forcing a smile, but cold sweat dripped down his temple.
On the floor in front of Eleanor, a woman knelt with her body sprawled.
The woman was extremely beautiful, with pale, smooth skin like it had no bones. Even in her awkward position, her beauty was untouched, only making her seem more fragile and pitiful.
"Madam, it was Xiaoyue's fault for being careless and not keeping distance from Lord Gu. That caused this misunderstanding. But don't worry! I promise I would never have any improper thoughts about Lord Gu! Last night Lord Gu stayed here for business reasons, nothing else happened between him and Xiaoyue!"
The owner explained anxiously.
The kneeling woman, Selene, spoke softly with tears in her eyes.
"Madam, last night really nothing happened between Lord Gabriel and me. Lord Gabriel was discussing business and just asked me to stay with him."
"Madam, even if you don't believe me, you must believe Lord Gabriel. I would never dare to have improper thoughts about him."
Tears fell from Selene's gentle autumn eyes, looking truly wronged and deeply hurt.
Her weak posture made the men around feel a bit of pity.
Eleanor lightly shook the coffee cup in her hand. Her calm eyes looked down at Selene with a slow, mocking smile.
"Selene, do you know how many women like you I have dealt with since I married Gabriel for five years?"
Selene froze.
Eleanor raised her hand gently. A man dressed in black stepped forward from behind and handed her a thick envelope.
Eleanor put down the coffee cup and opened the envelope.
Inside were photos that could make any man's blood boil.
Eleanor picked the photos out with her finger. Seeing Selene suddenly pale and frightened, she threw the pictures out one by one.
"You say you didn't try anything? Your clothes are off and you climbed onto Gabriel's bed waiting for him. How is that not trying?"
Every photo on the floor showed the same scene: Selene stripped naked and lying on Gabriel's big bed.
All the men around, including the nightclub owner, breathed heavier as they saw the pictures.
The owner's gaze at Selene turned dark and hateful. He glared hard at her.
Last night, when she cried and refused to go back with him, it was clear she wanted Gabriel's attention. What a reckless woman!
Selene screamed in panic when she saw her photos scattered on the ground. She shook her head and scrambled to pick them up.
But the men had already seen everything. Their eyes on her made her feel as if she was stripped bare, exposed to their lewd stares.
Selene clutched the photos tightly. She looked up at Eleanor, who sat high above, watching her like a clown. Hatred grew inside her.
"How did you take these photos? Did you follow me?!"
Eleanor smiled and stood up. She walked to Selene. As Selene trembled and stepped back, Eleanor gently lifted her chin. Her voice was very soft.
"Follow you? You should be thankful someone was watching. Otherwise, I wouldn't know that Gabriel didn't enter that room last night. Otherwise, your skin…"
Eleanor's hand lightly brushed Selene's cheek. She didn't finish her sentence, but Selene shivered deeply.
Remembering how Eleanor dealt with women who dared to seduce Gabriel, Selene's hatred turned into strong fear and regret. She bit her lip, afraid to say another word.
Eleanor took a handkerchief from her maid and wiped her fingers after touching Selene.
"Chief Ryan is here?"
Chief Ryan hurried in and bowed beside Eleanor.
Eleanor casually dropped the handkerchief at her feet. Her voice was as cold as her movements.
"What crime is it to seduce a married man?"
Chief Ryan hesitated. He looked at Selene's frightened face on the ground, then at Eleanor, feeling troubled.
Selene was reckless to try to seduce Gabriel, but last night Gabriel had chosen her himself.
If they took action against Selene now, what about Gabriel?
Chief Ryan calculated quickly.
Eleanor glanced at him lightly and suddenly smiled.
"What? Ryan, is your authority useless now? Selling yourself and seducing a married man is a crime. You won't arrest her?"
Ryan shivered meeting Eleanor's cold smile.
All his plans were crushed at once. He quickly forced a smile and looked at the woman before him.
Though she wore gentle, light makeup, her aura was overwhelming.
He dared not forget that although the Gu family and Gabriel were the real masters of the Gu mansion, this woman was the only wife and madam.
She secretly controlled almost the entire southern business circle.
The south once had four great families lasting for centuries: the Han family led by Shang, the Gu family led by Zheng, the Jiang family led by Quan, and the Mo family led by Jun.
Although the Han family moved abroad generations ago and their main financial power shifted overseas early on, their ancestral roots remained in this old land.
The lingering influence of those roots still played an important role in the region's affairs.
Ten years ago, when Eleanor returned at only fifteen, the family's remaining forces quickly revived under her leadership.
Within a few years, they grew into a powerful force no one dared challenge.
She alone almost held the lifeline of the entire southern region.
People who lived through the great power reshuffle ten years ago quietly spread rumors.
They said when the Gu family was on the brink of extinction, it was this incredible woman who saved them.
Thanks to her, Gabriel had the chance to bring the Gu family back to its peak power.
Chief Ryan looked at Eleanor's casual gaze, feeling his breath tighten.
He dared not forget that over the years, only because she married Gabriel did her sharp and commanding nature soften a little, becoming more low-key and gentle.
But no matter how gentle and soft she seemed, it was just a show.
If anyone dared to displease her, he had no doubt she could easily make them suffer and regret it.
Like Selene, who was now kneeling on the ground.
Chief Ryan, a low-ranking official, was probably no match for her even with one finger.
He bowed nervously and smiled politely at Eleanor. "No, no! Madam, as the official of Anhai City, I must strictly enforce the law! I will not let any criminals who break the law or commit immoral acts go!"
Then Chief Ryan waved his hand and stared at the terrified Selene on the ground.
"Someone! According to Anhai City law, those who seduce a married man will receive finger crushing!"
Finger crushing was the harshest punishment at this time, breaking ten fingers with bamboo sticks.
After speaking, Chief Ryan rubbed his hands in a respectful gesture and looked at Eleanor anxiously. "Madam, do you think this is enough?"
Eleanor took a sip of tea. "Carry out the punishment."
Chief Ryan was delighted and finally relaxed, then turned to call for the executioners.
Selene on the ground was nearly terrified out of her mind.
She had seen finger crushing before, watched women have their fingers broken, crying in pain and convulsing in blood.
"No! You can't do this to me! I was personally chosen by Lord Gu last night! Eleanor, you can't harm me! You can't be so cruel! Otherwise, Lord Gu won't forgive you! Gabriel won't forgive you!"
Selene was so scared she was babbling nonsense.
Chief Ryan glanced at her, silently calling her an idiot for still mentioning Lord Gu.
Sure enough, Eleanor paused mid-sip, looked down at Selene, and a slight smile curled on her lips.
"In ancient times, women who seduced married men were thrown into the water cage.
Now, I only want your ten fingers, yet you dare call me cruel instead of thankful for my mercy?"
Selene's cries died down under Eleanor's gaze, as if strangled.
Eleanor smiled gently again. "Also, Selene, even if Gabriel personally chose you, what does it matter?"
She put down her tea, walked over, and leaned close to Selene's neck, her soft voice like a devil's whisper.
"Not to mention chosen, even if he married you, I can easily... make you disappear."
Selene shivered hard, regret growing sharp at Eleanor's gentle but cruel words.
She widened her eyes, looking at Eleanor in panic.
She suddenly realized how foolish it was to secretly climb into Gabriel's bed last night, dreaming of becoming the next Lady Gu.
Seeing Selene trembling badly, Eleanor's smile vanished.
She stood tall, her elegant robes still magnificent in the cold prison room.
Looking down on Selene, her tone was calm but filled with faint mockery and natural dominance.
"My man is off limits until I say otherwise."
"If anyone dares touch him without my permission, they are courting death."
Gabriel arrived after hearing the news and saw Selene fainted on the cold, dark prison floor.
Eleanor sat on a grand chair in front of the cell, with servants carefully preparing fragrant tea and coffee nearby.
Her expression was calm, her posture graceful. "Pour."
The finger crushing had just started, not even halfway through, when Selene passed out.
A servant holding saline water was about to pour it when a deep male voice interrupted.
"Enough."