Chapter 9: The Manipulation

Theodore's smile slowly disappeared. "W-What if someone else asked her to paint that?"

"Silly boy. Eleanor only cares about your sister. She doesn't love you at all. If you don't believe me, try doing this."

Claudia whispered something in Theodore's ear.

...

Eleanor originally only wanted to pick up Theodore, but Sebastian insisted on coming along.

On the drive back to the suburban villa, the three of them were talking and laughing, which made Eleanor feel like she was back in the days before Claudia.

Only Ivy was missing.

"Mommy, Daddy told me you sold a really beautiful painting at the auction. Can I see your other paintings? I want to be a great painter like you when I grow up!"

Eleanor lovingly ruffled his hair. "Of course. Come with me."

Eleanor took him to the studio. She didn't have many paintings; she usually sent one off as soon as it was finished. So, the only painting there was the sunflower girl portrait, which she hadn't delivered yet.

When Theodore saw the painting, his eyes were filled with a mix of jealousy and anger.

Claudia was right! Eleanor didn't love him, her son. She only loved Ivy!

He found a way to send Eleanor away, closed the studio door, picked up a brush dipped in black paint, and smeared it across the canvas, venting his fury.

"Why? Why do you only care about my sister? You only paint her! I hate you! I hate you!"

Outside, Eleanor was in the kitchen cutting fruit. The front door suddenly knocked. Sebastian got up to open it, only to find a strange man standing there.

"Who are you?" the man asked first.

Sebastian frowned. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

The man pushed past him, walked into the house, and started shouting Eleanor's name.

Eleanor came out, confused. "Who are you?"

The man sneered. "What's wrong? You were crying with pleasure when I was screwing you last night, and now you don't recognize me?"

That was too offensive! Eleanor was about to demand who the man was when Sebastian cut in. "Eleanor, you're amazing! You told me you didn't have a new boyfriend, but now you've brought him right here?"

Eleanor looked at Sebastian in disbelief. "You don't trust me?"

"A man has shown up at your house! How can I trust you? If there's nothing going on, how does he know your name?" Sebastian gritted his teeth. "Are you that desperate? You file for divorce one day, and hook up with a man the next, yet you shamelessly told me you weren't seeing anyone!"

Eleanor looked at Sebastian, deeply disappointed and heartbroken.

"You believe a stranger's word just like that. But here I was, looking at pictures of you and Claudia in bed, and I still tried to believe you."

"Well, I have to compliment your acting skills! Sleeping with other men while pretending to be devoted to me. You're disgusting!" Sebastian was furious.

Eleanor was outraged. "Get out! Both of you, get out! I'm divorcing you, and you won't get either of the children!"

After chasing Sebastian and the strange man away, Eleanor collapsed on the floor, devastated.

Remembering Theodore was in the studio, she had to swallow all her tears.

She composed herself and opened the studio door.

But when she saw Theodore forcefully pouring black oil paint onto the canvas, the meticulously arranged fruit plate in her hand crashed to the floor.

Eleanor froze in place.

A momentary flicker of guilt crossed Theodore's mind.

"Teddy... what... what are you doing? Do you know what you've done?" Eleanor's voice trembled, tears hovering in her eyes.

She prayed that Theodore was just being naughty or had done it by accident.

But the next words Theodore spoke turned all of Eleanor's excuses for him into a joke.

"Of course I know! I ruined your painting on purpose! It's so ugly, how dare you try to sell it? You want to be a great painter like Claudia? You're nowhere near as good as her!"

Eleanor was shocked. Why would her child suddenly say that?

She couldn't figure it out, but his accusation kept echoing in her ears: You're nowhere near as good as her.

"You like Claudia that much?"

Theodore said, "Of course! She never scolds me, and she loves only me! I even wonder if she's my real mom and you're just a wicked stepmother who took someone else's place!"

The words felt like a sharp spike driven deep into Eleanor's heart.

Eleanor laughed through her tears. "So that's what you think of me, a wicked stepmother. I worked so hard and earned money just so I could give you a good life if I took you away from here, because I was afraid Claudia would corrupt you. And this is how you repay me!"

Theodore was startled by her shouting but felt a little smug.

Eleanor still cares about me after all. But since she only likes that horrible Ivy, I have to teach her a lesson. But since she bought me a toy today, I'll give her a chance to apologize to me later!

Just then, Sebastian rushed in, with Claudia following right behind him.

"What are you doing?!"

"Just look at what your son has done," Eleanor said, her eyes bloodshot as she faced Sebastian.

Sebastian frowned and entered the studio. When he saw the ruined painting, he was unconcerned. "What's the big deal? You didn't put your paint and canvas away properly. You can't blame a child like Teddy, can you?"

Eleanor took a document from a cabinet and threw it at Sebastian. "Your son destroyed a painting that was part of my contract with Ruixin Gallery. This contract clearly states the painting's value. The gallery's lawyer will contact you shortly to discuss compensation."

Although the painting was commissioned by Daphne's friend, it was processed through the Ruixin Gallery contract for convenience.

Sebastian was stunned. He frowned. "Eleanor, don't go too far! Teddy is your son, too! It's just a painting. You actually want me to pay compensation? I advise you to stop this right now. If you keep causing trouble, I will divorce you."

"Fine. Let's divorce," Eleanor said without hesitation.

Sebastian froze. He only wanted to threaten Eleanor, but he didn't expect her to agree so readily.

Claudia quickly interjected, "Then let's sign the divorce papers now!"

"Alright. Let's go outside and talk."

Eleanor turned to leave, but Theodore panicked. "Wait, what about this painting?"

"Go to the room down the hall. That's for you. As for everything else, we'll talk later," Eleanor said, completely exhausted. She didn't want to discuss the painting with Theodore anymore. There was too much going on today. Regardless, even if she lost her husband and daughter, she still had one son, at least.

"You... you're not going to scold me again? Stop pretending you don't care! You must be miserable inside! But even if you are, I won't apologize!"

"Happy birthday in advance, Teddy. I'll make it up to you later when I have a chance," Eleanor forced a strained smile.

But Theodore said, "I don't need you to be my mom! Daddy, Claudia, and I are a family! Just divorce Daddy! I'm not going to live a poor life with a wicked stepmother like you!"