Chapter 3

But she quickly realized that it would be very difficult for her, a mere lady, to start such a war with the Duchess Dowager. When her father's business went bankrupt, she knew who was responsible for it.

That was when her life started to become difficult. Her father started drinking and became even more violent towards her when she mentioned their situation.

So she made a decision, the one he thought was best for their situation. What was best for her and her family. But also for him.

They made an appointment in the manor.

In the softly lit parlor of Hawthorne Manor, Lady Eleanor Fairfax stood before Duke Daniel Hawthorne, her heart heavy with the weight of the words she knew she must speak. The air between them crackled with tension, the silence stretching taut like a tightly wound coil.

"Eleanor," Daniel began, his voice filled with concern as he reached out to touch her hand. "What is it? You seem...distant lately."

Eleanor forced a small smile, her fingers trembling beneath Daniel's touch. "It's nothing, Daniel," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've just been...thinking."

Daniel's brow furrowed with worry, his gaze searching Eleanor's face for answers she was not yet ready to give. "About what?" he pressed gently.

Eleanor hesitated, her heart clenching with the pain of what she knew must come next. "Us," she admitted at last, her voice catching in her throat. "I've been thinking about...about us."

Daniel's expression softened with understanding, though a hint of sadness flickered in his eyes. "Eleanor, whatever it is, you can tell me," he said, his voice gentle but insistent. "We've always been honest with each other. Please, don't shut me out now."

Eleanor took a deep breath, steeling herself for the words she knew would break both their hearts. "Daniel," she began, her voice trembling with emotion. "We...we can't see each other anymore."

Daniel's eyes widened in shock, his hand falling away from Eleanor's as if burned. "What?" he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. "Eleanor, why? What have I done?"

Eleanor's heart ached at the pain in Daniel's voice, but she knew that she could not go back now. "It's not you, Daniel," she said softly, tears shimmering in her eyes. "It's...it's me. I can't...I can't do this anymore."

Daniel's brow furrowed in confusion, his expression pained. "Can't do what?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation. "Eleanor, please, you're not making any sense. Tell me what's wrong. Tell me how I can fix it."

But Eleanor shook her head, her resolve hardening with each passing moment. "There's nothing you can do, Daniel," she said, her voice trembling with sorrow. "We come from different worlds, you and I. We can never truly be together."

Daniel's eyes filled with tears, his heart breaking before her eyes. "Eleanor, please," he pleaded, his voice choked with emotion. "Don't do this. Don't walk away from me."

But Eleanor knew that she had no choice. With a heavy heart, she turned away from Daniel, unable to bear the pain of seeing him suffer any longer. "Goodbye, Daniel," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of her own tears.

And with that final, heartbreaking word, Eleanor left Daniel standing alone in the parlor of Hawthorne Manor, her heart shattered into a million pieces as she walked away from the man she loved more than life itself.