Honey, You're a Billionaire?

Eleanor's carefully maintained composure was slipping fast, but she still managed a strained smile as she apologized.

"Mr. Xanth, I'm sorry. I don't understand how this happened. My age seems to have caught up with me, and my eyes aren't as sharp as they once were..."

Ever the gentleman, Elijah responded with grace and tact. "There's no need to blame yourself, Mrs. Finch Senior. Considering the Finch family's reputation and your discerning nature, it appears you were misled. "Nevertheless, your thoughtfulness in choosing the Lindisfarne Gospels is greatly appreciated as I genuinely admire the work."

His carefully chosen words, particularly the phrase "misled", masterfully preserved the dignity of both the Finch family and Eleanor.

Eleanor felt a wave of relief and gratitude, yet the word "misled" echoed in her mind, even as she kept her composure.

After offering more apologies and exchanging a few more pleasantries with Elijah, she excused herself, pleading fatigue, and retired to her room.

Before leaving, she called out to Lizzie, "Lizz, help me upstairs, would you?"

Although Eleanor smiled as she addressed Lizzie, the latter couldn't help but sense an impending storm. Sure enough, as soon as they entered the room, Eleanor's smile vanished entirely. Without warning, she raised her cane and struck Lizzie sharply.

"Ah!" Lizzie cried out in pain, startled by the unexpected blow. She looked up, meeting Eleanor's frigid gaze, and instinctively dropped to her knees.

"Mom, I'm sorry. It was my fault. I didn't handle things well earlier, I..."

Lizzie's voice cracked, and her tears threatened to spill. Her vulnerable demeanor might have elicited sympathy from others, but her "sincere" apology only served to fuel Eleanor's anger. Instead of calming down, Eleanor's expression grew harsher still. "Spare me the act. Stop playing the victim. Your husband isn't here to shield you-"

"Lizz!"

Eleanor's words were cut short by the sound of the door opening.

It was none other than Cyrus, Lizzie's husband.

He had suspected Eleanor might take out her frustrations on Lizzie the moment she singled her out for assistance. Worried about Lizzie, he had followed discreetly. His fears, it seemed, were not unfounded. Upon seeing the telltale bruise forming on Lizzie's arm, Cyrus' heart ached. Without hesitation, he rushed to her side and helped her to her feet, paying no heed to Eleanor's stony expression.

Cyrus immediately pleaded with Eleanor, "Mom, it's not Lizzie's fault. She didn't know Elijah knew calligraphy. She put in her best effort, and honestly, her writing wasn't bad."

He stood protectively in front of Lizzie, shielding her from Eleanor's wrath. The latter's brows furrowed deeply in response.

Suddenly, a mocking smile crept onto her face. "You think I hit her because her calligraphy wasn't good enough?"

"Wasn't that the reason?" Cyrus thought, remaining silent. However, his expression conveyed everything Eleanor needed to know.

Her eyes filled with disdain, and she let out a cold laugh. "Cyrus, you were once the head of the Finch family. I used to think that, while you weren't quite up to your father's level, you were at least competent. "But now... it seems the only reason the family didn't collapse under your leadership is thanks to the blessings of our ancestors."

"Mom..." Cyrus muttered, his frustration palpable as Eleanor's words effectively belittled his capabilities.

"You're blinded by a woman this easily, so what are you if not incompetent?" Eleanor snapped, her anger rising again. She repeated, "Do you really think I hit her because her calligraphy wasn't good enough?" Cyrus lowered his gaze, the fire of defiance in his eyes dimming.

Eleanor's piercing gaze shifted toward Lizzie, who remained partially concealed behind Cyrus. "And what about you? Do you think it's because of that?" Feeling guilty and cornered, Lizzie continued apologizing, "Mom, I was wrong..."

"Wrong about what, precisely?" Eleanor pressed, her tone growing harsher with each word. Her eyes blazed furiously as if they could burn through Lizzie. "Mom, I..." Lizzie bit her lip, knowing she couldn't admit to anything beyond her calligraphy skills.

After all, there was no way she would dare to acknowledge any deeper fault. She could only persevere in her pleas for forgiveness. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." However, what Eleanor wanted to hear was not empty apologies.

Lizzie's persistent refusal to admit

her actual transgressions only served to enrage Eleanor further. And since Lizzie insisted on hiding behind Cyrus, Eleanor decided that she would dismantle Lizzie's obstinate resolve right before his eyes.

Amidst Lizzie's repeated apologies, Eleanor's tone became sharper as she stated, "Then how do you explain the Lindisfarne Gospels? You attempted to deceive me with a counterfeit. "Were it not for Elijah's grace, our family would have faced grave repercussions. Lizzie, what exactly were you thinking?"

With Eleanor's blunt accusation, Lizzie had no choice but to face the truth. Her heart raced frantically as she tried to explain, "I... I had no idea. I didn't know it was a fake. It's..." Panicked, she looked toward Cyrus for help.

The original Lindisfarne Gospels had been a gift from Cyrus that he had acquired at an exorbitant price. It seemed inconceivable that an artifact procured by the Finch family could be a forgery. Moreover, Cyrus had taken the additional step of authenticating the artwork at the time, confirming its legitimacy.

So, when Clover had declared it a

fake earlier, Cyrus had been just as

perplexed as Lizzie. He couldn't understand how something once authenticated as genuine would suddenly transform into a forgery. The situation defied all logic.

Despite his own confusion, when Lizzie sought his support, Cyrus instinctively sprang to her defense. "Lizzie didn't know..." he began, only to be silenced by Eleanor's fierce glare.

"She didn't know? Then who does? Lizzie, will you explain yourself, or should I have someone investigate?"

Eleanor's gaze was as sharp as a predator's, making it clear that she wasn't asking for an excuse. She was demanding the truth.

The prospect of confession filled

Lizzie with terror. There was no way she could admit that when she had learned Eleanor planned to use the Lindisfarne Gospels to curry favor with the Xanth family and Rose, she decided not to let Eleanor succeed in her scheme.

So, she had Carl swapped the original with a counterfeit. However, she had been too careless. She never imagined that Elijah would possess the original upper volume, nor did she anticipate that Carl might have mishandled things. When Carl delivered the forgery to her, she trusted him completely and didn't even bother to check it before replacing the real one.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that the first and second volumes were completely different. Now, a nagging suspicion lingered in her mind.

"Was the scroll Carl had provided the first volume, or had someone tampered with it along the way? If someone had interfered..."

A wave of unease washed over Lizzie. At this moment, she could not verify anything with Carl, and she had Eleanor's seething anger to deal with.

"Mom, I swear I didn't know. When I handed you the Lindisfarne Gospels, it was indeed the real one..." Lizzie pleaded.

Eleanor's eyes widened with fury. "Are you suggesting that the error occurred while it was in my possession?"

"No, Mom! That's not what I meant!" Lizzie was on the verge of tears.

However, Eleanor had already reached her conclusion. Lizzie was the one who had tampered with the scroll. Recalling how they had nearly offended the Xanth family due to this, Eleanor itched to give her another slap.

The sight of Lizzie's tearful, pitiful display only fueled her irritation. "Enough! Who are you trying to fool with that pitiful act? Since you won't confess, I'll investigate it myself.

"Cyrus, take your woman and leave. Her presence here is an eyesore and a source of headache for me!"

Eleanor's disdain was tangible, her tone thick with contempt.

"If I find out you were behind this..." she left the threat hanging.