Chapter 7 Things That Could Get You Silenced

"Ma’am, you're finally back. Have you had dinner? The kitchen has prepared a meal for you." Margaret suddenly appeared behind Elinor, giving her quite the startle. Aware that Margaret meant well, Elinor responded with a smile, "Thank you, Margaret. I have already eaten. I am going to rest now." "Ma’am, Mr. Adams is not home. The doctor advised him to stay home and rest, but he doesn't like taking orders from anyone. So, he's been out during the day lately and only returns very late at night. You don't have to avoid him." Margaret had not initially wanted to divulge all of this. However, she could not help but sympathize with how difficult Elinor's recent days had been. Elinor nodded gently, thinking to herself that even if he was not around, as long as the manor remained his, she would continue to feel trapped. Only after Jaxson awoke did she realize that the rumors about him in the outside world were far from accurate. He might rarely make public appearances, but how could a man who had such sway in both legitimate and shady circles be considered tame? Initially, she felt pity for a man like him, lying in bed with an uncertain future. However, as of now, she pitied herself, imprisoned in this gilded cage at such a young age. Even though Margaret mentioned that Jaxson had been away during the daytime, Elinor remained concerned that she might run into him, so she stayed in. A little past eight o'clock, Margaret came upstairs and knocked on the door. "Ma’am, Mr. Adams has left." Everyone in the manor was shrewd, and Margaret was no exception. She keenly sensed what was on Elinor's mind and would unobtrusively help her navigate those challenges. Elinor felt extremely grateful for Margaret's support during her time there. Without her, life would have been considerably worse. ... Elinor had majored in foreign languages in college, and she worked in translation. Although she had not yet graduated, she was able to take on some translation work to earn money. After breakfast, Elinor received a phone call from a senior at her school. Her school had a workshop specifically designed to help students find freelance gigs. Elinor's senior at school was also the person in charge of the studio. "Elinor, I'm really sorry to bother you. I know you're incredibly busy right now and you've even taken a leave of absence. However, we urgently need this document translated. The client has a tight deadline but is offering generous compensation. Could you take it on?" Eager for the money and generally easygoing, Elinor accepted without hesitation. Translating was not a big deal for her. She finished the entire piece before noon. Around half an hour before the deadline, her computer suddenly went dark. She panicked. Fortunately, she had developed the habit of saving her work constantly. The translated document was safely stored on her USB drive. She only needed another computer to send it. Elinor's first instinct was to leave the manor and find an internet cafe nearby. Upon searching the map, however, she realized there were no entertainment venues, including internet cafes, within a five-kilometer radius of the manor. Getting to one further away would take more than half an hour, time she simply did not have. Growing anxious, Elinor quickly located Margaret, the housekeeper. "Surely there has to be another computer available in this massive manor, right?" After considering Elinor's words, Margaret replied, "Ma’am, the only computer in the manor is in Mr. Adams's study. If you're in a rush, you can use his computer." Elinor was filled with reluctance. Though time was of the essence, the last thing she wanted was to touch Jaxson's computer. "Are there really no other computers in the manor?" she asked, holding out hope. Margaret shook her head. "The manor seldom hosts visitors other than Mr. Adams, so the only electronic devices are located in his study." It seemed she had no choice but to use Jaxson's computer. With a resigned sigh, Elinor realized she could not afford to waste any more time. "Will he be angry if I use his computer?" "As long as you're just sending a file and not touching anything else on his computer, he shouldn't be upset," Margaret advised. She recalled an incident years ago when someone had tampered with Jaxson's computer and met a dire fate. She chose not to share this with Elinor, fearing it would make her even more anxious. Hurrying to the study, Elinor was driven by her pressing need for money. She knew that a divorce settlement from Jaxson would eventually bring her a large sum, but until that happened, she had to make do. As she approached Jaxson's computer, she wondered whether he had set a password. To her surprise, the computer booted up directly to the desktop without any password required. She realized she was probably overthinking it. Who would dare cross Jaxson in his own manor? She quickly sent the document to her senior at school. Perhaps out of fear of Jaxson, she was a bit hurried and accidentally clicked on a document. The moment she did, her heart filled with dread. As she was about to close it, something inside caught her eye. ... Margaret waited by the door while Elinor used the computer. Seeing Elinor come out in less than five minutes, Margaret felt relieved. "Ma’am, lunch is ready." "Margaret, are there any surveillance cameras here?" "There are no cameras in Mr. Adams's study, but they are installed everywhere else," Margaret replied, possibly anticipating Elinor's concerns. "Don't worry, you weren't at the computer for that long. Just inform Mr. Adams when he returns." Elinor did not find Margaret's words comforting. If things went as she feared, she might have stumbled upon information that Jaxson would kill to keep secret. However, she had no intention of sharing what she had seen. Surely, clear communication with Jaxson would resolve any issues, right? Still, she was slightly anxious when her phone buzzed, indicating the payment had been received. Seeing the money finally in her account, Elinor breathed a sigh of relief. Today's events only solidified her decision to divorce Jaxson. She was just an ordinary person who had no desire to stay so close to such a dangerous man.