Chapter 496

The atmosphere in the grand hall had been suffocating with tension, but nothing could have prepared them for what happened next. The black-clad man’s hand was poised mid-air, ready to deliver the brutal punishment. But in the blink of an eye— Eleanor moved. Like a shadow slipping through cracks of light, she twisted her body, effortlessly breaking free from the iron grip of the two guards holding her down. The man who had been about to slap her hesitated, confusion flickering in his eyes. He had missed. His hand struck nothing but air. And Eleanor… She had vanished. Gasps echoed through the hall. A mere second later— Eleanor reappeared right in front of Linet Whales. The entire room stood frozen. Stunned. Disbelieving. Even Linet’s face stiffened, a flicker of fear flashing across her usually composed features. For the first time in her life, Linet Whales felt the suffocating weight of losing control. Eleanor tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a chilling, enigmatic smile.