Chapter 250

Eleanor's POV

It's midnight, and I'm still waiting.

The city outside my window is buried under a thick blanket of snow, the kind that muffles all sound and makes the world feel suspended in time. I keep staring at my phone, though I already know the answer. Jace won't be coming home tonight.

I type out one last message: "Are you coming home?" but the words disappear into the digital void, met with the same silence that's been my only companion all evening.

The morning light creeps through my window, harsh and unforgiving against the fresh snow. I pick up my phone again, this time to call Maya. We haven't spoken in months, not since I moved into this apartment that Drew arranged for us. Maya chose not to stay here - perhaps sensing my discomfort with her presence, she found work elsewhere and kept her distance. I can't blame her for that.

Our relationship has always been complicated. She's technically my only family, but that word - family - feels hollow when I think about our past. Still, as I prepare to leave Manhattan behind, she's the one person I feel compelled to inform.

"Eleanor?" Her voice quivers with uncertainty when she answers, as if she can't quite believe I'm calling.

"Yes." I keep my voice level, controlled. "I wanted to let you know I'm leaving Manhattan."

The silence that follows is heavy with unspoken questions. Finally, she breaks it: "What happened? Is everything okay? Did something happen with Drew?"

"Drew and I broke up." The words come out flat, emotionless, though they burn in my throat.

"What? Why? What happened?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you." The coldness in my voice is automatic, a defense mechanism I've never quite managed to dismantle when it comes to Maya.

The line goes quiet again, and I can feel her hurt radiating through the silence. Part of me wishes I could be kinder, but years of complicated history stand between us like a wall of ice.

"Tom was sentenced to three years for second-degree assault and burglary," I continue, my tone still distant. "If you want to stay in Manhattan, that's your choice. But if you want to leave with me, send me your ID information, and I'll book your train ticket."

"I'm coming with you." Her response is immediate, without a moment's hesitation. She doesn't even ask where we're going, and something about that unconditional acceptance makes my throat tight.

I press my lips together, fighting back the unexpected surge of emotion. I'm not even sure if I want her to come with me, but I've made the offer, and now I have to follow through.

"The train leaves around three this afternoon," I say. "We'll need to leave early to get to the station. Pack quickly."

"I don't have much. I'll be ready."

After hanging up, I walk to the floor-to-ceiling windows of my apartment. The city sprawls before me, transformed by last night's snowfall into something almost unrecognizable. Twenty-five years I've lived here, and I've never seen Manhattan look quite like this.

I take a deep breath, my hand hovering over my phone as I consider messaging Serena and Quinn. But no - better to wait until I'm settled somewhere new. Right now, my resolve to leave is firm, and I don't want anything to shake it.

There's nothing left for me here in Manhattan. Nothing except my debt to Drew, which weighs heavily on my conscience. But leaving is the kindest thing I can do for him now. Time is the only thing that can heal what I've broken.

I press my forehead against the cold glass, watching my breath fog the window. Life goes on, even when your own world has stopped turning.

Serena's POV

Lucas and I shared breakfast in our temporary sanctuary in Portland. These past few days, he'd occasionally step out, though never for long. Each time he returned, the first thing he'd do was change his clothes-he was meticulous about not bringing any outside scents into our space.

We were quietly enjoying our breakfast-fresh coffee and homemade waffles-when his phone suddenly rang. I watched as he glanced at the caller ID, his expression shifting subtly. "Grandfather," he said, his voice carrying a note of surprise.

I kept my eyes on my plate but remained acutely aware of his presence. I knew Lucas well enough by now-if it was a call I wasn't supposed to hear, like when Rachel Thorne would call, he would step away. The fact that he stayed told me I was welcome to be part of whatever this was.

"What?" The sharp intake of breath made me look up. I saw something I'd rarely witnessed-genuine fear flickering across Lucas's face.

Few things could shake Lucas Harrington's composure like this. I noticed his hand trembling slightly as he held the phone, and was that... moisture in his eyes? The sight made my heart clench.

"I understand," he said finally, his voice barely steady. After hanging up, he sat there in complete silence, seemingly frozen in place.

The silence stretched between us like a physical presence until I couldn't bear it anymore. "What happened?" I asked softly, dreading the answer that could affect him so deeply.

"Jace... Jace had an accident," he managed to say, his voice thick with emotion he was clearly struggling to control.

My heart stopped for a moment. From Lucas's reaction, this wasn't just any accident.

"It happened last night, around eleven. His car went off a cliff-almost vertical drop, nothing like your accident. They didn't get to him until five this morning." His voice cracked slightly. "He's in critical condition. They... they don't know if he'll make it."

I sat there, speechless, my mind racing with memories of my own accident, but this was different-so much worse. The way Lucas described it sent chills down my spine.

"I need to go back," he said abruptly, already starting to rise from his chair.

"I'll come with you-" I began, but he cut me off.

"You need to stay here. It's safer than Manhattan right now." His tone was gentle but firm.

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped myself. This wasn't the time for a debate. Not when his closest friend was fighting for his life.

"I'll return as soon as I can," he promised, his gray eyes meeting mine.

"It's fine. I'll be comfortable here," I assured him, meaning it. I didn't want my situation to keep him from being there for Jace. My chest tightened at the thought of Jace. I couldn't let my mind wander to the worst possibilities. As long as he was still in surgery, there was hope. Modern medicine worked miracles every day.

Lucas left without touching the rest of his breakfast. I lost my appetite too, pushing away my half-eaten waffle. Grabbing my phone and using my crutch for support, I made my way to the garden terrace. The news about Jace weighed heavily on my heart. I had manipulated him in the past, used him in my schemes, and never properly apologized...

I checked my phone for news about the accident but found nothing. The Harrington family must have kept it quiet to avoid media circus. Which made me wonder-did Eleanor know?

I agonized over whether to tell her. Eleanor was with Drew now, happy and in love. Drew and Jace were close friends-surely Drew would hear about this soon. If he chose to tell Eleanor, that should be his decision. If he decided to keep it from her, well, that was between them now. As much as it pained me, I had to respect their relationship.

My thoughts drifted back to Lucas. In all our time together, I'd never seen him so shaken. Jace wasn't just his friend-they'd grown up together, faced the world together. They were more like brothers than friends. The thought of losing him...