The Heart System Chapter 509

Without waiting for any response, I burst through the penthouse door, the sturdy oak crashing closed behind me. Ignoring the elevator completely, I charged into the stairwell, boots slamming on the concrete stairs as I bounded down three at once.

I arrived at the floor underneath and swung around the corner into the hallway. The shouts rang out far more intensely here, Eleanor's door shaking from the power of the quarrel raging inside.

"I told you I don’t have it, Mark! Get out!" Eleanor's voice pierced as a desperate shriek.

I moved right to the door without pause. Clenching my fist, I pounded it hard against the wood three times, the boom reverberating like thunder down the tight corridor.

"Eleanor! Open up!" I called out.

The noise cut off abruptly, and the door swung open. Her brother loomed there, hair messed up, panting hard as if he'd sprinted a marathon. He shot a quick look back at Eleanor, positioned a few steps behind with hands planted on her hips.

Mark shoved past me silently and made for the elevator, stabbing the ground floor button.

Well... that felt awkward.

I turned to Eleanor. She appeared unharmed. Briefly, I'd feared he might have hurled something at her, or worse, yet she seemed alright. Her eyes held a slight redness, nothing more. Fortunately, he wasn't as unhinged as I'd pictured.

"Are you okay?" I inquired.

"Yeah... yeah," she replied as I entered. "He was just yelling."

I shut the door after me. "About what?"

"He wanted money. Said he found some ’investment’ downtown. I asked what it was, but he wouldn’t tell me," she explained. "Then we started arguing."

"Did he pay off his debt?" I questioned.

"I asked him that too." Eleanor dropped onto the couch, exhaling deeply. "I think he did? I don’t know, Evan. The way he acts now... it scares me. He wasn’t always like this."

"Yeah... I can imagine."

"I’m sorry I made you worry," she murmured softly. "I just wish—"

A knock at the door interrupted her.

Assuming it was Mark returning, she bent forward, elbow on her knees, hand over her face. I sighed, approached the door, and peered through the peephole.

Good. Not Mark.

It was the security guard Nala had summoned before.

I pulled the door open. "Hey, everything’s fine. No need to worry."

"Oh, alright, Mr. Marlowe."

"If that guy, Mark, comes back again," I instructed, "call me instead of bothering Eleanor, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alright. Thanks. Have a good evening."

He nodded and went toward the elevator. I secured the door and returned to the living room, settling beside Eleanor.

She didn't seem rattled—just weary. Let down. A deep weight hung in how she reclined against the couch, gazing at the ceiling with half-shut eyes.

This mess with her brother was obviously draining her. As if her life lacked enough troubles, now she faced a gambling fiend in debt to dangerous folks. I couldn't fathom her swirling thoughts.

"You should try to sleep or something," I suggested. "Your eyes are red."

"I know... it’s just..." She let out a sigh. "I’ve been having panic attacks, Evan. And with everything going on with my brother... I barely sleep at night."

"You should still try," I said, flashing a gentle smile.

I scooted nearer and draped my arm over her shoulders, drawing her softly against me.

"Mm..."

She offered no resistance. Leaning in, she laid her head on my shoulder and shut her eyes.

I had no clue how that fight resolved, but I hoped Mark had truly used the cash I'd handed him to clear his debt this time.

I mean... how could anyone be foolish enough to blow it all twice?

Right?

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I blinked against the sharp morning sun piercing my eyes.

Damn, I hadn't noticed my exhaustion. Awakening fully, I discovered myself stretched across Eleanor's couch. The storm had passed, blanketing the city in fresh snow silence, with the wall clock showing past nine. I pushed upright, scrubbing sleep from my eyes, as the aroma of sizzling bacon wafted over.

Eleanor stood in the kitchen, facing away while tending the stove. She peeked back with a faint smile. "Oh, hey. Morning, Evan."

"Morning," I rasped, voice husky from slumber. "I really crashed out, huh?"

"We both did," she laughed lightly, flipping eggs with a spatula. "I’m making bacon and eggs. You want in?"

"Sure."

She wore everyday clothes—a plain t-shirt and snug pants—ready for work. Though Stingy Ladies buzzed mainly at night, she clearly had daytime tasks. I considered asking about recent sightings of Isabella but held back. No need to pull her into my chaos so soon.

I shuffled to the bathroom and switched on the light. After dousing my face with cold water to shake off the drowsiness, I returned to the kitchen as she served the plates. Leaning on the table, I fished my phone from my pocket to assess the fallout.

My stomach dropped slightly. Jasmine and Nala had rung sixteen times the day before. They must've freaked out, catching the downstairs yells then my total silence.

"Ah... shit."

"Oh... I answered your phone, by the way. But I put it back, don’t worry," Eleanor mentioned offhand.

I stiffened, staring at her. "What?"

She carried over two hot plates and took a seat. "I, uh... I fell asleep on your shoulder yesterday. Then I woke up to your phone buzzing a few hours later. It rang once, then twice... then it just wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t take the noise anymore, so I picked up. Someone named Jasmine was on the other end asking about you."

"Yeah... they were definitely worried."