Chapter 1565

Eleanor didn't know how to refuse, afraid of breaking the older woman's heart.

"Magdalen, it's time for lunch. Let me help you out," Eleanor offered.

Magdalen suddenly let out a heavy breath, looking unusually tired. She sat heavily on the sofa. "You go ahead. I'll stay here a little longer."

Eleanor wanted to stay with her, but Magdalen waved her off with a gentle smile. "Go on. I just want to admire my treasures for another minute."

Not wanting to intrude, Eleanor obliged.

She stepped out of the collection room, gently pulling the heavy wooden door shut behind her. But a deep sense of unease settled in her chest. Didn't Magdalen's words sound suspiciously like a final testament?

Or was she just overthinking it?

When Eleanor reached the dining room, lan and Gina were chatting while Evelyn played nearby.

"Has Grandma not come out yet?" lan asked her warmly.

"She said she wanted to stay in the collection room a bit longer, so I came out first," Eleanor replied. Remembering the eerie conversation, she waited until Gina stepped away before lowering her voice. "Magdalen said some things earlier that really unsettled me."

"Like what?" lan looked at her intently.

Eleanor tugged gently at his sleeve, motioning for him to step outside.

Out in the garden, Eleanor repeated what Magdalen had said. Ian's expression immediately grew heavy. "I'm going to check on her."

Eleanor followed him back to the collection room. Magdalen was still sitting on the vintage sofa, her head tilted slightly back, her eyes softly scanning the room. Hearing their footsteps, she turned her head. "Is it time to eat? I'll be right there."

She tried to stand, but her movements were shockingly sluggish, and she swayed dangerously.

lan lunged forward, catching her in his arms. "Grandma, take it easy."

"I'm fine, I just sat for too long. My legs fell asleep." Magdalen waved a dismissive hand, using her grandson's grip to pull herself up. "Let's go. We shouldn't let the food get cold."

Seeing her act like everything was normal, Eleanor let out a quiet breath of relief. She really had been overthinking things.

The lunch spread was lavish, mostly featuring Eleanor and Evelyn's favorite dishes.

Noticing how little Magdalen was eating, Eleanor couldn't help but ask, "Magdalen, how have you been feeling lately? Does anything hurt?"

Magdalen smiled and shook her head. "I'm right as rain! I just woke up too early today, so I'm a bit sleepy."

"Mom, why don't you take a nap after we eat?" Gina suggested.

"Yes, a nap sounds lovely," Magdalen agreed, nodding slowly.

But lan wasn't taking any chances. He arranged for a doctor to do a house call that afternoon. The physician concluded that her vitals were mostly normal, save for a slow heart rate. Given her age a natural decline in physical function was to be expected.

Hearing the prognosis, Eleanor couldn't say if it was good news or bad news.

Later that afternoon, Eleanor took Evelyn home while lan stayed behind to keep an eye on Magdalen.

It was past ten o'clock when Eleanor

finally heard the sound of a car

pulling into the driveway. Evelyn was already fast asleep. Eleanor headed downstairs just as lan walked through the door looking thoroughly drained.

"How is she?" Eleanor asked.

"She fell asleep right after dinner. I've scheduled the doctor to come by first thing tomorrow morning. take her to the hospital for a comprehensive check up," Tan said,, trying to offer some reassurance.

Eleanor nodded. A thorough exam was definitely necessary.