The CEO's Toxic Placeholder
Eleanor thought she was everything to Henry. For three years, she was his constant—his quiet support, his emotional anchor. But when the woman he truly loves returns to the city, everything shatters. “I’ve been chasing her ghost,” Henry confesses, leaving Eleanor to pick up the pieces of a love that was never hers to begin with.
In the glittering world of Manhattan’s elite, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a toxic relationship with a man who can’t let go of his past. After overhearing a conversation that reveals Henry’s betrayal, Eleanor is left questioning everything she thought she knew about love—and herself. With her heart shattered and her future uncertain, she turns to an unlikely solution: an arranged marriage to Jasper Blackwood, the stoic heir to a powerful family she’s known her whole life.
But leaving Henry isn’t as easy as it seems. Jasper’s steady presence stirs something in Eleanor, something she hasn’t felt in years—security, respect, and a growing attraction. Yet, the pull of her past refuses to loosen its grip. As Henry desperately tries to win her back, Eleanor must confront the deepest fears she’s kept buried: Will she ever truly be able to trust again? And, more importantly, can she move on from a love that never truly belonged to her?
In a world where wealth and power dominate, Eleanor’s journey to reclaim her self-worth is a battle she never saw coming. Will she finally choose herself—and the man who has always been there—or will her heart remain tethered to a past that can never be hers?
The choice is hers. But will it be enough to heal a heart shattered by betrayal?
Basahin
Chapter: Chapter 61 (Eleanor's POV)"There's only one way to fight this. The Blackwood-Winters merger must happen publicly. The wedding will be the biggest event London has seen this year. We will show them we're not hiding." My father's words hung in the air. A massive public wedding. During a scandal. With everyone watching. It seemed insane. "You're serious," I said. "Completely serious." "Dad, the venue already canceled. Partners withdrew. People are avoiding us—" "Then we find a better venue. We invite more people. We make it impossible to ignore." Jasper was thinking. I could see it in his expression. "It's bold," he said finally. "It's necessary. You can't win by hiding. You win by showing strength." "The media will destroy us—" "Let them try. We control the narrative. We make this wedding a statement. A declaration that we're not defeated." I looked at Jasper. "What do you think?" "I think your father might be right. We've been defensive. Reactive. Maybe it's time to be aggressive."
Huling Na-update: 2026-04-19
Chapter: Chapter 60 (Eleanor's POV)Two days passed.My father remained in the hospital. Stable. Recovering.The doctors were cautiously optimistic."He's responding well to treatment. Heart function is improving. If he continues like this, we can discuss discharge in a few days."I visited every day. Sometimes twice.Jasper came with me. Victoria too.We took turns sitting with him. Keeping him company. Making sure he wasn't alone.On the third day, he was moved from ICU to a regular room.Better sign. Significant progress.I arrived that afternoon to find him sitting up in bed.No oxygen mask. Color back in his face. Looking almost like himself."You look better," I said."I feel better. Tired. But better.""The doctors are pleased with your progress.""Good. I need to get out of here soon. Back to dealing with everything.""Dad, you need to rest. The company can wait—""The company is dying, Eleanor. Every day I'm in here, it gets worse."I sat in the chair beside his bed."We're working on it. The lawyers are prepar
Huling Na-update: 2026-03-07
Chapter: Chapter 59 (Eleanor's POV)"We postpone the wedding, they win. We get married tomorrow. Private ceremony. Just us." I stared at Jasper. Processing his words. "Tomorrow?" "Yes. Private. Intimate. Just immediate family." "That's not what we planned—" "Plans changed the moment Vivienne and Angelina leaked those documents. We adapt." He was right. Everything had changed. The big wedding was impossible now. The venue had canceled. Media would make it a circus. "A private ceremony," I said slowly. "Yes. Just us. Just family. Victoria. Richard. My father. The minister. "No publicity?" "None. We don't announce it. We don't invite press. We just do it quietly." "Vivienne and Angelina won't be able to disrupt what they don't know about." "Exactly." I thought about it. Really thought about it. The big wedding had been the dream. Two hundred guests. Beautiful venue. Perfect day. But that dream was dead now. Destroyed by the scandal. This was survival. This was strategy. "After we're married," Jasper conti
Huling Na-update: 2026-01-07
Chapter: Chapter 58 (Eleanor's POV)The scandal exploded overnight. By morning, every news outlet carried the story. "Winters Family Business Under Investigation" "Fraud Allegations Rock Financial District" "Blackwood Wedding in Jeopardy" I sat in Jasper's study watching my world collapse. The fabricated documents were everywhere. Bank statements. Contracts. Legal papers. All fake. All convincing. All destroying everything. "Financial authorities are investigating," Jasper said. His voice tight. "Investigating what? There's nothing real to investigate." "The documents look legitimate. They have to follow protocol." "This is exactly what Vivienne wanted." "I know." My phone rang. My father. I answered. "Dad?" "Eleanor." His voice sounded weak. Strained. "Have you seen the news?" "Yes. Dad, none of it is real. The documents are fabricated—" "I know that. But the damage is done. Investors are pulling out. Partners are terminating contracts. Everything is falling apart." "We'll fix this—" "How? How do we f
Huling Na-update: 2026-01-07
Chapter: Chapter 57 (Eleanor's POV)I stared at Jasper. Unable to process. "That's impossible." "The evidence is conclusive. They've been together for over a week." "But why? Why would Angelina help Vivienne?" "I don't know. But we're going to find out." He made calls immediately. To lawyers. To security. To investigators. Coordinating. Planning. Preparing. "We need to understand what we're dealing with," he said. "Two wealthy women. Both connected. Both powerful. Working together." "Against me." "Yes." The weight of it settled over me. Henry's mother. And Vivienne. Two people who should have nothing in common. United in wanting to destroy me. That evening, we gathered in Jasper's study. The investigators presented everything they'd found. Photos of Vivienne at the Ashcroft estate. Entering. Leaving. Meeting with Angelina. Over a week of surveillance. Detailed. Thorough. "They're not just acquaintances," the lead investigator said. "They're working together. Closely." "How closely?" Jasper asked. "The
Huling Na-update: 2026-01-07
Chapter: Chapter 56 (Eleanor's POV)"Vivienne's been spotted in London." Everything changed with those words. Within hours, security was tripled at the estate. Guards positioned at every entrance. Patrols doubled. Surveillance increased. We moved to the main house. The old stone wing. Most defensible location. Jasper coordinated everything. Made calls. Issued orders. Police were notified. Vivienne Laurent was in the city. Active threat. They promised to investigate. To search. But Jasper wasn't waiting on them. That same afternoon, he hired private investigators. The best in London. Experienced. Professional. Expensive. Their job was simple: find Vivienne Laurent. They started work immediately. Checking hotels. Tracing credit cards. Following digital footprints. Reviewing camera footage. Interviewing sources. Building patterns. Days passed with no concrete results. The wedding was three weeks away. Despite the threat, life continued. Victoria coordinated with vendors. Confirmed final arrangements. Kept
Huling Na-update: 2026-01-07
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