LOGINThe dining room had never felt less lively.With Nicholas sitting to her left and her father sitting to her right, Eleanor felt like her face was practically on fire, though for entirely different reasons.Her father kept throwing angry, heated glares her way because he thought she had deliberately kept him in the dark about Nicholas’s visit, while Nicholas seemed to be staring… well, she didn’t really know why he seemed so interested in her all of a sudden.Before today, he had never even spoken of her family, so why visit them out of nowhere now?She couldn’t help but wonder what he was trying to achieve. Was there something she was missing? This visit seemed out of character for him in more ways than one.It didn’t help that her sister, Brooke, and her older brother, Kevin, also seemed to have found time to join them for lunch.“So, how have you been, sis?” Brooke asked, in that same sweetened voice of hers that she always used when they were surrounded by an audience. “I am so hap
Nicholas didn’t know what he was doing at the Berkshire mansion either.The only thing he remembered was seeing the Berkshires’ new business proposal on his office desk and, just to its right, the ruby necklace he had bought for Eleanor.The two things had stared at him for what felt like the longest time, and before he knew it, he had grabbed them both and stormed out of his office.At first, he didn’t even know where he was going.He had simply gotten into the car with Ethan right on his heels.“Where are we going?” Ethan had asked after a while, a question that sounded every bit reasonable. Except Nicholas wasn’t sure either.But then he had turned to face his loyal assistant and frowned. “Where do you think a woman would go once she leaves her husband’s home?”The question had obviously baffled the assistant, but the response had still been quick and perfectly measured.“Leave in what sense…?”Nicholas had only blinked, his jaw locked tight.The look on his face had been enough fo
The moment those words left Eleanor’s mouth, Kent and Bella both spat out the tea they were drinking.“What?” Kent grunted in shock, his old, cunning eyes widening with disbelief. “What did you just say?”Bella swallowed hard before setting her teacup back on the glass table. “Why would you say something like that? Are you that desperate to send us to our graves?”Eleanor frowned, unable to understand what the hell her divorce had to do with them passing away. It wasn’t as if they cared about her—or loved her enough to feel upset seeing her marriage turn into such a joke. It certainly wasn’t that.“I said I’m getting a divorce,” she repeated, keeping both her voice and expression calm and steady. “I figured it was better to tell you myself before you heard it from someone else.”That wouldn’t end well—she could already imagine it. If there was one thing the Berkshire family cared about, it was their image within their social circle. If they heard something like this from an outsider,
Eleanor stared at her mother, genuinely shocked.Yes, she knew she wasn’t the best daughter-in-law. She knew she hadn’t exactly made Helen Beaumont proud. God knew she had tried, but the other woman was just too hard to please. But for her very own mother to blame her like that? Without even wanting to know her side of the story?Before Eleanor could say anything, her father shook his head, disappointment written all over his face.“You can’t even keep your husband happy, Eleanor. We gave you the biggest opportunity of your life, and look how you’ve wasted it.”Eleanor clenched her fists, her nails cutting through the skin of her palms.But even then, she reminded herself to stay calm, not to act out.She was leaving anyway. She wasn’t going to let them get
Nicholas remembered the necklace.He had ordered it almost a week ago after his company successfully launched a new mall project. It was something he did whenever the company achieved a major milestone. He celebrated every success by handing out bonuses to his employees and buying gifts for his family.The gifts were always the same. Designer clothes for his mother. Designer handbags and shoes for his sister. Jewelry for Eleanor.He never put much thought into choosing them. He simply assumed that if a gift was expensive enough, it was bound to be appreciated.His brows drew together, a sudden realization settling deep into his chest.How many pieces had he bought for Eleanor over the last two years?Emeralds. Diamonds. Sapphires. Rubies.Enough to fill an entire room, probably.Yet, for some reason, he couldn’t recall seeing her wear any of them.“…Sir?”Ethan’s voice snapped him back to attention.Nicholas cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. “No. Put it on my desk.
That night, Eleanor didn’t return to her room.She stayed in the living room, lying on the couch and planning what she wanted to do next.Now that she had finally discussed the divorce with Nicholas, she felt much lighter. Though she wasn’t really sure why he had asked for more time before signing the papers. She couldn’t think of a single reason that would make him hesitate.For a moment, the memory of the kiss they had shared at the Beaumont villa flashed through her mind, but she quickly crushed the absurd thought. It was probably nothing. She had clearly tasted alcohol on his breath. Maybe that was why he had lost his usual composure and done something so out of character. Eleanor was pretty sure he would either regret it by the next morning or not even remember it.Not that it mattered anymore.She wasn’t going to let anything change her mind.Not even that stupid kiss. She would get that divorce and start a new life. A life where she didn’t have to constantly feel like she wasn’







