Chapter 307

Nathan frowned at the weak voice on the phone. "Eleanor, why do you sound so hoarse? Is your cold still not better?"

Eleanor Langley leaned against the leather sofa, her face as pale as paper, fingers digging into the armrest.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.

The concerned call warmed her heart slightly.

Since childhood, her life had been like a meticulously designed cage.

She had barely escaped the shackles of her family, only to sink into an even deeper quagmire.

Her husband's betrayal, the truth about her adopted daughter—each revelation stabbed like a dagger to the heart.

Eleanor Langley had never been a weak woman.

Love had never been the entirety of her life.

She knew better than anyone that only power in her grasp could be relied upon.

All these years, she had poured her energy into the company, preparing for this very moment.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice icy. "Handle what I asked you to do. Report back immediately."

She ended the call and encrypted the surveillance footage.

She wouldn't weep like a scorned woman.

An eye for an eye—that was her way.

The plain face of Melanie Evans flashed in her mind.

A widow for twenty years, yet she dared to seduce her husband?

Such foolishness always came with a price.

......

Inside the upscale club, Nathan Aldridge sat across from Evelyn Roland.

Suddenly, Harrison Macmillan's call came through.

"Nathan, the deal is off," Harrison said coldly. "The penalty will be paid in full. The tea you sent will be returned tomorrow."

Nathan's gaze turned sharp. "Harrison, may I ask why?"

"It's my freedom to choose who I work with," Harrison replied firmly. "This ends here."

Nathan smirked. "Thank you for the lesson. I wish you good health."

The call disconnected.

Evelyn had already guessed the outcome.

Nathan's expression darkened. "It's Margaret Valentine's doing. Harrison's daughter-in-law is the head of surgery—close friends with Margaret."

Some deals seemed within reach, but hidden dangers lurked beneath.

The Nine-City Alliance was a tangled web of power, full of unpredictable variables.

Evelyn's eyes dimmed.

Margaret Valentine's methods were indeed formidable.