Chapter 20

Chapter20

Eleanor declared her desire for a divorce, but Nathaniel remained impassive. He glanced at her briefly before taking the documents. As he flipped through the pages, his eyes landed on her signature at the end. A low chuckle escaped his lips.

Before Eleanor could decipher his reaction, Nathaniel tore the papers in half. Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly composed herself. "Mr. Carter, if you're dissatisfied with that copy, I can easily print another," she said coolly.

Without a word, he tossed the shredded papers into the trash and advanced toward her. Eleanor instinctively stepped back, her retreat halted only when the edge of the table pressed into her bruised waist. She winced but refused to cry out.

Nathaniel seized her wrist, his grip firm. "Eleanor, is this your idea of a threat? Or perhaps a pathetic attempt to manipulate me? Your cheap tactics sicken me."

His words stung more than she cared to admit. She remembered the disdain in his eyes, as if he had uncovered some hidden agenda. It wasn't just about defending Isabella anymore; his disgust seemed rooted in his belief that she was playing games.

Eleanor's heart raced, but she forced a smile. "I'm not threatening you, Nathaniel. I mean it." Her voice was steady, though her chest tightened.

He narrowed his eyes. "And what's the point of ending a marriage that never had love to begin with?"

"Is that all you think matters?" she shot back. "Or are you worried about Julian Whitaker?"

Nathaniel's mention of Julian caught her off guard. Her expression hardened, and she met his gaze head-on. "Is he your next target?" he sneered.

"Of course not," she replied sharply.

A realization dawned on her. "Did you go through my phone?" she demanded.

After their late-night call, Eleanor and Julian had exchanged numbers on WhatsApp. Their conversation had been innocent—just flight details and casual banter. Yet Nathaniel had twisted it into something sordid.

Before she could explain, he gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Eleanor Thompson, I'm not as deceitful as you. You schemed your way into this marriage, and now you think you can just walk away? The Carter family isn't a revolving door."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Stay away from Julian. If I catch you cheating, you'll regret it."

Nathaniel released her with a shove, sending her stumbling back into the table. This time, she bit her lip to stifle any sound of pain. Her eyes burned, but she refused to let him see her vulnerability.

Without another word, Nathaniel turned and strode out of the room, leaving Eleanor standing there, her fists clenched and her resolve stronger than ever.",