Chapter 26

Chapter26

Eleanor stood frozen in place, her heart pounding. After a moment, she wiped the blood from her lips, reapplied her lipstick, and forced herself to return to the party.

Nathaniel was already surrounded by a group of admirers, his charismatic presence drawing everyone in. As always, he was the center of attention. Eleanor wasn't surprised. She didn't bother approaching him. Instead, she turned on her heel and made her way toward the exit.

Just as she was about to leave, a burst of laughter caught her attention. She glanced to the side and saw Olivia and her clique huddled together, giggling over something they were holding. Eleanor's stomach dropped. She recognized the object in their hands immediately—it was her sketchbook.

She hesitated, torn between confronting them and walking away. But before she could decide, Nathaniel appeared beside her. His hand reached out, gripping her arm firmly.

"Let's go," he said, his voice low and commanding.

Julian, who had been approaching Eleanor, froze mid-step. Nathaniel's sharp gaze flicked toward him, and Julian slowly withdrew, his expression unreadable.

Eleanor's heart raced as Nathaniel led her away, the sound of Olivia's laughter fading behind them. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The sketchbook in Olivia's hands wasn't just a collection of drawings—it was a piece of her soul, and now it was in the hands of her enemies.

As they stepped into the cool night air, Eleanor glanced back at the party, her mind racing. She knew this wasn't over. The sketchbook was just the beginning.",