Chapter 3

Chapter3

At precisely 7:00 pm, Nathaniel returned to the mansion. Eleanor happened to be in the living room when he arrived.

The moment she saw him, she walked over excitedly to greet him. "You're back, Nathaniel!"

Nathaniel gave her a slight smile as he looked up at her.

Eleanor pursed her lips and stepped forward to take his coat. She said to him, "Dinner is ready."

...

"I'm sorry, Nathaniel. Am I encroaching on you and Eleanor by staying here?" Isabella asked quietly at the dinner table. She snuck a glance at Eleanor before continuing, "I told Mom I could stay home on my own, but she insists that she doesn't feel at ease if I'm alone at home..."

"It's fine. Stay as long as you like. If you need anything, just ask," Nathaniel replied.

"Really? I don't want to be too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all."

"Ms. Isabella, it's better that you're staying here," Grace chimed in as she served the dishes. "It's been a long time since this house has felt so lively."

Upon hearing that, Eleanor's hand that was holding the spoon froze midair.

Nevertheless, Grace wasn't wrong. Eleanor was rather quiet and reserved, unlike Isabella, who could easily get everyone to like her. It wasn't just Grace—Eleanor had never heard Nathaniel speak so much before. Eleanor knew she was just taking up space by being there. So, she hastily finished the food on her plate and stood up. "I'm done eating. So, I'll head upstairs first. You all take your time and enjoy your food." "Are you sure you've had enough, Eleanor? You ate so little. Shall I accompany you upstairs?" Isabella offered with concern.

"That's not necessary," Eleanor replied, pulling her hand away from Isabella's grasp. "It's fine. Enjoy your dinner."

With that, she turned and walked upstairs. Just before leaving the dining room, she overheard Isabella asking cautiously, "Nathaniel, is Eleanor upset? I guess I shouldn't have come here and disrupted your lives..."

There was a hint of grief and a slight choke in Isabella's voice when she said that.

Eleanor didn't want to hear anymore. She didn't care how Nathaniel responded to Isabella, either.

Back in her room, she opened her computer again. But even after she opened her work file, she couldn't seem to start on it. She didn't know how much time had passed before a message popped up on her phone.

It was from Nathaniel, and there were only two words: "Come over."

Eleanor glanced at the message but chose to ignore it. Nathaniel didn't send a second message.

She stared at the uncolored panels on her screen for a while longer. After some time, she turned off her computer and left the room.

This was the reason Nathaniel never needed to send a second message—he knew she would eventually go to him.

When Eleanor arrived at the master bedroom, Nathaniel had just stepped out of the bathroom. The first thing he noticed was that she hadn't even bothered to change out of the clothes she'd been wearing earlier. He frowned slightly but didn't dwell on it. He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her into the bathroom forcefully.

Warm water cascaded down onto Eleanor from the showerhead, drenching her hair and body in an instant. The discomfort from the wet clothes sticking to her skin made her wince. Just as she was about to push Nathaniel away, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her.

Their lips and tongues intertwined. Nathaniel was assertive and domineering—so were his kisses. Even after two years, Eleanor still hadn't fully adjusted to it. Being in the bathroom with him only intensified her sense of suffocation.

Her legs weakened, and her whole body slumped against Nathaniel's.

At that moment, they both heard a feminine voice from outside the door. "Nathaniel, are you in there?"",