Chapter 47

The dining room was now quiet, with only Victoria and Nathaniel remaining at the table.

"When are you planning to move back home?" Victoria asked, her tone calm as she sipped her soup.

Nathaniel's brow furrowed slightly.

"I asked you to move out before because it was inconvenient for you to live here with Eleanor. Now that you're divorced, you might as well come back," Victoria continued, her voice steady.

"No need," Nathaniel replied curtly. "It's more convenient where I am now."

"What's so convenient about it? Bringing a new girlfriend over?" Victoria's words were calm, but to Nathaniel, they carried a subtle edge of mockery.

He set his fork down and looked at her with an impassive expression.

Victoria, however, seemed unfazed and continued, "I'm serious. If you think your father's matchmaking was a mistake, then go ahead and make your own choices. I won't stop you."

She paused, then added, "There's only one condition—Isabella. I will never allow her in this house."

"Why?" Nathaniel asked, his tone neutral.

Victoria's expression darkened. "Are you seriously considering marrying her?"

"I'm just curious—why do you hate Isabella so much?"

Victoria let out a cold laugh. "Do I need a reason to hate someone?"

Nathaniel was silent, unsure how to respond.

Victoria picked up where she left off. "As long as it's not Isabella, I won't oppose you being with anyone."

"I thought you could only see..." Nathaniel hesitated for a moment before finishing his sentence, "the one my father chose for me."

It seemed he didn't even want to mention Eleanor's name.

"Eleanor?" Victoria continued to smile. "That's right. I do like her, but so what? You're divorced now, and she's already moved on, going out on blind dates with other people. Am I supposed to hold onto her and not let go?"

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "Blind dates?"

"Yes. I ran into her today at the concert hall. She was with him."

"Oh?" Nathaniel chuckled. "The cripple from the Hughes family?"

"Yes."

"The Thompsons really are desperate, aren't they?"

Victoria laughed too. "Nathaniel, if I were you, I'd take a hard look at why Eleanor would rather choose a cripple over staying married to you."

With that, she stood up and left the table.

Nathaniel remained seated, his expression unreadable.

It was a long while before he finally grabbed his coat and walked toward the door. Ethan hadn't arrived yet, but Nathaniel didn't wait. Instead, he got into the driver's seat and drove off.

Halfway down the road, Isabella's call came through.

"Nathaniel," she called his name first, her voice soft. "Are you... still busy?"

"What is it?" Nathaniel asked bluntly.

"I... I'm out having dinner with some friends, and I drank a little. I'm feeling dizzy. Can you come pick me up?"

Nathaniel frowned. "What friends?"

"Just Olivia and a few guys I don't know..."

Isabella said something else, but Nathaniel didn't catch it. At that moment, he caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was Eleanor, and she was coming out of a nearby restaurant. She was walking next to a limping man, who could only be Benjamin.

"Call Lucas and have him pick you up," Nathaniel said curtly, then hung up the phone.

The night air was cool as Eleanor stepped out of the restaurant, her arm lightly linked with Benjamin's. They had just finished dinner, and the conversation had been surprisingly pleasant. Benjamin, despite his physical limitations, had a sharp wit and a kind heart. Eleanor found herself enjoying his company more than she had expected.

As they walked toward the waiting car, Eleanor couldn't help but glance around the bustling street. The city lights sparkled, casting a warm glow over the evening. She felt a sense of calm she hadn't experienced in a long time.

Benjamin noticed her gaze and smiled. "Beautiful night, isn't it?"

Eleanor nodded. "It is. I haven't been out like this in a while."

"Well, I'm glad I could be the one to accompany you," Benjamin said, his tone light but sincere.

Eleanor smiled back, feeling a flicker of something she hadn't felt in years—hope.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel watched from his car, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. He couldn't quite place the emotion bubbling up inside him, but it wasn't pleasant. Seeing Eleanor with someone else, especially someone like Benjamin, stirred something deep within him—something he had tried to bury.

He drove off into the night, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't quite articulate. The city lights blurred as he sped through the streets, the weight of his mother's words and the image of Eleanor's smile with Benjamin lingering in his mind.

The night was far from over, and Nathaniel knew one thing for certain—things were about to change.