Chapter 48

Eleanor was dressed in a sleek black gown, her hair cascading softly over her shoulders with delicate curls at the ends. A gentle smile played on her lips, radiating an aura of tranquility.

Benjamin must have whispered something amusing, for her smile deepened, and she lifted her gaze to meet his. Her eyes sparkled like sunlight dancing on a serene lake.

Nathaniel realized he had never seen her smile like that before. In his memories, Eleanor had always been reserved, almost subdued.

But as that thought crossed his mind, another memory surfaced—a vivid one. It was from their last encounter in the car, when she had suddenly kissed him. It had been impulsive, their lips brushing as they wrestled over the sketchbook. That had been Eleanor's first kiss with him. And now, it seemed, it would also be the last.

As Nathaniel lingered on that memory, Benjamin took a few steps forward. He turned and said something else to Eleanor, who smiled and shook her head. Benjamin didn’t press further. He simply opened the car door and slid inside.

Eleanor remained standing, unmoving. The night breeze tousled her hair, and she reached up to tuck a strand behind her ear. Then, she waved goodbye to Benjamin as the car slowly pulled away. Her smile faded, her eyes downcast, lost in thought.

Nathaniel didn’t hesitate. He pressed the accelerator and pulled up beside her. The black Maserati was a car Eleanor knew all too well. At first, she thought her eyes were deceiving her. It wasn’t until he rolled down the window that she realized it was real.

"Get in," Nathaniel's voice was as cool and composed as ever.

"No, thank you," Eleanor replied, momentarily stunned but quickly regaining her composure. "I’ll take the subway."

She started to walk around his car, but Nathaniel swiftly reversed, blocking her path. He didn’t say a word, but his message was clear.

Eleanor pressed her lips together, her hand briefly clutching the fabric of her dress before she finally opened the car door. She didn’t sit in the passenger seat.

Once inside, she asked directly, "What do you want to say, Mr. Carter?"

Nathaniel didn’t respond immediately. His expression remained impassive as he started the car. He accelerated abruptly, causing Eleanor to lurch forward, nearly hitting her head on the seat in front of her. She grabbed the handrail, frowning at him.

Nathaniel seemed oblivious to her discomfort, continuing to drive without a change in demeanor.

"Nathaniel," Eleanor couldn’t hold back. "What do you want from me?"

He eased off the accelerator, slowing the car before speaking. "The Hughes family is heavily invested in new energy. They’ve made significant progress, but the future is uncertain. You’re all rushing into this. Be careful, or you might capsize."

Eleanor hadn’t expected him to bring this up. After a brief pause, she replied, "This has nothing to do with you, does it?"

Nathaniel chuckled softly. "Eleanor, it’s been less than half a month since our divorce. Don’t you think you’re moving on a little too quickly?"

Eleanor met his gaze through the rearview mirror. After a moment, she smiled faintly. "Oh, are you jealous, Mr. Carter?"

As soon as the words left her lips, Nathaniel’s brows furrowed deeply.

"Do you think that’s possible?" he retorted, his voice icy and sharp.

Clearly, he didn’t appreciate the joke. There was unmistakable disdain in his tone.

Eleanor knew it was impossible for him to be jealous. He simply didn’t want to be tied to her anymore. He didn’t want anyone talking about how quickly she had moved on after their divorce.