Chapter 49

Eleanor knew it all, but she still found herself instinctively speaking the words aloud. Then, in his response, she heard the answer she had already anticipated, and it felt like a self-inflicted wound.

"I understand," Eleanor said. "Have you said everything you wanted to say, Mr. Carter? Can I leave now?"

Nathaniel didn't say another word, but the car slowed down slightly. Finally, he pulled over to the side of the road.

Eleanor didn't hesitate. She turned and reached for the door.

"Eleanor," he called out suddenly from behind her.

She paused while opening the door, but she didn't turn around.

Nathaniel gripped the steering wheel, carefully choosing his words. "For the sake of our time as a married couple, you... can come to me if the Morgans are facing any difficulties."

"Don't try to disgust me like this."

Eleanor slowly tightened her grip on the door handle.

After a long pause, she said, "Well, thank you, Mr. Carter."

With that, she opened the door. She didn't look at him again. After closing the door behind her, she turned and walked in the direction of the subway station.

Nathaniel sat in the car, his gaze following her figure as it grew smaller in the distance. His lips pressed into a tight line.

Of course, he knew there was no subway station anywhere near the Morgan family residence. So, where exactly was she going to take the subway now?

But the thought barely lingered in Nathaniel's mind before it vanished, as fleeting as the moment. From her response earlier, he already knew what she was doing—she was being deliberate.

Making such a show of being close to Julian and then going on a blind date with Benjamin—it was all just a ploy to get Nathaniel to speak up and help the Morgan family.

Eleanor was well aware that the thing Nathaniel disliked most was being drawn into gossip and entangled in drama.

She really would stop at nothing, wouldn't she?

Eleanor quickly returned to her rental apartment. A few minutes ago, Benjamin had sent her a message letting her know he had made it home.

"It was a pleasure talking to you today. Will we get another chance to meet up and chat over a meal sometime?"

Benjamin's words were kind, but the question was direct.

Of course, they were both adults, and it was a blind date. Subtlety didn't really seem necessary.

To be honest, Eleanor didn't dislike him. At another time, maybe she would have considered being friends with him. But now... with the reputation she had, there was no reason to drag him into the mess with her. She was about to text him a polite refusal when a call from an unfamiliar number came through. Without hesitating, she answered it.

"Luna," a raspy voice came through the phone, as though it were a sharp needle piercing into Eleanor's body.

Her face instantly drained of color, and she threw the phone to the ground.

"It's been eight years. Have you missed your father?"

The voice on the other end seemed completely unaffected by the situation. It continued, "I really missed you. See, the first thing I do when I get out is contact you."

"You're in Coppersville now, huh? Wow! An international metropolis, right? I'll come right over..."

Before he could finish, Eleanor ended the call abruptly.

To make sure he wouldn't call back, she quickly turned off the phone. Her fingers were trembling, and she struggled for a long time before finally managing to turn it off.

As the screen went dark, Eleanor threw the phone aside.