Chapter 63

Nathaniel's question caught Eleanor off guard. For a moment, she thought she had misheard him. It took her several seconds to regain her composure. A faint smile curled at the corners of her lips. "Mr. Carter, don't you think it's a bit late to ask that now?"

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed slightly. He had assumed her first mention of divorce was just a tantrum, something he could tolerate once. So when she brought it up again, he agreed without hesitation. Was it out of spite? Perhaps. He had been certain she would regret it. But now, it seemed he was wrong.

Just two days ago, he had learned about her past. Her adoptive father, Samuel, was in prison, and her adoptive mother, Diana, lay in a coma in the hospital. She had never shared any of this with him. Only then did he realize how little he truly knew her.

"But whatever the reason, it doesn't matter now," Eleanor's voice broke the silence. "You can rest assured that Benjamin won't be seeing me anymore after tonight. The things you were worried about won't happen, and we probably won't cross paths again."

She paused, her gaze steady. "We were once husband and wife, no matter what. I wish you all the best, Mr. Carter. May you achieve everything you desire."

Her words were sincere, her tone calm. Nathaniel stared at her for a long moment before he suddenly laughed. "Pull over," he said.

Eleanor understood his intention and turned decisively, not looking back at him. As she opened the car door, he spoke again, his voice low. "What happened back then wasn't your fault."

The words were casual, almost dismissive, like tossing a crumb of sympathy to a stray animal. She knew he wasn't a kind man. But as she had said, they were once husband and wife. This was the first time he had offered her any form of comfort. It turned out he did understand. He just never cared to say it.

How could he not understand? She had seen his gentleness before—just never directed at her.

If she had heard those words before their divorce, she might have been deeply moved. She might have fallen back into that abyss without hesitation. But it was too late now. She would never let herself be consumed by that dream again.

She closed her eyes tightly, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall. Then she turned to look at him one last time. "Thank you."

With that, she stepped out of the car and closed the door firmly behind her. The car pulled away, leaving her standing alone on the quiet street. The night air was cool, and she took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past finally begin to lift.

Eleanor walked away, her steps steady and determined. She had awakened from the dream that had held her captive for years. And this time, she wouldn't look back.

After driving for some time, the driver couldn't help but speak up, "Mr. Carter, it's getting late. Wouldn't it be unsafe to leave Ms. Thompson alone?"

Nathaniel's gaze lifted, his icy stare sending a chill down the driver's spine. Just as the driver was about to apologize for overstepping, Nathaniel spoke, his voice cold and detached, "She doesn't seem to care about her own safety. Why should you?"

Ethan, the driver, caught the underlying tone in Nathaniel's words. It was clear that Nathaniel had been waiting for Eleanor to ask him to take her home. But she hadn't. And that silence spoke volumes.

The car continued to glide through the dimly lit streets, the tension palpable. Nathaniel's jaw tightened as he stared out the window, his mind undoubtedly replaying the events of the evening. Eleanor's stubborn independence was both a source of frustration and admiration for him. She had always been this way, even when they were married. She never asked for help, never leaned on anyone, not even him.

Ethan glanced at Nathaniel through the rearview mirror, sensing the storm brewing within the man. He knew better than to say anything more. Nathaniel Carter was not a man who appreciated unsolicited advice or concern, especially when it came to Eleanor Thompson.

As the car turned onto the quiet street where Eleanor's apartment was located, Nathaniel's expression darkened. He had hoped, perhaps foolishly, that she would have reached out by now. But she hadn't. And that only fueled his frustration.

The car came to a stop in front of her building. Nathaniel hesitated for a moment, his hand resting on the door handle. He could go up, demand an explanation, or at least make sure she was safe. But he knew better. Eleanor would see it as an intrusion, another attempt to control her life.

With a sigh, he leaned back in his seat, his resolve hardening. "Drive on," he said, his voice low and firm.

Ethan nodded, pulling away from the curb. The silence in the car was deafening, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Nathaniel's mind raced, his thoughts a tangled web of anger, concern, and something else he couldn't quite name.

As the car disappeared into the night, Eleanor stood by her window, watching the taillights fade into the distance. She had seen the car stop, had seen Nathaniel hesitate. Part of her had wanted him to come up, to demand an explanation, to fight for her. But another part of her, the part that had been hurt too many times, was relieved when he drove away.

She turned away from the window, her heart heavy. The night stretched out before her, long and lonely. But she was used to it. She had always been alone, even when she wasn't. And maybe, just maybe, that was how it was meant to be.