Chapter 65

Julian spoke abruptly, not waiting for Eleanor to respond. "Have you heard the news? I'm getting engaged to the Morgan family."

Eleanor had just picked up her fork and taken a bite of her dessert. At his words, she slowly set the fork down and nodded. "To Isabella," she replied. "I know."

"I heard you've cut ties with the Morgans," Julian said, lowering his gaze. "We would have been engaged by now if that hadn't happened."

He laughed, though the smile never reached his eyes, no matter how hard he tried. The corners of his lips carried an endless bitterness.

Eleanor paused for a moment before speaking. "You can talk to them if you don't want to..."

He shook his head. "They brought me back just to squeeze every ounce of value out of me. I've met over a dozen people in just twenty days."

"Value?" She frowned. "Wouldn't a successful marriage alliance be a threat to them? Why would they..." He cut her off. "You don't know, do you? Gabriel's crippled after the last car accident. It means he can't have children of his own. Do you understand the value I was talking about now?"

She was at a loss for words.

The private room slowly fell into a heavy silence.

"This will probably be the last time we can have a meal together," Julian said, raising his wineglass. "I want to congratulate you, though it's a bit late. You're finally free from them and no longer under their control." Eleanor said nothing more. She simply raised her glass and clinked it against his. "Thank you."

Meanwhile, Isabella was also at a restaurant. It was already 8:30 pm, but the seat across from her remained empty.

Isabella could no longer contain her unease when the waiter came in for the third time to reheat the dishes. She intended to call Nathaniel again.

However, the door to the private room opened once more before she could dial.

Her eyes immediately lit up when she saw Nathaniel. "Nate!"

Nathaniel responded faintly, sidestepping her attempt to take his hand as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

"What do you need?" His tone was rather indifferent.

Isabella was momentarily stunned before she quickly said, "I just thought it had been a while since we last met. I wanted to have dinner with you..."

He didn't reply and merely lifted his head to look at her.

She thought he must have just come from a business negotiation. Otherwise, why would he look at her with such intensity?

"I..." Isabella suddenly felt diffident and tightened her grip on the coffee cup before continuing, "Actually, there's something I wanted to ask your opinion on."

"What is it?"

"It's about my... engagement with Julian." Her voice faltered. "You probably already know about it, don't you? Honestly, I don't want to get married so soon. I'm only 22 years old!"

Her words brought a memory to his mind. Eleanor was also at that age when she married him.

Isabella lowered her gaze before she continued, "And I know... Julian doesn't love me."

"Oh?" Nathaniel remained unfazed. "Then, who does he love?"