Chapter 71

Eleanor clenched her jaw, her voice already hoarse from the tension. She had believed she had moved on from her relationship with Nathaniel, but now she realized she had overestimated her own strength. The actions of the Carters no longer affected her, but a few words from Nathaniel cut deeper than any knife, piercing her heart with precision.

Nathaniel sat across from her, his gaze unwavering. After a moment, he let out a low, mocking laugh. "Do you feel wronged? Then tell me, do you think it's honorable to go on a blind date less than a week after our divorce?"

Eleanor remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Reaching out, Nathaniel gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "And let's not forget, you were the one who crawled into my bed last night. Did you think about how cheap that made you look then?"

His eyes turned icy, filled with such disdain that it felt like a slap across her face. Eleanor's fists clenched tightly, but slowly, her fingers uncurled, her resolve wavering.

Nathaniel, however, had no patience to continue this conversation. He stood abruptly, his voice cold and final. "Eleanor, you don't have a choice," he stated, turning to leave.

But Eleanor's voice stopped him in his tracks. "How long?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Nathaniel paused, turning back to face her. Tears welled in her eyes, and she had bitten her lip so hard it was bleeding. She was struggling to maintain her composure, her pride hanging by a thread.

For a moment, Nathaniel was reminded of the way she had looked at him the night before, her eyes filled with vulnerability. He swallowed hard, his voice softening slightly. "Two years, maybe."

Eleanor's jaw tightened, but after a moment, she nodded. "Fine," she said, standing as well.

Nathaniel watched as she moved toward the door. "Where are you going?" he asked, his tone sharp.

"Home," she replied, not looking back. "I assume you don't need me today. When you do... I'll come."

Her tone was detached, almost businesslike, as if she were treating this as nothing more than a transaction. Nathaniel frowned, but before he could respond, she was already walking away.

"I'll take you," he said finally, his voice firm.

Eleanor hesitated, then nodded silently. She no longer had the energy to argue.

As they descended to the parking garage, Nathaniel gave her the address. "Level 23, Block A, Percy Gardens. The door code is the same as the one at Nivis Villa."

Eleanor knew this would be their meeting place, the setting for their... arrangement. She said nothing, merely nodding in acknowledgment.

When the elevator doors opened, Ethan was waiting with the car. Seeing the tension between them, he quickly spoke up. "Don't worry, Ms. Thompson. The car's been cleaned this morning."

Eleanor's breath hitched, and Nathaniel couldn't help but chuckle at her discomfort. He slid into the car, then glanced back at her. "Are you getting in, or do you plan to stand there all day?"

Eleanor hesitated, then finally climbed into the car, her heart heavy with the weight of what was to come.