Chapter 74

"Yes," Eleanor replied tersely.

"So, what gives you the right to judge me, Eleanor? Didn't you also use underhanded methods to be with Nathaniel?" Julian's words cut through the air like a knife.

Eleanor's expression hardened at his accusations. Before she could respond, Julian pressed on, "You're over him, aren't you? So why did you get into his car last night? Why not go straight to the hospital? Wasn't this... your plan all along?"

"Eleanor, what happened last night... I was wrong. You said you couldn't handle my feelings, but deep down, we're not so different, are we?" Julian's voice softened, but his eyes remained sharp.

"You chose to get into his car because you knew he wouldn't ignore you. Am I right?"

The midday sun blazed overhead, casting harsh shadows. Despite the heat, Eleanor felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Her clenched fists slowly relaxed as she stared at Julian, her face pale.

Seeing her reaction, Julian smirked, his expression darkening. "Does Nathaniel know?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Eleanor's head snapped up, and Julian pulled out his phone, which was in the middle of a call.

"That you used him and set him up like this," Julian finished, ending the call and locking eyes with Eleanor.

Biting her lip, Eleanor held his gaze for a moment before finally speaking. "Are you done?" she asked, her voice steady.

When Julian didn't respond, she took it as a sign and turned to leave, giving him a curt nod.

"Eleanor," Julian called after her, his voice echoing in the quiet street. "You, too, no longer have the chance... to be with the one you love."

His words made Eleanor pause for a split second, but she didn't turn around. She continued walking as if she hadn't heard him.

Soon, she arrived home. As she reached for her door, her neighbor across the hall called out, "Hey!"

At first, Eleanor didn't think the woman was speaking to her. She had lived there for a while but had never introduced herself to her neighbors. She ignored the call and began to unlock her door.

The woman, however, wasn't having it. "Hey, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf or something?" she snapped, slamming her hand on Eleanor's door to stop her from closing it.

Eleanor turned, her expression cold. "What do you want?" she asked.

The woman, with her long, wavy, bleached blonde hair, gave Eleanor a once-over. "A Maserati was parked downstairs earlier. Is that your friend?" she asked, her tone dripping with curiosity.

"Do you have a problem?" Eleanor countered, her voice icy.

"No. I just thought... since we're neighbors, maybe we could be friends," the woman said, forcing a smile.

Eleanor wasn't interested. "The owner of that car isn't my friend," she said flatly before closing the door.

She could hear the woman shouting from outside, but she ignored it, tossing her leftover prescription on the table.

As she sat down, Julian's words echoed in her mind. She didn't know how Nathaniel had reacted to the call, but she knew one thing for certain: Julian had spoken the truth.