Chapter 76

The two words weren't unfamiliar to Eleanor.

Back when she had been living at Nivis Villa, Nathaniel would send her just those two words every time he needed something.

As Eleanor stared at the words now, her eyes stung unexpectedly.

She was still staring at the screen when Ethan suddenly called her. "Mrs. Carter, I'm over on Serene Street. The alley's too narrow to drive in. Could you step out and meet me here?"

Eleanor pressed her lips together, staying silent.

"Mrs. Carter?" Ethan called again from the other end.

"Fine," Eleanor finally responded. Then, she changed her clothes and headed out.

"Mrs. Carter!"

Ethan had switched to another car—a sleek, silver Porsche Panamera. It looked glaringly out of place in the cramped, shadowy urban village.

As Eleanor climbed into the car, she noticed her neighbor.

The blonde woman was standing there, biting into a popsicle, her gaze lingering on Eleanor with a cryptic expression.

Eleanor ignored her.

After Ethan shut the car door for her, he walked around to the driver's seat.

"Apologies, Mrs. Carter. I didn't mean to trouble you. I just heard there might be a route up ahead that the car can get through. Next time, I'll—"

"Nathaniel and I are divorced," Eleanor interrupted, correcting him. "You can just call me Eleanor."

"It was Mr. Carter who asked me to pick you up," Ethan replied, sidestepping her statement. "And honestly, I think Mr. Carter still cares about you. Otherwise, why would he have sent me?"

He added sincerely, "And he was genuinely worried last night. If you hadn't come out when you did, he probably would've gone upstairs to find you himself."

Eleanor suddenly sensed something was off. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Ethan.

"What do you mean? Nathaniel being near the hotel last night wasn't a coincidence?"

"Of course not. Mr. Carter was having dinner with Ms. Isabella last night. I'm guessing she mentioned something about what happened to you. You might not know this, but at that time..."

Ethan kept talking, but Eleanor couldn't hear a word he said.

She didn't even remember how the journey to Percy Gardens went. It wasn't until the elevator doors opened and she punched in the code Nathaniel had given her to unlock the door that she realized he wasn't home.

Eleanor walked around the place to confirm he wasn't there. Once she was certain, she didn't bother calling him. Instead, she found a spot on the couch and sat down.

Her mind was tangled with all kinds of thoughts—like invisible ropes tightening around her neck, choking her. Just as she was struggling to unravel those ropes, Nathaniel returned.

Eleanor looked up at him.

Her being here, "waiting" for him, seemed to please Nathaniel quite a bit. He even took the initiative to ask, "Have you eaten yet?"

Eleanor didn't respond.

Nathaniel loosened his tie and tossed it aside, then said, "Let's go. I'll take you out to get something."

His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable arrogance in his attitude—like he was bestowing some kind of favor on her.

But Eleanor just stared at him without moving.

Nathaniel waited for a moment, and his brows furrowed when it became clear she wasn't going to budge.

"I have something to ask you," Eleanor finally said.

Nathaniel didn't reply. He simply stood there, waiting for her to continue.

"Did Julian call you this afternoon?"

"Yeah."

"Don't you have anything you want to ask me? Like whether I set you up on purpose?"

"I know you didn't."

Nathaniel's response came without a moment's hesitation.

Eleanor froze for a beat. Then, unexpectedly, she laughed.

In the past, she would have felt deeply moved if he had answered her so decisively. But now, the sound of her laughter echoed hollowly in the room, a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air.