Chapter 81

For the next few days, Nathaniel didn't reach out to her, but Eleanor kept receiving cakes from different dessert shops every day. And not just one cake at a time.

At first, Eleanor tried to refuse them, but the delivery people wouldn't even give her the chance. They would simply tell her their task was to deliver the cake, and whatever she chose to do with it was up to her. With no other choice, Eleanor reluctantly accepted the cakes.

After days of eating them, she finally couldn't take it anymore. She called Nathaniel. "Stop sending me cakes."

"Why? I thought you liked them." Nathaniel sounded unusually cheerful, with a laugh barely contained in his voice.

Eleanor felt like he was doing it on purpose. She liked them, right? So, he would just keep sending them until she threw up.

Eleanor didn't respond and just hung up the phone.

Nathaniel had intended to say more, but he was taken aback for a moment when he heard the click of the call ending. He checked the phone, confirming she had actually hung up. And then, he couldn't help but laugh. This time, it was laughter out of frustration.

He thought Eleanor's temper was really starting to show, or maybe it had always been like this, and she had just stopped pretending around him. But in a way, he supposed it was a good thing. It was better than how lifeless she used to be.

Just as Nathaniel was reflecting on this, there was a knock at the door.

"Mr. Carter, you mentioned wanting me to keep an eye on the auction for Mr. Hughes's painting. It's scheduled for the end of the month in the city of Zenvora," Lucas said, placing an invitation on Nathaniel's desk.

Nathaniel hummed in response.

Lucas wasn't in a hurry to leave. He simply stood there, staring at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Is there something else?"

"Someone from Carter Manor called. They said they couldn't reach you on your phone. They want you to come for dinner tomorrow night."

"I got it."

After getting a reply from Nathaniel, Lucas seemed to finally relax and turned to leave.

Once the door closed behind him, Nathaniel quickly sent Eleanor a message. Originally, he had planned to ask her to meet at Percy Gardens tonight. But before he hit send, he changed his mind. Instead, he grabbed his keys and stood up.

This was Nathaniel's second time coming to Serene Street. This time, he didn't have to navigate through the winding roads. As soon as he parked his car, he spotted Eleanor at the street corner.

She was sitting on the curb, across from a chubby little girl with braided hair. There was a cake in front of the girl.

A voice from nearby laughed, probably the little girl's mother. "Eleanor, don't give her any more. Didn't you see that her face has gotten even rounder?"

Nathaniel realized then that all the cakes he had delivered were being eaten by that little girl. He didn't say anything. Instead, he honked the horn.

Eleanor turned to look at him, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Nathaniel sat in the car, waiting for her to approach.

Without any other choice, Eleanor exchanged a few words with the mother-and-daughter pair in front of her, then approached the car and got in.

Neither of them spoke at first. But after they had driven some distance, Eleanor couldn't hold back any longer.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"To eat."

Eleanor glanced at the place where Nathaniel had parked, her face blank. "I'm dressed like this. Are you planning to take me to a fancy restaurant?"

Only then did Nathaniel realize what she meant.

He didn't get angry. Instead, he turned to her and asked, "What do you want to eat?"