No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 325

“Serena, I’ll stay here. You go enjoy New Year’s with Grandma and Aunt.”

“But…”

“Relax. I won’t give Eleanor a chance to cling to your brother. Trust me—if I make a single call, he’ll leave in under three minutes.” With that, Vanessa hung up.

Serena stared at her phone, bemused. What kind of trick did Vanessa have up her sleeve to keep her brother away from Eleanor?

Three minutes? Fine. She’d watch and see.

As Serena looked up, she noticed several of the older women in the family had already started greeting Eleanor. Serena smirked inwardly. Did Eleanor still fancy herself the future lady of the Goodwin family?

The relatives all treated Eleanor with polite civility, measuring their words and showing her the respect due to someone Magdalen openly favored and Gina greeted so warmly.

After all, if Eleanor and her ex-husband ever remarried, wouldn’t she be right back in line for that coveted position? It made sense to keep things courteous and formal with her—just in case.

Besides, Eleanor had walked away from the divorce with a sizable share of the estate, not to mention her own sterling reputation in the scientific community. Who knew when they might need her help one day?

These people were seasoned veterans of the social battlefield; they knew exactly how to weigh someone’s worth.

Meanwhile, Ian was chatting amiably with his uncles when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, excused himself, and made for the terrace.

He hadn’t even reached the door before a flicker of anxiety crossed his eyes, his jaw tensing as he answered the call.

“I’ll be right there.”

He hung up, turned, and walked briskly toward his mother.

“Mom, something urgent has come up. I need to step out.”

Vanessa. It was always Vanessa.

It wasn’t the first time he’d left their daughter behind for her.

“Daddy, I want Daddy…” Evelyn’s cries wouldn’t subside. She hiccupped and sobbed in Eleanor’s arms.

Eleanor’s heart ached. She held her daughter close on the sofa, soothing her until, finally, she allowed Evelyn a piece of chocolate to calm her down.

Gina came over, scooped Evelyn up, and continued to comfort her.

Just then, Serena, champagne flute in hand, slid gracefully onto the seat beside Eleanor. She swirled her drink, lips curling into a mocking smile. “Eleanor, you don’t actually think my brother still cares about you, do you?”

Eleanor smoothed her dress, her face calm, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.