No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 343

Looking back, it all feels like a lifetime ago.

The elevator doors slid open on the ground floor, and Ian strode purposefully toward the parking lot.

Eleanor had stopped resisting by now; her body was stiff and unyielding, as if she’d turned to wood.

When it came time to get in the car, Ian did give her the chance to manage on her own. Eleanor tried to climb in by herself, shaking off his hand, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit her. She had to grip the car door for support.

Ian’s expression darkened. Without a word, he bent down and gently helped her into the back seat.

With her eyes closed, Eleanor leaned against the window, trying to ease the spinning in her head. She’d had dizzy spells before, but never this bad.

Ian said nothing, simply turning up the heat and pressing his foot to the gas as he drove her home.

The drive was silent. Several times, Eleanor rolled down the window for fresh air.

By the time they reached the gate, the worst had passed. She stepped out without a word of thanks and headed straight into the house.

Joslyn appeared at the door, surprised to see Ian following behind.

As Eleanor headed upstairs, she caught Ian’s voice downstairs, instructing Joslyn on how to look after her. Finally back in her own room, Eleanor sank onto her bed and closed her eyes, feeling safe for the first time all night.

Joslyn listened carefully to Ian’s instructions, nodding several times. “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll take good care of her. If there’s any problem, I’ll call you right away.”

Ian nodded, then turned and let himself out.

Elsewhere, Henry was giving Vanessa a ride home. Vanessa had barely spoken a word, and Henry glanced over, trying to read her mood.

“I think I heard Ian say Eleanor worked through the night yesterday,” Henry ventured.

“And now that Eleanor and Xavier seem to be getting closer, maybe someday you two—”

Vanessa let out a frustrated sigh. “You think I’m afraid of her?”

“Xavier and Ian seem more distant lately too,” Henry observed. “That old trio of theirs isn’t what it used to be.”

“That’s Eleanor’s doing as well,” Vanessa muttered, biting her lip before glancing over at Henry. “Henry, do you think the Vaughn family would actually accept Eleanor?”

Henry paused, caught off guard by the question. He thought for a moment before replying, “Hard to say.”

“You mean they’d really welcome a divorcée?” Vanessa sounded incredulous. She’d never had much contact with the Vaughns, but as one of Ashford City’s most prominent families, surely they wouldn’t want their son to marry a woman with a failed marriage behind her.

Henry shook his head. “Eleanor’s made a name for herself. Even if she never remarries, the inheritance Ian’s set aside for her is more than enough to keep her comfortable for life. The real question isn’t whether the Vaughns would accept her. It’s whether Eleanor would even want to marry into that family.”