No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 427

Ian couldn’t help but think back to the spot where Eleanor and Mansfield Ellington had disappeared around the corner just minutes earlier.

It was hard not to be suspicious.

His gaze darkened as he stared at the fading red mark on Eleanor’s neck, and his grip on his daughter’s hand tightened unconsciously.

“Dad, why are you squeezing so hard?” Evelyn pouted in protest, wriggling her tiny fingers out of his grasp.

Snapping back, Ian quickly loosened his hold, forcing down the tangle of emotions inside. He crouched down, looking Evelyn in the eye. “Daddy just remembered he has some work to finish up. How about you stay with Mom for a bit, okay?”

Evelyn’s face fell. “Will you come play with me tomorrow?”

Ian tapped her nose playfully. “Of course I will.”

That finally drew a smile from her, and she nodded. “Okay! You can go now!”

As Ian stood, he glanced across at Eleanor. When he turned to leave, his steps were brisker than usual.

He knew exactly whose mark that was—and he knew why it was left in such a blatant spot.

Any man would recognize it for what it was: a clear sign of another man staking his claim.

Ian had wanted to confront Eleanor, but reason reminded him that he’d lost the right to do so long ago.

Just then, Byron hurried over. “Mr. Goodwin, the evening meeting’s about to start.”

“Do you have a cigarette?” Ian asked.

“I do.” Byron produced a pack and a lighter from his pocket.

Ian lit one, taking a couple of deep drags. Even in the dim light, Byron could tell his boss was in a foul mood. Hesitating, he ventured, “Should we reschedule the meeting for tomorrow?”

“We’re doing it now.” Ian exhaled a cloud of smoke, glancing back toward the cottage before striding off with Byron in tow.

Back in the cottage’s living room, Eleanor was gently rubbing bug repellent on Evelyn’s arms. She paused, remembering the spot on her own neck where a mosquito had bitten her earlier, and applied some to herself as well.

“Let’s go find some fireflies!” she suggested, taking Evelyn’s hand.

Together, they wandered around the grassy lawns, searching. Evelyn’s keen eyes caught a faint glow in a nearby thicket. “Mom, look—there are so many over there!”

Following her daughter’s pointing finger, Eleanor spotted the tiny lights flickering in the shadows. She joined Evelyn, helping her catch fireflies one by one and place them in a glass jar.

Above, the Milky Way blazed across the sky. In the grass below, mother and daughter shared a rare, peaceful moment.

Meanwhile, in the base’s conference room, Ian listened to a technical report, drumming his fingers on the table, his brows furrowed.

“Mr. Goodwin,” the tech lead asked cautiously, “do you have any feedback on the proposal?”

Ian snapped out of his thoughts. “Start over. The algorithm’s too slow.”

A tense silence filled the room. Everyone could sense the storm in the air ever since Ian walked in—no one dared guess why he was in such a black mood tonight.

After the meeting, Ian returned to his temporary quarters. His phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he picked up. “Hello?”

“Mr. Goodwin, Miss Shannon’s running a fever. I just took her to the hospital,” Gavin Young said on the other end.

Ian’s eyes narrowed. “How high?”

“One-oh-three point five.”

“I have to head back to the city. Do you want me to take Evelyn with me?” Ian asked.

“No,” Eleanor replied curtly and hung up.

“Mom, was that Dad? Is he coming to play with me?” Evelyn asked hopefully.

“Your dad has to go back for work. We’re staying here a few more days.”

“Oh! I don’t want to leave yet—I want to play here forever!” Evelyn exclaimed. This place had so many fun things to do, tasty food, and all sorts of bugs she’d never seen in the city.

Eleanor smiled. “Alright.”

With Ian gone, Eleanor felt the air was fresher, her mood lighter.

After another long day, she returned to the cottage at dusk. Her phone buzzed with a new message.

She opened it to find a photo and a single line: See? He’s always been mine.

It showed Ian sitting on a sofa, scrolling through patient files. The message was from Vanessa.

Eleanor let out a cold laugh. Vanessa thought Ian had come to the base for her? That this was some desperate claim of territory, dragging Ian back to her side?

But Vanessa was wrong. Whatever Ian did, wherever he was, none of it mattered anymore.

Eleanor tossed her phone onto the couch, blocked the number, and called out to her daughter, “Let’s go for a walk.”

Mother and daughter wandered out onto the lawn. The evening sky was clear and deep; Evelyn pointed up at the stars. “Mom, that one’s so bright!”