No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 510

Eleanor had barely been gone two minutes when a ringtone sounded from the seat beside hers. Evelyn immediately slid off her chair and rummaged through Eleanor’s handbag.

She found Eleanor’s buzzing phone and, reading the name on the screen, called out, “Daddy, who’s calling Mom?”

Ian narrowed his eyes and glanced at the display: Mansfield Ellington.

His gaze cooled. Just then, Eleanor returned and, seeing the phone in her daughter’s hand, hurried over.

“Mom, someone’s calling you,” Evelyn announced.

Eleanor glanced at the screen and smiled. “Let me take this call, sweetheart.”

“Okay!” Evelyn thought it was just another work call.

Eleanor stepped out into the hallway, phone pressed to her ear.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Eleanor,” came Mansfield Ellington’s hearty voice.

“Happy Thanksgiving to you too,” she replied warmly.

“Have you had dinner yet?”

“I was just having dinner with Evelyn.”

“Has the little one grown taller?” he asked.

Eleanor laughed. “Not just taller—she’s a little chubbier too.”

Mansfield let out a good-natured chuckle. “Chubby kids are adorable.” Then, as if remembering something, he added, “My request for the autumn holidays got approved—five days off.”

“That’s great news! You’ll finally get a break,” Eleanor congratulated him.

“Would you like to meet up during the holidays?” he asked, then hurriedly clarified, “Just as friends! A casual dinner, nothing more.”

Eleanor hesitated, thinking of the new drug trial she was overseeing. She wasn’t sure she’d have the time.

She explained her situation, and Mansfield didn’t press. “No worries, let’s play it by ear.”

“Alright,” Eleanor agreed.

At that moment, the private room door opened and Ian appeared, holding Evelyn’s hand. He paused, noticing how cheerful Eleanor sounded on the phone. His gaze lingered on her.

So, she wasn’t just busy with work in Kingston—she had men lining up for dinner, too.

“Mommy, my hands are sticky. Daddy’s taking me to wash them,” Evelyn announced.

Ian led their daughter toward the restroom.

When Eleanor returned to the room and reached for her dinner, a phone began to vibrate on the tabletop.

It was Ian’s phone.

The next morning, Eleanor took two hours off work to play with Evelyn on the outdoor basketball court. Around ten, Ian’s car pulled up in front of the guesthouse.

“Daddy, are we going home?” Evelyn ran over, clutching her new ball.

“Yes, sweetheart. Time to go,” Ian said gently.

Evelyn’s shoulders slumped with disappointment, but she remembered her promise not to disturb Mommy’s work.

“Evelyn, as soon as I finish up, I’ll come home to you, okay?” Eleanor said, her voice tinged with guilt.

Just then, Evelyn lost her grip on the ball and it rolled a few yards away.

As Eleanor watched her daughter, a low voice laced with warning sounded behind her. “This is the critical stage of the trial. I hope you’re focused on your work.”

Eleanor spun around, meeting Ian’s icy stare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean,” Ian replied coolly.

Of course Eleanor knew. He was making another dig about Mansfield. She fired back, “Even if I had ten men on the line, that’s my business, not yours.”

Before Ian could respond, Evelyn came running back with her ball. Eleanor knelt and hugged her. “Be good for Grandma, okay? I’ll be home soon.”

Evelyn nodded and stretched out her arms to Ian. “Daddy, I’m tired. Carry me?”

Ian scooped her up, his expression complicated. He looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just carried his daughter toward the car in silence.