No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 675

The next morning, Eleanor led her daughter downstairs. As they reached the parking garage, she spotted a tall, striking figure leaning casually against a pillar.

“Daddy!” Evelyn squealed and ran straight into his arms.

Ian’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he looked at his daughter. “Dad’s taking you to school today.”

“Yay!” Evelyn nodded enthusiastically, then turned back to her mother. “Mom, are you coming to school with us?”

Eleanor handed her the backpack. “Not today, honey. I have to go to work.”

“Okay. Bye, Mom!” Evelyn waved, her face bright with excitement.

Eleanor could feel a pair of intense eyes lingering on her, but she ignored it, opened her car door, and drove off.

“Dad, let’s go!” Evelyn tugged on his big hand, impatient to be on their way.

Ian pulled his gaze away from Eleanor’s departing car and opened the backseat door for Evelyn, ready to drive her to school.

—

Around eleven, Eleanor received a call from York Windsor, asking her and Joel Kingsley to come to his lab—he had made a discovery.

Without hesitation, Eleanor and Joel headed straight for Rhine Laboratories.

Inside the lab, both donned protective gear before entering. York had uncovered a new pattern in the lab mice’s results.

After they left the lab, York immediately called for a meeting. Five people gathered around the table, deep in discussion about the latest experimental breakthrough.

By noon, York ushered Eleanor and Joel out for lunch at a restaurant nearby. Since they both needed to return to the lab that afternoon, they chose a quiet bistro just down the street.

It was rare for Eleanor and Joel to have lunch out together. They’d just finished ordering when the door opened and in walked two young women—one of them unmistakably Serena Goodwin.

Serena hadn’t expected to run into Eleanor and Joel either. She deliberately chose the table right next to theirs and said to her friend, “Let’s sit here.”

Her friend didn’t object, and after quickly ordering, Serena made sure her voice carried. “Didn’t you say you wanted to hear some stories about my brother?”

Her friend propped her chin on her hand, eyes full of curiosity. “Come on, spill! My friends have been dying to know the latest gossip about him.”

“It’s fine. She can’t hurt me.” Eleanor smiled, cool and unbothered. “People who can’t see the truth are the ones to pity.”

Her words carried just far enough for Serena to hear. Serena whipped around, glaring at Eleanor, her jaw clenched. “Some people act so pure on the surface, but you never know what tricks they pull behind the scenes. Still pretending to be innocent.”

Serena’s friend glanced over at Eleanor, and as recognition dawned, she covered her mouth in surprise. She hadn’t realized Serena’s infamous ex-sister-in-law was sitting right beside them!

Embarrassed, she tugged at Serena’s sleeve. “Serena, let’s just eat, okay?”

Eleanor cut into her steak, not even glancing in Serena’s direction, as if her words were nothing but background noise.

“Let’s double-check Mr. Windsor’s data this afternoon,” she said to Joel, picking up the conversation as if nothing had happened.

Joel caught on immediately. “Good idea. We can compare it with our own results.”

Serena’s face flushed with anger when she saw Eleanor ignoring her completely; she clenched her fists, about to say something else. But just then, the restaurant door opened and in walked several men in sharp suits. Leading the group was Xavier. He was deep in conversation with three clients, but as soon as he spotted Eleanor, his eyes lit up in surprise and delight.

Serena followed Xavier’s gaze, and when she saw him looking at Eleanor, her face went pale and she quickly lowered her head.