No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 731

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“Enough about me—how are things with you and Xavier lately?” Vanessa asked, genuine concern softening her voice.

Serena’s eyes turned glassy, and a wave of hurt welled up inside her. She looked away, voice trembling. “Don’t bring him up. I—I can’t even see him anymore.”

If it weren’t for those rare family events, she wouldn’t have a single chance to run into him these days.

“I thought your brother was still living at Cloudcrest Manor?” Vanessa pressed, curiosity piqued.

Serena gave a bitter little laugh. “He won’t even let me set foot in Cloudcrest Manor.”

Vanessa reached out and gave her shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Don’t blame your brother too much. Maybe it isn’t really up to him—maybe it’s—”

Serena’s eyes flashed with sudden resentment. She whipped her head around. “You mean it’s Eleanor, don’t you? She’s scared I’ll get in the way between her and Xavier, so she doesn’t want me there?”

Vanessa faltered, caught off guard. “Serena, maybe I’m just overthinking things.”

“No, you’re probably right! That explains everything—why else would my brother suddenly bar me from Cloudcrest Manor? It’s Eleanor, pulling strings behind his back.” Serena’s anger flared brighter as she spoke. She hadn’t caused trouble for Eleanor in ages, but now Eleanor was secretly turning her brother against her?

“I’ve put up with Eleanor for long enough,” Serena muttered, clenching her fists without realizing it.

Vanessa quickly grabbed her wrist, alarmed. “Serena, don’t do anything rash. Whatever she’s done, Eleanor’s still your ex-sister-in-law.”

“Ex-sister-in-law? I refuse to recognize her as anything of the sort. She’s crossed the line.” Serena was now utterly convinced Eleanor was scheming to drive a wedge between her and her brother.

“Why is it that only she gets to love Xavier? Why can’t I have feelings for him too? She even has to meddle with who lives in the neighborhood—she’s just insufferable.” Every ounce of resentment Serena had built up over the past few days now came crashing down on Eleanor’s head.

Vanessa let herself sink back into the couch with an exhausted sigh. “Honestly, I’m not sure Eleanor’s even that into Xavier. When she was in Kingston this time, she was being accompanied by another man the entire trip.”

Serena’s head snapped up, stunned. “She went to Kingston to meet another guy?”

“I ran into them at the University Hospital with your brother. The man was all over Eleanor—hugging her, acting like they were a couple.”

“So Eleanor’s stringing Xavier along while flirting with someone else?” Serena could hardly believe it—was Eleanor really so manipulative that even someone as exceptional as Xavier was just her backup plan?

“She’s outrageous—someone as fickle as Eleanor doesn’t deserve Xavier!” Serena shot to her feet, seething. “So Xavier’s being played for a fool and he doesn’t even know it?”

Vanessa gently took Serena’s hand, trying to calm her. “Serena, take a breath—”