No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1323

Laverne glanced at her and continued her analysis. "If they're really going to remarry, Ian would have to completely swallow his pride. He would have to learn to truly respect Eleanor, to trust her, to put her on an equal footing—no, he'd have to put her on a pedestal. That's the only way Eleanor might take him back."

Vanessa found the idea utterly ridiculous. She sneered, "A pedestal? How could someone like Ian ever look up to anyone? You don't know him at all."

"With Eleanor's current achievements in the scientific field, even the most arrogant men are impressed by her. If Ian doesn't change his arrogant ways, he'll have to learn to show vulnerability, to be honest, and to admit his past mistakes. Otherwise, he'll never win her back in this lifetime."

Vanessa's face instantly twisted with jealousy. The thought of the high and mighty Ian having to humbly and carefully win Eleanor back made her stomach churn with a mix of emotions.

The mental image was enough to make her contort with envy.

But a wave of panic washed over her.

Maybe—maybe Ian really would become a humble suitor for Eleanor's sake.

Laverne was about to continue when Vanessa cut her off sharply. "That's enough. Stop talking."

She didn't want to hear another word.

Laverne fell silent. She had said so much in the hopes of making Vanessa see the truth: she needed to stay out of Ian and Eleanor's world, or she would only end up humiliating herself.

Vanessa stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The light reflected off her pale face, but her eyes were still filled with ambition.

She turned back, unable to resist one last bitter remark. "There are thousands of brilliant women in this world. It's not like Ian is going to be hung up on Eleanor forever."

Laverne looked at her resentful profile and nodded. "True, there are plenty of brilliant women out there. But in the last ten years, have you seen any other woman by Ian's side?"

The realization was so painful she could barely breathe.

There had been a few times at the hospital when Eleanor had seen him with her and assumed the research was for her. At the time, she was happy to let Eleanor misunderstand. But in reality, when Eleanor had thrown herself into leukemia research, who was Ian so desperate to save?

It definitely wasn't her.

Could it be—Vanessa narrowed her eyes. Was Evelyn still at risk for leukemia? Only someone Ian cared about that deeply would make him go to such lengths.

She remembered Faye telling her how Ian had constantly pushed Eleanor for results, even making her work overtime, as if he were in a race against time. Back then, she'd been pleased, thinking Ian was just trying to make Eleanor suffer.

But who was Ian trying to save with that leukemia drug?