No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1391

Eleanor had seen Vanessa's schemes and manipulations firsthand. The woman would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

Eleanor's heart sank as she remembered those years—Gina Quinn's increasingly critical and cold attitude toward her, and the undisguised affection she had shown Vanessa during Christmas of the fourth year.

"At the time, I was pushing for a core business transformation at Goodwin & Co.," Ian explained. "After my father passed, the board tried to replace me several times. If I couldn't meet the project deadlines I'd promised them, I could be ousted at any moment. The pressure was immense, and I was spread too thin. By the time I realized what was happening, Vanessa had already deeply influenced how my mother and Serena saw you."

Eleanor's breath caught. "You never told me any of that."

"I'm sorry. I tried talking to my mother about Vanessa, but I was indecisive and didn't handle it firmly enough. That's what allowed Vanessa to create all the problems that came later."

Eleanor understood his predicament. Vanessa was his mother's only hope for survival at the time. No matter how ruthless he was, he couldn't afford to burn that bridge. As long as Vanessa was willing to threaten her own life, he had to beg her, to placate her.

"I wasn't talking about that," Eleanor said softly. "I meant the company. Why didn't you tell me what was happening at work?"

Ian was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "Telling you back then would have only made you worry. Besides, I was on the verge of losing control of Goodwin & Co. and becoming a nobody. I didn't want to be a failure."

Eleanor fell silent. He had certainly been proud back then.

But a sharp pang still pierced her heart. It all made sense now—why he came home later and later those years, always looking exhausted. In a world she couldn't see, he had been fighting a silent war, where one misstep could have cost him everything.

She remembered seeing news a few years ago about a major shake-up on the Goodwin & Co. board. That must have been his move to save himself.

So, Ian had never brought his work problems home, nor had he ever truly brought her into his world. She had been like a sheltered wife, living a carefree life, oblivious to the harsh realities he faced.

"I'm sorry, Ellie." Ian's eyes grew misty. It had been so long since he'd called her by her nickname.

"It was my arrogance and my assumptions that destroyed what we had and hurt you so deeply."

Eleanor's own eyes welled with tears. She turned away, looking elsewhere. "You don't have to apologize anymore. We both made mistakes, and we both paid the price."

Suddenly, a firm hand wrapped around her shoulder. The next second, she was pulled into Ian's arms.

His other arm circled her waist, holding her tight.