No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 142

Eleanor glanced at him coolly. "So what if I am?"

"Don't push yourself too hard. Your health matters," he said.

Ian knew she wouldn't listen. There was no way she'd pass the accelerated graduation exam.

Eleanor didn't bother to reply.

Ian's gaze lingered on the mountain of books surrounding her. Her slender figure was nearly swallowed by the stacks, as if she were being buried beneath a shadow she couldn't escape.

He failed to notice just how much weight she'd lost.

Leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, Ian spoke in his usual detached tone. "You don't have to work yourself to death like this. Whatever you want, I can give it to you."

Without even looking up, Eleanor replied, "Everything you have to offer is meaningless to me. What I want is something you'll never be able to give."

Ian froze, glancing at his watch. "Don't stay up past midnight."

Was this supposed to be concern?

No—it was just his way of controlling things, as always.

Eleanor ignored him and kept flipping through her book.

When Vanessa got home, the housekeeper was waiting with a soothing ointment for her bruise. As Vanessa sat on the edge of her bed, her phone chimed. It was a message from Serena: "Vanessa, are you still up? There's something I want to talk about."

"Yeah, I'm still awake!" Vanessa texted back.

Moments later, Serena started a video call. Vanessa dismissed the housekeeper and answered, "Hey, Serena."

"Vanessa, I figured out whose leather cord that was in Xavier's car."

"Oh? Whose was it?" Vanessa asked, curiosity piqued.

"It was Eleanor's," Serena hissed, her voice tight with anger.

Vanessa's lips curled into a knowing smile. "She wants to prove she's still got it. She's trying to win back your brother's attention."

Serena was caught off-guard. "What do you mean?"

Vanessa explained, "She went after Xavier because he's charming, and he's also Ian's friend. She thinks if she flirts with Xavier, your brother will get jealous."

Serena laughed. "My brother's never been interested in her. She's wasting her time."

Vanessa smirked. "And get this—she's cramming for her graduation exam."

"But she's only a sophomore, isn't she?"

"Your brother dropped her from his project, so now she wants to graduate early and prove herself," Vanessa said.

Serena burst out laughing. "She actually thinks she can pull it off? I can't wait to see her grades—this is going to be hilarious."