No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1472

"Stop talking nonsense and let's go. Help me pick out a pen for him," Eleanor said, pulling her along.

Joy didn't press the issue. Even without her spelling it out, Eleanor knew exactly what was going on. Ian had done so much, and his goal was crystal clear.

"Let's go then! But are you sure you just want to get him a pen?"

"Yeah," Eleanor nodded. She was sure.

"A pen works, but knowing Ian, he's probably going to hope he can use it to sign your remarriage papers someday!" Joy's guesses were getting wilder by the minute.

Eleanor shot her a warning glare. "Joy."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop joking. Come on, there's a Montblanc boutique just up ahead." Joy finally dropped the teasing.

After buying the pen, Eleanor went with Joy to a children's clothing store, picking up three outfits for Joy's baby while they were there.

Eleanor got home at three in the afternoon. Not wanting to head over to Goodwin Manor too early, she worked until five-thirty before finally driving over.

When she arrived at Goodwin Manor, she saw that Serena had arranged an elaborate setup. The entire garden was steeped in a festive, birthday atmosphere.

String lights twinkled, balloons floated in the air, and giant marquee letters glowed in the twilight. A long dining table sat on the stone patio in the middle of the lawn, draped in a crisp white tablecloth and set with elegant tableware and fresh floral centerpieces. Several waitstaff in matching uniforms moved about, bustling yet organized.

Goodwin Manor rarely hosted such lively parties, but this was undoubtedly Serena's idea.

Eleanor carried her gift into the living room, where Magdalen greeted her happily. "Ellie, you're here."

"Grandma!" Eleanor walked over and sat beside her.

Ian nodded. "Yeah, let me go upstairs and take a quick shower. I'll be right back down." With that, his gaze fell on Eleanor.

When their eyes met, Eleanor subtly looked away. A soft smile touched Ian's eyes as he headed upstairs.

Twenty minutes later, he came back down wearing a dark blue button-down shirt. The top buttons were left casually undone, giving him an effortlessly charming look.

He stepped out of the living room and into the garden. His family was already seated out there under the starry sky, surrounded by an atmosphere of pure, sweet happiness.

Ian paused for a moment.

He listened to the laughter coming from the dining table—his grandmother, his mother, Eleanor, his sister, his daughter. The scene felt like a warm embrace, leaving a lasting impression on his heart.

For so many years, his life had been consumed by work, responsibilities, and an endless stream of goals. He had taken over the Goodwin & Co. empire, amassed wealth and prestige, and calculated every move with precision. But he rarely stopped to ask himself: what was the point of it all?