No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 193

Ian was a steady driver, and there wasn't much for Eleanor to say to him. Yet instead of pulling up at the hospital, his car stopped in front of a small restaurant.

Eleanor frowned, glancing at him as she asked, "Why are we here?"

"I already asked Serena to bring Evelyn here. Let's get something to eat first," Ian replied, stepping out of the car.

Eleanor felt a stab of frustration, but since her sister-in-law had brought her daughter to the restaurant, she couldn't just leave. Sighing, she followed Ian inside.

Truth be told, hunger was gnawing at her too—her stomach had started to ache.

They picked a table by the window. Ian sat down, scanning the menu before asking Eleanor what she'd like. She barely looked up from her phone and murmured, "Whatever's fine."

Ian ordered five dishes, then quietly sipped his tea while Eleanor kept her eyes glued to her screen.

The hospital wasn't far; about ten minutes later, Serena arrived, holding Evelyn's hand. Vanessa walked in alongside them.

Eleanor's expression faltered. She'd thought someone from the Goodwin family was looking after her daughter—she hadn't expected Vanessa. Now that Vanessa was pregnant, she no longer needed to curry favor with her, and she'd secured her own place in the Goodwin household.

Adults didn't need to shout or curse to bully a child. Sometimes, all it took was a look to bruise a little heart.

Eleanor's appetite vanished.

"Mommy!" Evelyn ran over, cheerful as ever.

Eleanor took her daughter's hand and turned to Ian. "You all go ahead and eat. We're leaving."

Vanessa called out with a smile, "Miss Sutton, are you in such a hurry?"

Serena looped her arm through Vanessa's. "Vanessa, you haven't had dinner yet, have you? Why not eat with my brother?"

Vanessa gave a modest laugh. "Oh, I couldn't possibly impose."

"I think you should wait. I'm worried she won't be able to handle it," Ian suggested quietly.

Eleanor wasn't sure what he meant by that. As she slid into the driver's seat, Ian's voice came again, gentle but firm, "Drive safe."

With Evelyn in the car, Eleanor always drove cautiously.

Once they'd pulled away, Ian headed back inside. Serena met him at the door. "Ian, Vanessa's so hungry her stomach hurts. You should eat with her—she can't afford to skip meals right now."

Ian waved over the waiter and ordered two more dishes Vanessa could stomach. Serena sat down to keep them company.

Just then, Vanessa's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. "Excuse me, I need to take this."

The delicate, fragile act Vanessa had put on in front of Ian vanished as soon as she stepped outside. Wrapping her arms around herself, she walked a little further from the restaurant before answering. "Hello, Dad?"