No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 331

Joy didn’t finish her sentence. She was still simmering with indignation on Eleanor’s behalf, but it seemed like Eleanor had grown immune to Ian by now.

“So, what have you been busy with lately?” Joy asked, trying to change the subject.

Eleanor told her about the failed experiment and how she was now starting over from scratch.

“Ian really doesn’t mind spending money, does he? But what does he even want from all this?” Joy pressed, looking at Eleanor.

“He pays you to bury yourself in the lab, working day and night on his projects, while he’s out there playing the perfect couple with Vanessa.” As soon as the words left her lips, Joy slapped a hand over her mouth. “Ugh! I swear, couples who flaunt their love never last.”

Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh, but after her laughter faded, her expression grew serious. “I love my work,” she said quietly. “I believe it matters. It’s meaningful.”

Then she described the patients at the hospital waiting desperately for the new treatment to work. Joy’s face shifted to one of solemn respect, and she looked at Eleanor with fresh admiration. “You’re right! I almost forgot—these hands of yours, they’re meant to save lives. What you do is something to be proud of.”

The two of them chatted until nearly half past four before Eleanor finally left to pick up her daughter. This semester, the school had added new classes, so pick-up time had shifted to five-thirty.

On the way home, Evelyn rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a piece of candy, ready to tear it open.

“Who gave you that?” Eleanor asked gently.

Evelyn waved the little candy in her hand. “Mommy, Miss Vanessa gave it to me.”

Eleanor’s breath caught. “She came to your school?”

“Yeah, she gave presents and candy to everyone in our class,” Evelyn said, then leaned in close, lowering her voice to a proud whisper. “But Mommy, Miss Vanessa gave me an extra present! It’s in my backpack. No one else got one, just me.”

She drew a slow breath, struggling to keep her composure. “She really said that?”

Evelyn tore open her candy and nodded.

Eleanor’s nails dug sharply into her palm.

Was this Ian’s idea—to use Vanessa to get close to Evelyn?

“Mommy, are you upset?” Evelyn asked, picking up on her mother’s mood in an instant.

“No, Mommy’s just thinking about something.” Eleanor forced a smile. “Evelyn, if Miss Vanessa ever wants to see you alone, you have to tell me first, alright?”