No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 637

Eleanor was halfway through dinner when her phone buzzed. It was Simone.

“Eleanor, the audit meeting for the Phase III clinical trial data is set for this Saturday at nine in the morning. The FDA experts will be joining via video, so make sure you’re there.”

Eleanor paused, fork hovering over her plate. “Saturday?”

“Yes. Do you have other plans?”

She let out a quiet sigh. There went the mother-daughter trip she’d promised for the weekend—she’d have to make it up to Evelyn over winter break. “It’s fine. I’ll be there.”

That night, Eleanor sat down with her daughter. She could see the disappointment in Evelyn’s eyes, though the little girl tried her best not to cry. Eleanor’s heart ached.

“Do you want me to call your dad and see if he can take you instead?”

“I want you to come with me,” Evelyn whispered, her lip trembling at last. She couldn’t hold back the tears.

Eleanor pulled her into a hug, gently rubbing her back. “Okay, sweetheart. When winter break comes, I promise I’ll take you to the forest park myself, all right?”

Later, Evelyn went off to play with Wiz, her stuffed rabbit, while Eleanor noticed a new message pop up from Ian.

“About the parent-child day at school this Saturday—I saw you didn’t sign up. Are you not going?”

Eleanor replied, “Evelyn isn’t going.”

“Okay!” Ian didn’t press.

After two long workdays, Friday night found Eleanor in her study, reading. Her phone rang again—Simone’s name lit up the screen.

“Eleanor, sorry for the last-minute notice, but the audit team just called. The meeting’s postponed. You’re off the hook for Saturday.”

Eleanor finally breathed easy. If she’d missed this, the disappointment would’ve been crushing.

Since it was still early, Eleanor took Evelyn to the nearby mall for snacks and supplies for the outing.

Saturday morning dawned bright and warm. Eleanor dressed Evelyn in a stylish, cozy winter coat and fixed her hair into two neat braids.

When they arrived at school, someone stood up in surprise—Xavier, dressed casually in a light trench coat. He hadn’t expected to see Eleanor.

“You made it? I thought you couldn’t get away,” Xavier asked her.

“There was supposed to be a meeting, but it was cancelled last night,” Eleanor explained.

Xavier grinned, unable to hide his pleasure as he held up a picnic basket. “That’s great—now the kids can have fun together.”