No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 669

It took a moment for the call to connect. Before the person on the other end could get a word out, Vanessa’s breathless voice broke through. “Ian, I’m about to faint. Help me—the restroom.”

Eleanor had just returned to her seat when she saw Ian quickly stand up. At that moment, Mansfield handed her her phone, which was flashing.

She glanced at the screen—Joslyn was calling. Without hesitation, Eleanor stepped out to the quiet hallway beside the hall and answered.

“Mom, can I have a few cookies?” Evelyn’s small voice came through.

Eleanor knew Joslyn would give her something to snack on, but Evelyn always asked her first anyway. Eleanor smiled. “Alright, but just two, okay?”

“Okay, Mom! I love you!”

As Eleanor ended the call, hurried footsteps sounded behind her. She turned to see Ian striding toward her from the direction of the restrooms, Vanessa cradled in his arms.

Their eyes met. Vanessa, pale and fragile, clung to his shoulder, her slender arms wrapped around him as if she belonged nowhere else.

For a moment, Ian’s entire body tensed; his breath caught as the three of them came face-to-face in the hallway.

Vanessa cracked her eyelids open, and when she saw Eleanor, a triumphant little smile—one only Eleanor could see—curved at her lips. She nestled closer to Ian’s chest, her voice barely a whisper, “Ian, I feel awful… so dizzy…”

Ian’s jaw tightened. Without a word, he swept past Eleanor, carrying Vanessa with steady, urgent strides.

He looked as if he were carrying someone more precious to him than his own life.

The air still lingered with Ian’s crisp cedar scent as Eleanor breathed in. To her, it was suddenly the most nauseating smell in the world. She covered her nose, turned, and walked back into the hall.

Mansfield was waiting for her. “Is Evelyn alright?”

“She’s fine—she just wanted an extra cookie.” Eleanor gave a small smile.

Mansfield grinned. “She’s adorable. Really.”

The rest of the evening passed without Ian returning; his seat remained empty until the very end.

But Mansfield waved her off. “I’m completely recovered. I can drive, really.”

He noticed how tired Eleanor looked and decided to let her rest.

When the valet brought Eleanor’s car around, Mansfield opened the driver’s door and climbed in.

On the way home, Mansfield noticed Eleanor had fallen quiet. He glanced over, concern in his voice. “Work keeping you busy?”

“It’s just been a lot lately,” she admitted.

“My dad mentioned you’re leading that brain-computer research project now. That’s incredible,” Mansfield said, genuine admiration in his tone.

Eleanor’s talents never failed to impress him.

But to Mansfield, she still looked like someone delicate—someone who, despite her strength, always seemed to need a little extra protecting.