No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 95

Does Eleanor know? If the bone marrow sample ends up saving Vanessa, can Eleanor accept that?

Ian's tone earlier made it sound as if Eleanor's feelings weren't even a consideration.

Now Joel found himself hesitating, wondering whether he ought to tell Eleanor the truth. With Ian pouring money into the lab and all the proper paperwork in order, even if Eleanor wanted to stop things, it was still all perfectly legal.

Rubbing his temples, Joel felt a headache coming on, torn by indecision.

Just then, his assistant Minnie poked her head in. "Joel, it's time to leave for Marlowe Village."

"Bring Eleanor with us," Joel said.

"Of course!"

Eleanor had already agreed to visit Marlowe Village, and now she was ready, bag in hand, following Minnie to the elevator. Joel joined them, pausing to give Eleanor a look full of concern.

"Ride with me," he said gently.

"Sure!" Eleanor replied with a nod.

In the parking lot, a sleek black Rolls-Royce stood out among the other cars. Inside, Ian was still on the phone, while Vanessa chatted with a friend on her own. Glancing up, Vanessa noticed someone approaching. When she saw Joel and Eleanor walking together toward another car, she couldn't help but smile slyly and turned to Ian. "Ian, looks like your wife and Mr. Kingsley are heading out together."

Ian finished his call just as Vanessa spoke. He looked through the window and saw Eleanor and Joel getting into a car, clearly about to leave.

As Eleanor buckled her seatbelt, she caught a glimpse of the Rolls-Royce parked diagonally across from them—Ian's car. She could just make out the silhouettes of Ian and Vanessa in the back seat. Joel noticed as well.

"Want to go over and say hi?" Joel asked.

Eleanor shook her head, her voice cool. "No. Let's just go."

Joel stepped on the gas, and the car surged toward the exit.

A moment later, Ian's Rolls-Royce pulled out too. Watching Joel's car take a turn away from downtown, Ian frowned and pulled out his phone to text Eleanor.

Joel swallowed hard. "No reason. Just checking in on you."

"My dad died so suddenly. I never even got to say goodbye," Eleanor said softly, regret in her voice.

Joel didn't say anything more. Sometimes, silence was its own kind of protection.

Later, Joel's team bought a few fish from Marlowe Village to take back to the lab. Eleanor buried herself in her work, deciding to spend the night in the lab's dormitory.

11 p.m.

Eleanor was hunched over a microscope, studying live samples, when her phone buzzed on the table beside her. She glanced at the screen—Ian.

She picked up, her voice flat. "Hello?"

"So, are you planning to stay out all night now?" Ian's voice was cold on the other end.