Chapter 330

Nolan made his way back to Regal Heights, his mind a tangled mess.

All the way home, he went over everything that had happened, trying to pinpoint where things had gone wrong, but he kept coming up blank.

Elora noticed the storm brewing on his face and stepped closer, voice hesitant. "Nolan, did I mess things up between you and Eleanor?"

Nolan stayed silent. His lack of answer said more than words ever could.

In truth, he knew the fault wasn't hers but his.

He just didn't know how tofix it.

Mock guilt softened Elora's eyes. "Maybe we could go to the mall tomorrow? Pick out something nice for Eleanor to smooth things over?"

Nolan didn't have any better ideas, so he simply nodded.

Elora retreated quietly to her room, grabbed her phone, and typed a quick message.

"Ady, Nolan's agreed to go to the mall tomorrow."

Almost immediately, a reply buzzed back.

"Excellent. Stick to the plan. No mistakes."

Ady's goal was crystal clear.

She was determined to tear Nolan and Eleanor apart,no matter the cost.

...

The next morning, Nolan and Elora set out early.

After a short walk through the streets, they stepped into a sleek, upscale jewelry store.

Elora's eyes roamed the displays, finally resting on a sapphire necklace that seemed to shimmer with an inner fire. "Nolan, this one. It's perfect."

Nolan followed her eyes and felt his own widen.

The necklace glimmered, with diamonds catching the light like tiny stars surrounding the deep,rich sapphire at its center. It was elegant and bold, exactly the kind of piece that would suit Eleanor.

A sales associate hurried over. "Beautiful choice! This is our centerpiece, the Heart of the Ocean." With practiced ease, she lifted the necklace and offered,"Would you like to try it on?"

Elora shook her head quickly, her hands fluttering."O no, it's not for me. It's for my friend's girlfriend."

The sales associate tilted her head. "Do you know her neck size? We can adjust it perfectly."

"About the same as mine," Elora offered.

The sales associate glanced at Nolan. "Sir, if it's alright, she could try it on to make sure it fits."

Nolan didn't overthink< it. He gave a simple nod.

Carefully, the sales associate fastened the sapphire necklace around Elora's neck, and for a moment,the world seemed to pause.

It was mesmerizing.

Nolan couldn't stop picturing it on Eleanor. He knew she would shine in it.

"Wrap it up," he instructed, swiping his card without hesitation.

But what Nolan didn't notice was that a tabloid reporter nearby had captured the moment,interpreting the scene entirely out of context. Through the camera lens, it looked like a stylish,sophisticated man admiring a graceful woman,splurging on a jewel without a second thought.

The camera shutter blended with the mall's everyday noise,sealing the image that would ignite gossip and scandal far beyond the jewelry store's walls.