Chapter 336

The fans had nailed it on the head.

That mysterious vote? It was Nolan's own.

As he stared at the blinding tally on his phone screen,Nolan's expression turned glacial.

His eyes slid toward Erick, who stood stiffly to the side.

Erick practically froze, a chill running down his spine.He rushed to explain, his voice shaky, "Mr. Stewart, the system requires real names-no dummy accounts allowed."

There was more he dared not confess.

Nolan's name was already poisoned online.

Just earlier, Erick had risked reaching out to a troll boss to buy votes, but he had nearly been exposed and dragged into a scandal.

By sheer luck-and quick reflexes-he managed to slip away unscathed.

Grinding his teeth, Nolan spat out his order. "Mobilize everyone in the company to vote. I must climb to the top. If not, clear out yourdesk."

Erick's heart sank, despair written across his face.

The task was a mountain too steep to climb.

But faced with Nolan's lethal glare, he could only bow his head and swallow the bitter pill. "Understood."

When Erick was gone, Nolan's gaze drifted back to his phone.

The messages he had fired off to Eleanor still sat in limbo,unanswered.

Refusing to give up, he typed again. "Eleanor, I'm sorry. Can we meet? I just want five minutes to explain.I know you're busy, but please."

The message barely left his fingers when a soft knock sounded at the study door.

Elora stepped in, cradling a steaming bowl. "Nolan,you've gone all day without a bite. Please, have some soup-it'll warm your stomach."

Nolan shook his head, appetite nowhere to be found."No. Take it away."

Elora's eyes shimmered red, lips trembling with hurt."It is all my fault. Eleanor misunderstood because of me. Nolan, maybe... maybe I should just disappear."

At last, Nolan tore his gaze from the glowing screen.

But he wasn't in the mood for gentle words. His reply was stiff, mechanical. "Don't talk nonsense. None of this is on you."

He was about to turn back to his phone when a flash of movement caught his eye-Elora's hand, faintly swollen.

"What happened to your hand?" he asked sharply.

Startled,Elora instinctively tucked it behind her back,stammering, unwilling to explain.

Nolan's patience had finally worn thin. Without another word, he summoned the butler inside.

The butler's gaze flicked nervously from Elora to Nolan's stormy face before he carefully explained,"Mr. Stewart, Elora insisted on preparing the soup herself.W/e tried to dissuade her, but she burned her hand in the process and also ruined the bracelet your sister gifted her."

At those words, the fire in Nolan's chest dimmed a little. His tone softened as he said, "I'll take you to pick out a new one this afternoon."

Elora nodded meekly, like a child caught in mischief, and trailed after the butler as they left the room.

Once again, the study sank into heavy, suffocating silence.

Then, out of nowhere, the chime of a notification shattered the stillness.

Nolan snatched up his phone at once.

It was a message from Eleanor.

Nolan's heart gave a leap, his breath hitching with hope, but the words on the screen were a bucket of ice water.

"I'm too busy. I don't have time to meet you."

The light in Nolan's eyes died out on the spot.

Leaning back in his chair, Nolan felt every ounce of strength drain from his body. His heart was nothing but a hollow ache,filled with despair.

Was Eleanor really slipping through his fingers? The thought alone was unbearable-he couldn't accept it.