Chapter 338

That evening, Nolan couldn't hold back any longer. He drove straight to the Benton family's villa.

Just as he reached the iron gates, Lillian-freshly returned to the country-cut him off.

Her eyes blazed as she snapped, "How dare you show your face here again?"

Nolan's lips pressed into a thin line. "I came to see Eleanor."

Lillian's patience snapped. "What happened between you two is yours to deal with. I'm not supposed to meddle. But let's face it-you hurt her. If you're guilty,fix it. Don't stand here pretending to be innocent and devoted."

She rarely spoke this much to Nolan, but for Eleanor's sake,shne didn't hold back.

Nolan's fists tightened at his sides.

His voice came rough, almost broken. "You're right.Even if Elora is innocent, I shouldn't have neglected Eleanor. That's my mistake." Lillian's anger flared. "Innocent? You actually believe Elora is innocent?"

Furious, she yanked out her phone and shoved a photo in front of him. "Take a look. Still think she's innocent?"

The picture showed Elora clinging to a tattooed man in a bar.

But the real sting lay in the location stamped on the image-Breoqua.

Nolan's brows knotted.

Elora was supposed to be in Zerovia all along.

Why was she in Breoqua?

And who was this man?

Lillian caught the suspicion flashing across his face.Her tone grew sharper. "Fraser gave me this.He thought it might help Eleanor. I only showed it because I'm sick of the lies. I don't know everything about Elora, but one thing's certain-she's not the innocent girI she pretends to be."

Without waiting for his response, she continued,"Check for yourself if you don't believe me. But listen to me carefully; until you uncover the truth,stay away from Eleanor. One wrong word fromn you could shatter her completely."

With that, she brushed past him and strode into the villa, leaving Nolan standing at the gate,frozen in place.

All this time, he had believed Elora was a helpless girl in need of protection.

Now, doubt gnawed at him. The truth didn't look so simple anymore.

He cast one last, long look at the villa before turning back to his car and starting the engine.

...

Inside, Lillian dropped her bag the moment she saw Eleanor curled up on the sofa, tablet in hand.

She rushed forward like a storm and wrapped Eleanor in a tight embrace. "Eleanor! I missed you so much!"

Eleanor, caught off guard, laughed breathlessly and patted her friend's back. "Easy, easy! You just landed and came straight here?"

Pulling back, she studied her curiously.′′SO,how are things with Fraser? Any progress?"

Lillian instantly deflated, flopping cross-legged onto the carpet. "No progress at all. He was infuriating."

Then, her lips curved into a sly grin. "But I did kiss him."

Eleanor froze, then burst into laughter. "Wow! So you're really aiming to be my sister-in-law,huh?"

Flushed red from the teasing, Lillian gave her a playful shove. "Stop it."

Her smile faded, and her tone turned serious. "Tell me honestly... Did you really break up with Nolan? I don't trust what the media says. I want to hear it from you."