Chapter 339

Eleanor's smile dimmed a little.

Leaning back against the plush sofa, she gave a faint shake of her head. "No. But I sense it's only a matter of time."

The weight Nolan carried over Reyna pressed too heavily, and his duty always overpowered everything else.

When it came to Elora, unless she gave herself away Nolan would stand as her protector.

Patience remained with Eleanor, yet she refused to drain herself endlessly in a bond with no horizon ahead.

Lillian released a sympathetic sigh at Eleanor's remark."But you and he truly looked perfect together."

Eleanor countered with a light smile. "Things are fine now. I can devote myself fully to shaping my career."

She pinched Lillian's cheek and offered earnest advice."You as well. Even if that person happens to be my brother, I must tell you-never allow feelings to blind judgment.Understand?"

Lillian batted her hand aside. "I get it."

With that, she dropped onto the sofa and settled her head on Eleanor's lap. "I'm staying here tonight."

"That's great," Eleanor replied at once.

Time apart had left them with endless stories to share.

Laughter filled the room again, chasing away the shadows that lingered earlier.

Meanwhile, a heavier air weighed down at the villa in Regal Heights.

Elora stood uneasy before Nolan. "Nolan, do you have something to say to me?"

He kept his gaze away. He set his phone on the table,the picture from Lillian glowing on the screen.

His finger tapped softly against the wood, his tone stripped of feeling. "Explain."

Elora believed he possessed proof of her dealings with Ady and felt unsettled at first.

Yet once her eyes landed on the picture, calmness returned.

She looked squarely at Nolan. "That man is my former boyfriend. For a while, he insisted I go to Breoqua with him. I wanted to refuse, but he used my father to threaten me."

Nolan regarded her without reaction, keeping silent.

He pocketed the phone and forwarded the picture to Erick, attaching a short instruction. "Check if this man matches the one from the hospital."

Erick's answer arrived swiftly. "I can't say for certain.I only caught a glimpse of his back there, but their builds seem alike."

Nolan's silence deepened, and Elora grew more unsettled.

Drawing a slow breath, she clutched lightly at his sleeve. "Nolan, don't you trust me? You and Eleanor ended up like this because of me. Why don't you both just get engaged right away? Once that's announced,every rumor will vanish, and Eleanor won't stay angry anymore."

Ady had once told her that if Nolan grew doubtful,she should urge him toward engagement or even marriage with Eleanor.

She never understood Ady's reason, but to her, belief from Nolan mattered more than anything.

He hadn't expected her suggestion and asked before thinking, "What about you?"

Elora gave a carefree smile. "I'll manage. Say I tried to wreck your relationship if you must. As long as people see me as the one who once belonged to you, that man won't dare stir trouble again."

Instantly, Nolan's doubts dissolved.

In his mind, Elora had been transparent and straightforward all along.

Her account matched both her hardships and what his inquiries had uncovered.

He had been wrong to question her.

Besides, her proposal carried real weight.

If he and Eleanor became engaged, they could openly share a home, letting him watch over Elora without neglecting Eleanor.

That way, life between him and Eleanor mnight return to how it had once been.