Chapter 341

The next morning at the Benton family's villa, Lillian got up for a glass of water and, out of habit, unlocked her phone.

A message poppedup.

She glanced at it-and instantly sprayed water across the room in shock.

Eleanor, still half-asleep beside her, stirred at the sound. Her voice came muffled with drowsiness."Lillian,keep it down."

But Lillian didn't even bother to wipe her mouth. She slammed the glass onto the table and rushed over,yanking the blanket right off Eleanor.

"Eleanor,wake up! You have to see this!"

Eleanor groaned, forcing her eyes open. Her vision was still hazy, but the moment she focused on the phone screen, sleep vanished in an instant.

Lillian rattled on breathlessly. "Didn't you say you and Nolan were practically done for? Then why are you suddenly getting engaged? If not for a friend of mine -she's a wedding planner, by the way-telling me Erick asked her team to arrange an engagement banquet, I'd still be clueless!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she grew. She jabbed Eleanor's forehead with her finger. "We're this close,and you kept it from me?"

Eleanor frowned, took the phone, and read the message again,slowly.

She and Nolan hadn't spoken about an engagement recently at all.

That could only mean one thing-the one getting engaged to Nolan wasn't her.

A dull ache spread from her chest, seeping through her whole body.

But she forced it down and masked it with calm.

Handing the phone back, she said lightly, as if it were nothing, "Forget it. The engagement banquet must be for Elora."

Lillian froze, then exploded. "What?! Elora? That bitch?She's really that good at twisting men around her finger? How did she win him over so fast?"

A faint smirk tugged at Eleanor's lips. "Who knows?Maybe she tried the suicide trick again." Lillian stomped her foot, fuming. But watching Eleanor's composure only sharpened her curiosity."You're not upset?" she pressed.

Eleanor slipped out of bed, lifting the blanket aside."Not at all. We were bound to break up sooner or later. Whoever he marries in the end, it was never going to be me. So what difference does it make?"

With that, she walked straight into the bathroom.

Lillian's chest tightened as she watched her go.

She knew Eleanor too well.

The calmer Eleanor acted, the more she was hurting inside.

Even if it wasn't heartbreak, it had to sting.

That decided it-she wouldn't let Eleanor sit around dwelling on this.

Snatching up her phone, Lillian opened a group chat and typed, "I'm hosting an outdoor barbecue today.Who's in?"

Replies came pouring back almost instantly.

"I'm down, Lillian!"

"Me too!"

"Can we bring plus ones?"

Within minutes, five guys and five girls had signed up.

With the two of them included, the group totaled twelve.

Satisfied, Lillian quickly reserved their usual barbecue spot.

Just then, the bathroom door opened.

Eleanor stepped out, freshly washed.

Lillian bounded over and grabbed her hand."Come on,get changed. We're going to a barbecue."

Eleanor caught the sparkle in her eyes and instantly understood-this was Lillian's way of cheering her up.

Not wanting to brush off her friend's efforts, Eleanor nodded gently. "Alright."