Chapter 353

Eleanor had no idea about the scheming taking place behind her back.

Even if she had, she probably wouldn't have given it a second thought.

The debut of Enigma Group's menswear line blew all her expectations out of the water.

In Vladena, the store was so crowded that there was hardly space to move, while online orders kept flooding in nonstop.

Eleanor found herself swept up in a nonstop rush of tasks, with hardly a moment to catch her breath.

With the buzz reaching new heights,Eleanor needed to capitalize on the momentum, finalizing next season's collection while keeping an eye on the factory to ramp up production for all the bestsellers.

Eleanor's entire team hustled right alongside her,swept up in the same frantic energy.

Not until the clock struck midnight and she had signed off on the last round of fabric samples did Eleanor finally get a chance to rest.

She rubbed the tension from her neck,said goodnight to those still working late, and slipped quietly out of the store.

A chilly night wind offered a little relief from the exhaustion weighing on her.

When she reached the sidewalk, Eleanor came to a sudden halt.

On the other side of the road, beneaththe soft light of a streetlamp, Nolan waited, motionless, a bouquet of red roses cradled in his arms, as if he had been standing there for ages.

As if sensing her arrival, Nolan looked up, their eyes meeting across the distance.

For one suspended moment, time seemed to freeze as they stared at each other.

A flutter of nerves made Eleanor's fingers curl tightly at her side.

Right then, a buzz from Eleanor's phone snapped her back to the moment.

She glanced at the screen and saw a new message pop up. It was from Nolan.

There was a gentle, almost hesitant tone to his wNords,something she rarely saw from him.

"Eleanor, I'd like to take you out for dinner tonight."

Eleanor's first impulse was to type out a polite excuse and turn him down.

But as she hovered over the keyboard, she found herself hesitating, unable to press send.

After all, it was just a simple meal, nothing to overthink.

With that thought, Eleanor slipped her phone back into her bag and made her way across the street to him.

Nolan brought her to a stylish rooftop bistro.

From their spot on the terrace, the lights of Elepdon sprawled out in a glittering sea below.

Their table glowed beneath a graceful candelabra,with a faint, floral fragrance drifting on the breeze.

Everything about the setup spoke of understated romance.

Midway through their meal, the restaurant's massive screen flickered on, grabbing everyone's attention. Soon, Nolan's voice came through the speakers,accompanied by soft, melodic music.

The screen played a monologue Nolan had recorded a few days earlier during their engagement celebration.

There, he appeared every bit the charismatic man,confident, full of life, and with a gaze that revealed just how deeply he cared for Eleanor as he shared their journey together.

As the video faded out, Nolan quietly put his fork aside and reached for Eleanor's hand, his expression vulnerable and sincere.

"Eleanor, my feelings for you haven't changed. I've done a lot of thinking lately. I swear I'll arrange for Elora to leave. If I do that, do you think we could ever go back to how we were?"

The movement of Eleanor's wineglass stilled for a moment.

She met Nolan's hopeful eyes and asked evenly, "So you think something is off with Elora?"

Nolan gave a small shake of his head. "No, that's not it."

But deep down, he understood that even if there was nothing wrong with Elora, she had to leave. He couldn't let his compassion for Elora ruin the future he was building with the one he loved.

He just needed to make sure Elora had a safe place to land.

Eleanor swirled her wine, her face composed and impossible to read. "If you can actually do that, then maybe I'll reconsider."

Still, Eleanor understood just how deeply Nolan cherished his mother's memory.

That kind of bond made it hard to believe he would ever truly let go of Elora.

Nolan, however, missed the subtle warning in her response.

Caught up in hope, he leaned in, intent on capturing the kiss he had missed for so long.

Eleanor instinctively turned her head, shifting her head aside to avoid his attempt.

Disappointment flashed across Nolan's face, the spark in his eyes flickering out.

Seeing him so downcast sparked a pang of gult in Eleanor. She offered a soft apology, "I'm sorry,Nolan.It's been a long time since things felt natural between us. I just need a moment."

Determined not to give up, Nolan cupped the back of her head, closing the distance and pressing his lips to hers.

Unlike before, his kiss was passionate yet desperate,as if he feared losing her forever.

Wrapped in Nolan's arms, Eleanor breathed in his familiar scent, strong and unmistakably his.

Gradually,Eleanor found herself relaxing,letting her guard down piece by piece.

A small part of her even thought that if Nolan kept his word,she could give him another chance.