Chapter 362

Nolan spent the entire day moping around the house,dragging his feet and staring at nothing.

The next morning, he forced himself to shake off the gloom.

He couldn't stay like this.

He had to find Eleanor.

He started with the Enigma store, but the staff toldhim she hadn't shown up today.

Almost automatically, Nolan got back in his car and drove toward the Hope House.

Standing outside the orphanage, he saw her-the one who had been on his mind nonstop.

Eleanor crouched on the ground, laughing softly with a little girl in pigtails.

Her smile was bright, full of warmth, and completely at ease. Sunlight caught her profile, making her look breathtaking.

Children surrounded her, laughing and playing, and for a moment, it seemed like the breakup hadn't touched her at all.

Seeing her like this, so alive and happy, hit Nolan like a punch to the chest.

He just stood there, silent and still, not wanting to shatter the moment.

Hours passed until the sun dipped low. Eleanor finally waved goodbye to the children and stepped toward the gate.

She saw Nolan leaning against his car and froze briefly,then squared her shoulders and tried to walk past him.

"Eleanor, can we talk?" Nolan's voice came out rough.

She stopped, turned slightly, her eyes distant and guarded.

"There's nothing left to talk about. You should return to Elora," she responded, already stepping toward the waiting car.

Panic flared inside Nolan.Without thinking,he reached out and caught her wrist. "Eleanor!"

Her eyes narrowed, her voice sharp and controlled."Let go, Nolan. People might misunderstand."

Reluctantly,he released her, watching in silence as she slid into the car and drove off. Nolan stayed frozen for a long moment, trying to steady the storm inside him.

She belonged to him, and he wasn't about to let that slip away.

Nolan then grabbed his phone and called Erick.

"Send me everything on tomorrow's summit. I want it all."

Within moments, the files were delivered.

The upcoming summit was all about bridging domestic and international opportunities, and the Benton family's interest in local ventures gave Nolan an angle.

Since Eleanor cared about them, he could leverage that.

With a plan slowly taking shape in his mind, Nolan returned to the estate in Regal Heights.

The moment he stepped inside, he froze. In the center of the living room stood Elora.

She looked small, almost vulnerable, wrapped in a simple cotton nightgown that made her seem out of place in the grand villa.

"You're back?" she asked quickly, reading the dark expression on his face. Nolan's jaw tightened, but before he could respond,Elora hurried on. "I can't stay at my place anymore.I was scared. Can I stay here?"

Right when Nolan was about to dismiss her request,the housekeeper who had been tasked with taking care of her hurried over, looking anxious.

"Sir, Miss Guyton was shaking when she got home.She locked herself in and hasn't eaten or drunk anything.I'm genuinely concerned about her," the housekeeper chimed in.

Nolan rubbed his brow, torn for a moment,before reluctantly giving in. "She can stay on the second floor of the guest cottage back there."

The guest cottage, a modest two-story building once reserved for staff, had plenty of space.

With the reduced staff, the first floor was in use, but the upper floor remained completely vacant.

At more than two thousand square feet, it was hardly a step down for Elora.

Relief washed over her face. "Thank you," she murmured softly.

It wasn't exactly the outcome she had been hoping for,but being nearby gave her the perfect opportunity to finish her task. Nolan, of course, remained unaware of her true intentions.

He turned back to the housekeeper, and instructed,"Show her to the second floor."

Once she was escorted away, Nolan strode up to his study.

At this moment, nothing else mattered to him.All that counted was wvinning Eleanor back.