Chapter 383

The signing ceremony between the Benton and the Cohen families was alive with excitement.

Everything went off without a hitch.

Maverick's father, tied up overseas, had left the responsibility to his son, a clear sign of trust.

After the signing, it was time for mingling and negotiations.

Jeff and Hilda followed Maverick into a VIP lounge for private talks.

Eleanor, never one for such gatherings, slipped away with an excuse.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting silhouette.

Her heart skipped.Nolan?

She frowned.

What on earth was he doing here?

Before Eleanor could dwell on it, Lillianbounced over with two delicate mousse cakes in hand.

"Eleanor, look at all these roses. Doesn't it feel like an engagement party?" Lillian scanned the lavish setup.clearly impressed.

The meaning behind the lavish display was too obvious.

Eleanor quickly snatched a cake and shoved it into Lillian's mouth. "Eat. Less talk, more chewing."

Lillian blinked, chewing, but soon enough her eyes widened.

Fannie and Elora were heading their way.

Lillian almost choked,pounding her chest."Wait-they didn't get invited. How did they get in?"

The moment she stopped talking,they were already standing before Eleanor.

"Eleanor!" Fannie called sweetly, reaching out to link arms with her.

Eleanor smoothly stepped aside, dodging the touch.

Fannie, pretending not to notice, pressed on with her cheerful act. "It's been forever. I've missed you so much."

Elora followed,pale and trembling, her eyes swollen red as if she had suffered the world's cruelty. She bowed deeply before Eleanor. "I'm sorry, Eleanor.Everything before was my fault. Please don't blame Nolan."

Her pitiful display made Lillian's blood boil. She jumped in front of Eleanor. "Cut the act. What, are you trying to make us the villains now? If anything happens to you, are you going to throw the blame at us too?"

Eleanor had no patience for this farce.

She clasped Lillian's hand and turned to leave.

But then a low, familiar voice rang out behind them.

"Why are you here?"

Nolan rushed over, his chest tightening at the scene.

Fannie's relief was mixed with panic as she tugged his sleeve. "Nolan, I brought Elora. She just wanted to apologize to Eleanor in person."

Nolan's eyes bypassed her, locking onto Eleanor.

Then he turned to his sister, his tone firm. "This is absurd. Take her back, now."

Fannie hesitated, wanting to defend Elora. "But Elora _ " Elora tugged gently on her arm. shaking her head."Fannie, it's fine. Don't make things harder for Nolan."

When she heard those words, Fannie's sympathy toward Elora intensified.

Elora turned to leave, but after two steps her body swayed.She stumbled,nearly collapsing

"Elora!" Fannie rushed to catch her.

Something small slipped from Elora's pocket and clattered to the floor.

A pregnancy test.

Two red lines.

Fannie gasped,covering her mouth in shock.

The room froze, eyes glued to the damning evidence.

Eleanor's breath caught, her body stiff.

Nolan's face darkened like a storm.

Elora's eyes widened in horror. She scrambled to snatch the test from the floor.

Nolan's fists clenched. He ignored her and strode straight to Eleanor. "Eleanor, I don't know what this is about, but it's not mine. You believe me,don't you Her silence made his voice tighten. Since I brought her back, I've kept her in the guesthouse. There's been nothing between us. I swear it!"

Eleanor studied him quietly,her expression unreadable.

She knew Nolan too well.

Even after their breakup, she believed he wouldn't have denied it if he had touched Elora.

Something about this stank of deceit.

Across from her, Elora's face turned ashen. She wouldn't meet Eleanor's gaze. "I'm sorry, Eleanor. This isn't Nolan's fault. It's mine. My mistake. I... I'll get rid of the baby. I won't let it ruin you and Nolan."

With that, her knees buckled, and she collapsed.

Fannie cried, cradling her fainting body in panic,"Elora!"

Her thoughts scrambled, she blurted out, "Nolan,could this be... From that time at the pool?"

The words detonated like a bomb.

Eleanor froze, her face turning to ice.

That time at the pool?

So, Nolan had lied to her face. A sharp bitterness tore through her chest

Nolan's eyes blazed as he turned on Fannie.

What sort of nonsense was she spewing?!

Fannie, trembling,realized too late what she had said.

She clapped her hand over her mouth. But the damage had already been done.