Chapter 392

Eleanor showed up in Norah's hospital room the next morning,just as she had promised.

She began treating Norah. After the session wrapped up, her shoulders relaxed and she offered Norah a reassuring smile. "You're in the clear. Just remember to listen to the doctor, take your meds, and actually get some sleep for a change. You'll bounce back in no time."

Norah's gratitude was plain as day. She clasped Eleanor's hand. "I really can't thank you enough,Eleanor. Once they let me out of here, I'll come by your place and thank you properly."

Eleanor shook her head, brushing off the thanks with a gentle laugh. "I'm just doing what David would want You don't owe me a thing," she replied.

With that, Eleanor gave a quick wave and slipped out of the room.

Out in the hallway,she nearly ran straight into Nolan.The sight of him was the last thing she expected.

What on earth was he doing here? Was he actually tailing her now?

Annoyance flickered across her face, and she shot him a glare.

"Move. I don't have time for this," Eleanor said, her tone cold.

Nolan didn't budge.

He stood his ground, clearly determined not to let her walk away so easily.

He reached for her hand, desperation written all over him. "Eleanor, just give me a few minutes. I need you to hear me out,please."

Eleanor had no interest in speaking to him, but she could feel the way strangers kept sneaking glances in their direction.

Everyone had been whispering about them lately, and just being seen standing side by side was enough to feed the rumors even more.

Reluctantly, she gave in. "Fine. Follow me."

Together, they headed up to the rooftop, away from curious eyes.

Eleanor folded her arms and kept her distance, making it clear she wasn't about to make things easy for him. "Alright, you've got your shot. Talk," she said.

Nolan didn't waste a second. He jumped right into his explanation about the pool incident, even pulling up a video that showed a maid's statement,hoping it would finally set things straight.

Once Nolan finished explaining,he shifted to the topic of Elora's supposed pregnancy, choosing his words with care.

"Eleanor, do you remember that video I showed you?The child Elora's claiming isn't mine-it belongs to that man in the footage. I've already got people searching for him, and it won't be long before we track him down. When we do, I'll hold a press conference and make everything public. I've seen what's been spreading online, and I'm sorry you had to deal with all of that."

Eleanor listened in silence, her expression unreadable.

Back when news of Elora's pregnancy first broke,it had crushed her.

She hadn't realized until then just how much it would hurt.

But she had spent the last several days picking up the pieces and focusing on her work, slowly patching her heart together. Whatever the truth was behind Elora's story,it no longer had the power to break her.

They had gone their separate ways, and she wanted to keep it that way.

With her mind made up, Eleanor simply responded, "Is that all? If you have nothing else to say, I'll be going."

She didn't wait for a response and turned to leave,her steps steady.

Nolan felt every ounce of her indifference. The ache in his chest grew sharper as he watched her walk away.

Suddenly,he reached out and wrapped his arms around her from behind, lowering his face to her shoulder in a move that felt painfully familiar.

His breath warmed her ear as he whispered, voice thick with longing, "Eleanor, I can't stop thinking about you. I've missed you dearly."

Her whole body tensed.

She didn't shrug him off right away.

Eyes squeezed shut, she let herself remember how it felt to hear those words, to be close to him, to pretend for a moment that nothing had changed.

Once,moments like this were everything to her. But reality quickly returned, and she remembered all the hurt.

There was no way back, not after everything.

Eleanor opened her eyes, all trace of emotion gone.She slipped out of Nolan's arms and left him standing alone on the rooftop.