Chapter 393

Nolan stared after Eleanor as she walked away, his mind tangled in thoughts that refused to settle.

He barely registered the world around him until his phone vibrated with Fannie's name on the screen.Fannie didn't wait for pleasantries. "Norah, Elora's looking for you. She wants to talk, and we're out on the lawn. Hurry up."

She didn't even give him a chance to answer before the line went dead.

Frustration flickered across Nolan's face, cold settling in his eyes.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket, turned on his heel, and headed straight toward the grassy stretch just outside the main level.

From across the way, he spotted them both perched on a bench.

With a scowl tightening his features, he strode over and planted himself in front of them. He glanced down, voice clipped. "Go ahead. What did you want to say?" Before Elora could get a word in, Fannie rose to her feet and stepped in front of her. "Nolan, can you not be so harsh? Elora's pregnant. If you startle her, that's not going to be good for the baby."

Elora had mentioned earlier, while they were still in the hospital, that her stomach felt off.Maybe it was just from being cooped up for too long.

That was why she spent almost an hour convincing the bodyguards to let Elora get some air.

But as soon as they reached the lawn,Elora insisted on talking to Nolan about something important.

So she went ahead and called Nolan over.

She hadn't expected him to show up looking so distant and cold.

Now she wondered if Elora would be able to say anything at all,because Nolan's attitude could ruin any chance at a conversation.

Just as Fannie opened her mouth to protest, Nolan cut her off with a gesture.

He signaled to a nearby bodyguard. "Take Fannie back to the villa."

He decided then that he needed to talk things out with Fannie soon. Otherwise, Elora would keep using her.

Fannie, not picking up on Nolan's real intentions,immediately started resisting. "I'm not leaving! You can't treat me like this!"

The bodyguard didn't bother responding to her pleas,sticking to the order he had been given.

Despite her struggles, she got escorted away against her will.

With Fannie gone, Nolan faced Elora, his voice carrying a note of impatience. "Whatever you have to say, make it quick. I don't have all day."

Elora had never intended to talk about anything important.

She just needed an excuse to see him so she could follow Ady's plan.

Casting a glance at the reporters lingering nearby, she let her voice rise for their benefit. "I need to know what we're supposed to do about this baby. I get that you don't want to claim it, and I'm not angry. But I need you to tell me straight."

Irritation flickered across Nolan's face as he retorted,"You know better than anyone how this happened.For my mother's sake, I'll arrange for you to leave the country after I get to the bottom of this and clear things up with Eleanor. If you decide to have this baby,that's your call. I'm done with it." Elora didn't miss a beat. Tears sprang to her eyes as she cried out, "So you're really going to walk away?You're just going to toss me and your child aside for Eleanor? You promised me-if I got pregnant,you'd marry me!"

Nolan's eyes narrowed, his suspicion growing as he listened to her desperate plea.

What exactly was she after?

Before Nolan could make sense of Elora's outburst,reporters seemed to appear out of nowhere, closing in on them from every side.

For days, they had been hanging around, desperate for a scandal, and now they had struck gold.

Flashes from their cameras went off in rapid succession, and their voices blended into a chaotic barrage.

"Mr. Stewart, is it true you're leaving Miss Guyton and your child for Miss Warren?"

"How can you justify such a cruel decision?"

"Does your grandfather know you plan to abandon your own child?"

In that moment, everything clicked for Nolan. Elora had orchestrated this scene to corner him in front of the press, using them to try and force his hand.

There was no way he would let that work.

Keeping his expression composed, Nolan faced the sea of microphones. His voice carried over the noise."Let me make one thing clear. Eleanor is the only woman I have ever loved, and I have no intention of marrying Elora-now or ever. Regarding all these rumors, I'll hold a press conference once the facts have been properly investigated."

With his statement delivered, he pressed through the crowd,refusing to give anyone the satisfaction of a reaction.

Left behind, Elora watched him go. Guilt gnawed at her as she realized she never wanted any of this.

But she couldn't turn her back on Ady's orders.