Chapter 394

No one spun a narrative quite like the media.

Any words Nolan uttered on the lawn vanished from the news cycle, replaced by fragments that suited their agenda.

That afternoon, social media exploded as a post shot straight to the top of the trending charts.

One headline screamed, "Stewart Group CEO Ditches Pregnant Fiancée for His First Love!"

Another blared, "Stewart Family Scandal Exposed!"

Photos of Elora,her face pale and eyes brimming with tears, circulated with every repost.

Almost instantly, social media exploded.

People across the web crowned Nolan as the most heartless man alive.

The anger spiraled so fast that Stewart Group products landed on public boycott lists.

Stock prices tumbled, dropping five points in a single afternoon. Ady lounged comfortably, scrolling through the latest numbers with a sly grin curling her lips.

Clearly, Norwood's prized grandson wasn't as invincible as everyone believed. She had managed to outmaneuver him with ease.

Just then, Colson slipped his arms around Ady, his voice thick with sweetness. "You're something else,babe. After this, Nolan won't have any option except to marry Elora. Once he does, Stewart Group falls right into our hands."

A shared look passed between them before they broke into laughter, completely satisfied with their scheme.

Nolan endured a harsh grilling from the board of directors.

By the end of the heated meeting,fatigue weighed him down.

Back at the villa, he tossed his jacket aside and pressed his hands to his aching temples.

Fannie soon entered the living room, quietly placing a mug of warm milk next to him.

She kept her gaze fixed on the floor,guilt heavy in her words. "Nolan, I'm sorry. I never expected things to end up like this."

Seeing the genuine regret in her expression, Nolan pushed aside his own exhaustion.

He gently tousled her hair, his voice rough yet gentle."None of this is your fault," he assured her.

After a moment, he knew it was time to explain everything.

"Elora set all this in motion," he explained, his voice steady. "She tipped off the press and tried to use public outrage to force me into marrying her."

The shock was plain on Fannie's face as she looked up at him. "No, that can't be true. Elora isn't like that!"

Nolan's expression stayed even. He met her gaze,patient but firm. "I hope you'll keep your gentle heart,Fannie, but you can't ignore what's right in front of you.Since Elora moved in, everything's changed. Just think about it."

Her mind churned, replaying each event in quick flashes-the surprise pregnancy test at the signing,the swarm of reporters at the hospital. Too many coincidences stacked together.

Everything about it seemed far too smooth to be real.

The whole thing had the feel of a setup,as if every step had been mapped out in advance.

Still,the question lingered...why?

"Why would she go to such lengths?" Fannie asked,her voice trembling.

Nolan took a slow sip of milk, barely glancing her way."Ady's the one calling the shots. I don't know exactly what leverage she has on Elora, but there's definitely more going on."

The truth left Fannie reeling.

Had she really just been a piece in someone else's game this whole time?

She was the one who brought Elora to the signing event, unknowingly setting everything in motion.

She had insisted on taking Elora outside today, not realizing she was handing her the perfect stage in front of the reporters.

Every detail seemed to point back at her, and the realization hit hard.

Regret washed over Fannie, and tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them.

She blurted out, "Nolan, I swear, I didn't know. I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen." He reached for a tissue and passed it to her

"You've done enough for one day. Get some sleep."he said, his voice gentler than before.

Then he turned and headed up the stairs, not looking back.

She watched as he disappeared, the ache in her chest making it hard to breathe.

A sudden memory flickered at the edge of her mind -something crucial she couldn't quite hold onto.

The harder she tried to remember, the more it slipped away.