Chapter 403

Nolan stepped out of the ward but didn't leave immediately.

His sharp gaze fell on Erick, who was already waiting.In a voice as cold as ice, he ordered, "Get Elora's phone. Check every call, every message, every transaction. Don't miss a thing."

Ady's side had turned up nothing about the child's biological father.

The only thread left to pull was Elora. Nolan's fists tightened,his presence radiating a chilling intensity.

Erick shivered under the weight of it and quickly nodded. "I'm on it."

Leaving the hospital, Nolan headed straight for the Brooks family bar.

Ryland spotted him as soon as he walked in.

With a mischievous grin, he slid into the seat beside Nolan,snatching a drink off the counter and raising it in salute.

"Well, if it isn't the great Mr. Stewart. What's got you drowning your sorrows alone?"he said teasingly.

Nolan ignored the jab, snatched Ryland's glass, and downed it in one gulp.

Ryland clicked his tongue, grabbed another glass, and sipped in silence.

With his glass emptied, Ryland leaned back,then hooked an arm around Nolan's neck.

"Man, I get it. I've been miserable over Besty too."

He then shook his head. "Forget it. Talking about it only twists the knife. Look at us-two sorry souls tossed aside by love."

Nolan turned to Ryland with a frosty glare. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

Ryland immediately raised both hands. "Alright,alright.I'll shut up. We'll just drink till we can't stand. Tonight is a funeral for our pathetic love lives."

So the two men drank in silence-at least until Ryland's tongue loosened.

Soon he was rambling, mourning his own misery, then Nolan's, until he was nearly in tears.

"Tell me, how is it? We've got money, looks, the whole package, and still we're cursed! I can't even hold Besty's hand, and you-worse still-are being played like a fiddle. Face it, we're Elepdon's tragedy of the year!"

For once, Nolan didn't argue.

He had been played.

That much was true.

He had lost Eleanor... what could be more tragic than that?

The night wore on, Ryland clinging to a bottle and howling Besty's name, when suddenly Nolan's phone rang.

Erick's voice crackled through. "Mr. Stewart, we found something. Elora's phone shows she bought progesterone hormones."

Nolan snapped upright, the alcohol vanishing in an instant. "Progesterone hormones?'

Erick rushed to explain, "Yes-taken in the right amount, these hormones can scramble HCG levels,faking a pregnancy."

So Elora's baby... never existed.

The fog clouding Nolan's mind lifted in an instant, the first glimpse of daylight breaking through.

Ryland,half-drunk, froze mid-sway as the words sank in. "I knew it!" he shouted, slapping the counter. "That woman is nothing but trouble-faking a pregnancy just to set you up!"

Ryland snatched Nolan's phone, eyes blazing."Nolan,what are you waiting for? The evidence is right here!Go-tell Eleanor the truth!"

He couldn't stand the thought of losing Besty either.

The fear of it had been tearing him apart day after day.Once Nolan got Eleanor back,Besty wouldn't give him the cold shoulder like this.

Nolan shot to his feet so suddenly he nearly stumbled,but he didn't care.

Snatching the phone back, he barked at Erick,"Send every report, every shred of evidence to my email-now."

Without another word, he hung up and strode toward the exit.

At last--the truth was out.

Finally,he could stand before the media and clear his name.

Most of all, he could bring this news to Eleanor.

Ryland threw on his coat and hurried after him. "Hey,wait up!"