Chapter 407

That evening, the press conference dominated the trending list.

But it wasn't the damning evidence against Elora that captured everyone's attention.

Instead, the headline belonged to a single photograph -Nolan, at the close of the conference, offering a strained, bitter smile as he declared his resolve to win back the woman he loved.

The image spread like wildfire, eclipsing every other topic.

The comments section was strikingly unanimous in tone.

"Mr. Stewart has to be the unluckiest man alive!"

"He was set up by Elora, lost Eleanor because of it,and we've been so cruel to him. I'm sorry, Mr. Stewart!"

"To make up for my mistake, I've just placed an order on the Stewart Group's site. Mr. Stewart, you have to win Eleanor back!"

"Same here! I just ordered too-go,Mr.Stewart!" "Me as well! This is the least I can do."

The flood of support was relentless.

Within hours, the Stewart Group's online store had completely sold out.

At the Benton family's villa, Lillian lounged comfortably, scrolling through the tidal wave of comments. She couldn't hold back her laughter.

Sidling up to Eleanor, who was bent over a design sketch with persistent focus, Lillian thrust the phone in front of her. Her voice was laced with mischief. "Look at this-netizens are practically lining up to sympathize with Nolan. Don't you think you should comfort him a little?”

Eleanor didn't so much as glance up. Her eyes remained fixed on the sketch before her, her pencil moving steadily across the page. "We've broken up,"she replied calmly.

Lillian blinked, recalling the request of Eleanor's parents, and then spoke in a casual tone. "Didn't Nolan say he'd do everything in his power to win you back?I know you won't agree now. But... if he keeps pursuing you, if he insists you're the one-would you ever give him another chance?"

Eleanor's pencil stilled mid-line. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Lillian's. "No." The word was crisp, her tone detached,her expression unreadable.

Yet the faint tremor in her hand betrayed the emotions she tried so hard to suppress.

Lillian pressed her lips together, choosing not to push further. Withdrawing her phone, she gave a small shrug. "Alright then. Keep pretending you feel nothing.Finish your sketches and get some rest.I'm heading home."

After a while, the door shut behind her as Lillian left Eleanor alone in the cavernous drawing room.

She set her pencil aside, the silence pressing in around her. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, her fingers reached for her phone, unlocking it almost automatically.

Posts about the press conference and Nolan's declaration flooded her feed. She skimmed them only briefly before snapping the phone shut again, as though burned. Taking a steadying breath, she pushed all of it aside. She picked up her pencil once more,forcing herself back into the clean lines of her design.

Meanwhile,Lillian had barely reached the foyer when Hilda and Jeff intercepted her.

"Lillian, what did Eleanor say?" Hilda asked, her face etched with concern. They had already seen the online uproar.

Though neither of them was eager for Eleanor to reconcile with Nolan, they agreed it was ultimately her choice-and they would respect it.

That was why they had asked Lillian to feel out Eleanor's thoughts, so they could decide how to treat Nolan.

"She doesn't seem willing to get back together with Nolan," Lillian replied honestly.

Then, after a brief pause, she added, "But her heart doesn't seem as hard as before. It's softened a little."

That answer left them in a bind.

If Nolan came knocking, should they turn him away outright?

The Bentons exchanged uncertain glances before looking back to Lillian for guidance.

Her lips curved into a sly smile. "Well, you can't just slam the door in his face. But not rejecting him doesn't mean you can't make things difficult for him.For instance, make him wait a couple of hours.Or better yet-have him walk over here on his own. Think about it. Yes, he's had a rough time lately, but he also misjudged Elora and caused Eleanor pain. If he truly wants her back, shouldn't he be willing to suffer a little for it?"

She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering with conviction. "Besides, the harder it is for him to win her back, the more he'll cherish her when he does."

Jeff and Hilda shared a look. Slowly,both nodded,the logic sinking in.

"Alright. We'll do just that," Hilda responded.

Satisfied,Lillian straightened, her grin widening as she slipped past them.

What she didn't say aloud was her true intent: to make Nolan pay, piece by piece, for what he had put Eleanor through.