Chapter 362

The blaring horn shattered the night's silence.

A black sedan screeched to a halt, its high beams illuminating Eleanor's terrified face.

Her porcelain skin glowed eerily under the harsh headlights.

Frozen in place, the young woman resembled a startled fawn caught in hunting lights.

The massive truck's brakes screamed in protest, but physics dictated it couldn't stop in time. Eleanor clutched her worn teddy bear tighter, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Eleanor! Move!"

Julian's muscles burned as he lunged forward, his designer shoes skidding across pavement. With one powerful yank, he pulled her from death's path mere milliseconds before impact.

His arms encircled her fragile frame protectively, just as she shielded her beloved stuffed animal.

They spun through the air in a bizarre waltz before crashing onto the concrete sidewalk. Julian twisted mid-fall, taking the brunt of impact to cushion Eleanor's landing.

A sickening crack echoed as his shoulder collided with the curb. Pain radiated through his body, sweat soaking through his custom Armani suit.

The out-of-control truck careened off-road, plowing through a decorative hedge before coming to rest against a brick wall. The shaken driver emerged unharmed.

Gritting his teeth against the agony, Julian loosened his grip on Eleanor.

To his astonishment, the ungrateful girl wriggled free from his embrace and darted away without a backward glance.

"Hey! Eleanor! Where the hell do you think you're going?" Julian bellowed, his voice raw with pain and indignation. His injuries made standing impossible without assistance.

The evening's high-profile gala had begun as a glittering success but ended in abrupt chaos. To prevent unnecessary family concern, Julian instructed his assistant to discreetly handle his vehicle retrieval and medical arrangements.

Meanwhile, Isabelle Montgomery nursed her wounded pride at the hotel's exclusive bar, sharing drinks with her frenemy Cassandra. The ice cubes clinked ominously in her half-empty martini glass.

"That bastard Nathaniel only has eyes for Evelyn now," Isabelle spat, slamming her glass down with enough force to crack the crystal. Her crimson manicure matched the fury in her bloodshot eyes. "If he still cares for her, why the hell did they divorce?"

"You're preaching to the choir, darling," Cassandra sighed, twirling her cocktail straw. "Evelyn waited on our family hand and foot for three years. Cooked Nathaniel's favorite meals, memorized his schedule, endured his glacial indifference - the perfect corporate wife."

She took a long sip before continuing, "Honestly? I'd have lasted a week tops in her shoes. But three years? That takes either saintly patience or pathological desperation." Cassandra's lips twisted in reluctant admiration. "Yet Nathaniel barely glanced her way. Always mooning over Victoria. He threw away the one woman who truly loved him for some childhood fantasy."

The alcohol lowered Cassandra's usual filters. "Looking back? My brother was a complete idiot."

Isabelle's grip tightened around her glass at Cassandra's unexpected sympathy for Evelyn. "What's this? Suddenly developing a conscience about how your family treated Evelyn?" Her laugh held no humor. "Regretting losing your perfect little doormat sister-in-law?"

Cassandra's smile turned brittle. "Don't be ridiculous, Isabelle." She backpedaled quickly, "I'm just analyzing the situation. Why ignore Evelyn for years only to chase her after the divorce?" She leaned in conspiratorially. "Maybe Nathaniel only understands love when he's lost it. Typical male psychology."

Isabelle drained her glass, the bitter wine matching her mood. Her competitive nature burned hotter. "I refuse to believe Nathaniel has genuine feelings for Evelyn! Three years of marriage would've revealed any spark." She tossed her chestnut locks defiantly. "This is just possessive posturing - he can't stand seeing his discarded wife thriving without him."

Her manicured finger traced the rim of her glass. "What Nathaniel and I share is real, not whatever transactional arrangement he had with Evelyn." Isabelle's smirk didn't reach her eyes. "He's just temporarily distracted by her little games."

Cassandra discreetly rolled her eyes behind her drink. Isabelle's delusions knew no bounds, but Cassandra needed the Montgomery family's influence for her own ambitions. Some truths weren't worth speaking.

"We should focus on winning Isabella Wang's support to help Nathaniel close that merger," Cassandra suggested smoothly, changing tactics. "I can help make introductions."

Isabelle's expression darkened at the memory of Evelyn dramatically producing Aurora's Tear. Her nails dug into her palms. "That damn brooch isn't Alexa's only masterpiece," she muttered. "If Evelyn can play the designer card, so can I."