Mag-log inNicholas remembered the necklace.He had ordered it almost a week ago after his company successfully launched a new mall project. It was something he did whenever the company achieved a major milestone. He celebrated every success by handing out bonuses to his employees and buying gifts for his family.The gifts were always the same. Designer clothes for his mother. Designer handbags and shoes for his sister. Jewelry for Eleanor.He never put much thought into choosing them. He simply assumed that if a gift was expensive enough, it was bound to be appreciated.His brows drew together, a sudden realization settling deep into his chest.How many pieces had he bought for Eleanor over the last two years?Emeralds. Diamonds. Sapphires. Rubies.Enough to fill an entire room, probably.Yet, for some reason, he couldn’t recall seeing her wear any of them.“…Sir?”Ethan’s voice snapped him back to attention.Nicholas cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. “No. Put it on my desk.
That night, Eleanor didn’t return to her room.She stayed in the living room, lying on the couch and planning what she wanted to do next.Now that she had finally discussed the divorce with Nicholas, she felt much lighter. Though she wasn’t really sure why he had asked for more time before signing the papers. She couldn’t think of a single reason that would make him hesitate.For a moment, the memory of the kiss they had shared at the Beaumont villa flashed through her mind, but she quickly crushed the absurd thought. It was probably nothing. She had clearly tasted alcohol on his breath. Maybe that was why he had lost his usual composure and done something so out of character. Eleanor was pretty sure he would either regret it by the next morning or not even remember it.Not that it mattered anymore.She wasn’t going to let anything change her mind.Not even that stupid kiss. She would get that divorce and start a new life. A life where she didn’t have to constantly feel like she wasn’
He stepped out and scanned the area until his eyes landed on her.She was standing by the pool, her back to him, her head tilted slightly as she looked up at the moon. It wasn’t lost on Nicholas that this was the first time he had seen Eleanor wear something so bold and bright.Usually, she wore dull, simple colors that made her easy to overlook. She always chose modest, plain outfits that blended into the background rather than standing out. But now… dressed in that red gown, with the high slit running down her leg, she looked completely different.But it wasn’t just the change in her appearance that affected him. It was something deeper, something he couldn’t quite put into words.There was a confidence in the way she carried herself that he had never noticed before. She no longer looked like the quiet, obedient wife he had grown used to seeing. Instead, she looked like someone who had finally stopped trying to please everyone else and had decided to be herself. For the first time,
Eleanor could only nod.Her mind was a mess, her emotions all over the place. She didn’t know what to think, what to say, or simply how to feel. She just wanted to get out of there, away from all that, away from everything.They left the mansion in silence, the drive back home just as quiet.Eleanor kept her eyes out the window, watching the city lights blur past, her thoughts scattered almost everywhere.Why did he kiss her? What did it mean? Was he trying to tell her something? Or was it just a spur-of-the-moment decision? She had no idea. And the uncertainty was killing her.When they finally reached home, Eleanor practically ran up the stairs to her room, locking the door behind her. She leaned against the door, closing her eyes as she tried to calm her breathing.She couldn’t think straight. Her mind kept replaying the kiss over and over again, the feel of his lips on hers, the warmth of his touch.And then, she remembered the divorce papers.No. She couldn’t let this kiss distra
Someone in the room coughed.No. Not cough. Eric Beaumont, Nicholas’ younger brother and Emilia’s twin, was choking on his food.Eleanor ignored the way her skin prickled when one by one every gaze in the room landed on her, crawling her from the inside out.She knew Emilia was trying to provoke her, to get a reaction out of her.But Eleanor refused to play the victim anymore. Refused to sit there and let Emilia and the rest of the Beaumonts get a kick out of her misery.She looked up, her eyes locking with Emilia’s, as a small, unbothered smile spread across her lips. “Oh, I know,” she said, her voice calmer for someone being targeted on purpose. “I also know that Jessica turned him down and left the country to marry someone else. But I guess it’s all in the past now, isn’t it?”Eric coughed again, followed by a weird sound let out by Ivan.From the corner of her eye, Eleanor thought she caught Nicholas shooting a sharp glare at the two men.But she could have been wrong. Nicholas ha
Eleanor arrived at the Beaumont mansion right on time.The driver had picked her up from home and driven her to the grand estate, where she was greeted by the butler at the entrance.He led her to the dining room, where Helen and Emilia were already seated at the large mahogany table, sipping their drinks and chatting casually.The moment they saw her, their conversation came to a halt. Helen gave her a once-over, her eyes widening for a second as if she had just seen something unexpected.And she had.Earlier, Eleanor used to dress as modestly and properly as possible. She wore a specific range of colors all the time, despite actually loving vibrant, bold shades. But for the sake of being the ideal daughter-in-law, she had given up her preferences and started dressing the way Helen wanted her to.But today, she was wearing a long, bright red dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her makeup was bold, her lips painted a deep shade of red, and her hair was styled in beautiful loose wa







