Chapter 134

Lainey stood in the hall, feeling embarrassed.

She didn't expect things to get even worse, but they did.

Not even thirty minutes later, a single post sent all of Elepdon's social media into a frenzy.

The Stewart Group's official Twitter account tagged Benton Group and issued a statement. "Control Lainey and stop her from harassing our boss. And for the record, we have no interest in partnering with a company that lacks basic integrity."

The comment section exploded instantly.

So this was the reason? Lainey's bold attempt at seduction had actually blown up into a public scandal, and worse, it had supposedly ruined ties between two major families. The gossip was too juicy to ignore.

While Lainey was too distraught to even eat, Norwood was seething just as much. His face was flushed with fury.

"This is outrageous! Completely outrageous!" he shouted, slamming his palm against the armrest. "Risking our family name over some woman? Treating a deal worth billions like pocket change? That boy is getting more reckless by the day!"

In Norwood's mind, it became crystal clear that Eleanor was trouble.

If she stayed, Nolan would only be led astray, and the Stewart family's future would be at risk.

Without wasting time, he turned to the butler. "Dig up everything you can on Eleanor Warren. I want a meeting with her arranged immediately.".

When Eleanor got the call, she was caught off guard but accepted.

The moment she stepped into the café, however, she realized what kind of meeting it was. Norwood slid a check across the table, his expression as cold as stone. "$100 million. Walk away from my grandson." Eleanor froze for a second.

She didn't touch the check.

Instead,she calmly raised her cup and took a sip of coffee.

Norwood's eyes narrowed. His voice was sharp, like he was delivering a verdict. "I looked into your past.You're capable, yes, but at the end of the day, you're still an orphan with no background. Someone like you doesn't belong in our family. This money is your best choice."

Eleanor set her cup back down, her gaze steady and unflnching as it met his."Mr. Stewart," she said evenly,"do you really believe Nolan is looking for a partner with the right family name?"

Norwood had braced himself for her to either grab the money or flat-out refuseit.

But her pointed question... he hadn't seen that coming. The idea made his eyes burn with sudden anger.

Eleanor,however, wasn't the least bit shaken. She met his stare with a calm smile.

"If you really love him, then think about what he actually needs," she told him. "Stop treating him like a tool to keep your family's interests alive."

She then rose from her seat, giving him a small nod as if closing the matter. "That's all I came to say."

With that, she walked out of the café. The sunlight outside was blinding, beating down on her skin, yet it couldn't explain the weight pressing on her chest.

Nolan, always so composed and admired by everyone, had grown up carrying this emptiness. NNobody had ever stopped to ask if he was exhausted or if he was happy.

Even his grandfather's affection came tangled with strings.

No wonder he seemed so alone.

Once Eleanor was gone, Norwood's calm cracked completely.

He turned to the butler standing by and issued his order without hesitation. "Reach out to the Reed famnily.Tell them I'll accept their marriage proposal." The Reeds were ranked ninth in Elepdon, far from the most powerful choice, not the match he had dreamed of.

But they had a daughter of marriageable age, and they had been circling for years, eager for this chance.

If so, let them have it. A ninth-ranked family was still miles above Eleanor's.

Her background alone made her unsuitable. Worse, she had already gotten into Nolan's head.

If he let her in any further, Nolan would end up no different than Colson, dragging the Stewart family into ruin.

Eleanor had been right about one thing.

He did measure every option, weighing gains and losses.

But that was because he had Nolan's future in mind.

What could one woman possibly give that mattered more than power, stability, and influence that lasted a lifetime?

One day,Nolan would understand. One day, he would thank him.

For now, his wishes didn't matter.