Chapter 198

Even though Nolan had told Eleanor not to wait up,he ended up finishing his work faster than expected and returned to the villa.

But when he walked inside, she wasn't there.

The dinner table was still set. No one had touched the food.

Nolan loosened his tie, his movements slowing as a faint crease appeared between his brows.

Just then, Lilah appeared from the kitchen and greeted him respectfully. "Welcome home, Mr.Stewart."

"Where's Eleanor?" Nolan asked, dropping his tie on the sofa before taking his seat at the head of the table.

"She mentioned she was going to pick up Ms. Brooks and would be back later for dinner."

Lillian, of course.

Somehow, that girl always managed to wedge herself between him and Eleanor.

Maybe it was time her family found her a husband so she wouldn't be hanging around anymore.

He sat and waited, but the ticking clock only made his calm unravel.

Ten o'clock passed.

Then eleven.

The food on the table was stone cold by now.

The longer the silence stretched, the heavier the unease pressed against him.

He finally picked up his phone and dialed her, but all he got was a mechanical voice saying, "The number you have dialed is not available."

His jaw tightened as he tried again, only to hear the same response.

A chilling sense of dread gripped him.

At that moment, a servant's voice came from the doorway. "Mr. Stewart, Ms. Brooks has arrived."

Moments later, Lillian stumbled in, reeking of alcohol.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her words slurred."Eleanor, you traitor! Putting love before friendship!You said you'd pick me up! Where are you hiding?Come out!"

She paused mid-complaint and looked up, meeting Nolan's cold, sharp eyes.

The air went still.

One look from him sobered her up in an instant.

Then the very next moment, both of them asked at the same time, "Where is she?" "Where is she?"

Lillian froze, blinking as if her brain had short-circuited. A few seconds later, an icy chill started crawling through her chest. "Wait, what? Eleanor should've been here already. The bar called her with my phone,and she promised to get me. I even waited around until I was sober, but she never came."

Nolan's eyes turned sharply dangerous.

Lilah said Eleanor had gone out, but Lillian said she never saw her.

A sick certainty clenched in his gut. Something had happened to Eleanor.

He shot to his feet, the chair scraping harshly against the floor, and strode out.

The sudden intensity rolling off Nolan rattled Lillian.Without even thinking, she rushed after him. "Nolan,what's happening? Is Eleanor-"

Nolan yanked open the car door, phone already pressed to his ear as he dialed Erick.

"Call the authorities. Trace the Maybach Eleanor drove tonight. I want the last location in five minutes." His voice left no room for argument, and he ended the call without hesitation.

Lillian hurried to the car, gripping the doorframe."Did she vanish on the way? Or-"

"She's in trouble." His tone was calm, yet the certainty in it hit Lillian like a blow, leaving her shaken.

Before she could ask anything else, his phone buzzed again, and Erick's voice came through,urgent.

"Mr. Stewart, we traced the car. It was abandoned on a side street close to Nightfall and hasn't been touched since."

Nolan didn't waste a second. He slammed his foot on the gas, and the black Bentley shot forward into the dark.