Chapter 235

A burst of engine noise announced their arrival as Eleanor and Nolan pulled up at the villa in Regal Heights only for a striking purple convertible to zip in and park right in front of them.

Lillian barely waited for the car to stop before flinging open the door and dashing out.

She had rushed over the second she heard the whole story, dragging Ryland along with her.

When she spotted Eleanor, bright-eyed and very much alive, Lillian's emotions got the better of her. Without a word, she wrapped her arms tightly around her friend.

"Eleanor! Do you know how worried you made me?" Lillian exclaimned, her voice trembling.

A gentle warmth spread through Eleanor as she hugged Lillian back. Softly, she reassured her, "I'm really okay."

From a short distance away, Nolan watched the reunion, his expression tightening.

He waited quietly for a moment before reaching out, almost protectively, to draw Eleanor away from Lillian's grasp.

Still caught up in the moment, Lillian was unaware of the way Nolan glared at her.

She drew in a steady breath before turning to Eleanor, her expression burning with resentment. "Lainey's completely out of control. It's a good thing she's finally been dealt with, or who knows what else she might've done to you?"

Mid-sentence, something suddenly clicked in Lillian's mind. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "But I had no idea you were actuallythe Benton family's daughter!"

Ryland looked equally shocked, unable to hide his surprise.

As she heard the Benton family name, Eleanor's mood shifted ever so slightly. That was all it took for Nolan's patience to wear thin; memories Eleanor would rather forget were surfacing,and he wasted no time in steeringthe Brooks siblings away.

"If there's nothing more you need to say, I think it's time for you both to head home," Nolan said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Not waiting for a response, he slipped an arm around Eleanor's waist and led her toward the front door.

Just before they went inside, Nolan shot Ryland a meaningful look, silently urging him to get Lillian moving.

Ryland caught on right away and rushed to stop his sister from saying anything more. "We shouldn't stick around.Give them a little space; they deserve it. You can always drop by and see Eleanor another time,"he said.

Lillian slammed her foot against the ground, her voice rising with frustration. "Eleanor's my best friend! Are you saying I need to set an appointment just to see her? That's absurd! I've known her way before he ever came along. This isn't fair at all!"

Ryland took Lillian's hand, offering a deal she couldn't ignore. "If you don't leave with me right now,you'll lose your allowance next month. But if you come home with me, I'll tack on an extra million."

And surely, money could never convince Lillian to leave her friend behind.

Yet, when she saw Ryland's determined expression, she finally gave in and slid into the car with a reluctant sigh.

The moment the Brooks siblings drove off, Nolan felt certain no one else would interrupt his time alone with Eleanor.

But just as he leaned in to kiss her, Eleanor's phone blared, cutting through the quiet.

Betsy's name flashed across the screen.

Eleanor hit the answer button, and immediately, Besty's enthusiastic voice exploded through the phone,barely audible over the background commotion.

"Eleanor! I can't tell you how relieved I am that you're safe!" Besty exclaimed, nearly shouting. Besty's nerves had been completely frayed with worry.

Learning Eleanor's survival washed all that worry away.

Hardly stopping to catch her breath, Besty rushed into her next report. "The second word got out that you're alive, our stores started selling out nonstop. Some products are already gone from the shelves! Could you come over and help us handle the restocking and arrange the new arrivals?"

Eleanor paused for a beat, unsure what to say.

Almost instinctively, she glanced over at Nolan.

His expression could only be described as wounded, like a loyal dog watching its owner walk out the door.

But after weighing it over, Eleanor decided to say yes. "Alright, I'lI come by soon," she replied.

Once the call ended, she couldn't resist shooting Nolan a look.

Did he honeśtly need to behave as if she were disappearing for good? She was just leaving for a short while.

Nolan looked on the verge of losing his composure.

He silently vowed not to forget the name Besty anytime soon.

Even though he hated the idea, he went to grab the car keys without protest.