Chapter 73

Out of nowhere, Nolan appeared, his fist landing squarely on Jonny's jaw. Jonny stumbled and hit the floor hard,caught completely off guard.

Nolan turned immediately to Eleanor, his eyes softening."Are you okay?"

Still stunned, she nodded. "I... I'm fine."

But her thoughts were a mess. Lillian had told her Nolan was abroad, so why was he here now? Had Lillian lied?

Before she could sort through it, Jonny pushed himself back up, blood smearing at the corner of his mouth.His glare was venomous. "Mr. Stewart, I was only dealing with my ex-wife. Don't you think you're overstepping?"

Nolan gave a short, icy laugh.

He crouched down until he was eye-to-eye with Jonny, his voice low and deliberate. "You're her ex-husband. And I'm her current..."

He stopped there, leaving the final word unspoken, though his meaning was clear. Eleanor would be his.

Jonny's bravado collapsed under Nolan's suffocating presence. He bit back any retort, swallowing his anger, though hatred simmered in his eyes.

He swore silently that one day, he would make Nolan pay for this humiliation.

But Nolan wouldn't have cared, even if he knew.

Todd Group could never match Stewart Group's power.

Meanwhile, Eleanor, flustered by the tension, used the chance to quietly slip away.

She found Lillian just as the party wound down. Sallie never showed her face all evening.

What was supposed to be her birthday ended up feeling like Lainey's stage instead, giving the guess plenty to whisper about.

Guests murmured that Sallie clearly despised Lainey if she couldn't even fake civility for her birthday.

Eleanor had no interest in the chatter. She tugged Lillian toward the door.

The last thing she wanted was another run-in with Nolan.

The longer she stayed, the riskier it felt.

But fate had other plans. Nolan was already waiting by the door.

Lillian, quick to sense an opportunity, excused herself at once.

Erick also drifted aside.

Eleanor was left alone with Nolan, unsure of what to do.

She gave him a stiff smile. "Nolan, thanks for earlier. I have something to take care of, so I'll be going."

However,Nolan didn't budge.

Instead,he leaned in, eyes locked on hers, his tone low and persuasive.

"I have a permanent solution for your ex-husband problem.Do you want to hear it?"

Her instincts screamed to refuse, but before she could get a word out, he closed the gap further, his breath grazing her ear as he murmured, "Be my girlfriend."

Her heart lurched.What kind of outrageous proposal was that?

She blurted out immediately, "Thank you, but I'm not looking for a relationship."

Nolan, unfazed, gave a calm reply. "Then I'll just move to Plan B."

A chill prickled down her spine. Almost on cue, her phone buzzed. Heart sinking, she glanced at the screen, and there it was, on her WhatsApp, in bold letters: "Daily question: When will Eleanor agree to be my girlfriend?"

Her face flushed with horror.

Was he seriously putting her on the spot like this?

She kept staring at the screen, utterly mortified.