No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1546

The following morning, Eleanor handed Evelyn off to Ian and headed straight to the lab. At noon, Joy Thatcher happened to be running errands in the area, so the two met up for lunch.

They chatted about personal matters, and Joy complained that her child had been sick lately. The constant late nights had left her suffering from severe insomnia.

"Raising a kid is just completely draining," Joy groaned.

Eleanor perfectly understood the anxieties of motherhood. Being separated from them for even a day felt like an eternity, and the slightest illness or ache turned a mother into an absolute nervous wreck.

"It gets better when they're a bit older," Eleanor offered comfortingly.

Joy rested her chin in her hands and looked up at her. "I think I need to go to the doctor for some meds. I've been so stressed that my cycle is completely out of whack."

Hearing that, Eleanor tucked a strand of long hair behind her ear. "I've been under a lot of stress lately, too. Mine is a week late, but I don't plan on going to the doctor. I'm just trying to manage my stress levels first."

Joy's eyes immediately lit up. She leaned closer to Eleanor, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Stress management? That only treats the symptoms, not the root cause! If you ask me, the most direct and effective way to fix hormonal imbalances from stress is to find a man and have a good time."

Eleanor was taking a sip of water and nearly choked on it. She shot her friend an exasperated, amused glare. "What are you talking about!"

"I'm not talking nonsense! Tested and proven," Joy declared, giving her a knowing look. "Besides, Dr. Sutton, you know the science! Intimacy releases hormones, boosts dopamine and endorphins. It's an all-natural, side-effect-free mood enhancer! Plus, since you're cooped up in that lab all day, you really need some 'cardio' anyway."

Eleanor's face grew unbearably hot.

Joy immediately caught the shift in her demeanor, her expression turning incredibly nosy. "Ellie, how far along are you and Ian? Don't tell me you two have already—"

Joy's words made the memory of last night's intense kiss flash uncontrollably through Eleanor's mind. She forced herself to remain calm. "No. I don't have the mental capacity to think about those things right now."

"No mental capacity?" Joy laughed out loud. "I seriously doubt that! You even bought him a birthday gift recently. It's been days, and I absolutely refuse to believe Ian hasn't made a move."

"There's actually something really awkward I need to tell you. The former president of The Guild of Commerce invited us to his golden anniversary gala. We're divorced. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to go together?" Eleanor quickly changed the subject, desperate to stop talking about her sex life.

"The former president's golden anniversary?" Joy scoffed lightly. "Ian is the current president, and you're a renowned scientist. Don't overthink it. Do you honestly think events of that caliber are just about witnessing some beautiful, lifelong love story?"

Eleanor was just looking for a distraction anyway. She took a sip from her cup and looked at her. "So, you think we should go?"

Joy raised an eyebrow. "Do you know who Mr. Brown is? He's a titan of the business world. Sure, he's retired, but he still needs to maintain his network for his heirs. His golden anniversary is just an excuse to host a massive networking event. Everyone there is going to use the opportunity to expand their connections, trade insider information, and strike deals. If you and Ian don't show up, he's the one who'll be worried!"

Eleanor paused, then nodded. "I suppose we'll go, then."

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