No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 172

After chatting for more than twenty minutes, the two women finally left the balcony. By the time the clock struck eleven, Gwenda was stifling yawns, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

"Faye, let's call it a night. It's already eleven," Gwenda said, stretching. "For all we know, they've both gone to bed by now."

But Faye couldn't shake the image in her mind: Eleanor and Joel together, sharing affectionate whispers and soft laughter. Jealousy gnawed at her, so fierce she thought she might shatter her own teeth.

At last, she started her car and drove away.

Ten minutes later, Eleanor walked Joel to the gate. "I'm sorry," she said, apologetic. "I don't know what's gotten into Evelyn tonight. She wouldn't let you leave until now."

Joel just smiled, lips quirking with genuine fondness. "Don't worry about it. Evelyn's adorable—I like spending time with her."

"She's gotten even more rambunctious since she stopped school," Eleanor sighed, shaking her head.

"Go back inside and keep her company. I'll come by again soon," Joel said, waving as he headed down the path.

As Joel disappeared into the night, Eleanor turned to go back inside. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a black sedan parked across the street, lurking beneath the yellow glow of the street lamp like a silent predator. The hazard lights were off, but Eleanor didn't need to see the license plate to know whose car it was. Ian.

She could make out the faint silhouette of someone watching from inside. She shot the car a cold, dismissive glance before shutting the gate firmly behind her.

Ten minutes later, Ian's car finally pulled away.

In the early hours before dawn, a new message appeared in the laboratory group chat: the keynote presentation that Simone was supposed to give tomorrow would now be delivered by Eleanor instead.

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