No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 444

Eleanor knew exactly why he was apologizing. She smiled gently. “It’s all right.”

Her calm, unruffled expression only deepened Xavier’s guilt. He knew he’d acted a bit underhanded today.

“I’ll get going. You should head back, too,” Eleanor said, then opened the car door and slid inside.

Xavier bent down beside the window, his voice soft with concern. “Drive safe.”

Eleanor’s car pulled out of the parking lot. Xavier let out a quiet sigh, but just then, a voice called from behind, “Xavier, do you have a minute? Can we talk?”

Serena’s car had just pulled up; she’d been hoping for a chance to speak to Xavier in person about their families’ proposed engagement. He’d been impossible to reach lately, always busy, so she’d decided to seize the moment.

Turning, Xavier saw Serena approaching, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. He could already guess what she wanted to discuss.

Before Serena could say a word, Xavier glanced at his watch and opened his own car door. “Serena, I have something I need to take care of.”

Serena, who had been working up her courage, blurted out in a rush, “Xavier, about the engagement between our families—”

He cut her off, his tone even. “Serena, I’m not interested in an arranged marriage.”

“But—” Tears welled up in Serena’s eyes. “Is it because of Eleanor? Do you really like her that much?”

“It’s not about anyone else. I just won’t use marriage as a bargaining chip,” Xavier replied, calm but firm.

Serena bit her lip, her eyes brimming with hurt and resentment. “I know it’s because of her. What does she have that I don’t? Why am I not enough?”

“Serena.” Xavier’s voice grew colder. “Out of respect for our families, I don’t want to hurt you. But don’t drag Eleanor into this.”

Serena felt as if his words were a knife twisting in her chest. Xavier always said not to involve Eleanor—wasn’t that just another way of protecting her?

So if Eleanor got dragged into it, Xavier would be willing to burn bridges for her, wouldn’t he?

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