No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 8

So she'd been neglecting her daughter too.

"Sweetheart, Mommy loves you," Eleanor whispered.

"I love you too, Mommy." Her daughter's sleepy, syrupy voice brushed her ear, followed by a warm kiss from her tiny lips.

"Mommy, you'll always be my best mommy. I don't want to leave you. Not ever." Evelyn cupped Eleanor's face in her small hands, her eyes shining with devotion in the dim light.

Eleanor hugged her daughter tighter, kissing the top of her soft head. "Mommy loves you too, darling. Always."

Monday morning, the whole family headed to the airport.

Eighteen hours later, they touched down in Drexford. Ian's assistant, Gavin Young, was pushing a mountain of luggage; Eleanor clutched her handbag, while Evelyn—who'd slept through most of the flight—remained curled up in her father's arms, bundled snugly in his coat.

Outside the airport, they slipped into the warmth of a waiting SUV. Ian gently adjusted his daughter's position, his deep eyes softening as he gazed down at her. With a graceful hand, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her brow.

Three vehicles made their way through Drexford's stormy night. Eleanor gazed out at the rain-streaked city, her heart growing heavier as she thought about seeing her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law, Serena Goodwin, in just a few minutes.

Eight years ago, when Ian was twenty, he'd been rushed to the hospital after a car accident—her father had been the chief surgeon on call. Eleanor, upon hearing the news, dropped out of college to care for Ian. At the time, her mother-in-law was too grief-stricken to object.

Eleanor took on everything: she nursed, she cleaned, she barely slept. For a year, she rarely left Ian's side. When he finally woke up, Eleanor couldn't contain her feelings any longer—she confessed her love and told him she wanted to marry him.

She hadn't realized her confession had been overheard. Her mother-in-law confronted her almost immediately, offering her a million dollars to leave Ian and disappear from his life.

Eleanor was heartsick. She packed her bags, ready to go back to school, but Ian showed up at her door. He said, simply, that he wanted her to be his wife.

Even now, Eleanor could remember that day vividly—how thin he'd looked, how calm his expression had been, but how bright and determined his eyes were as he said, "Let's get married."

On her wedding day, her father's assistant quietly told her that it was her father who had given Ian the recordings of her year at his bedside. It wasn't until after the wedding that Eleanor realized the truth: Ian hadn't married her for love, but out of gratitude.

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