Right on cue, several more reporters who had just slipped through the doors rushed over. They had been invited by Mr. Brown to interview him and his wife later, but seeing the wealthiest man in the city with his ex-wife was a goldmine they couldn't ignore.

How could they pass up a scoop like this?

Eleanor froze at the sight of the charging reporters, instinctively clutching the suit jacket tighter around her shoulders. Ian reacted instantly, pulling her behind him. His tall, imposing frame completely shielded her from the aggressive lenses and flashing cameras.

"Excuse us. No interviews," lan said, his face cold and his gaze cutting through the crowd.

Normally, he would have bodyguards swarming the area, with Gavin Young right by his side. Handling the press was never something he had to do himself, but tonight's situation was unexpected.

"Miss Sutton, are you willing to remarry Mr. Goodwin?" a female reporter asked sharply.

"We heard that the majority of your investments are funded by Goodwin & Co. If you reconcile, is it purely for financial reasons?"

"Mr. Goodwin, do you have any comments regarding your past with Vanessa Shannon?" a male reporter threw out, his question pointed and malicious.

The relentless flashing of the cameras forced Eleanor to shield her eyes. Ian's gaze snapped to the last reporter like a sharpened blade, the air around him dropping to a freezing point. "Move."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a terrifying, oppressive weight that made the reckless reporters instantly take two steps back.

The valet had already pulled his car up to the lobby entrance.

Yet, one persistent reporter tried to circle around to Eleanor, pressing, "Miss Sutton, please give us a statement-"

lan threw his arm around Eleanor, tucking her firmly against his chest, refusing to let anyone near her.

The oversized jacket kept her safely wrapped away as lan pulled open the passenger door. Once she was securely inside, be shut the doorand turned back to the crowd, his voice dangerously calm. "If any of you publish a single word of this, you will suffer the consequences

He sounded polite, composed even, but his words hit like ice-cold daggers. The reporters felt a collective chill run down their spines.

Meeting lan's emotionless eyes, they saw the undeniable, untouchable authority of

a man who held their careers in the palm of his hand.

lan slid into the driver's seat, and the luxurious silver sedan disappeared into the night.

The reporters exchanged uneasy glances. The female reporter was the first to speak. "Mr. Goodwin basically just told us to never

mention Vanessa Shannon again!"

"Our company caught photos of him and Vanessa once. The second we published them, a cease-and-desist arrived. That topic is absolute poison."

"Same with us. We wouldn't dare touch those photos. Remember that one agency Goodwin Legal sued into overnight bankruptcy? He wasn't joking around."

A heavy silence fell over the group. None of them doubted the terrifying reach and power of the business titan.

If lan wanted to erase a few media outlets from existence, it wouldn't even require breaking a sweat.

Inside the quiet sanctuary of the car, lan glanced at Eleanor. She hadn't said a word since they left. She was still wrapped in his jacket, her face uncharacteristically pale. He couldn't tell if it was from the ambus or her physical discomfort.

"What's wrong? Did they scare you?" lan asked softly.

Eleanor shook her head, her expression calm. "I'm just not feeling well."

"Let's get you home," lan murmured, pressing down on the accelerator.