But once the anger faded, a mountain of harsh realities stared her down: her mother's medical bills, the upcoming costs of the care facility...
Her mind drifted to a set of photos the media had recently published. Eleanor and lan stepping out of a banquet hall, with Eleanor tucked securely under lan's suit jacket, guarded like a precious, long-lost treasure.
It was the ultimate proof that her entire past decade had been a complete joke. She had wasted the best years of her youth trying to tear apart a man's marriage, only to end up bankrupt, discarded, and exiled.
The irony was suffocating.
Lately, Vanessa's biggest regret was not marrying Henry Holt when she had the chance. She had been so blindly obsessed with lan, clinging to him like a lifeline, getting high off a single glance from him.
She had reveled in the thrill of hovering around lan, relishing the fact that she was a thorn in Eleanor's side. But how was she supposed to know that lan only ever had eyes for Eleanor? Even after three years of divorce, he had never given Vanessa a shred of a real chance.
Her meddling had only pushed Eleanor to thrive. Eleanor's career had skyrocketed, she was surrounded by incredible suitors, and instead of moving on, lan had only become more fiercely obsessed and devoted to his ex-wife.
Vanessa knew Eleanor must have pushed him away countless times, yet lan remained stubbornly by her side, completely shedding his pride just to be near her.
Even now, Vanessa stubbornly believed that Eleanor had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to her. If it weren't for Eleanor, the title of Mrs. Goodwin would have been hers.
Meanwhile, back home.
lan had been away on a business trip for three days. He called home every single night, but he spent most of the time chatting with Evelyn. Whenever he asked to speak to Eleanor, she would use work as an excuse and quickly hang up.
On the fourth day, Eleanor was scheduled to give a ten o'clock lecture at Ashford Medical University.
The massive auditorium was packed to the brim with students and industry professionals who had flocked to hear her speak. Eleanor's standing in the medical community was undisputed, having earned immense respect and prestige.
Standing at the podium, Eleanor was entirely in her element. She wore a perfectly tailored cream suit, her long hair pinned up neatly, with. delicate wire-rimmed glasses resting on her nose. She had spent the last few days thoroughly preparing for this presentation up on stage she broke down complex pathological mechanisms with crystal-clear precision.
Half an hour into the lecture, a figure quietly slipped through the back doors of the auditorium and took a seat in the very last row.
The man had rushed straight from the airport, still carrying the faint scent of travel. With his suit jacket draped over his arm, his gaze cut through the crowd and landed precisely on the confident woman at the podium.
She was poised, commanding, and absolutely radiant.
She exuded an effortless magnetism in her professional element The dense medical jargon sounded sharp and impactful coming from her, holding the audience entirely captivated Groups of students were furiously scribbling down notes.
lan watched her in silence, his eyes filled with profound admiration. A deep, familiar flutter stirred in his chest, making his heart race.
As the Q&A session drew to a close, it signaled the end of an incredibly successful lecture.
The students in the audience still looked utterly engrossed, clearly wanting more.
Finally, the event wrapped up.
Eleanor shook hands with the
shook!
faculty on stage. Professor Simone
Langley stood up from the front row and walked toward her, clapping enthusiastically. Beside Simone. tall, handsome male student stepped forward, presenting Eleanor with a massive bouquet of flowers.
"Dr. Sutton, your lecture was absolutely incredible. I really hope we get the chance
to hear you speak again."