Chapter 402

Eleanor's breath caught. “I should be the one apologizing."

"No, it's my fault." Mansfield Ellington was certain she had nothing to apologize

for.

"Mr. Ellington-"

"Please, just call me Mansfield." He gently corrected her.

He'd told her before to use his first name, but she must have been too busy to remember.

Eleanor pressed her lips together, her gaze meeting his.

Just then, the car door slammed shut with a thunderous bang.

Mansfield glanced toward the man getting out, his brows drawing together. He leaned in and asked Eleanor quietly, "Do you want me to leave?"

She looked at lan, her expression turning icy. "No need. He and I are strangers now."

lan was as impeccably dressed as ever, his sharp features set in a cold, distant expression. His eyes lingered on Mansfield for a beat before turning to Eleanor. "Where's Evelyn?"

"She's with a friend of mine," Eleanor replied, barely glancing his way.

"Mr. Goodwin." Mansfield greeted him politely.

lan gave a curt nod, then looked back at Eleanor. "I want to see her today."

"Then come by later," Eleanor said, lifting her chin. "I need to set up a regular schedule for your visits, anyway."

lan's eyes narrowed. "Is that really necessary?"

"It's absolutely necessary," Eleanor replied, her voice firm and unwavering.

At that moment, Joslyn opened the front door, and Princess, their golden retriever, bounded out, tail wagging as she circled Eleanor and lan.

"Joslyn, would you show our guest inside and offer him some tea?" Eleanor said.

A quick flicker of amusement crossed Mansfield's eyes. "Alright, I'll wait for you inside."

He stepped into the house, and Joslyn, after a brief glance at lan, followed to make tea for Mansfield.

lan's gaze darkened. He watched Mansfield's retreating figure, then turned to Eleanor. "Looks like you're adjusting to your new life pretty well."

"Oh? Am I not allowed to be happy after the divorce?" Eleanor shot back, her tone edged with sarcasm.

lan's expression faltered. He stared at her stubborn brow, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. "You know that's not what I meant."

Eleanor was done with the conversation. "Come by tomorrow or the day after. I have guests to see to now."

A gust of wind swept through, rustling the branches overhead. A single leaf drifted down, landing on Eleanor's hair.

lan noticed and instinctively reached out to brush it away, but Eleanor shot him a guarded look. He stopped halfway, withdrawing his hand and instead fussing with his cufflinks. "Alright, I'll call to set up a time to see Evelyn." He didn't leave right away, though; his eyes flicked toward the house, narrowing slightly. "Are you and he-?"

Eleanor cut him off coldly. "What does it matter to you?"

lan stiffened, his whole body tense. "...Right."

He turned and strode toward his Maybach, his posture ramrod straight. As he slammed the car door, the sound startled a couple out for a walk nearby.

The man, annoyed, said, "What, did he get that door for free?"

His girlfriend stared after the car, a little awestruck. "That's a million-dollar car-he can afford to slam it."

Eleanor slipped through the gate into the yard. Princess came wagging over, but when she reached Mansfield's side, her ears drooped and she went on alert, as if she could sense the strength in this new man.