Chapter 1
Eleanor's POV:
Two messages arrived 10 seconds later.
Mom: Good. You've finally come to your senses. Marcus isn't the right man for you. If he really wanted to marry you, why would he postpone it again and again?
Mom: He's successful now. Sooner or later, he'll want a younger woman. Breaking up with you is only a matter of time.
In the past, whenever my mom said things like that, I would argue with her until I was hoarse, convinced Marcus would love me forever.
Now I had to admit that my mom had more than 20 years on me and had always read men more clearly than I could.
The elevator doors opened, and the crowd filed out.
I walked out last.
"Miss Clark, you're here too?"
The voice belonged to Owen Reed, Marcus's executive assistant.
Natalie Moore was feeding Marcus Hale a piece of chocolate.
Both of them froze and turned toward me.
Natalie lowered her hand and smiled. "Eleanor, don't misunderstand. Mr. Hale hurt his head, so I was just helping him eat."
"Misunderstand what? That a man who never eats chocolate suddenly decided he likes it?" I held her gaze until color crept into her face. "Or the fact that the two of you are being this intimate behind my back?"
"Eleanor!" Marcus barked. "How can you make accusations like that? Nat isn't that kind of person. Don't ruin her reputation."
I gave a quiet laugh. "Am I the one ruining it? Aren't you? We were supposed to be getting married today, yet you're acting this close with another woman. What exactly am I supposed to think?"
Marcus frowned. "You're the one making it sound dirty. You're throwing a tantrum because we didn't get married today, aren't you? If you're angry, take it out on me. Don't drag Nat into it. Every time we go to the clerk's office, something starts hurting. Maybe we really aren't meant to get married."
My breath caught.
"I think so too," I said softly.
The moment I saw the usually reserved Marcus looking at Natalie with unmistakable tenderness, I should have walked away without hesitation.
Marcus looked startled and opened his mouth to speak.
Natalie lowered her head.
"Eleanor, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Please don't fight with Mr. Hale because of me."
Her voice broke on the last few words.
A flash of concern crossed Marcus's face at once.
"Nat, you don't need to apologize. You had a terrible scare today. Go home and get some rest."
"But you need someone to take care of you."
"Eleanor's here, isn't she? She has plenty of time. All she does is shop all day. She can make herself useful for once."
Marcus gave me a contemptuous glance.
I blinked, stung by the contempt in his eyes.
For 8 years, I had built his company beside him, working late into the night, sitting through countless business dinners, and drinking with clients.
Health problems had finally caught up with me 1 year earlier. My doctor told me I needed to slow down and rest.
Marcus had looked heartbroken. He insisted I resign from my position as vice president and stay home to recover. He said I could simply enjoy life and never worry about work again.
Just like that, the promise he had once made so tenderly had become another reason for him to look down on me.
I tightened my grip on my bag.
"I'm busy."
Marcus's eyes turned cold.
"Eleanor, if you're going to keep acting like some spoiled heiress, then forget about me marrying you. I mean it."
