No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1229

At eight o'clock, the two men took their children home. They went to the playground, where Ian and Xavier stood by, discussing business while the girls played under the lights.

Around eight-thirty, Eleanor returned home from the lab. Joslyn told her Evelyn wasn't back yet, so Eleanor decided to take Princess for a short walk. After a whole day in the lab, she needed to stretch her legs.

As she neared the playground, she glanced over and saw her daughter, Evelyn, playing with Vivian. Eleanor led Princess closer and also saw Ian and Xavier standing in the shadows of the trees.

"Woof!" Princess yipped excitedly, practically begging to go over, so Eleanor had no choice but to head in their direction.

Ian turned his head and saw Eleanor walking the dog. Xavier's breath caught slightly; Eleanor was right behind him.

Eleanor had already showered and had no makeup on. Under the lights, her face was fair and clear.

She wore a light gray summer long-sleeve tee, revealing a pair of straight, slender legs. She exuded a fresh, relaxed air, like a girl comfortable at home.

Ian's breath hitched, his heart skipping a beat.

Xavier's gentle eyes flickered with a momentary stir of emotion, but he perfectly suppressed it.

"Eleanor," he said, greeting her first.

"Xavier," Eleanor smiled at him, then looked at Ian. "You should take Evelyn home for her bath soon. I'll just walk a couple more laps and head back."

Ian nodded and bent down to pat Princess's head. But the dog refused to leave, as if it wanted a different person to walk it.

"Princess, let's go!" Eleanor urged, walking over to tug at its collar. The faint, clean scent from her recent shower wafted past Ian like a feather brushing against his heart. He looked down at the woman beside him, his dark eyes filled with a complex, unreadable emotion.

Eleanor forcefully pulled Princess away. Her departure seemed to leave an awkward tension between the two men.

"Then..." Xavier started to say something more.

Ian sighed softly. "I won't interfere with any of her choices."

Xavier studied Ian's expression under the moonlight. Though the words were calm, Xavier could hear the suppressed pain within them.

If Mansfield was the man Eleanor had chosen, then he, too, would wish her well. She deserved to be treated properly.

"But I will continue to support her research," Ian said, his gaze firm as he looked into the distance. "I'll give her everything I can."

"That's good. Evelyn still needs you," Xavier said, gently patting his shoulder in a silent gesture of comfort.