No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1496

"Just like Joel, Mansfield, and Xavier. I want you to grant me the same rights they have," Ian's breathing grew slightly heavier, his deep gaze locked onto her, refusing to look away.

He had lowered his pride completely, his tone bordering on a humble plea, yet at the same time, his commanding presence trapped her in his line of sight, leaving her nowhere to run.

It wasn't that Eleanor hadn't noticed his intentions lately. But the scars of the past were still there. Three years of divorce had made her accustomed to being alone. Stepping back into a romance required courage.

"Are you drunk?" Eleanor tried to snap him out of it. He had already gone through more than half of that bottle of wine earlier, plus whatever he drank at noon. She honestly couldn't tell if he was fully lucid.

"No! I'm completely sober," Ian shook his head, his eyes growing even more intense. "All I need is for you to nod and let me back into your world. Please?"

The cool night breeze brushed past, stirring the loose strands of hair by Eleanor's cheeks and unsettling her thoughts. She looked at the man in front of her, seeing the near-obsessive persistence and hope in his eyes. She knew he wasn't drunk.

She let out a soft sigh. "Ian, relationships aren't a transaction."

"I know. I know I'm being unreasonable, but I have no other choice. Eleanor, watching you smile at Joel, watching younger men smile at you—I get jealous and terrified. Right now, all I want is for you not to completely shut me out of your world. Can you do that?" Ian swallowed hard, continuing to beg.

"Isn't it fine the way we are?" Eleanor looked off into the distance. She genuinely felt that their current, peaceful dynamic was enough.

Ian knew that this version of Eleanor was relaxed around him, but there was always an invisible barrier keeping him at bay, forcing him to stay perfectly in line.

He knew he was being greedy and asking for too much.

He didn't just want an opportunity; he wanted Eleanor to try trusting him one more time.

"Ian, relationships go both ways. The choice is yours, and mine," Eleanor said, turning around and walking back into the banquet hall.

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