Chapter 40
Since her return, Isabella had carefully nurtured her closeness to Logan.
Logan’s friends used to tease her about coming back for him, even joking they’d help steal him from his marriage. She’d just smile and never correct them.
She didn’t care if her ambitions were obvious.
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But here, at this gala, with her awkward position laid bare by Eliana’s simple words, Isabella felt true, crushing shame for the first time.
The attendees here were true elite in Ockgend, from established families.
They weren’t like Logan’s sycophantic followers who cheered on a potential mistress.
More importantly, Eliana now stood beside Nathan.
In this circle, power dictated the narrative.
Before, if Eliana had made a scene, she’d have been ignored.
Now, a single sentence from her had drawn the condemning gaze of the entire room.
Isabella couldn’t withstand those judgmental stares. The feeling of being publicly shamed was unbearable. She hurried toward Logan, her voice a pleading whisper. “Logan…”
Seeing her distress, Logan softened his heart. He walked over to her.
As Isabella clung to his arm, Eliana merely scoffed and turned away, following Nathan without a backward glance.
Watching her walk away with Nathan, Logan felt a hot, bitter anger ignite inside him.
All night, he saw Nathan introduce Eliana, connect her with powerful people, and help her stand as an equal in this circle. The jealousy in his chest burned hotter, an anxious ache he couldn’t ignore.
That sensation of losing his grip on her was pure agony.
For years, he’d controlled her, watched her lose touch with the world outside, her life narrowing to just him and Samuel. He thought he had her securely in his grasp, so her earlier unhappiness never really worried him.
But now, seeing her converse with ease, earning nods of approval from people he struggled to impress, he felt a deep panic set in.
Distracted all night, he even spilled wine on himself.
When Isabella moved to wipe it, he stopped her for the first time.
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Chapter 40
Even known for being meticulous, he endured the stain all evening, his eyes never leaving Elans.
Isabella’s hatred for Eliana burned brighter than ever.
She’d truly believed Logan didn’t care for his wife, which was why she’d never seen Eliana as a real threat. She thought removing Eliana would be simple.
But Logan’s behavior now filled her with panic,
She had to do something to make Logan despise Eliana completely.
Tonight, Eliana was the one who’d caused this public shame, who’d ruined everything Isabella had hoped for.
At that moment, Isabella hated her with every fiber of her being.
Downing a glass of wine to smother the hatred in her eyes, Isabella began to plot.
Meanwhile, noticing Eliana was a little too tipsy, Nathan darkened his expression.
When she reached for another glass, he caught her hand, took the drink, and finished it himself. Addressing the small group around them, he said lightly, “She’s not much of a drinker. She gets troublesome when she’s had too much. If you guys want to drink, I’ll keep you company.”
His protective tone was unmistakable. The men exchanged glances, understood, and no one dared offer Eliana another drink. Instead, they said cordially, “Ms. Lyons, if you need us for the Westridge project, just say the word.”
The other person added, “Absolutely. Do keep us in mind for future ventures, Ms. Lyons.”
After a few more pleasantries, they turned and walked away.
Eliana looked at the business cards in her hand. They were exactly the manufacturers she needed. A wave of relief washed over her.
The previous project had been under Logan, using the Eliot Group’s exclusive suppliers.
Once the Eliot Group pulled out, those suppliers had found every excuse to terminate their contracts.
After funding was secured, finding and vetting new suppliers would have been her next major hurdle.
Now, in one evening, it was essentially solved. The genuine relief brought a faint sting to her eyes.
She hadn’t been paying attention to Logan at all. She was truly happy, and the extra drinks had been a gesture of sincere thanks.
What she couldn’t have known was how her current state appeared from Logan’s perspective.
Once they were alone, Nathan gripped her wrist and pulled her to a secluded corner. He turned her to face the direction where Logan stood.
From this angle, Isabella appeared to be standing on her toes, intimately wiping the wine stain from Logan’s
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Chapter 40
shirt.
- FM.
Nathan said, “Look at him, Eliana. Does he look like he cares about you?
“Getting drunk over a man like that? How pathetic.”
Eliana was tipsy, but far from drunk.
His words made her frown. “What are you talking about?”
She tried to explain, but a wave of nausea hit her. Pushing him away, she hurried toward the restroom.
Watching her go, Nathan felt a familiar tightness in his chest but followed her anyway.
As he walked, memories of the reports about Eliana he’d received over the years flooded back.
When he’d first learned of her marriage, he’d been shattered, almost rushing back to stop it.
But he’d been trapped in his own mess abroad, powerless.
Later, he’d tried to convince himself to move on, but he’d still craved every scrap of news about her.
When he heard she’d dropped everything to be a housewife, he thought she was being foolish. Still, part of him hoped that if the simple life made her happy, then maybe it was the right choice.
Then, six months ago, around the time Isabella returned, the photos he received showed a woman who never smiled. That was when he could no longer stay away.
