The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 146

Chapter 146

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I apologize for the comment about your staff, I conceded, the words feeling foreign on my tongue. Wells men rarely apologized.

That was inappropriate. But Fort has no business interfering in matters between us.”

“Matters between us?” She shook her head in disbelief. What matters, Derek? We’ve been living separate lives for most of our three-

year marriage. Now that we’ve signed divorce papers, what’s really changing?”

Her words stung because they contained an undeniable truth. I had spent two years in London, away from her, building Frontier

Capital while she stayed in Boston. I’d told myself it was better that way-cleaner, simpler.

“I made mistakes,” I admitted, the closest I’d come to real vulnerability with her in years. “Let me make it up to you.”

“Make it up to me?” Eleanor’s voice cracked slightly. “What good does that do now? I survived those two years you were in London

just fine. I’ll survive after this divorce too.”

She moved toward the waiting taxi again. And by the way, while you’re so concerned about James, maybe you should worry more about the rumors about you and Seraphina that followed you all the way from London.

The taxi driver honked impatiently.

“Just leave James alone,” she said, opening the cab door. “Since we’re divorced, I’d appreciate it if you respected my choices and my

space.”

Before I could respond, she slipped into the backseat and pulled the door closed. I stood there, watching as the taillights disappeared into the Boston traffic, feeling as though something essential had been ripped away from me.

The night air felt colder now, settling into my bones. I stood motionless on the sidewalk, my presence causing pedestrians to give me a wide berth. A man in a charcoal peacoat stared a moment too long as he passed.

“Problem?” I asked, my voice carrying an edge sharp enough to draw blood.

He quickly looked away and hurried past.

1 heard the door of Ascension open behind me, followed by measured footsteps. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“That was quite a scene in there,” Fort said, coming to stand beside me. His breath clouded in the air between us.

I reached into my pocket for my silver cigarette case-a habit I’d picked up in London and one that my mother would disapprove of if she knew. I rarely smoked, but tonight called for it.

If you have something to say, Fort, just say it,” I said, flicking my lighter and inhaling deeply.

He watched me for a moment, calculating. I could almost see his thoughts-weighing his chances with Eleanor against the risk of provoking me further The fool actually thought he had a shot with her now that we were divorced.

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Chapter 146

“You know, Wells,” he began, his voice frustratingly reasonable, “you and Eleanor have signed divorce papers. She’s free now.” He turned slightly to face me. To be honest, I think I have more right to pursue her than you do.”

I exhaled smoke slowly, watching it dissipate in the winter air.

“You don’t love her, Fort continued, his tone hardening. “If you did, you wouldn’t have made her so miserable.”

Something snapped inside me. The carefully cultivated Wells self-control-generations of Boston breeding and boarding school

discipline-shattered like thin ice.

‘I don’t love her?” My voice rose with each word. “How the hell would you know what I feel? I don’t love her? I stepped closer to

him, cigarette forgotten between my fingers. “I fucking love her so much I’m going insane with it.”

The words echoed in the quiet street, startling even me with their raw honesty. I’d never said them aloud before-not to Eleanor,

not to myself.

But they were true. God help me, they were true.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love