The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

“Of course,” I nodded, unable to refuse her. “I’ll stay with you.”

A small smile touched her lips. She then turned to Derek. “You stay too. But first, I need to speak with you privately. There are

things we should discuss.

Derek nodded, and I took the hint, standing to leave. As I reached the door, Margaret called after me.

“Eleanor.”

I turned back, my hand still on the doorknob..

“Thank you, dear.”

Walking through the hallway of the Wells mansion, I felt a familiar hollowness spreading through my chest. In Boston, genuine affection was a rare currency, and Margaret seemed to be one of the few willing to spend it on me. Despite her role in orchestrating this marriage, her concern had always felt sincere. I ran my fingers along the wainscoting, wondering how many more times I would

walk these halls before the divorce was finalized.

In the grand living room, Jonathan, Catherine, and Alexander were engaged in quiet conversation. They fell silent as I entered, that peculiar family trait of closing ranks around outsiders. After a moment, Jonathan gestured for me to join them, his hand indicating

an empty armchair.

“How is she?” he asked, his voice gruff with concern.

“Resting,” I replied, smoothing my skirt as I sat down. “She asked me to stay the night.”

Catherine’s lips tightened almost imperceptibly before she nodded. “Of course. We’ve kept your room ready. Her emphasis on “your” made it clear she considered it my room alone, not a shared space with her son.

“Grandmother had another episode recently,” Alexander said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. His eyes met mine with unexpected warmth. She had surgery but didn’t tell any of us. The doctors say that with her current condition, if things go well, she

might have another six months.

The news hit me harder than expected. Margaret, with all her strength and spirit, had always seemed somehow eternal. Six months. The thought of losing her-perhaps the only Wells who had ever truly accepted me-made my chest constrict painfully.

What about Derek and Eleanor’s… Catherine began, then paused, glancing at me as if I were a piece of furniture that had suddenly spoken. “Situation. We can’t keep it from her forever.

Jonathan sighed, rubbing his temple. “With Mother’s current health, she can’t handle any more stress. We’ll wait until she’s stronger,

then slowly broach the subject of the divorce.”

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EXCA

Chapter 85

I looked down at my hands, uncomfortable being discussed as if I weren’t present. The word “divorce” hung in the air, heavy and

final. Two months from now, I would no longer be connected to this family. The thought should have brought relief, but instead, I

felt a strange emptiness.

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Alexander caught my eye, offering a sympathetic look. When Catherine and Jonathan moved toward the study to discuss something

privately, he approached me, sitting in the chair adjacent to mine.

“Eleanor,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a genülne note of regret. “I’m afraid we’ll need to ask for your patience a while longer.”

I nodded, understanding the implication. “For Margaret, of course.”

We sat in awkward silence for a moment before I asked, “I heard your engagement was called off. May I ask why?” The question had

escaped before I could consider its propriety.

Alexander seemed surprised but answered thoughtfully. “No special reason, really. We each had different ambitions. His eyes, so similar to Derek’s yet somehow kinder, studied my face. “Meridian Pharmaceuticals is certainly a prestigious Boston name, but

sometimes… feelings aren’t so easily arranged.”

“I understand,” I said, though part of me wondered if anyone truly did.

Our conversation was interrupted by Derek’s return. He walked into the living room, jacket slung over one arm, his tie loosened further to reveal more of his throat. My traitorous eyes followed the strong line of his neck down to his collarbone, and I quickly

looked away.

Derek paused, his gaze sharpening as he observed Alexander and me sitting together.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love