Chapter 180

Eleanor’s eyes glistened as she listened to her grandmother’s choked sobs. She apologized softly, “Grandma, I’m sorry. It’s true, we’re in the middle of a divorce p>

“Ellie, if you’re being mistreated, just tell me. I’ll set him straight for you. Don’t go through with the divorce, sweetheart,” Magdalen pleaded.

“Grandma, please don’t try to talk me out of it. We’ve come this far already. Please take care of yourself. I promise I’ll visit you often,” Eleanor comforted her.

“Don’t worry about a thing! Even if you two get divorced, I won’t let lan treat you unfairly,” Magdalen insisted.

“Grandma, really, you don’t need to worry about us younger folks,” Eleanor gently replied.

Meanwhile, Frazier was still going over the division of assets. Even though both she and lan had signed the divorce agreement, who knew how long the whole property settlement would drag on.

After hanging up, Eleanor thought of the bank card her grandmother had given her last time. She’d have to find a chance to return it.

That weekend, Joy invited Eleanor out for dinner, and Eleanor brought her daughter along.

They arrived at the restaurant and had just finished ordering by the window when two more people walked in.

It was Vanessa and Faye.

The sisters didn’t share the same mother, but their features were strikingly similar. Their arrival instantly drew the attention of the men nearby.

“Mrs. Shannon,” Evelyn was the first to spot Vanessa.

Vanessa still held a grudge against Evelyn, but in public, she kept up her warm persona.

“Evelyn, it’s been so long! You’ve gotten even prettier,” Vanessa greeted her with a smile.

Faye shot Eleanor a quick glance, then looked down and started scrolling through her phone.

Eleanor met Vanessa’s gaze, her eyes full of irritation. Vanessa turned to Faye and said, “Faye, let’s sit over there p>

Joy made a face. “Why do we have to run into them everywhere p>

But with Evelyn there, Joy quickly changed the subject to something more cheerful.

While Eleanor was peeling shrimp for her daughter, her hands got oily, so she excused herself to go wash up.

As soon as she entered the restroom, she heard someone retching in one of the stalls. The sound was unmistakably Vanessa’s.

Sure enough, Vanessa soon emerged, clutching her chest and looking pale. When she saw Eleanor, she forced herself to keep it together as she washed her hands.

“Have you finished the divorce proceedings yet?” Vanessa asked, turning her head.

Eleanor didn’t reply. Her suspicions were confirmed—Vanessa was pregnant and clearly eager to marry lan.

A few minutes later, Eleanor returned to the table, and soon after, Vanessa and Faye left as well. Vanessa barely touched her food, looking queasy and unable to eat, before paying the bill and leaving with her sister.

Eleanor watched her daughter, who was eating intently, and thought to herself: Now that lan is about to have a second child, she’d need to limit her daughter’s time with him, keep their bond from getting too close.

After the meal, they headed to Joy’s place to hang out.

Evelyn got busy unboxing Joy’s new toys, while Joy and Eleanor sat chatting on the couch. Eleanor brought up Vanessa’s bout of morning sickness.

“No wonder lan agreed to sign the papers without a fight. The other woman must be in a hurry to take her place,” Joy scoffed.

“Not hard to figure out,” Eleanor said, brushing her hair behind her ear.

“If she gives birth to a boy, the Goodwin family will probably spoil her rotten,” Joy said through gritted teeth.

Eleanor’s daughter had already been adored by the Goodwins, but if Vanessa had a son, he’d likely be even more favored.

After the divorce, lan and Vanessa would be strangers to her. Whatever kind of life they led from now on was no concern of hers.

Summer was coming to an end. A week before school started, Eleanor got a call from Xavier.

“Mrs. Goodwin, I noticed your daughter’s name isn’t on the school roster. Did you transfer her to another school p>

Eleanor paused, then answered honestly, “Yes, I transferred her p>

“Evelyn was Vivian’s only real friend at school. Now that she knows your daughter isn’t coming back, she’s throwing a fit and refusing to go to school at all,” Xavier said wearily on the other end.