Chapter 197
The next morning, Eleanor drove her daughter to school, unaware that a black SUV was tailing her from a discreet distance. Inside, someone was snapping
photos.
Those photos landed in Faye’s inbox not long after.
Faye studied the shots-Eleanor, alone, walking her daughter to school. Of course, she thought with a smirk. Miserable marriage, husband nowhere to be
seen.
“Keep following her,” Faye instructed curtly. “I want a photo of her husband. Don’t mess this up p>
That afternoon, at three o’clock, Eleanor messaged Joslyn: Could you pick up Evelyn today? I’ll be in a meeting till five.
Joslyn checked the message and got ready to leave for the school. But before she could step out, her phone rang. It was lan.
“Mrs. Goodwin will be in meetings until five,” he said smoothly. “I’ll pick up Evelyn p>
“Yes, sir,” Joslyn replied automatically, slipping back into old habits, still thinking of him as the man of the house.
Outside the school gates, the tail was still posted in his car, eyes glued to the entrance as children poured out. He’d memorized Eleanor’s daughter’s face by now. As parents arrived, he watched every adult-child pair with laser focus.
Finally, he spotted Evelyn skipping out, her hand tucked safely in a man’s. The man looked distinguished, sharply dressed. The tail grabbed his phone and filmed as the two walked to a gleaming Rolls-Royce. As they drove off, he muttered under his breath, “Damn, real money. Rolls-Royce and everything p>
He sent a snapshot to Faye: “Got your man. Balance, please p>
Faye was practically trembling with anticipation. She transferred the payment without a second thought, even though the photo only showed the man’s profile, not his full face.
Then a video arrived.
Faye clicked it open, her breath catching as she watched the man’s face come into view. Her heart stopped. No. Impossible. Eleanor’s husband was lan? This had to be a mistake.
She closed the video and scrolled back to the morning’s photos: Eleanor dropping off her daughter. She squinted at the little girl’s face. Same child.
Faye pressed her hand over her mouth, her mind racing. After a moment, she ended a call with a friend and immediately dialed Vanessa.
“Hello?” Vanessa answered.
“Why didn’t you tell me Eleanor’s husband is lan?” Faye blurted out, voice sharp with disbelief.
Vanessa sounded genuinely surprised. “You didn’t know p>
The words hit Faye like a brick. She’d always assumed Eleanor’s husband was just some wealthy nobody. Never in a million years did she expect it to be lan.
No wonder Eleanor had dropped out of school to marry and have a child. Of course she’d want to lock down a man like that.
“Does Eleanor know about you and lan?” Faye pressed.
Vanessa gave a soft laugh. “What does it matter? They’re getting divorced p>
Faye froze. “Are you serious p>
“Absolutely. The papers are already being processed p>
Faye bit her lip, gears turning. No wonder Eleanor had been making eyes at Joel lately. She was just the poor wife, unloved and discarded.
Looks like she’s already lining up her next catch before the ink is even dry on her divorce.
And Joel-well, he was clearly her second choice.
Soon after, Gwenda rushed over, eager for the latest gossip about Eleanor’s husband. Faye brushed her off. If Gwenda found out, the entire lab-and probably all of Ashford Medical University-would know Eleanor was married to lan. That would only boost Eleanor’s reputation, which was the last thing Faye wanted.
Besides, once the divorce was finalized, Eleanor would be just another ex-wife— no longer the queen of the social scene.
At lunch, Faye ran into Jude Vaughn and, unable to resist, asked again to confirm. Jude just chuckled. “That’s right. Eleanor is Mrs. Goodwin. But she’s not looking to make that public p>
Faye sneered inwardly. It wasn’t humility holding Eleanor back from bragging-it was that lan had stopped loving her long ago.