Chapter 975

As Serena reached the door, she couldn’t help but add one last thing. “My brother, my entire family, and I… we all want to thank you p>

Eleanor didn’t respond. She simply sat back down at her computer, her attention already fixed on the new data displayed on the screen.

Serena closed the door gently behind her, a storm of emotions churning inside. If she felt this terrible, how much pain would her brother be in when he found out Eleanor had completely moved on?

All she could do was what she had done. Beyond that, there was nothing more she could do to help.

Night fell.

In a dimly lit bar, Vanessa sat in a corner booth. She arranged a dozen different drinks on the table, snapped a photo, and sent it to lan.

*lan, if you still care about me, come get me. Otherwise, I’ll drink every last one of these p>

After sending the message, Vanessa stared at her phone, expecting an immediate response. In the past, lan’s call would always come through instantly-whether he was scolding her, ordering her to stop, or coming to find her himself. That feeling of being controlled, of being cared about, was a thrill she savored. She was sure this time would be no different.

But the seconds ticked into minutes, and the screen remained black. No calls, no messages. Nothing.

Vanessa swallowed hard, forcing herself to be patient. She sent another text. *lan, you don’t think I’d dare p>

The tone was a clear threat.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. A crushing wave of disappointment and the humiliation of being ignored. wrapped around her heart like a

being.ig

thorny vine, squeezing tighter and tighter.

She jabbed at the screen with a trembling finger and sent one last message.

*Fine. If you won’t come, then I’ll drink them for you p>

Vanessa grabbed a bottle of hard liquor from the table and tilted it back, pouring the contents into her mouth, Laverne, who was sitting beside her, gasped in alarm. She could tell Vanessa was in a foul mood, but she hadn’t been able to stop her from coming to the bar. All she could do was stay close, terrified Vanessa might do something reckless. After all,

was still an internationally renowned pianist with seven or eight

endorsement deals to her name.

“Vanessa, stop! You know you’re not supposed to drink! Mr. Goodwin has warned

you about it,” Laverne pleaded, reaching for the bottle.

Vanessa shoved her hand away with a cold laugh. “Does lan Goodwin control

me? Who is he to me? He’s just a cold, heartless businessman p>

She took another large gulp, the burn in her throat a dull ache compared to the agony in her heart. She knew her greatest fear of the last decade had finally come true.

lan no longer needed her. Had he found another way? Or had he found a new donor? Was he just going to kick her to the curb now that she was useless?

“Vanessa, please don’t do this,” Laverne begged, her voice strained with worry. “Whatever it is, we can talk it out. Why hurt yourself like this p>

Vanessa ignored her. After two more swallows, an intense bitterness filled her eyes. The more she thought, the more furious she became. Staring at the still dark phone screen her last Shred of sanity seemed to crumble.

She took a ragged breath, snatched her phone, and dialed lan’s number.

The phone rang for a long time. Just as Vanessa was about to give up, the call connected.

“lan! lan, did you see? I’m drinking-you p>

A man’s voice, so calm it was almost cruel, cut her off. “You’ve breached our agreement p>