Chapter 244

She remembered how, three years ago, Una had wandered down the street looking utterly lost and broken.
Had that, too, been because of Hans?
Una lifted her gaze to Hans. “What do you want me to do?”
Hans wanted her to apologize.
Eleanor tugged at Hans’s sleeve, her tears morphing into a plaintive, childlike plea. “Let it go, Hans. There’s no need for an apology. I just want to try on the wedding dress again. Please, Ms. Lawson, could you help me look at it?”
The dress had been custom-made overseas and had just arrived the day before.
Hans turned to Una. “Could you help Eleanor with her dress?”
Nora’s patience snapped. She shot Eleanor a cold, withering glare.
“You’re pushing it.”
Eleanor shrank back behind the two men, her face the picture of wounded innocence, though her eyes sparkled with challenge.
“It’s just one tiny request. I never said I didn’t want the dress, yet you all managed to ruin it.”
“You-”
“I’ll do it,” Una cut in.
Taking Nora’s hand, she led her to the sofa, her voice icy and unyielding. “I’ll take a look at it for you.”
She knew exactly what Eleanor was after-and, in a way, she wanted to be done with her own lingering hopes.
Eleanor went to change into the gown.
Daniel sat down beside Nora.
Immediately, she tried to get up and move away, but he caught her wrist and gently pulled her back.
It had been a while since they’d seen each other. Daniel’s eyes devoured the sight
of her, as if he could never get enough.
He just wanted a moment close to her. Follow current novels on
He offered an awkward explanation. “Hans was caught up with something and couldn’t make it. He asked me to come with Eleanor to try on the dress.”
Nora tried to wrench her hand free, clearly annoyed. “How is that my problem?”
Realizing she was upset, Daniel let the subject of Eleanor drop, instead asking whether the baby was behaving.
Nora rolled her eyes. “It’s only been a month. What’s there to behave or not behave?”
Daniel nodded. He’d been reading parenting books lately, but apart from talking about the baby, he didn’t know what else to say to her. Still, after finally seeing her again, he couldn’t just sit there like a stranger.
“Is there anything you’ve been craving? I can get it for you,” he offered.
Nora’s tone was icy. “I can buy whatever I want, Mr. Chambers. You don’t need to trouble yourself.”
Her words were as cold and hard as steel.
Daniel tried again. “The doctor said even unborn babies can sense things, that it’s good for the parents to spend more time together. I—”
“Daniel, you promised we’d keep our distance,” Nora said with a brittle smile, her eyes devoid of warmth. “If you keep doing this, how can I ever believe you’ll let me go once the baby’s born?”
Daniel fell silent.
“And besides,” Nora went on, “if you have time to play chaperone for Eleanor, don’t you have time to ask about your child?”
He had asked—he just wanted to talk to her. But Nora was done with the conversation.
Just then, Eleanor emerged.
She had always carried herself well, and now, in the white wedding dress, she looked truly beautiful.
She reached her hand out to Hans.
Hans hesitated for a few seconds, then took her wrist.
Una’s face went pale; she clenched her hands so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
Eleanor looked up at Hans, her voice soft and shy. “Do I look good?”
Hans smiled. “You look beautiful.”
Eleanor spun around, turning to Una. “Ms. Lawson, isn’t the dress gorgeous?” Seeing Una’s stricken face, Eleanor knew she’d gotten exactly what she wanted. Una drew a steadying breath, determined not to show weakness in front of them.
“It’s a Candice original, isn’t it?” She made her voice as steady as possible. “That’s a world-class designer’s work. Of course it’s flawless.”
She even managed to smile, offering her blessing.
“Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.”