Chapter 87

Lainey finally gotthe moment she had been waiting for.

Just two days later, headlines exploded across the internet

"Breaking News! Lainey Todd, wife of the Todd Group's CEO, was revealed to be the long-lost daughter of the prestigious Benton family from Breoqua!"

The announcement instantly stirred a frenzy online.

Almost immediately. Eleanor's phone buzzed. It was Lillian calling."Eleanor,did you see it? That sly woman actually managed to climb her way up. Just goes to show, bad weeds never die."

Eleanor leaned back on her sofa, calmly scrolling through a picture of Lainey on her tablet. In the photo,Lainey appeared shy and innocent, though her expression stayed unreadable.

Eleanor exchanged a few polite words with Lillian before ending the call. Not long after, another notification lit up her phone

It was a message from Nolan.o you want me to look into the Benton family for you?"

Eleanor's slender fingers tapped a short reply. need."

The Benton family had nothing to do with her

She had bigger things to worry about now.

In just three days, an antique that had been lost overseas for years was going up for sale at Crownwell Auctions.

It was a national treasure, and leaving it abroad was not an option. It had to be brought back home.

As Eleanor thought about this, her phone buzzed again.

Another message from Nolan popped up

"Baby, you've been ignoring me for too long.When are we finally having dinner?" It ended with a pitiful puppy emoji.

A rare smile tugged at Eleanor's lips as she looked at the cartoon face. For once, her usually composed expression softened. She typed a single word back. "Now."

Moments later, a sleek black Bentley rolled to a stop in front of her apartment building.

The door opened, and Nolan stepped out first.

His long strides, sharply tailored suit, and perfectly defined features under the sunlight immediately caught people's attention.

With broad shoulders and a lean waist, he looked effortlessly magnetic, drawing the eyes of everyone around.

When Eleanor slid into the back seat, her brows pinched slightly. "Next time, don't park right at the entrance."

Nolan tilted his head,his tone playful. "And why not?"

She fastened her seatbelt and met his gaze steadily."Because I don't like being gawked at like I'm on display."

His chuckle was low and indulgent. "Ah, so it seems being too exceptional really is a flaw."

After a smooth drive, the car pulled up in front of Cloudcrest Dining-a renowned luxury restaurant in Elepdon. Exclusive and notoriously difficult to book, it was a place reserved for only the city's most influential figures.

A waiter, already waiting at the entrance, bowed respectfully and ushered them inside.

To Eleanor's surprise, the entire restaurant was empty,save for the gentle hum of soothing background music.

She glanced around, her brows slightly raised "You booked out the whole place?"

Nolan pulled out a chair for her with elegant precision,waiting until she was seated before replying, "Of course. With who we are and the relationship we share,do you think we'd get to enjoy a peaceful dinner otherwise?"

Eleanor said nothing

He wasn't wrong, after all.

Yet, sitting in such a massive restaurant with no one else around felt a little excessive to her

However,right at that moment, commotion broke out at the entrance.

A familiar voice barked, full of irritation. "What do you mean we can't go in? Do you even know who I am?"It was Jonny.

Hot on his heels was Lainey's soft, coaxing tone."Jonny, leave it. We can eat somewhere else. It's only dinner."

On the surface, her voice was patient and generous Inside,though,she was sneering.

Once,she had thought Jonny was the perfect catch But now? He seemed painfully ordinary.

Throwing a fit over being denied entry hardly reflected the refinement of the elite.

Once the Bentons returned from abroad and officially claimed her, she would cast him aside without hesitation, otherwise,he would only drag down her status.

Jonny, completely oblivious to her inner thoughts,finally swallowed his anger when the manager refused to budge Turning to her with a guilty face, he murmured, "Lainey, I'm sorry Let's just go somewhere else."

Soon,their voices died down, and silence returned to the restaurant.

Nolan leisurely sliced into his steak and remarked,"1can't help but wonder how such respectable parents like the Bentons ended up with a daughter like that."

Eleanor's eyes lifted in curiosity. "You've met the Bentons before?"

"At several international business conferences," he replied, his gaze steady on hers. "Lainey is nothing like them,especially Mrs. Benton. She carries herself with a kind of calm elegance that, oddly enough, makes me think of you."

Eleanor's knife paused briefly before continuing as if nothing had happened.

She didn't bite at his remark. Instead, she asked in a light, offhand tone, "And what sort of aura do you think I have?"

Nolan set down his utensils and leaned in across the table,closing the distance between them.

His eyes were intent, and his voice was low. "Bold.Alluring, Fearless."

A quick rush went through Eleanor, her heartbeat skipping unexpectedly.

She turned her head, pretending to focus on her plate,though the warmth creeping up her ears betrayed her."Just eat your dinner."

When he caught the flush at her ears, Nolan's smile deepened.

Leaning back into his seat, he picked up his usual calm composure. "The Crownwell Auctions are coming up in a few days. Shall we go together?"

Eleanor had planned to attend anyway, so she answered without hesitation, "Alright."