CH 14

HER POV ~

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of work and irritation.

Lucian’s ridiculous rules kept replaying in my mind, each one more absurd than the last. No unnecessary contact? No interfering in each other’s lives? He made it sound like I was some obsessive stalker who needed strict guidelines just to exist near him.

I groaned, rubbing my temples as I finished typing an email. "Unbelievable."

I had more important things to focus on. Like my actual job.

So, I buried myself in work, letting the hum of the office drown out my frustration. Hours passed, and before I knew it, the sun had set, casting an orange glow over the city skyline.

A glance at the clock told me it was time to leave.

With a sigh, I shut my laptop and grabbed my bag, making my way toward Lucian’s office. At least I should let him know I’m leaving.

Not because I cared.

Just because it was polite.

But when I reached his office, it was empty.

I frowned. The desk was clean, no sign of him. Even his chair was neatly pushed in, as if he hadn’t been here in hours.

"Seriously?" I muttered. "He just disappeared without a word?"

Rolling my eyes, I turned on my heel and left.

The evening air was cooler than before, a light breeze making the city feel alive. I walked past rows of streetlights, the faint scent of rain still lingering from earlier.

My stomach grumbled.

Right. Food.

I wasn’t in the mood to sit in a restaurant, so I headed toward a nearby food stall I had noticed a few times before. The aroma of sizzling spices filled the air as I approached.

Just as I reached into my bag for my wallet, my phone rang.

London.

I blinked at the caller ID. No way.

My heart skipped a beat as I picked up. "Oh my God, Olivia?"

A loud gasp came from the other side. "Eleanor! Finally! Do you know how hard it is to reach you? Did you change your number, or are you just ignoring me?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, I didn't change my number, and I would never ignore you. I’ve just been… busy."

"Busy? Please, I demand details. I leave you alone for a few months, and suddenly, you’re marrying some billionaire?"

I sighed, stepping away from the food stall to a quieter corner. "Yeah, about that… It’s complicated."

"I gathered. The Eleanor I know would never agree to an arranged marriage." Olivia paused. "Unless there’s something I don’t know?"

I hesitated, chewing on my lip. "It’s not as bad as it sounds. I mean, it’s not ideal, but—"

"But nothing." Olivia huffed. "I knew something was up the moment I saw your name in the news."

My grip on the phone tightened. "News?"

"Duh. You think people aren’t talking about Lucian Blackwood suddenly getting engaged?

"Oh yeah, I didn't see the news." I said quietly.

Olivia shouted from the phone making my years deaf, " Are you crazy? Come on, it's about you!!"

" Sorry, sorry. I'll pay attention to it from now on." I chuckled.

AUTHOR'S POV ~

Eleanor took a bite of her food, barely tasting it as Olivia’s voice rang in her ear.

"You won’t believe what I just heard." Olivia’s tone was teasing, but there was something else beneath it—curiosity, maybe even concern.

Eleanor swallowed, leaning against the small food stall’s counter. "If it’s about you finally learning how to cook, I’d be more shocked."

Olivia scoffed. "Haha, very funny. But no, it’s about Lucian."

At the mention of his name, Eleanor stilled for just a fraction of a second before rolling her eyes. "Oh, great. What has my dear boss done now?"

"It’s not about him, exactly," Olivia said, dragging out the suspense. "It’s about his ex-wife."

Eleanor nearly dropped her chopsticks.

A cold wave rushed through her, but she quickly forced a laugh. "Oh? And why would I care about that?"

Olivia sighed. "El, don’t do that thing where you pretend nothing affects you."

"I have no idea what you’re talking about." Eleanor busied herself with her food, pretending the sudden tightness in her chest wasn’t there.

"Fine, whatever," Olivia said with a knowing tone. "I just thought you’d want to know she’s back after disappearing for a year."

Eleanor forced down another bite, chewing slowly. She wouldn’t ask. She wouldn’t react.

"Good for her," she said after a pause, her voice perfectly even. "I hope she enjoys whatever personal reasons brought her here."

"That’s it? No questions? No reactions?" Olivia sounded almost disappointed.

"Liv, come on. I don’t care. That woman is his past, and I’m…" Eleanor trailed off before she could say something ridiculous.

"You’re what?"

Eleanor let out a small, humorless laugh. "Annoyed that my food is getting cold because of this pointless conversation."

Olivia sighed again. "Alright, I get it. But El… just be careful, okay?"

"Always," Eleanor said, keeping her voice light.

She ended the call before Olivia could say anything else.

Taking a deep breath, she glanced up at the night sky.

Lucian’s ex-wife was back.

And it didn’t matter.

At least, that’s what she told herself.

AUTHOR'S POV ~

2 DAYS BEFORE THEIR WEDDING —

The atmosphere inside the luxurious shopping mall was anything but pleasant. At least, not for Lucian.

Dragged into this ordeal by his mother’s persistence, he walked a step ahead of Eleanor, hands shoved into his pockets, expression unreadable. If anyone saw them together, they might assume he was here under threat—because, quite frankly, he was. His mother’s orders were not to be taken lightly.

Eleanor, on the other hand, was slightly amused. She strolled beside him, taking in the stores with mild interest. Unlike Lucian, she wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of shopping. It wasn’t as if she planned on buying anything extravagant, but if she had to spend the afternoon with Mr. Iceberg, she might as well enjoy it.

“So, should we start with the formal section?” she asked, glancing up at him.

Lucian barely spared her a glance. “Pick whatever you want, and let’s get this over with.”

She rolled her eyes. “Wow, you really know how to make a woman feel special.”

“I wasn’t trying to.”

Eleanor sighed dramatically. “At least pretend to have some enthusiasm. We’re shopping for our wedding, after all.”

He halted mid-step, turning to face her with a sharp look. “It’s not our wedding. It’s something our parents arranged. Let’s not act like it’s anything more than that.”

Eleanor’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Right. So, should I pick a black dress for the wedding too? Since you seem to be in mourning?”

Lucian exhaled slowly, his patience thinning. “Pick. Something.”

She chuckled, pleased with herself, before walking ahead to browse through the formal wear. She ran her fingers along the fabrics, her mind wandering for a moment. In two days, she would be married to a man who barely tolerated her presence. How… romantic.

Lucian, standing a few feet away, watched her from the corner of his eye. The way she carried herself—so effortlessly confident, so frustratingly unbothered—grated on his nerves. But there was also something else. Something he refused to acknowledge.

A store assistant approached them with a polite smile. “Can I help you find something, ma’am?”

Before Eleanor could answer, Lucian spoke up. “Something elegant. But not too eye-catching.”

Eleanor blinked at him before smirking. “Are you afraid I might steal the attention from you?”

Lucian scoffed. “Hardly. I just don’t want to deal with unnecessary drama.”

“Relax, boss.” Eleanor picked a dress and held it up. “I’ll make sure to look just ‘appropriate’ enough for your taste.”

Lucian didn’t respond, but his sharp gaze lingered on her for a second longer before he turned away.

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