At twenty-something, Eleanor''s own schemes and methods were no match for Vanessa''s. She would have likely been wounded and torn apart by Vanessa''s various tactics.


    "Thank you for telling me all this," Serena said gratefully. "Take a look at the bag. Do you like it?"


    via took the bag out, and her eyes lit up with delight. "You can''t even buy this in the country."


    "You need connections to get one," Serena said.


    via thought to herself that only someone of Serena''s status could get their hands on a true limited edition.


    After via left with the bag, Serena sat alone in the coffee shop for a while topose herself before leaving.


    Even though she knew that digging into Vanessa''s past would only make her angrier and more pained, Serena felt a persistent need to do it. She just wanted to uncover Vanessa''s history and see just how shameless she could be.


    At 4:30 in the afternoon, Eleanor''s car emerged from the underground garage. Just as she stopped at a traffic light, her car''s hands-free system rang. It was Joel.


    Eleanor answered the call, and Joel''s anxious voice filled the car. "Ellie, did you see the report about the Marlowe Vige chemical nt? It says Drew, the owner from back then, is about to be released."


    Eleanor''s own voice grew tense. "I saw it today, too."


    "I don''t know if this Drew guy will hold a grudge against you after two years in prison. From now on, you need to be careful. Keep an eye out for any unfamiliar vehicles following you."


    "I will. You be careful too," Eleanor reminded him.


    "Don''t worry about me," Joel said, then asked, "Are you driving right now?"


    "Yes, I''m on my way to pick up my daughter from school," Eleanor replied.


    "Okay, drive safely. Call me anytime if you need anything."


    After hanging up with Joel, Eleanor stepped on the gas just as her gaze fell on the car behind her. She saw a ck SUV following her. With Joel''s warning still ringing in her ears, the vehicle suddenly seemed suspicious.


    She thought she had seen a simr vehicle behind her car this morning. A wave of rm washed over her. Eleanor immediately turned into anotherne. The ck SUV behind her promptly signaled and followed. Eleanor''s nerves tightened. Was she really being followed?


    Eleanor pussed into a parking lot but didn''t get out of the car. Instead, she sat and watched the other vehicles. Sure enough, it also pulled over to the side of the road, its hazard lights shing.


    Eleanor was now certain she was being followed. Could it really be people sent by Drew from the chemical nt? Were they scouting her out to do something to her?


    Just then, her car''s phone rang again. A name appeared on the screen.


    n.


    Eleanor paused for a moment. She was being followed right now, and she needed him to pick up their daughter. She answered the call.


    "Hey, are you home?" Eleanor asked proactively.


    "I''m on my way from work,"n''s deep voice replied.


    "I... I think someone''s following me,'' Eleanor decided to report it to him. After aft they weren''t just ther daughter''s parents he was also her potential primary blood donor if her condition rpsed. ''


    I sent them to protect you."


    Eleanor was stunned for a few


    seconds. She turned to look at the


    ck SUV with its shing lights. Just then, the car door


    opened, and


    a somewhat familiar figure started


    walking toward her car. It was one ofn''s regr bodyguards, Lanny.


    Eleanor let out a sigh of relief. So they weren''s men.


    "Sorry, I didn''t mean to scare you,"n''s apologetic voice came through the speakers.


    Eleanor said to him, "Next time, please give me a heads-up."


    "I will,"n agreed.


    "Well, if that''s all, I''m hanging up now," Eleanor said.


    "I just left my office. I''ll go pick up Evelyn. You can just go home,"n continued.


    Eleanor nced at the time. She had taken a detour, and she was indeed running a littlete.


    "Thanks," Eleanor said, the wording out naturally.