During the procedure, the doctor said, "This will sting a bit. Try to bear with it."


    As the first suture was removed, a sharp pain shot through her. Eleanor bit her lip hard and squeezed her eyes shut.


    Instinctively, her free hand iled, eventually grippingn''s arm beside her. The pain was too intense for her to think about finding something else to hold onto, and her fingernails dug into his flesh.


    With each stitch the doctor carefully removed, beads of sweat formed on Eleanor''s forehead. She clenched her jaw to keep from making a sound, channeling all the pain into her grip.


    Finally, thest stitch was out. Eleanor let out a sharp breath and immediately released his arm, turning to look at the three angry, red lines on her own arm, like centipedes crawling across her skin.


    They would leave scars, but Eleanor no longer cared.


    Walking out of the examination room with a bag of medication, Eleanor said ton, "You can go home now."


    Valery came over to help her into the car. Ian followed her, and though Valery moved quickly to open the door,n was faster. He pulled open the rear door and gestured for Eleanor to get in.


    Eleanor had no need for his deliberate courtesy, but her injured arm made it awkward. As she bent to get in, a hand moved to shield her head from the doorframe.


    Once the door was closed, Valery drove away from the hospital.


    But the sight of those marks brought a faint smile to his lips. At least she wasn''t repulsed by his touch anymore.


    Thinking of something, Gavin nced at him in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Goodwin, Miss Shannon''s birthday is in three days. Do you still need to—"


    "Ignore it,"n said coolly.


    Gavin feltpelled to remind him, "But Mr. Goodwin, the contract clearly states-"


    "I''ll handle the contract,"n said, his gaze fixed on the marks on his arm. "It''s time to end thingspletely."


    Gavin understood. The boss was finally cutting all ties with Vanessa. He couldn''t help but recall all the years his boss had been forced to deal with her. Now atst, he could bepletely free.


    "Mr. Goodwin, should I have thewyers prepare the termination documents?" "Wait for her toe to me,"n said, his eyes as cold as ice.


    Gavin knew Vanessa wouldn''t let this go easily. He wondered what schemes she would cook up this time to get her gift.


    For the past few days, Vanessa had been constantly messaging Gavin, all for the sake of getting his signature for that jade bracelet she coveted. Her greed was clearly etched into her very bones.


    At the Walden Wells vi.


    Vanessa was browsing for gifts on her iPad. She had given up on the jade bracelet and decided on a piece of diamond jewelry valued at just over five million, which was within the price range stipted in her agreement.


    As long as she could still ask, why not ask for more?n had yed her for a fool with the Yeaton Holdings stock. It was only fair that she get somepensation.


    Besides, then of today was even more powerful, wealthier, and, as a result, more charming and alluring than before.


    Vanessa closed her eyes. She truly regretted not crossing the line with him over the years. If she had used a few tricks,n might not have been he hot have been able to resist. After all, he hadn''t had another woman since the divorce. How could a man as young and virile as him not need a woman?