Vanessa was in a revealing nightgown, her mood still foul fromn''s words earlier that evening. The humiliation of being so utterly dismissed-of not even being worthy of him saying her name—clung to her.


    She was resentful but helpless.


    "Laverne, tell me, what does Eleanor have that I don''t?" Vanessa sank onto the sofa, her voice thick with bitterness and resentment. "I was by his side for ten years. Ten years! Why does he only have eyes for Eleanor?"


    Laverne looked at her and sighed. "Vanessa, what''s the use of saying all this now?n''s heart isn''t with you. Even if you chase after him for another ten years, the oue will be the same. Listen to me, let it go. The only thing that matters now is holding onto Mr. Wells."


    As an outsider, Laverne saw things clearly. From the very beginning, it was Vanessa who had fallen hopelessly in love withn, even deluding herself into thinking she was his girlfriend.


    "Walden Wells," Vanessa sneered. "Besides his money, how can he evenpare ton?"


    "But he''s willing to marry you, to give you a family. Vanessa, you need to be realistic," Laverne pleaded earnestly. "Once you give him a son, your position in the Wells family will be secure. You''ll have money, you''ll have status. Why would you need to bothern then? And when Walden Wells passes away, with all his money, do you think you won''t be able to find a man even better-looking thann?"


    Vanessa shot Laverne a look. "You don''t understand."


    It was the sharp, effortless confidence of someone inplete control, a presence so unique that a single nce could make your heart pound.


    How could those men who were all style and no substancepare to him?


    Laverne was at a loss for words. It was true. But no matter how wonderfuln was, his heart didn''t belong to Vanessa.


    At the restaurant earlier, Laverne had seen it with her own eyes. Ian''s heart was with Eleanor. Vanessa''s decade of devotion probably couldn''tpare to a single look from Eleanor.


    "I used to be the most important woman in his life. Eleanor was just someone to be kept at home. She wasn''t even allowed into his social circles Vanessa began to recount her past glory, her voiceced with resentment.


    Seeing her like this, Laverne couldn''t help but sigh, deciding it was time to bring her back to reality. "Vanessa, have you ever thought about whyn never brought Eleanor to those dinners and parties?"


    Vanessa paused, then said dismissively, "Of course. It''s because she wasn''t presentable back then. Taking her out would have only embarrassed him."


    "You''re wrong." Laverne shook her head, a hint of helplessness in her tone. "Have you ever considered that it was his way of protecting her?"


    "Protecting her?" Vanessa scoffed as if she''d heard a joke. "How is that possible?"


    "Yes, protecting her," Laverne


    affirmed with a nod. "Think about it.


    Back then, you used your status as


    his mother''s only donor to be as provocative as you could. You paraded yourself around overseas as if you were his girlfriend. n had brought Eleanor into that scene, what would you have done, with your personality at the time? You


    would have provoked her, created all


    sorts of drama, and tried to hurt her with misunderstandings."