"Your life is the result of your own choices. You walked your own path. No one forced you," Eleanor replied calmly.


    "Hah! Don''t stand there acting so high and mighty." Vanessa suddenly stood up straight. "Eleanor, let me tell you something. All men are the same, especially men liken, who are at the top. They will always love themselves the most. He''s good to you now because you''re useful, because you have value. But the day he finds a woman with more value, he''ll throw you away like trash again just like me."


    Her eyes burned with intense resentment and bitterness, as if she wanted to unleash it all on Eleanor.


    "Besides, there are so many women younger and more beautiful than you. Men are always suckers for a new face. Aren''t you afraid that he''ll remarry you only to turn around and find someone younger?" Vanessa stared at Eleanor, trying to find a crack in herposure.


    But she was disappointed. Eleanor simply washed her hands, dried them with a paper towel, and asked, "Are you done?"


    Not ready to give up, Vanessa pressed on. "Eleanor, you could have any man you want. Why are you still hung up onn? Take that Mansfield Ellington—with his status, you should choose him, not go back to your ex-husband."


    Eleanor, who had been about to leave, paused. She turned back to Vanessa, clearly surprised by her words.


    Vanessa smirked. "I know about Mansfield''s identity now. What an incredible family! Evenn would have to think twice before crossing them, wouldn''t he?"


    Eleanor''s gaze sharpened as if Vanessa had hit a nerve. Her voice turned cold. "Please don''t go around advertising his identity."


    "Oh? Did I strike a chord?" Vanessa took a step forward, a triumphant smile spreading across her face, as if she''d gotten the reaction she wanted.


    Eleanor really didn''t want to deal with her and turned to leave again.


    "Eleanor, you and Mansfield are a perfect match. Why are you still entangled withn, a man who hurt you in the past and could very well hurt you again in the future? She paused deliberately. "I can see that Mansfield loves you deeply. With the Ellington family''s background and power, they could support your career and your entire life. You''re a smart woman. Don''t you know how to choose?" Vanessa''s words were sharp and rapid.


    Eleanor''s steps halted at the doorway. She turned and looked at Vanessa''s face, a mask of calction and malice, and felt a wave of pity for her.


    "Vanessa, if you were thinking clearly, you''d focus on taking care of yourself. Stop


    worrying about other people''s lives and start thinking about your own."


    Vanessa''s face suddenly darkened, twisting with fury. "Eleanor, I don''t need your fake pity! Who do you think you are? The Wanner? Offering me charity? I don''t need it! Even if I''m dragging myself through the gutter, I don''t need your charity!"


    Her chest heaved, and she red at Eleanor as if she had been deeply insulted.


    Eleanor withdrew her gaze, her expression nothing but cold indifference. She pulled open the door and walked out without a second''s hesitation.


    Behind her, she heard something crash to the floor. Vanessa had swept the hand soap and aromatherapy diffuser off the counter. She leaned against it, panting heavily.


    She muttered with a coldugh,


    "Eleanor, you think you''ve won? You think I need your pity? You''re just a little fuckter born into better


    circumstances, with a bit of to


    So what? Your good fortune won''tst forever."