Chapter 272

After leaving the Elepdon Sanatorium, Eleanor made her way back to the villa in Regal Heights.

She stayed up deep into the night, hoping Nolan would come through the door, but he never did.

It was morning then that finally brought Nolan home.

He didn't bother with greetings; he simply closed the gap between them and wrapped Eleanor tightly in his arms.

Resting his face against her neck, Nolan breathed in her gentle, familiar scent, finally feeling the knot in his chest begin to ease.

"Grandpa's safe now. I owe you, Eleanor. Thank you so much"

Eleanor lifted a hand and gently smoothed the tension from his brow. "There's no need to thank me.Not when it's us."

Their quiet moment was suddenly interrupted by Lillian's enthusiastic voice ringing out in the hallway.

"Eleanor! Let us in! Ryland and I came to visit!"

With a dramatic flourish, Lillian burst through the door and engulfed Eleanor in an enthusiastic hug.

Ryland trailed behind her, arms full of grocery bags,and a wave of relief crossed his face the moment he saw Nolan.

"The shipment made it to the buyer overseas."Ryland set the groceries down and continued, "It took some effort, but the deal's finished. The client signed, and we have the Benton family to thank for smoothing things over. If not, we would've been hit with a massive penalty. As for Zerovia-"

Before he could finish, Nolan stepped in and stopped him.

"We'll handle this in the study," Nolan said quietly. He didn't want Eleanor tangled up in these troubles any longer.

She had already given more than enough for him and for the entire Stewart family.

Now, it was his responsibility to see things through.

With a soft click, the study door shut, blocking out the rest of the world.

Nolan turned to Ryland, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "What's going on in Zerovia?"

Ryland's expression shifted, the gravity of the situation written all over his face. "Nolan, your father's already on to you. He's been using the Stewart Group's name behind the scenes to stir up trouble."

A cold, relentless anger radiated from Nolan.

To Nolan, Colson was just a relative by blood, nothing more than a biological connection.

Colson had never acted like a true parent, and now he was willing to sabotage both the family and the country for his own interests.

It was unforgivable.

"Spread the word," Nolan instructed, his tone cold and unyielding like steel. "From now on, Colson and Brodie are completely severed from the Stewart family. They have no right to speak or act for the Stewart Group."

With that, Ryland gave a firm nod. "Understood. I'll make sure everyone gets the message."

With the business handled, Ryland's shoulders finally loosened, and he nudged Nolan playfully. "Seriously,man, you really lucked out with Eleanor. She's sharp,strong, and she'd fight the world if it meant having your back."

Nolan shot him a sideways look, the hint of a smile playing at his lips. "Sounds like you're envious. Go find someone like that for yourself."

Ryland laughed but quickly pivoted back to more serious matters. "Alright, jokes aside, have you made any progress on that tax problem?"

Nolan's expression darkened.

"We pinned everything on the CFO. The evidence is airtight, so we can charge him with fraud and get him locked up.However-"

He hesitated, voice dropping lower. "If the Perry family keeps pushing the issue, we're still at risk."

Ryland understood immediately.

Compared to this, the shipment problem was nothing.

If the authorities slapped Stewart Group with a tax evasion charge, it would spell disaster for everyone involved.

Ryland's face grew grim. "Zerovia's a tough nut to crack, and Tyler Perry isn't going down easily.Have you thought about reaching out to Trudy?"

Nolan's answer was immediate. "I'm not meeting her." There was no way he would agree to meet with a woman he despised, especially not if it meant making Eleanor unhappy.

Ryland let out a low laugh and shook his head."Man,you really are loyal down to your bones,Nolan."

Nolan just grinned and gave him a light punch on the arm.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Lillian clung to Eleanor's hand, letting her frustration pour out."Trudy's unbelievable! She couldn't win Nolan over,so now she's going after the Stewart Group with all these dirty tactics. It's disgusting!"

How could anyone stoop that low?

Lillian used to think Trudy was just a pampered rich girl, but now she realized just how spiteful and toxic she could be.

Eleanor gently squeezed Lillian's hand to calm her."Don't let her get to you. She's running out of options."

Lillian's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "What did you do?"

Eleanor offered a sly, knowing smile. "You'll see soon enough. For now, let's keep it between us."

Lillian put on an exaggerated pout. "What, I'm not in the loop anymore?"

With a bit of gentle persuasion, Eleanor finally succeeded in lifting her spirits.