But no, she had to take the money and destroy Ian's marriage. She was despicable and shameless.
So, even though Eleanor knew Ian hadn't physically cheated, her love for him had withered away. Yet, the memory of the Eleanor who had been so deeply in love with Ian was still vivid in Serena's mind.
An image from six years ago flashed before Serena's eyes—
It was a sunny afternoon. She had come back to the country to see friends, and Ian had asked her to his house for dinner. Back then, she was full of prejudice against Eleanor, feeling no affection for this sister-in-law who had forced her way into the family through a debt of gratitude.
That evening, she had sat in the back of Ian's car, not even wanting to get out. But through the window, she saw Eleanor coming from the villa's main gate, her face beaming. When Ian was just a few steps away, Eleanor threw her arms around his shoulders, tilted her head up, and gave him a sweet kiss. "You're back!"
At the time, she couldn't see Ian's expression, but she saw the undisguised love in Eleanor's eyes and her shy blush.
Serena had felt only scorn, thinking Ian didn't love her, so why was she putting on such a show? She was just after his good looks, a lovestruck fool going to any length to please him.
But looking back now, Serena dimly understood that Eleanor's feelings for Ian back then were truly and utterly real.
It was just like when she had been madly in love with Xavier, that feeling of missing him desperately even after a day apart. Eleanor's reaction to seeing Ian come home from work was the most genuine expression of her love.
But back then, blinded by her own biases, Serena hadn't seen Eleanor's affection. Instead, she had mocked her for putting on an act.
More memories flooded back.
Although Serena didn't know what Ian's attitude was back then, she knew he had to consider Vanessa's status as the sole global donor.
The self-harm scars on Vanessa's wrists were evidence of how she had leveraged her own suffering against Ian, cut by calculated cut.
Eleanor's love had been worn away by one injury after another. Now, with another man who adored her by her side, Ian, the ex-husband, stood no chance at all.
If Ian's hair had turned white because of Eleanor...
Then just how deeply had he hidden his love for her all these years?

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