Chapter 21


    Bernard’s already cold and distant countenance grew even colder, with a hint of frost in his eyes and


    furrowed brows.


    Setting down his wine ss, he raised his icy gaze and directed it towards Cedric. “What are your


    thoughts?”


    Cedric ventured to make a bold assumption. “I believe you might have some feelings for her, albeit


    small. Otherwise, why would you react so strongly and pour wine on her when Josef mentioned his


    involvement with her?”


    Bernard snorted dismissively. “She got involved with Josef immediately after our breakup. I couldn’t


    ept it in the moment, so I wanted to teach her a lesson. Does that imply I have feelings for her?”


    As he spoke, the chill in his eyes dissipated, leaving behind only cold indifference. It seemed as though


    he no longer cared about the person he had just taught a lesson to.


    Observing this, Cedric let out a small sigh of relief.


    He understood that Bernard had a fastidious nature and couldn’t tolerate his partner being casually


    involved with someone else. It was


    a normal reaction.


    Moreover, when Sophie returned to the country, Bernard immediately broke up with Eleanor. It shows


    that in his heart, Eleanor’s position as a substitute wasn’t important.


    Cedric didn’t say anything else, just drank the wine in his ss, stood up, and said, “Well, I’m going


    back first.”


    Bernard didn’t speak, but just nodded indifferently.


    Cedric had been used to Bernard’s indifference since he was a child and didn’t mind. He just picked up


    his coat and left.


    It was raining heavily outside, and his assistant was holding an umbre for him to get in the car. He


    instructed the assistant to drive downtown.


    At a crossroads, while waiting for the traffic light to change, he spotted Eleanor standing in the heavy


    rain, d only in a dress, desperately attempting to hail a taxi.


    Her delicate frame appeared vulnerable, and the rain–soaked fabric clung to her body. Her long hair


    was drenched and stuck to her face, giving her a slightly disheveled yet still beautiful appearance.


    Cedric noticed that several taxis drove past her without stopping, unwilling to offer her a ride.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, he instructed his assistant to drive over to her location.


    Eleanor shielded her face from the rain with her hand and faintly perceived a man approaching her,


    holding an umbre.


    As the umbre covered her head, she stood there in astonishment, slowly raising her eyes to meet his


    gaze…


    In a daze, it seemed like she had gone back five years…


    She remembered that it was also raining heavily that day. She was standing outside a nightclub,


    begging passersby to buy her for one night.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Many men went in and out, touching her, teasing her, mocking her. None of them were willing to buy


    her.


    However, a man wearing a ck coat, emanating an air of pride and indifference, approached Eleanor


    with a steady pace.


    As he held an umbre to shield her from the pouring rain, blocking the onught of wind and water,


    she perceived him as her savior.


    With great effort, she crawled towards him in the dim light, clutching onto his pant legs, sobbing and


    pleading for him to buy her for a night.


    The man looked down at her, devoid of disdain or mockery in his eyes, and simply asked in a cold tone,


    “Are you a virgin?”


    At that moment, her face flushed, and she nodded in affirmation. Without hesitation, the man extended


    his slender and handsome hand


    towards her.


    As she ced her hand in his broad palm, it felt as if their fates had be irrevocably intertwined.


    “Get in the car, and I’ll take you home.”


    Cedric opened the backseat door, and his gentle voice mixed with rainwater drifted over.


    Eleanor finally came to her senses, noticing that the man in front of her was Cedric, Bernard’s cousin.


    She had already broken up with Bernard, so in theory, she shouldn’t have any connections with the


    Laurence family.


    But her phone was out of battery, she couldn’t get a taxi, and nearby stores that could serve as shelters


    were all closed.


    She hesitated for a moment before finally getting into his car.


    She was soaked, making the back seat wet as well.


    Eleanor hurriedly took out tissues from her bag, wiping the carpet beneath her, and said with


    embarrassment, “Sorry for messing up


    your car.”


    Cedric observed her humble gesture and promptly intervened, “There’s no need to wipe it; it’s just a


    carpet. If it’s dirty, we can simply dispose of it.”


    As Eleanor paused in her careful wiping of the carpet, she nearly forgot that the considerate individual


    who allowed her into the car belonged to the Laurence family. The Laurence family wouldn’t ce


    much importance on a mere carpet, regardless of its value.


    Eleanor discreetly put away the tissue, feeling slightly embarrassed, and whispered, “Thank you.”


    Cedric casually dismissed her gratitude with a wave of his hand, saying, “Where do you live?”


    Without hesitation, Eleanor provided him with her address.


    The car started moving, swiftly driving towards her home.