Chapter 1371


    Eleanor’s life had taken an unexpected turn, and as she stood under the glittering night sky, the feeling


    of istion was overwhelming. Despite having just been recognized by the prestigious Sharp family,


    instead of tion, there was a void that even their warm wee couldn’t fill.


    “Missing your husband?” The voice was smooth, with a hint of teasing, as Peterson sauntered over in


    his sleek ck tuxedo, hands casually tucked in his pockets. He caught the flicker of sadness in her


    eyes, a reflection of the distant stars she gazed upon so intently.


    “The stars are the same from anywhere, but some of us have clear skies while others are clouded,” he


    mused, his gaze lifting to follow hers. Bernard, poor chap, was out of sight, locked away in some


    undisclosed location.


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    Eleanor knew it was Peterson without looking away from the celestial disy. “Why does no one ask


    about Bernard’s absence?” She asked. It puzzled her; the Sharps acted as if they were already aware


    of her divorce. But how could they have known?


    Peterson’s gaze lingered on Eleanor’s radiant face. “You’ll find the answer when you return the family


    tree to the study,” he said, after a long pause, handing her the ancient book.


    “Don’t let on that I sent you,” he added before turning away. Halfway across thewn, he paused under


    themplight, casting her a backward nce. “Don’t hold it against me,” he said quietly. He hadn’t


    known she was his cousin or that Bernard was her husband at the time. Life had chosen his path long


    ago, and he had been powerless to


    resist.


    Feeling a mix of confusion and an inexplicable trust, Eleanor took the family tree to the study, avoiding


    the crowd through a side entrance. She hadn’t been in Yates’ study before. It felt foreign yet intimate.


    She spotted a gap on the bookshelf where the book belonged, but as she reached out to ce it, a


    small box caught her attention.


    The books were meticulously organized, each series enclosed behind ss doors, and the Sharp


    family tree was kept separate. Except for this box, seemingly ced


    without care.


    Eleanor’s heart raced; this was Peterson’s clue to her. She slid the book in its rightful ce and


    snatched up the box, opening it with haste. Inside, a glint of gold caught the light-a familiar golden leaf


    that stung her eyes with its brilliance.


    She steadied her shaking hands and retrieved the leaf, turning it over to reveal a small set of numbers:


    Ace-dominate-1-1.


    Dominance-the highest rank within the enigmatic organization known as Area Opaca.


    Suddenly, everything clicked. Yates was the mastermind behind Area Opaca. No wonder no one


    inquired about Bernard’s whereabouts; they had known all along. And Peterson’s silence on his


    upation made perfect sense now-he was entangled in a web of secrets too dangerous to reveal.