Eleanor Shultz thought she had found true love with Bernard Laurence, but after five years of being his secret lover, she was left heartbroken and alone. Despite her gentle and submissive nature, she could not warm his heart. When she finally decided to move on and marry someone else, Bernard unexpectedly returned and pressed her against a wall, kissing her with a fierce passion. As Eleanor struggled to understand Bernard's sudden change of heart, she must confront her own feelings and decide whether to follow her head or her heart in this steamy tale of love and desire.

Chapter 1Bernard Laurence returned to the country, and as his secret lover, Eleanor Shultz was promptly taken to Rosewood Manor.As per the agreement, she had to be squeaky clean without a trace of perfume or makeup before seeing him.She followed his preferences to the letter, washing herself up, then putting on a silky nightgown and heading to the bedroom on the second floor.The man was sitting in front of his computer dealing with work stuff when she entered. He glanced at her."Come here."His voice was cold and void of emotion, weighing on Eleanor's heart like a heavy stone.He was an aloof man prone to mood swings. Fearing his bad temper, Eleanor quickly walked up to him.Before she could even get settled, Bernard pulled her into his embrace, his long fingers grabbing her chin.Bending down, he kissed her red lips hard.Bernard was never one for chit-chat. Making love to her was his only purpose when meeting her.He may have looked noble, but when it came to his sexual desire, he wouldn't let her off easy after being away on business for three months.As she expected, when she woke up, he was gone but the sound of water trickling in the bathroom remained.She followed the sound and noticed a tall figure reflected on the frosted glass.Eleanor was taken aback. In the past, he would always leave as soon as he finished, never staying until she woke up. What was different this time?Feeling tired, she sat up in bed, silently waiting for the man to appear. After a few minutes, the sound of water ceased, and he emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Water droplets fell from his hair onto his skin, tracing a path down his well-defined abs, exuding a dangerously enticing appeal.His face was chiseled and attractive, but his deep, indifferent eyes conveyed a sense of detachment. He looked good, yet the chilly aura surrounding him made people think twice about approaching.Noticing that she was awake, Bernard glanced at her with a cold stare. "You don't need to come anymore," he said abruptly.Eleanor paused, perplexed by his words.Without looking at her, Bernard handed her a document. "This contract is terminated ahead of schedule."Seeing the agreement, Eleanor finally realized the truth: Bernard was ending their relationship.So he didn't leave right away, not because he was reluctant to part, but because he wanted to break up.Five years together, and she knew this day would come eventually. But she never thought it would end like this.No explanation, no reason, there was just a simple notification.Suppressing the pain in her heart, Eleanor looked up at Bernard as he changed into his clothes."The contract's only got half a year left, can't you wait for a longer time?"She had three months left to live, according to the doctor. She wanted to stay by his side until the very end.Bernard remained silent, his eyes cold and devoid of any hesitation, as if he were disposing of a worn-out object.Eleanor realized her predicament in the face of his silence.Despite five years passing, she had been unable to capture his heart. It was time for her to wake up from this illusion.Accepting the contract, she mustered a forced laugh and tried to appear calm and satisfied. "Don't take it so seriously. I was just joking," she said. Then, she added, "Actually, I've been wanting to leave you for a while now. I'm glad the contract is ending early."Bernard paused, buttoning up his sleeves, as he looked at Eleanor's emotionless face that seemed to hold a hint of excitement. It appeared that she felt relieved.He frowned, asking with an indifferent tone, "You've wanted to leave me for a long time?"Eleanor casually nodded. "Yes, I'm not getting any younger. I should be getting married and having kids, not following you around without any status, right?"In reality, marriage and children were no longer possible for her. But in front of Bernard, she wanted to preserve her dignity.Mustering strength, she smiled and asked Bernard, "Since the contract's over, can I get a boyfriend now?"Bernard's eyes were difficult to read. He looked at her silently before reaching for his wristwatch on the bedside table and walking towards the door."Okay then," he said, as his final comment.Eleanor's smile faded as she watched him leave.Bernard didn't like anyone touching his belongings, but he didn't react when she mentioned wanting a boyfriend.It seemed like...He was genuinely tired of her.After Bernard left, his personal assistant Aidyn Reyes walked in with some pills.He handed them to Eleanor and said respectfully, "Ms. Shultz, sorry for the trouble."These were birth control pills. Bernard didn't love her, so naturally he would not allow her to get pregnant.Whenever they finished, he would have Aidyn deliver the pills and require Aidyn to watch her swallow them.Eleanor looked at the white pill and felt her heart ache again.Whether it was her heart failing or being hurt by Bernard, she found it hard to breathe."Ms. Shultz…"Seeing her unresponsive, Aidyn immediately reminded her, fearing she might refuse to take it.Eleanor glanced at him, took the pill and swallowed it without even drinking water.Aidyn's worried expression faded, and he took out a property title and a check from his briefcase, placing them in front of Eleanor."Mr. Laurence's compensation for you, aside from the property and luxury car, an extra fifty million. Please accept it."He's quite generous.But what she wanted was never money.Eleanor looked up at Aidyn and smiled, "I don't want any of these."Aidyn was a little puzzled, "Do you think it's not enough?"Hearing this, Eleanor felt bitter.Even Aidyn thought she was after the money, not to mention Bernard.He gave her such a high severance payment, probably fearing she would pester him for money in the future, right?Eleanor forced a smile, picked up her purse, took out a bank card and handed it to Aidyn, "This is what he gave me. Please return it to him for me and tell him I never used his money, so I won't accept his severance payment either."Aidyn was stunned. Had Ms. Shultz never used Mr. Laurence's money in these five years?Eleanor didn't care whether Aidyn believed her or not, and placed the card on top of the property title.She turned around and left Rosewood Manor.Winters in A City were a bit cold.Eleanor walked down the street in the villa area.Her frail figure cast a shadow on the ground, looking terrible thin.She wrapped herself tightly in her off-white coat, gritted her teeth, and walked back to her apartment in high heels.Upon opening the door, the inside was spacious, occupying an entire floor, decorated as luxurious as possible.But to Eleanor, it felt cold and lifeless, just like Bernard's heart.She sat on the sofa, stared blankly for a while, and then began to pack her things.This apartment was given to her by Bernard.Since he didn't want her anymore, she wouldn't want anything he gave her.Eleanor took out her suitcase, opened the wardrobe, and put all her clothes inside.She hadn't brought much stuff here, so she finished packing quickly, picked up her suitcase and left the apartment.After getting into her car, she sent Aidyn a text message."Aidyn, the passcode for Jade Bay Mansion is 0826."Aidyn was smart; he immediately understood that Ms. Shultz not only never used Mr. Laurence's money, but she didn't even want the apartment he gave her.So decisive, nothing like the woman who knelt before Mr. Laurence five years ago, begging him to spend a million for her virgin.He quickly returned to the company, gave Bernard the items untouched, and told him Eleanor's words without missing one.Bernard glanced at the items on the table, his cold gaze lingering on the bank card.He asked Aidyn coldly, "Is there an extra one million in the account?"Aidyn quickly nodded, "Yes."Before returning to the company, Aidyn checked the amount on the card at the bank.In addition to the money Mr. Laurence asked him to transfer every month, there was an extra one million.Obviously, it was the money Ms. Shultz returned to Mr. Laurence.Bernard frowned thoughtfully, reached out his slender fingers, grabbed the bank card, and snapped it in half.Then he pushed the property title to Aidyn and coldly ordered, "Get rid of it."Aidyn wanted to say something nice for Ms. Shultz, but seeing Bernard already started dealing with work on his computer, he closed his mouth, picked up the stuff, and left the CEO's office.Eleanor, lugging her suitcase, arrived at her bestie Hailey Vulpe's place.She raised her hand, gave a gentle knock on the door, and stood nearby, quietly waiting.Both she and Hailey were orphans; they grew up together in the orphanage, like sisters.She remembered when Bernard took her away, Hailey said to her, "If he ever dumps you, remember to come back home."It was these words that gave Eleanor the courage to say no to Bernard's house.Hailey swiftly opened the door, and upon seeing Eleanor, her mouth immediately curved into a smile."Eleanor, what brings you here?"Eleanor tightened her grip on the suitcase and confessed somewhat timidly, "Hailey, I've come to stay at your place."Only then did Hailey notice the suitcase in Eleanor's hand, and her smile froze. "What happened?"Eleanor put on a brave face and smiled, "I ended things with him."Hailey gazed at Eleanor, who was trying her best to maintain her smile.Her tiny face looked gaunt, with sunken eye sockets and a pale complexion.Standing in the cold wind, her body was so frail that it looked like a piece of paper.Seeing Eleanor like this, Hailey suddenly felt a heartache.She quickly stepped forward and tightly hugged Eleanor, "Don't be sad, you still have me."Hearing these words, Eleanor couldn't help but tear up.She hugged Hailey back, gently patting her on the back, "I'm fine, don't worry."Hailey knew she was just trying to comfort her.She knew very well how much Eleanor loved Bernard.For the past five years, Eleanor had been working her butt off to pay back the million dollars to Bernard.She naively thought that if she did that, she could change his impression of her.But in the end, she was still mercilessly dumped by Bernard.Hailey suddenly remembered that rainy night five years ago...If Eleanor hadn't sold herself for Garett Falsey, she would never have met Bernard.And she would've been happy.It's such a shame that everything can't start over again...Eleanor didn't want Hailey to be sad with her, so after giving her a gentle push away and smiling warmly at her, she joked, "You sure you wanna let me in? You've left me out here in the cold, I'm freezing!"Seeing that Eleanor was still as strong as ever, Hailey slowly let go of her concerns.She believed that Eleanor would soon overcome her pain, being the tough girls they were, accustomed to abandonment.As long as they lived well, there was nothing insurmountable.With these thoughts, Hailey's mood improved a little. She took Eleanor's suitcase, pulled her inside, and said, "Don't say such things again. This is your home. Stay as long as you want!"Afterwards, she grabbed a clean set of pajamas and handed them to Eleanor, "Go take a bath first. I'll make you something delicious, and then you can have a good sleep. Don't think about anything else, okay?"Eleanor took the pajamas and obediently nodded, "Okay."Hailey had always been like this, treating her unconditionally well, like a ray of light, warming her life.The unfortunate thing was that she was in the late stages of heart failure, and the Grim Reaper would soon be taking her life.If Hailey knew she was about to leave this world, she would probably be heartbroken and cry.She didn't want to make such a kind and gentle person sad.She looked at the busy figure in the kitchen, and slowly walked over, "Hailey, I want to quit my job."Hailey nodded in agreement, "You really should rest. You've been working so hard for the past few years, just for a little bit of overtime pay. It's time to quit and take care of yourself at home. Leave the money-making to me!"Eleanor was touched and whispered a "thank you" before heading to the bathroom with teary eyes.Fate had never favored her.Since it was destined to part ways, she would spend her last three months by Hailey's side.The next morning, she got dressed up and, after covering up her pale complexion with makeup, went to the office to resign.She had just taken her seat and was about to turn on her computer to write her resignation letter when her colleague Jeannie leaned over."Eleanor, have you seen the email?"Eleanor shook her head. She hadn't had time to check her email since Bernard had taken her away over the weekend.Jeannie quickly relayed the information, "Rosita sent a personnel announcement stating that the chairman's daughter will assume the role of president today."Eleanor had no recollection of the chairman's daughter and held no interest in the matter. After all, she intended to resign, so it made no difference to her who took over the position.However, Jeannie displayed great enthusiasm, remarking excitedly, "I heard she just returned from studying abroad. She holds a Ph.D. in business management but lacks practical experience. Assuming the role of president immediately, isn't she concerned about becoming the subject of gossip?"Amanda, seated beside Jeannie, scoffed, "Who would dare to gossip about her? She happens to be Mr. Laurence's first love, you know."At the mention of Mr. Laurence, Eleanor's finger paused momentarily on the mouse.Chapter 2Bernard Laurence returned to the country, and as his secret lover, Eleanor Shultz was promptly taken to Rosewood Manor.As per the agreement, she had to be squeaky clean without a trace of perfume or makeup before seeing him.She followed his preferences to the letter, washing herself up, then putting on a silky nightgown and heading to the bedroom on the second floor.The man was sitting in front of his computer dealing with work stuff when she entered. He glanced at her."Come here."His voice was cold and void of emotion, weighing on Eleanor's heart like a heavy stone.He was an aloof man prone to mood swings. Fearing his bad temper, Eleanor quickly walked up to him.Before she could even get settled, Bernard pulled her into his embrace, his long fingers grabbing her chin.Bending down, he kissed her red lips hard.Bernard was never one for chit-chat. Making love to her was his only purpose when meeting her.He may have looked noble, but when it came to his sexual desire, he wouldn't let her off easy after being away on business for three months.As she expected, when she woke up, he was gone but the sound of water trickling in the bathroom remained.She followed the sound and noticed a tall figure reflected on the frosted glass.Eleanor was taken aback. In the past, he would always leave as soon as he finished, never staying until she woke up. What was different this time?Feeling tired, she sat up in bed, silently waiting for the man to appear. After a few minutes, the sound of water ceased, and he emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Water droplets fell from his hair onto his skin, tracing a path down his well-defined abs, exuding a dangerously enticing appeal.His face was chiseled and attractive, but his deep, indifferent eyes conveyed a sense of detachment. He looked good, yet the chilly aura surrounding him made people think twice about approaching.Noticing that she was awake, Bernard glanced at her with a cold stare. "You don't need to come anymore," he said abruptly.Eleanor paused, perplexed by his words.Without looking at her, Bernard handed her a document. "This contract is terminated ahead of schedule."Seeing the agreement, Eleanor finally realized the truth: Bernard was ending their relationship.So he didn't leave right away, not because he was reluctant to part, but because he wanted to break up.Five years together, and she knew this day would come eventually. But she never thought it would end like this.No explanation, no reason, there was just a simple notification.Suppressing the pain in her heart, Eleanor looked up at Bernard as he changed into his clothes."The contract's only got half a year left, can't you wait for a longer time?"She had three months left to live, according to the doctor. She wanted to stay by his side until the very end.Bernard remained silent, his eyes cold and devoid of any hesitation, as if he were disposing of a worn-out object.Eleanor realized her predicament in the face of his silence.Despite five years passing, she had been unable to capture his heart. It was time for her to wake up from this illusion.Accepting the contract, she mustered a forced laugh and tried to appear calm and satisfied. "Don't take it so seriously. I was just joking," she said. Then, she added, "Actually, I've been wanting to leave you for a while now. I'm glad the contract is ending early."Bernard paused, buttoning up his sleeves, as he looked at Eleanor's emotionless face that seemed to hold a hint of excitement. It appeared that she felt relieved.He frowned, asking with an indifferent tone, "You've wanted to leave me for a long time?"Eleanor casually nodded. "Yes, I'm not getting any younger. I should be getting married and having kids, not following you around without any status, right?"In reality, marriage and children were no longer possible for her. But in front of Bernard, she wanted to preserve her dignity.Mustering strength, she smiled and asked Bernard, "Since the contract's over, can I get a boyfriend now?"Bernard's eyes were difficult to read. He looked at her silently before reaching for his wristwatch on the bedside table and walking towards the door."Okay then," he said, as his final comment.Eleanor's smile faded as she watched him leave.Bernard didn't like anyone touching his belongings, but he didn't react when she mentioned wanting a boyfriend.It seemed like...He was genuinely tired of her.After Bernard left, his personal assistant Aidyn Reyes walked in with some pills.He handed them to Eleanor and said respectfully, "Ms. Shultz, sorry for the trouble."These were birth control pills. Bernard didn't love her, so naturally he would not allow her to get pregnant.Whenever they finished, he would have Aidyn deliver the pills and require Aidyn to watch her swallow them.Eleanor looked at the white pill and felt her heart ache again.Whether it was her heart failing or being hurt by Bernard, she found it hard to breathe."Ms. Shultz…"Seeing her unresponsive, Aidyn immediately reminded her, fearing she might refuse to take it.Eleanor glanced at him, took the pill and swallowed it without even drinking water.Aidyn's worried expression faded, and he took out a property title and a check from his briefcase, placing them in front of Eleanor."Mr. Laurence's compensation for you, aside from the property and luxury car, an extra fifty million. Please accept it."He's quite generous.But what she wanted was never money.Eleanor looked up at Aidyn and smiled, "I don't want any of these."Aidyn was a little puzzled, "Do you think it's not enough?"Hearing this, Eleanor felt bitter.Even Aidyn thought she was after the money, not to mention Bernard.He gave her such a high severance payment, probably fearing she would pester him for money in the future, right?Eleanor forced a smile, picked up her purse, took out a bank card and handed it to Aidyn, "This is what he gave me. Please return it to him for me and tell him I never used his money, so I won't accept his severance payment either."Aidyn was stunned. Had Ms. Shultz never used Mr. Laurence's money in these five years?Eleanor didn't care whether Aidyn believed her or not, and placed the card on top of the property title.She turned around and left Rosewood Manor.Winters in A City were a bit cold.Eleanor walked down the street in the villa area.Her frail figure cast a shadow on the ground, looking terrible thin.She wrapped herself tightly in her off-white coat, gritted her teeth, and walked back to her apartment in high heels.Upon opening the door, the inside was spacious, occupying an entire floor, decorated as luxurious as possible.But to Eleanor, it felt cold and lifeless, just like Bernard's heart.She sat on the sofa, stared blankly for a while, and then began to pack her things.This apartment was given to her by Bernard.Since he didn't want her anymore, she wouldn't want anything he gave her.Eleanor took out her suitcase, opened the wardrobe, and put all her clothes inside.She hadn't brought much stuff here, so she finished packing quickly, picked up her suitcase and left the apartment.After getting into her car, she sent Aidyn a text message."Aidyn, the passcode for Jade Bay Mansion is 0826."Aidyn was smart; he immediately understood that Ms. Shultz not only never used Mr. Laurence's money, but she didn't even want the apartment he gave her.So decisive, nothing like the woman who knelt before Mr. Laurence five years ago, begging him to spend a million for her virgin.He quickly returned to the company, gave Bernard the items untouched, and told him Eleanor's words without missing one.Bernard glanced at the items on the table, his cold gaze lingering on the bank card.He asked Aidyn coldly, "Is there an extra one million in the account?"Aidyn quickly nodded, "Yes."Before returning to the company, Aidyn checked the amount on the card at the bank.In addition to the money Mr. Laurence asked him to transfer every month, there was an extra one million.Obviously, it was the money Ms. Shultz returned to Mr. Laurence.Bernard frowned thoughtfully, reached out his slender fingers, grabbed the bank card, and snapped it in half.Then he pushed the property title to Aidyn and coldly ordered, "Get rid of it."Aidyn wanted to say something nice for Ms. Shultz, but seeing Bernard already started dealing with work on his computer, he closed his mouth, picked up the stuff, and left the CEO's office.Eleanor, lugging her suitcase, arrived at her bestie Hailey Vulpe's place.She raised her hand, gave a gentle knock on the door, and stood nearby, quietly waiting.Both she and Hailey were orphans; they grew up together in the orphanage, like sisters.She remembered when Bernard took her away, Hailey said to her, "If he ever dumps you, remember to come back home."It was these words that gave Eleanor the courage to say no to Bernard's house.Hailey swiftly opened the door, and upon seeing Eleanor, her mouth immediately curved into a smile."Eleanor, what brings you here?"Eleanor tightened her grip on the suitcase and confessed somewhat timidly, "Hailey, I've come to stay at your place."Only then did Hailey notice the suitcase in Eleanor's hand, and her smile froze. "What happened?"Eleanor put on a brave face and smiled, "I ended things with him."Hailey gazed at Eleanor, who was trying her best to maintain her smile.Her tiny face looked gaunt, with sunken eye sockets and a pale complexion.Standing in the cold wind, her body was so frail that it looked like a piece of paper.Seeing Eleanor like this, Hailey suddenly felt a heartache.She quickly stepped forward and tightly hugged Eleanor, "Don't be sad, you still have me."Hearing these words, Eleanor couldn't help but tear up.She hugged Hailey back, gently patting her on the back, "I'm fine, don't worry."Hailey knew she was just trying to comfort her.She knew very well how much Eleanor loved Bernard.For the past five years, Eleanor had been working her butt off to pay back the million dollars to Bernard.She naively thought that if she did that, she could change his impression of her.But in the end, she was still mercilessly dumped by Bernard.Hailey suddenly remembered that rainy night five years ago...If Eleanor hadn't sold herself for Garett Falsey, she would never have met Bernard.And she would've been happy.It's such a shame that everything can't start over again...Eleanor didn't want Hailey to be sad with her, so after giving her a gentle push away and smiling warmly at her, she joked, "You sure you wanna let me in? You've left me out here in the cold, I'm freezing!"Seeing that Eleanor was still as strong as ever, Hailey slowly let go of her concerns.She believed that Eleanor would soon overcome her pain, being the tough girls they were, accustomed to abandonment.As long as they lived well, there was nothing insurmountable.With these thoughts, Hailey's mood improved a little. She took Eleanor's suitcase, pulled her inside, and said, "Don't say such things again. This is your home. Stay as long as you want!"Afterwards, she grabbed a clean set of pajamas and handed them to Eleanor, "Go take a bath first. I'll make you something delicious, and then you can have a good sleep. Don't think about anything else, okay?"Eleanor took the pajamas and obediently nodded, "Okay."Hailey had always been like this, treating her unconditionally well, like a ray of light, warming her life.The unfortunate thing was that she was in the late stages of heart failure, and the Grim Reaper would soon be taking her life.If Hailey knew she was about to leave this world, she would probably be heartbroken and cry.She didn't want to make such a kind and gentle person sad.She looked at the busy figure in the kitchen, and slowly walked over, "Hailey, I want to quit my job."Hailey nodded in agreement, "You really should rest. You've been working so hard for the past few years, just for a little bit of overtime pay. It's time to quit and take care of yourself at home. Leave the money-making to me!"Eleanor was touched and whispered a "thank you" before heading to the bathroom with teary eyes.Fate had never favored her.Since it was destined to part ways, she would spend her last three months by Hailey's side.The next morning, she got dressed up and, after covering up her pale complexion with makeup, went to the office to resign.She had just taken her seat and was about to turn on her computer to write her resignation letter when her colleague Jeannie leaned over."Eleanor, have you seen the email?"Eleanor shook her head. She hadn't had time to check her email since Bernard had taken her away over the weekend.Jeannie quickly relayed the information, "Rosita sent a personnel announcement stating that the chairman's daughter will assume the role of president today."Eleanor had no recollection of the chairman's daughter and held no interest in the matter. After all, she intended to resign, so it made no difference to her who took over the position.However, Jeannie displayed great enthusiasm, remarking excitedly, "I heard she just returned from studying abroad. She holds a Ph.D. in business management but lacks practical experience. Assuming the role of president immediately, isn't she concerned about becoming the subject of gossip?"Amanda, seated beside Jeannie, scoffed, "Who would dare to gossip about her? She happens to be Mr. Laurence's first love, you know."At the mention of Mr. Laurence, Eleanor's finger paused momentarily on the mouse.Chapter 3Bernard Laurence returned to the country, and as his secret lover, Eleanor Shultz was promptly taken to Rosewood Manor.As per the agreement, she had to be squeaky clean without a trace of perfume or makeup before seeing him.She followed his preferences to the letter, washing herself up, then putting on a silky nightgown and heading to the bedroom on the second floor.The man was sitting in front of his computer dealing with work stuff when she entered. He glanced at her."Come here."His voice was cold and void of emotion, weighing on Eleanor's heart like a heavy stone.He was an aloof man prone to mood swings. Fearing his bad temper, Eleanor quickly walked up to him.Before she could even get settled, Bernard pulled her into his embrace, his long fingers grabbing her chin.Bending down, he kissed her red lips hard.Bernard was never one for chit-chat. Making love to her was his only purpose when meeting her.He may have looked noble, but when it came to his sexual desire, he wouldn't let her off easy after being away on business for three months.As she expected, when she woke up, he was gone but the sound of water trickling in the bathroom remained.She followed the sound and noticed a tall figure reflected on the frosted glass.Eleanor was taken aback. In the past, he would always leave as soon as he finished, never staying until she woke up. What was different this time?Feeling tired, she sat up in bed, silently waiting for the man to appear. After a few minutes, the sound of water ceased, and he emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Water droplets fell from his hair onto his skin, tracing a path down his well-defined abs, exuding a dangerously enticing appeal.His face was chiseled and attractive, but his deep, indifferent eyes conveyed a sense of detachment. He looked good, yet the chilly aura surrounding him made people think twice about approaching.Noticing that she was awake, Bernard glanced at her with a cold stare. "You don't need to come anymore," he said abruptly.Eleanor paused, perplexed by his words.Without looking at her, Bernard handed her a document. "This contract is terminated ahead of schedule."Seeing the agreement, Eleanor finally realized the truth: Bernard was ending their relationship.So he didn't leave right away, not because he was reluctant to part, but because he wanted to break up.Five years together, and she knew this day would come eventually. But she never thought it would end like this.No explanation, no reason, there was just a simple notification.Suppressing the pain in her heart, Eleanor looked up at Bernard as he changed into his clothes."The contract's only got half a year left, can't you wait for a longer time?"She had three months left to live, according to the doctor. She wanted to stay by his side until the very end.Bernard remained silent, his eyes cold and devoid of any hesitation, as if he were disposing of a worn-out object.Eleanor realized her predicament in the face of his silence.Despite five years passing, she had been unable to capture his heart. It was time for her to wake up from this illusion.Accepting the contract, she mustered a forced laugh and tried to appear calm and satisfied. "Don't take it so seriously. I was just joking," she said. Then, she added, "Actually, I've been wanting to leave you for a while now. I'm glad the contract is ending early."Bernard paused, buttoning up his sleeves, as he looked at Eleanor's emotionless face that seemed to hold a hint of excitement. It appeared that she felt relieved.He frowned, asking with an indifferent tone, "You've wanted to leave me for a long time?"Eleanor casually nodded. "Yes, I'm not getting any younger. I should be getting married and having kids, not following you around without any status, right?"In reality, marriage and children were no longer possible for her. But in front of Bernard, she wanted to preserve her dignity.Mustering strength, she smiled and asked Bernard, "Since the contract's over, can I get a boyfriend now?"Bernard's eyes were difficult to read. He looked at her silently before reaching for his wristwatch on the bedside table and walking towards the door."Okay then," he said, as his final comment.Eleanor's smile faded as she watched him leave.Bernard didn't like anyone touching his belongings, but he didn't react when she mentioned wanting a boyfriend.It seemed like...He was genuinely tired of her.After Bernard left, his personal assistant Aidyn Reyes walked in with some pills.He handed them to Eleanor and said respectfully, "Ms. Shultz, sorry for the trouble."These were birth control pills. Bernard didn't love her, so naturally he would not allow her to get pregnant.Whenever they finished, he would have Aidyn deliver the pills and require Aidyn to watch her swallow them.Eleanor looked at the white pill and felt her heart ache again.Whether it was her heart failing or being hurt by Bernard, she found it hard to breathe."Ms. Shultz…"Seeing her unresponsive, Aidyn immediately reminded her, fearing she might refuse to take it.Eleanor glanced at him, took the pill and swallowed it without even drinking water.Aidyn's worried expression faded, and he took out a property title and a check from his briefcase, placing them in front of Eleanor."Mr. Laurence's compensation for you, aside from the property and luxury car, an extra fifty million. Please accept it."He's quite generous.But what she wanted was never money.Eleanor looked up at Aidyn and smiled, "I don't want any of these."Aidyn was a little puzzled, "Do you think it's not enough?"Hearing this, Eleanor felt bitter.Even Aidyn thought she was after the money, not to mention Bernard.He gave her such a high severance payment, probably fearing she would pester him for money in the future, right?Eleanor forced a smile, picked up her purse, took out a bank card and handed it to Aidyn, "This is what he gave me. Please return it to him for me and tell him I never used his money, so I won't accept his severance payment either."Aidyn was stunned. Had Ms. Shultz never used Mr. Laurence's money in these five years?Eleanor didn't care whether Aidyn believed her or not, and placed the card on top of the property title.She turned around and left Rosewood Manor.Winters in A City were a bit cold.Eleanor walked down the street in the villa area.Her frail figure cast a shadow on the ground, looking terrible thin.She wrapped herself tightly in her off-white coat, gritted her teeth, and walked back to her apartment in high heels.Upon opening the door, the inside was spacious, occupying an entire floor, decorated as luxurious as possible.But to Eleanor, it felt cold and lifeless, just like Bernard's heart.She sat on the sofa, stared blankly for a while, and then began to pack her things.This apartment was given to her by Bernard.Since he didn't want her anymore, she wouldn't want anything he gave her.Eleanor took out her suitcase, opened the wardrobe, and put all her clothes inside.She hadn't brought much stuff here, so she finished packing quickly, picked up her suitcase and left the apartment.After getting into her car, she sent Aidyn a text message."Aidyn, the passcode for Jade Bay Mansion is 0826."Aidyn was smart; he immediately understood that Ms. Shultz not only never used Mr. Laurence's money, but she didn't even want the apartment he gave her.So decisive, nothing like the woman who knelt before Mr. Laurence five years ago, begging him to spend a million for her virgin.He quickly returned to the company, gave Bernard the items untouched, and told him Eleanor's words without missing one.Bernard glanced at the items on the table, his cold gaze lingering on the bank card.He asked Aidyn coldly, "Is there an extra one million in the account?"Aidyn quickly nodded, "Yes."Before returning to the company, Aidyn checked the amount on the card at the bank.In addition to the money Mr. Laurence asked him to transfer every month, there was an extra one million.Obviously, it was the money Ms. Shultz returned to Mr. Laurence.Bernard frowned thoughtfully, reached out his slender fingers, grabbed the bank card, and snapped it in half.Then he pushed the property title to Aidyn and coldly ordered, "Get rid of it."Aidyn wanted to say something nice for Ms. Shultz, but seeing Bernard already started dealing with work on his computer, he closed his mouth, picked up the stuff, and left the CEO's office.Eleanor, lugging her suitcase, arrived at her bestie Hailey Vulpe's place.She raised her hand, gave a gentle knock on the door, and stood nearby, quietly waiting.Both she and Hailey were orphans; they grew up together in the orphanage, like sisters.She remembered when Bernard took her away, Hailey said to her, "If he ever dumps you, remember to come back home."It was these words that gave Eleanor the courage to say no to Bernard's house.Hailey swiftly opened the door, and upon seeing Eleanor, her mouth immediately curved into a smile."Eleanor, what brings you here?"Eleanor tightened her grip on the suitcase and confessed somewhat timidly, "Hailey, I've come to stay at your place."Only then did Hailey notice the suitcase in Eleanor's hand, and her smile froze. "What happened?"Eleanor put on a brave face and smiled, "I ended things with him."Hailey gazed at Eleanor, who was trying her best to maintain her smile.Her tiny face looked gaunt, with sunken eye sockets and a pale complexion.Standing in the cold wind, her body was so frail that it looked like a piece of paper.Seeing Eleanor like this, Hailey suddenly felt a heartache.She quickly stepped forward and tightly hugged Eleanor, "Don't be sad, you still have me."Hearing these words, Eleanor couldn't help but tear up.She hugged Hailey back, gently patting her on the back, "I'm fine, don't worry."Hailey knew she was just trying to comfort her.She knew very well how much Eleanor loved Bernard.For the past five years, Eleanor had been working her butt off to pay back the million dollars to Bernard.She naively thought that if she did that, she could change his impression of her.But in the end, she was still mercilessly dumped by Bernard.Hailey suddenly remembered that rainy night five years ago...If Eleanor hadn't sold herself for Garett Falsey, she would never have met Bernard.And she would've been happy.It's such a shame that everything can't start over again...Eleanor didn't want Hailey to be sad with her, so after giving her a gentle push away and smiling warmly at her, she joked, "You sure you wanna let me in? You've left me out here in the cold, I'm freezing!"Seeing that Eleanor was still as strong as ever, Hailey slowly let go of her concerns.She believed that Eleanor would soon overcome her pain, being the tough girls they were, accustomed to abandonment.As long as they lived well, there was nothing insurmountable.With these thoughts, Hailey's mood improved a little. She took Eleanor's suitcase, pulled her inside, and said, "Don't say such things again. This is your home. Stay as long as you want!"Afterwards, she grabbed a clean set of pajamas and handed them to Eleanor, "Go take a bath first. I'll make you something delicious, and then you can have a good sleep. Don't think about anything else, okay?"Eleanor took the pajamas and obediently nodded, "Okay."Hailey had always been like this, treating her unconditionally well, like a ray of light, warming her life.The unfortunate thing was that she was in the late stages of heart failure, and the Grim Reaper would soon be taking her life.If Hailey knew she was about to leave this world, she would probably be heartbroken and cry.She didn't want to make such a kind and gentle person sad.She looked at the busy figure in the kitchen, and slowly walked over, "Hailey, I want to quit my job."Hailey nodded in agreement, "You really should rest. You've been working so hard for the past few years, just for a little bit of overtime pay. It's time to quit and take care of yourself at home. Leave the money-making to me!"Eleanor was touched and whispered a "thank you" before heading to the bathroom with teary eyes.Fate had never favored her.Since it was destined to part ways, she would spend her last three months by Hailey's side.The next morning, she got dressed up and, after covering up her pale complexion with makeup, went to the office to resign.She had just taken her seat and was about to turn on her computer to write her resignation letter when her colleague Jeannie leaned over."Eleanor, have you seen the email?"Eleanor shook her head. She hadn't had time to check her email since Bernard had taken her away over the weekend.Jeannie quickly relayed the information, "Rosita sent a personnel announcement stating that the chairman's daughter will assume the role of president today."Eleanor had no recollection of the chairman's daughter and held no interest in the matter. After all, she intended to resign, so it made no difference to her who took over the position.However, Jeannie displayed great enthusiasm, remarking excitedly, "I heard she just returned from studying abroad. She holds a Ph.D. in business management but lacks practical experience. Assuming the role of president immediately, isn't she concerned about becoming the subject of gossip?"Amanda, seated beside Jeannie, scoffed, "Who would dare to gossip about her? She happens to be Mr. Laurence's first love, you know."At the mention of Mr. Laurence, Eleanor's finger paused momentarily on the mouse.