Chapter 635

Chapter 635

Wendy stared at Eleanor's retreating figure.

Each of Eleanor's steps felt like they were trampling on Wendy's self-respect and the satisfaction she'd felt these past few days.

The sound jolted Wendy awake from her fantasy.

Right...

Lucas and Eleanor's business interests were so deeply intertwined.

If Lucas and Eleanor got divorced—especially with him being the one who cheated—Eleanor would definitely seize the opportunity to take even more from him.

Divorce would be a losing proposition.

That's why Lucas's attitude had done a complete one-eighty. He'd simply calculated the cost and chosen to continue being Eleanor's husband in name only.

Wendy believed she'd finally seen the truth.

Unwilling to accept it, she called out to Eleanor's back: "Impossible! He's not the type to compromise himself for money."

Without even turning around, Eleanor let out a contemptuous laugh.

"Then wait and see. If you're just looking for a rich husband, I'd advise you to find a new target as soon as possible."

Eleanor's dismissal cut from every angle.

Wendy stood frozen in place.

No matter how much she resisted admitting it, she had to face reality.

Eleanor was right.

After all these years together, their interests had become deeply entangled. Divorce would be like handing over their assets on a silver platter.

After a divorce, they'd face losses far beyond just half their current assets!

Wendy bit down hard, then turned and stormed off.

If she wanted those two to divorce, she'd have to destroy their business relationship first!

So Wendy went straight to Clifford and got right to the point: "Dad! You don't actually want Lucas and me to be together at all!"

Clifford looked completely confused.

Why had his daughter—who'd been so confident just moments ago—suddenly done such a turnaround?

He asked, "What happened? Did Lucas turn you down?"

"Of course not!"

Wendy stamped her foot, her tone both complaining and wheedling: "Have you forgotten? Lucas and Eleanor have been working together for years. They're never going to divorce because of me."

Full of frustration, she turned her face away and muttered, "If I want to marry Lucas, what I need to destroy isn't Lucas and Eleanor's relationship—it's their business partnership."

"Or..."

Her eyes darkened slightly as she continued, "Or I could dig up something damaging about Eleanor and use it to blackmail her into giving Lucas the lion's share of everything in the divorce."

Unless she could accomplish one of those two things, Wendy didn't stand a chance of competing with Eleanor for Lucas.

Now Wendy's mind was consumed with the sting of Eleanor's mockery. She pressed Clifford: "Come up with something."

"I know!" Wendy had a sudden idea and said excitedly to Clifford: "Have the Myers Group partner with Lucas on something big enough to cover his losses from divorcing Eleanor. Then he'll be willing to divorce her and choose me."

But Clifford wasn't as impulsive as Wendy.

His first response was skepticism: "Why are you suddenly thinking this way?"

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Are you sure this isn't some scheme they cooked up together?"

...

Late at night, at the hotel.

Ever since Lucas and Eleanor had staged their big fight, Lucas had been temporarily staying at the same hotel as Wendy.

Their rooms were right next to each other.

Thinking about how Wendy had acted when she'd come to see him today, Lucas sent Eleanor a message to share the good news.

On the other end of the line, Eleanor's voice was noticeably lighter. "I figured she got shut down by you. Otherwise she wouldn't have suddenly come looking for me."

And with such a confrontational attitude, no less.

Remembering Wendy's flustered rage from earlier, Eleanor teased Lucas: "Looks like you've got quite the appeal. Wendy's actually falling for you. She might come bearing gifts any day now."

Eleanor made a couple of sarcastic sounds. "She's willing to sacrifice her own interests just to make you divorce me. I really don't know what you did to bewitch her like this."

Lucas sounded somewhat helpless as he played along with Eleanor's sarcasm: "Right? Otherwise how could I make you willing to put on this whole act just to keep me around?"

Eleanor shook her head, at a loss for words. "Guess you used that silver tongue of yours to bewitch Wendy."

"If I could bewitch you, that would be my honor."

With their plan proceeding smoothly, both of them relaxed and gradually became more unguarded in their teasing.

The atmosphere grew increasingly intimate.

To make their act more convincing, they hadn't seen each other in several days.

Now that they were talking, neither wanted to hang up.

Eleanor sighed wistfully. "To be safe, I haven't contacted Asher's caretakers recently. I wonder how he's doing?"

Lucas reassured her, "Mr. Smith goes back to check on him regularly. Don't worry, nothing will go wrong."

On the other end, Eleanor was about to say something else.

But suddenly she heard a knocking sound through her phone screen.

Someone was knocking on Lucas's hotel room door, and the sound came through clearly to Eleanor's ears.

She frowned and immediately fell silent, holding her breath to avoid being heard by whoever was outside.

"Who is it?" Lucas asked.

Wendy's soft voice came from outside: "It's me, Lucas."

Without waiting for Lucas to respond, she pushed the door open directly. With a shy, timid glance at Lucas, she revealed her scantily clad, alluring figure.

Late at night as it was, Wendy held a bottle of red wine and wore nothing but a sexy, provocative red slip dress.

She looked both seductive and pitiable—a blend of temptation and innocence. Biting her lip with a hint of sadness, she sat down on the edge of Lucas's bed.

Their arms were touching.

Her snake-like supple hand landed directly on Lucas's thigh as she said, "Lucas, do you have time right now?"

Lucas secretly kept his phone hidden without hanging up.

He didn't push Wendy away, instead saying naturally, "Just finished with some work. What's going on?"

"I do..."

She bit her lip and poured wine for both of them. Displaying vulnerability to Lucas, she said, "I have something very important I want to talk to you about. I don't know if you could keep me company tonight."

Lucas looked at Wendy intently.

First he patted the back of her hand reassuringly, but then—under Wendy's delighted gaze—he removed her hand and declined: "Sorry, whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. It's too late tonight. This isn't appropriate."

Wendy panicked: "There's nothing inappropriate about it, Lucas. We're perfectly innocent. Are you trying to distance yourself from me now?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she reached out to embrace Lucas: "You're the only person I know here. Are you really unwilling to give me even a little warmth?"

This time, as Lucas pushed Wendy away again—

Eleanor's contemptuous voice came through the phone: "Wendy, you really are full of surprises."