Chapter 221 A Story Behind His Eyes
# Finished
Nolan placed his hand gently atop Eliza’s head and gave her a light pat. “This life,” he said softly, “I’ll spend it by your side. I’ll never leave.”
Under the dim glow of night, his eyes held a depth of emotion Eliza had never seen before.
No one had ever said something like that to her–I’ll stay by your side, forever.
Her whole life, she had only ever known what it felt like to be left behind.
Nolan must’ve felt the same.
“Idiot,” Eliza murmured, face flushing. “I only said I’d be your girlfriend. I didn’t say I was going to marry you. Why are you giving me your whole life?”
“I never said I’d let you marry someone else,” Nolan replied, his eyes burning with intensity.
Eliza felt like his gaze alone could set her on fire.
“Y–You’re being ridiculous. Just drive,” she mumbled, quickly sitting upright.
Her cheeks were hot.
Nolan’s smile only deepened as he shifted into gear. “Alright.”
The car glided smoothly back toward the Hayes family estate.
Eliza remained stiff and awkward the whole ride, her eyes flicking to Nolan again and again.
He was still smiling.
She couldn’t help herself. Pulling out her phone, she snapped a photo of him.
Looking at the image, her own lips curved upward.
He really is good–looking.
This time, Nolan was the one who got the short end of the stick–such a handsome face, and it ended up with her.
“Taking secret photos?” he asked suddenly.
“You saw that?” Eliza jumped, hurriedly hiding her phone. “Weren’t you driving?”
“I was.”
“Then how…”
“I was also watching you.”
One sentence, and her face instantly went red.
Eliza, get a grip. Honestly.
One or two sweet words and you’re done for?
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Chapter 221 A Story Behind His Eyes
She cleared her throat, trying to shake it off. “So…. you’ve never liked anyone before?”
“I have,” Nolan said.
“…Who?”
Eliza’s heart skipped, suddenly tense.
“My mother.”
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The words caught her off guard.
And instantly, she recalled that unhinged woman–the one from that night. That had to be Nolan’s mother.
“And… after that?” she asked cautiously.
It felt like a sensitive topic.
Just then, they arrived at the Hayes family estate. Nolan pulled into the garage.
“We’ll talk upstairs. Ask anything–you deserve to know.”
There was such honesty in his eyes. Eliza had never seen anything like it.
He unbuckled her seatbelt and took her hand, guiding her upstairs.
The lights in the living room were dim as they sat on the couch. Nolan began to tell his story.
The Hayes family hadn’t always been involved in legitimate business. Back in the chaos of the last century, they were infamous overseas:
Notorious. Criminal.
Eventually, they returned to Westbrook and started a front of legal business–just for appearances. Behind the scenes, the Hayes family continued operating underground.
That side of the empire was handled by Nolan/
Though Tyson was one of the most capable younger members, he was from a collateral branch. He only controlled surface–level companies.
As for the madwoman–yes, she was Nolan’s mother.
Years ago, she’d been a famed actress, the pride of Westbrook’s silver screen.
But the head of the Hayes family took a liking to her. They married in secret.
After that, she gradually faded from public view.
The tabloids whispered that she was being “kept,” or had married into wealth.
Despite all the malicious gossip, she never left Nolan’s father.
But in the Hayes household, she suffered constantly–especially under the contempt of her mother–in–law.
Back then, even actresses had little status. Beautiful, gentle, obedient–it didn’t matter. She was still
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Chapter 221 A Story Behind His Eyes.
considered improper. Still labeled a disgrace.
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Eventually, the family forced Nolan’s father to marry someone more “suitable“-a proper heiress from a powerful family.
His mother was cast out, divorced and discarded.
Only a month later, she realized she was pregnant.
But that changed nothing.
The Hayes family refused to let her return. In fact, they delivered their final blow: after the child was born, it would be raised by them.
No one could’ve predicted that she’d give birth to twins–both boys.
When Madam Hayes learned this, she refused to take both.
In the end, only one child was brought back to the family.
That child was Nolan.
