Departure
Eliza asked, “Roughly when are you going back? You can’t just stay here forever, right?”
“What’s so bad about living here?”
+8 Pearls
Nolan’s voice was low as he said, “There’s someone to mop the floors every day, cook for you, bring you good food, and even act as your bodyguard when needed. That’s a free housekeeper. If it were me, I’d never kick that person out.”
“I’m not trying to kick you out…”
Eliza hesitated. “I’m just worried that rumors like this will happen again. It might affect you…”
“Dealing with rumors is my problem.”
Nolan looked at Eliza. “As long as nothing is going on between us, we don’t need to care what others say.”
Eliza fell silent.
She used to care a lot about what other people thought.
Now she didn’t anymore.
But she was afraid Nolan would get dragged into it.
Just like last time when Evelyn showed up at school and Henry got slapped for no reason.
She didn’t want that kind of thing to happen to Nolan.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Eliza set down her fork and went to open it.
Standing outside were a group of Hayes Corp bodyguards.
Seeing them, Eliza froze for a moment.
Each one wore the Hayes Corp family emblem, and one of them she recognized as Tyson’s secretary.
Julio said, “Excuse me, is Mr. Hayes here?”
“Mr. Tyson?”
Eliza thought she had misheard. “If you’re talking about your boss, he’s probably not here right now.”
Eliza instinctively assumed Julio was referring to Tyson when he said “Mr. Hayes.”
But Julio merely smiled and said, “I’m looking for Nolan–Mr. Nolan Hayes.”
Hearing Julio call Nolan “Mr. Hayes” left a shadow of suspicion in Eliza’s heart.
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Chapter 120 Departure
If she remembered correctly, Nolan wasn’t yet the head of the Hayes family–just the heir.
Why would Julio be calling Nolan “Mr. Hayes“?
Just then, Nolan stood up and walked over to the front door, easily shutting it.
Eliza blinked.
Nolan said calmly, “Ignore them.”
“But…”
+8 Pearls
“Sir, there’s a situation at the company. Mr. Tyson asked you to return. It’s urgent, so please stop hiding here,” Julio said.
Nolan frowned.
Julio continued, “If you don’t come back, don’t blame Mr. Tyson for using more forceful means.”
At those words, Nolan’s gaze turned dark.
He turned around and opened the door.
Julio smiled faintly. “We’ll pack your luggage for you.”
“No need.”
Nolan said coldly, “Wait outside. I’ll be out in ten minutes.”
“Yes, Mr. Tyson.”
Julio led the group away.
Eliza frowned. “Do you actually want to leave, or are you being forced to?”
She could tell that Nolan didn’t want to go back at all.
Nolan raised his hand and tapped her forehead.
Eliza blinked.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m just going back for a bit. Don’t overthink it.”
Nolan said, “I’ll be back in a few days. Take good care of yourself while I’m gone. If anything comes up… call Henry.”
Before Eliza could react, Nolan had already left.
The room was quiet.
Eliza glanced at the lunch Nolan had barely touched.
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3:32 pm DOM
Chapter 120 Departure
A strange emptiness formed in her chest.
She’d grown used to being alone, but Nolan’s presence had disrupted that peace.
Now he was gone.
Maybe everything was just going back to how it was before.
That might be for the best.
Eliza shook her head.
What mattered most now was earning money and figuring out how to get into Claire University.
Everything else wasn’t worth her attention.
+8 Pearls
If she could get a study–abroad slot, that would give her a backup plan–and meet one of the conditions for Claire University.
Claire University recruited elite talent, and they looked first at family background, then academic ability, and finally the student’s high school.
Westbrook High was one of the schools on Claire University’s accepted list. Each year, students from Westbrook had a chance at admission.
But only if they had a study–abroad qualification and ranked in the top five of the year, with excellent results city–wide.
The last factor was a financial background evaluation.
Those who had made major contributions to society could get special admission. Otherwise, the family needed to own a business valued at over ten billion.
Eliza had none of those things..
What she needed to focus on now was how to get into Claire University—not any personal emotions.
A month passed.
Eliza attended online classes while managing her online store. She seized on the livestreaming boom and earned a significant amount of money.
She also invested in a media company and received monthly dividends of several hundred thousand.
88
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