Chapter 503 The Woman Behind Missy
Eliza had been lost in thought for a while, going over the donations the Foster family had made to various social causes over the years. But by the time she pulled her eyes from the screen, she hadn’t even noticed Nolan had quietly stepped into her room.
When she finally snapped out of her thoughts, he was already beside her, watching her with that gentle gaze
of his.
She startled at first but relaxed the moment she saw it was him.
“I thought you’d be asleep by now. What are you doing here this late?”
“I saw your lights were still on. Figured you were probably hungry–you barely ate tonight–so I brought you something to snack on.”
Nolan had been especially caring lately. He’d been trying out new recipes nonstop, doing everything he could to make sure Eliza ate well and–if she was being honest–maybe a little too well.
That morning, Eliza caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and couldn’t ignore it anymore–she’d definitely put on a little weight. Her face looked rounder, her curves softer. Nolan was clearly spoiling her.
“I actually… had something I wanted to ask you,” he said hesitantly.
“Oh?” Eliza replied, eyes still on the files open on her screen.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, “What’s your connection to Missy?”
Eliza stopped, her fork hovering midair. The question caught her completely off guard.
She’d never mentioned her relationship with Missy to Nolan. Not because she didn’t trust him, but because too many things had gotten in the way lately. She’d just never found the right moment.
“I…”
“You don’t have to explain now,” Nolan said, voice calm and understanding. “Tell me whenever you’re ready. I’m not pushing.”.
Truth was, he hadn’t intended to look into it at all. But with Soren becoming Missy’s official spokesperson, he’d looked into the company. What he hadn’t expected was to come across traces of Eliza–things she’d never told him.
She looked at him, guilt rising in her chest.
Nolan had always been open with her honest, patient, and always putting her first. And here she was, hiding something that probably didn’t even matter.
“I wasn’t hiding it on purpose,” she said softly. “There was just a lot happening, and it kept getting pushed back. I meant to tell you sooner. I’m the founder of Missy. Originally, I just wanted to create a backup plan -something to quietly move funds around if I ever needed a way out. But I never expected the brand to blow up the way it did. These days, I barely touch the day–to–day stuff unless there’s a major decision. The team runs everything. I wasn’t trying to keep it from you.”
Nolan’s heart settled as she spoke.
“I get it. And even if you never told me, I wouldn’t be upset. If anything, I’m just impressed. I mean, Missy–s
Chapter 503 The Woman Behind Missy
been public for a while now, and I never had a clue it was yours.”
That was saying something. Nolan had a sharp eye on just about every business operating in Westbrook The fact that she’d kept Missy hidden from even him? That was impressive.
“Even my brothers don’t know I own it,” she added. “It’s just a small business compared to everything they
have. No need to show off in front of them. Nolan… do me a favor and keep this between us, okay? If anyone asks, just pretend you don’t know.”
“Of course,” he said without hesitation.
When it came to Eliza, Nolan didn’t need convincing. He’d do anything she asked.
And this? This was nothing–just keeping a secret for the woman he loved.
Now that the question had been laid to rest, Nolan didn’t say another word. He just stayed beside her quietly, keeping her company as she kept digging through the Foster family’s past.
Hours passed. The night grew darker.
It was already deep into the night when Eliza leaned her cheek against her hand, clearly tired. “Nolan… do you think all the charity work the Foster family’s done over the years… is just a cover? Like, are they using it to cover something shady? Or maybe they’re just feeling guilty and trying to make up for it?”
She wasn’t exaggerating. The amount the Foster family had donated over the years added up to billions. They did it without blinking–donating to rural schools, hospitals, and disaster relief–on paper, it looked flawless.
Every photo she pulled up showed Felix himself delivering the check, shaking hands, and smiling warmly at the camera. But the man in those pictures didn’t match the one she’d met in the study. In those images, he looked kind, and warm, like a generous gentleman doing his part to give back.
If it was all an act, then Felix deserved an award for it.
“I only know that Henry’s father was once a brilliant entrepreneur,” Nolan said quietly. “Respected, reserved. He had a mind for business and a real gift for medicine. Back then, he had serious influence in Westbrook. These days, though, he keeps a low profile. You only ever see him at charity dinners or fundraising events. He’s really into giving back. I remember him saying once that he believed if you put good out into the world, good comes back to you. And that people who do wrong eventually face the consequences.”
“Like… what goes around comes around?” Eliza asked.
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