It was just past midnight.


    Eleanory awake, insomnia gnawing at her nerves, when she heard the front door open.n was home.


    In the past, whenevern came backte, Eleanor would always get up and check on him. If he''d been drinking, she''d quickly brew some strong ck tea to sober him up; if he was simply exhausted, she''d warm a ss of milk to help him sleep.


    Marriage had a way of teaching a woman all sorts of things-how to cook, how to doundry, how to read every flicker of someone else''s mood. In the end, she''d trained herself into a thankless housemaid, worn out but unnoticed.


    The door creaked open. His tall figure crossed the room and paused at the edge of their daughter''s bed. The faint scent of whiskey mingled with the floral perfume she recognized-Vanessa''s favorite.


    A wave of heat spread where his lips met her skin, but Eleanor only felt her body go rigid. The moment he left, she sat up, grabbed a wet wipe, and scrubbed the spot he''d kissed.


    She felt dirty, revolted by the touch of a man who''d just spent the night with another woman.


    Over the next three days, Eleanor managed to mend things between herself and her daughter. After all, she''d raised Evelyn from infancy; her daughter''s love hadn''t vanished, only been pushed aside. If Eleanor was patient enough, she knew she could rekindle that bond, remind Evelyn who had always been there.


    On Friday at noon, Eleanor spent the morning in her study, working through a proposal. Parched, she headed downstairs for a drink, only to catch sight ofning up.


    Descending from the third-floor study, she met his eyes on thending. Without a word, she brushed past him and continued to the kitchen to make herself some tea.


    "Still mad at me?"n''s voice was tinged with annoyance.


    Eleanor paused, turning to face him. "What would I be mad about?"


    "Forget it,"n muttered, clearly losing interest, and started up the stairs.


    Eleanor frowned, moving past him. Lately, there were so many things about their rtionship she found herself forgetting.


    A few minutester, she remembered. Two weeks before, in a fit of anger, she''d torn upn''s passport, trying to stop him from flying overseas to see Vanessa.


    That had led to a week-long cold war. It finally ended when,te at night, she''d crept into his bedroom after their daughter was asleep and initiated a clumsy attempt at reconciliation.


    That was what he''d meant.


    But Eleanor knew, no matter what she did, Ian would still take Evelyn abroad to spend Christmas with Vanessa.


    Lost in thought, Eleanor''s phone buzzed. She nced at the screen and smiled as she answered. "Jude!"


    "Ellie, I finished reading your entire thesis," came Jude''s enthusiastic voice. "Honestly, it blew me away. I can''t wait to meet and talk about it in person."


    "Thank you for the praise," she replied warmly.


    "Are you free in the next couple of days? I''d love to catch up and chat."


    "Jude, can we set a timeter? I''ll check my schedule."


    "Sure, just let me know when works for you. We''ll talk then."


    Bncing her cup of tea, Eleanor climbed the stairs again, checking her watch-


    she didn''t want to bete picking up Evelyn from school.


    "My flight''s Monday morning. Yeah, I''m bringing Evelyn."<fn2235> Get full chapters from find?novel</fn2235>


    "Just tell me what you want for Christmas. Anything at all."


    Eleanor pressed herself against the wall, hidden in the entryway, listening ton''s footsteps fade as he retreated to his room.


    Hisst words floated down the hall, "I''ll get you whatever you want."