A sharp pain stabbed through Eleanor''s chest. She told herself she no longer cared, but the anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface.


    This time, she would never let her daughter leave the country with them. She''d make sure Vanessa had no chance to get close to Evelyn, no chance to fill her head with ideas.


    That evening,n was home for dinner. While their daughter clung to his side, Eleanor kept her distance. After dinner, around eight-thirty, she slipped away for a shower. When she came out and couldn''t find Evelyn anywhere, she finally heard her daughter''s voiceing fromn''s room.


    Eleanor reached for the door, ready to step inside, but paused as she caught the sound of Evelyn''s delighted chatter.


    "Mrs. Shannon, have you already gone abroad?"


    "Yes, I just arrived today. I wish you could havee with me, Evelyn!"


    "We''ll see each other soon! Daddy said he''ll take me to visit you in a couple of days."


    "Then I''d better get your presents ready. I''ll buy a pretty Christmas dress and wait for you!"


    "I want lots of princess dresses, and a beautiful crown too!"


    "Of course, honey. I''ll have everything ready before you arrive. And I''ve already ordered your favorite vani cake from that pastry shop you love." Vanessa''s voice was warm and indulgent.<fn4346> Th?s chapter is updated by f?ndnovel</fn4346>


    Eleanor leaned against the door, waiting for her daughter and Vanessa to finish their conversation.


    "I''ll hang up now,"n''s voice broke in.


    "Alright, I''ll be waiting for you all!"


    "Bye, Evelyn. Love you!" Vanessa switched to the Drexfordnguage.


    "I love you too!" Evelyn replied, her childish voice wless in that foreign tongue.


    Listening to her daughter''s joyful exchange with Vanessa, Eleanor felt a sharp ache in her chest, making it hard to breathe. By the time she opened the door, she''d already forced a smile onto her face.


    "Evelyn."


    "Mommy! Daddy and I are going on a trip abroad. Do you want toe with us?" Evelyn looked up at her, her little face earnest and hopeful.


    In her child''s heart, Evelyn wanted everyone who loved her to be together. "Evelyn, could you go y in the toy room for a bit? Mommy needs to talk to Daddy," Eleanor said, gently ruffling her daughter''s hair.


    Evelyn nodded her small head. "Okay! I''ll go." She scampered out, and from the hallway Joslyn called, "Evelyn, I cut up some fruit for you. Come have a snack!"


    Eleanor closed the door and looked up atn, who was sitting on the sofa under the chandelier, loosening his tie. Three buttons of his shirt were undone, and there was still a faint smudge of strawberry jam where Evelyn had hugged him before dinner.


    "We need to talk," Eleanor began.


    "I don''t want you taking Evelyn out of the country this time. If you want to spend Christmas with your mother and grandmother, please go on your own. I''d like Evelyn to stay here with me," Eleanor said, her voice calm but firm.


    "My mother and grandmother haven''t seen Evelyn in months. It''s only ten days there and back,"n replied coolly.


    Eleanor''s chest tightened with each suppressed breath, the weight of unspoken frustration pressing against her sternum like a second heartbeat.


    "You''re wee toe with us,"n added, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    Eleanor''s hands clenched into fists. She red at him and demanded, "Fine, I''ll go. But can you promise to keep Vanessa away from my daughter?"


    "Vanessa means no harm to Evelyn. You don''t need to be so defensive," he said, frowning as he stood up.


    Eleanor''s body trembled.


    "Alright, I''ll go with Evelyn. I don''t care what you and Vanessa are to each other, but keep her away from my girl."


    Suppressing her anger, Eleanor returned to her room. Just then, her phone rang. She saw a foreign number on the screen and hesitated before answering. "Hello?"


    A pleasant male voice responded, "Ellie, have you thought it over? Are you ready to join the project?"


    Eleanor guessed instantly who it was. "I''m sorry, Joel. I have more important things to take care of right now."


    "I''ve looked into your marriage. Your husband''s been unfaithful. Your daughter isn''t even close to you. Honestly, you could walk away and dedicate yourself to science. With your talent, you''d go far."


    "Thank you for the offer, Joel. I really appreciate it, but I have my own ns."


    "You want to win your husband back?" He sighed gently.


    "No, I just want to take care of my daughter."


    "Well, I''m sure we''ll meet again."


    "We definitely will!" Eleanor replied, smiling-though inside, she whispered his name, Joel Kingsley. He''d once worked with her father, and over the years, he''d watched out for her like an older brother.


    Now, she was determined. Whatever it took, she would rebuild her rtionship with her daughter. There was no way she''d let Vanessa be Evelyn''s stepmother in any real sense. That night, Eleanor told Evelyn she''d being with her on the trip. Evelyn threw her arms around her neck, babbling excitedly about all the fun things they''d do abroad. And as Eleanor hugged her daughter, she remembered how she''d once bent over backward trying to salvage her marriage-how she''d neglected her daughter''s love in the process. That failed marriage had nearly turned her into a bitter, resentful woman.


    But not anymore.