"You guys really don''t know?" Henry nced around at the group of friends, surprised. Ian had been married for six years-how was it possible that none of them knew?


    Everyone shook their heads. The man who''d spoken earlier looked almost envious. "Still, that Vanessa is a real knockout. I''ve seen plenty of beautiful women, but she''s in a whole different league."


    "She''s a prodigy on the piano, too-there''s an artistry about her you just don''t see in ordinary beauties. I remember passing one of her billboards, and I couldn''t tear my eyes away for ages!"


    Henry chuckled. "Let''s keep the rumors to a minimum, all right?n''s married. His daughter''s already five."


    "Well, he sure kept it under wraps. There''s never been any mention in the press. But, honestly, with his kind of money, it''s not unusual for a man to have a few close female friends on the side. You know what they say-variety is the spice of life!"


    Laughing, Henry waved his friend off before the gossip could go any further. "Enough aboutn. His wife''s a real beauty herself, so let''s move on. How about we top up the drinks?"


    By the windows in the main hall, Eleanor and Joel had already started eating. The two of them chatted about medical theory, and Joel seemed genuinely impressed by her insights.


    "Your father was an incredible man. I only worked with him for two years, but I admired him so much."


    Eleanor smiled. "He was, except for being a bit stubborn-and his temper could get the best of him."


    Joelughed. "You''re telling me! The year he taught at our college, a couple of student groups actually staged a protest against him!"


    Eleanorughed too, but there was a shimmer of tears in her eyes. Noticing, Joel''s heart sank. "I''m sorry, Ellie-I shouldn''t have brought up something painful."


    She brushed at her eyes. "It''s okay."


    Just then, her phone buzzed. It wasn calling. Eleanor stood up. "I''ll take this outside."<fnb975> Latest content published on f?ndnovel</fnb975>


    She stepped into the corridor before answering. "Hello?"


    "Mom!" The voice was notn''s, but her daughter''s.


    "Evelyn? Sweetheart, is that you?"


    "Mom, are youing to Grandma''s for dinner tonight? Great-grandma and I both miss you."


    "Of course! I''lle over for dinner tonight."


    "Great-grandma, Mom''sing for dinner!" Evelyn was clearly rying the news to someone nearby.


    "Okay! Try toe early, honey. I''ll be waiting," Eleanor replied, smiling.


    "I will, I promise," she added warmly. After hanging up, Evelyn dashed back into


    the living room and handed the phone to her father. "Dad, Mom says she''lle to Grandma''ster."


    "Alright,"n replied with a gentle smile.


    "Young Master, Mrs. Graham would like to see you for a moment," a housekeeper came over and said.


    "See that she leaves before three. Ellie''sing for dinner tonight—it wouldn''t be appropriate for Vanessa to stay," his grandmother instructed.


    "Understood," Ian replied.


    Meanwhile, in Serena''s room, she had just confided a long-hidden secret to Vanessa.