"Mr. Vaughn, does your child go to school here too?" Eleanor asked, curiosity brightening her eyes.


    "I''m just here to pick up my niece," Xavier replied with a warm smile.


    At 4:20, Xavier and Eleanor entered the pickup area one after the other. They spotted Evelyn and a little girl with mixed features, hand in hand,ughing as they yed.


    "Mommy!"


    "Uncle!" Both girls dashed over, giggling. Eleanor scooped her daughter into her arms, just in time to see the other girl leap into Xavier''s embrace.


    "So you two are ssmates as well!" Eleanorughed in surprise.


    "Vivian''s my best friend," Evelyn announced, beaming.


    Eleanor smiled, too. Xavier had once saved her life-a debt she knew she''d never forget.


    Just then, Evelyn suddenly called out behind her, excitement in her voice. "Daddy! Daddy!"


    Eleanor paused, turning to seen making his way through the crowd. Evelyn raced into his arms, andn picked her up before walking over to Xavier.


    Xavier shook his head.


    "If there''s anything I can do, just say the word."


    Xavier''s gratitude flickered in his eyes. "Thanks. We''ll talk soon."


    Eleanor overheard their exchange. Watching Xavier hold his niece, she couldn''t help but wonder. Had Xavier''s sister reallymitted a crime? Was that why her daughter was now in his care?


    "Mom! Let''s go home!" Evelyn''s voice pulled her back.


    Eleanor snapped out of her thoughts and noticedn watching her. She smiled at her daughter. "Alright, let''s go."


    With a sigh and a helpless smile,n carried her over and helped her into Eleanor''s car instead.


    Eleanor chatted with Evelyn all the way home, listening to stories about school and new friends. When they arrived, Joslyn had prepared a pot of soothing chicken soup. Evelyn happily finished a full bowl before running off to y.


    Eleanor settled on the living room couch with her iPad, keeping an eye on her daughter as she yed with Princess, their golden retriever. While the two chased each other around, Eleanor took the chance to sift through her bursting inbox- nearly a hundred unread emails, most of them about the uingb project she was helping organize.


    This newboratory was her responsibility as a core member, so every detailnded in her inbox.


    She opened thetest message from Jude Vaughn-theb''s official opening was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. The guest list included several key names,n''s among them. Eleanor''s own name appeared on the official experiment roster, signed as "Eleanor S." There was no hiding her involvement here. She could only hopen wouldn''t notice.


    Later,n strode in at dusk, suit jacket draped over his arm. Princess bounded to the door, tail wagging, ready to greet him.


    He nced down at the little ball of fur, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He''d never been fond of pets, but now,ing home to this cheerful wee, he had to admit it wasn''t so bad.


    "Daddy, you''re home!" Evelyn bounced over and threw her arms around his leg, barely reaching above his knee.


    N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on findnovel</fnd493>


    He crouched to scoop her up and kissed her on the cheek. "Let me wash up first, then I''lle y ball with you."


    "Okay!" Evelyn chirped, eyes shining.


    Twenty minutester, he came down in a ck sweater, his dark hair falling naturally over his brow, looking effortlessly rxed.


    "Daddy,e y!" Evelyn called, tugging him into a ser game in the spacious living room.


    Meanwhile, Eleanor methodically worked through her emails, undisturbed by theughter around her. Since that day, something in her had quietly shifted-a new resilience blending with her calm reserve, making her all the more inscrutable.