She already hated him to her core, and when she bit down, it was with every ounce of fury and resentment she had. The taste of blood filled her mouth


    instantly.


    Under the harsh light,n stared at the row of bloody bite marks on his hand, his handsome face turning to stone. A cold, dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.


    Still catching her breath, Eleanor leaned against her door, mind racing. She knewn had Vanessa now, but that never stopped him froming after her at home. Maybe it was some twisted thrill for him, watching two women lose themselves over him. Or maybe he was just that sick.


    Right now, only one thought burned in Eleanor''s mind.


    Get the divorce, and fast.


    The next morning, Eleanor took her daughter''s hand as they made their way downstairs. Ian was at the front door, deep in a phone call. The moment his daughter ran to him,n''s eyes softened, and he offered her a smile. But as soon as he looked up and saw Eleanor, the warmth vanished, reced with chilling indifference.


    Eleanor''s gaze fell to his hand. The bite marks fromst night were still visible- two deep rows of wounds, stark against his skin.


    After breakfast, Eleanor went out as well. She nned to pick out a piano for her daughter, hoping to teach her at home in her free time.


    Inside the piano store, Eleanor''s eyesnded on a massive poster of Vanessa.


    "Oh! You must know her," the manager said eagerly, handing Eleanor an album. "She''s world-famous-a piano prodigy, performed solo at the Montir Opera House, toured all over Europe. Her album''s a bestseller, too..."<fna0da> Discover more novels at Find[?]ovel</fna0da>


    Eleanor''s lips curled into a faint, cynical smile as she gazed at the woman in the white gown, looking pure and untouchable on the poster. Who would guess that this so-called goddess was tearing apart someone else''s family, acting so brazenly in front of another woman''s husband?


    "I''m not interested," Eleanor replied coolly.


    She let her fingers dance lightly over a few piano keys, and the manager''s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh! You''re a pianist, too?"


    After picking out a piano, Eleanor left the store just as her phone chimed with a new message. She checked it: four photos from the private investigator she''d hired.


    In the photos,n sat at dinner with Vanessa and an older man, probably in his fifties.


    "The older man is the mistress''s father," the detective wrote. "Looks like they''re meeting the family."


    "Thank you. Please keep following them," Eleanor replied.


    Vanessa couldn''t wait to take her ce as Mrs. Goodwin, could she? Fine. As long asn was willing to give her custody of their daughter, Eleanor would be more than happy to step aside.


    At four in the afternoon, Eleanor went to pick up her daughter and ran into Xavier. He''d arrived first, sitting in his car, focused on his phone with the window rolled down.


    "Mr. Vaughn." Eleanor greeted him as she parked.


    Xavier nodded politely, checked his watch, and got out of the car.


    They weren''t exactly close; the air between them was tinged with awkwardness. Gathering herself, Eleanor said, "Thank you for helping me the other day."


    "It was nothing," Xavier replied calmly.


    Eleanor pressed her lips together, searching for something else to say, but nothing came.


    "Are things between you andn all right?" Xavier asked, his tone gentle. "We''re fine," Eleanor answered with a vague smile.


    Just then, the school gates opened, and parents began filing in. Eleanor hurried


    off.


    She picked up her daughter, while another little girl, Vivian, clung to Xavier''s hand.


    Suddenly, the two girls joined hands, giggling together.


    For a second, it was an odd, almostical tableau: Eleanor holding her daughter, Xavier with Vivian, the four of them looking for all the world like a family out on an afternoon errand.


    Eleanor felt a flush creep up her cheeks. She nced at Xavier, only to find him meeting her gaze. Quickly, she turned to her daughter. "Evelyn, we need to go to the mall. Say goodbye to Vivian, okay?"


    "Uncle, I want to go too! I want to go!" Vivian piped up, her voice rising.


    Eleanor shot Xavier an apologetic look.


    "Let''s all go together," Xavier said with a shrug and an easy smile.


    "Evelyn, do you want to ride in your uncle''s car?" he asked.


    "Yes!" Evelyn chirped.


    Eleanor hesitated, then tried again. "Evelyn, we''re all going to the mall. Why don''t you ride with Mom?"


    "But I want to be with Vivian," her daughter insisted stubbornly.


    At four or five, she was already as willful as they came-once she made up her mind, there was no changing it.


    "They can ride with me," Xavier offered.


    Eleanor could only nod. "Thank you, Mr. Vaughn."


    At the mall, Evelyn and Vivian dashed straight for their favorite toy store, with Eleanor and Xavier trailing behind.


    Eleanor silently hoped her daughter would pick a toy quickly so they could head home.


    "Sir, ma''am, there''s a sofa over here if you''d like to sit and rest," the shop assistant said, her tone warmly professional.


    Eleanor blinked, realizing the assistant had mistaken her and Xavier for a couple.


    "Thank you," Eleanor replied with a polite smile, just as the two girls came over, each lugging a giant stuffed animal.


    "Mom, I want this one!" Evelyn dered.


    "Uncle, I want this one!" Vivian echoed.


    Just then, a familiar face passed by the store''s entrance and stopped in shock.


    Vanessa stared in disbelief at the scene inside: Xavier and Eleanor together? She nced at the little girl holding Evelyn''s hand-she guessed that must be the daughter of Xavier''s sister, the one recently convicted of murder.


    Vanessa''s lips curled in a sly smile as she snapped a few photos and sent them off to Serena before walking away.


    Almost immediately, Serena called.


    "Eleanor''s with Xavier? What is she ying at?" Serena demanded, her voice seething.


    "Don''t overthink it, Serena. I''m sure it was just a coincidence," Vanessa soothed.


    "Coincidence? Please. She''s clearly trying to get close to Xavier," Serena fumed, recalling how Xavier had saved Eleanor at the pool the other day. Was Eleanor falling for him?


    "Serena, are you getting jealous?"


    "As if! You really think I''d lose Xavier to a used-up divorcée? I''m single, and she''s damaged goods. Even if Xavier''s taste is questionable, there''s no way he''d go for someone like her!"