Eleanor nced at him coolly. "So what if I am?"


    "Don''t push yourself too hard. Your health matters," he said.


    Eleanor didn''t bother to reply.


    shadow she couldn''t escape.


    He failed to notice just how much weight she''d lost.


    Leaning against the doorway, arms crossed,n spoke in his usual detached tone. "You don''t have to work yourself to death like this. Whatever you want, I can give


    it to you."


    Without even looking up, Eleanor replied, "Everything you have to offer is meaningless to me. What I want is something you''ll never be able to give.


    Was this supposed to be concern?


    No-it was just his way of controlling things, as always.


    Eleanor ignored him and kept flipping through her book.


    "


    When Vanessa got home, the housekeeper was waiting with a soothing ointment for her bruise. As Vanessa sat on the edge of her bed, her phone chimed. It was a message from Serena: "Vanessa, are you still up? There''s something I want to talk about."


    "Yeah, I''m still awake!" Vanessa texted back.


    Momentster, Serena started a video call. Vanessa dismissed the housekeeper and answered, "Hey, Serena."


    "Vanessa, I figured out whose leather cord that was in Xavier''s car."


    "Oh? Whose was it?" Vanessa asked, curiosity piqued.


    "It was Eleanor''s," Serena hissed, her voice tight with anger.


    Vanessa blinked in surprise. "Eleanor? Are you sure?"


    "I''m positive. The night we threw that little party for her, she wore a leather cord in her hair-exactly like the one in Xavier''s car," Serena insisted.


    Vanessa remembered how Xavier had quietly helped Eleanor before. She tried to calm Serena down. "Serena, even if it was Eleanor''s, that doesn''t prove anything. Maybe Evelyn identally left it in Xavier''s car?"


    "No way. Evelyn only uses those kiddie hair ties. And that night, Xavier was obviously anxious about the leather cord," Serena replied, her voice firm.


    Vanessa kept her tone gentle. "Serena, even if it was Eleanor''s cord, Xavier wouldn''t care. I think you''re overthinking this."


    "You really think I''m mistaken?" Serena asked, sounding uncertain.


    "Absolutely. Maybe Eleanor was in Xavier''s car with Evelyn one day and left it behind by ident. Xavier wasn''t nervous about the cord itself-he just didn''t want you to misunderstand."


    "Really?" Serena sounded a little less tense.


    Vanessa smiled reassuringly. "Trust me, I know Xavier. He''s got integrity—he''d never steal a friend''s wife."


    Serena finally rxed, letting out a long breath. "I was starting to worry Xavier actually liked Eleanor. Guess I was just imagining things." She paused, then grumbled, "Do you think Eleanor left that cord in his car on purpose? What''s she trying to pull?"<fn379f> Find the newest release on find{n}ovel</fn379f>


    Vanessa''s lips curled into a knowing smile. "She wants to prove she''s still got it. She''s trying to win back your brother''s attention."


    Serena was caught off-guard. "What do you mean?"


    Vanessa exined, "She went after Xavier because he''s charming, and he''s alson''s friend. She thinks if she flirts with Xavier, your brother will get jealous."


    Serenaughed. "My brother''s never been interested in her. She''s wasting her time."


    Vanessa smirked. "And get this-she''s cramming for her graduation exam." "But she''s only a sophomore, isn''t she?"


    "Your brother dropped her from his project, so now she wants to graduate early and prove herself," Vanessa said.


    Serena burst outughing. "She actually thinks she can pull it off? I can''t wait to see her grades-this is going to be hrious."