"Mr. Goodwin, how do you feel about your ex-wife Eleanor being attacked online recently?"


    "Would you care to respond?"


    "I will be issuing an official statement soon regarding the false usations against my ex-wife, Ms. Eleanor, circting online," he said, his voice low and


    unwavering, every wordnding with the weight of a gavel.


    "Could youment now?" one gutsy female reporter pressed.


    The implication was unmistakable.


    In just a few sentences, every journalist in the room could sense how fiercely he intended to defend her.


    Even if their marriage was over.


    Some reporters even misinterpreted his words as a warning-almost as if he''d said, "No oneys a hand on someone under my protection."


    Vanessa sat on her sofa, scrolling through thetest news about Eleanor. The certificates Eleanor had posted stunned her-six years of marriage, and she''d managed all this?


    And she''d aplished it all abroad. Vanessa had assumed Eleanor was content ying the housewife, but clearly, the woman had her own ambitions.


    Faye''s call came through. Vanessa picked up. "Hey, Faye."


    “So,n and Eleanor are divorced. Does this mean you finally have your shot at joining the Goodwin family?" Faye teased.


    Vanessa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Even if I don''t marry in, I can promise you there won''t be another woman byn''s side."


    "You didn''t have anything to do with Eleanor''s online scandal, did you?" Faye''s tone sharpened.


    "Of course not. I wouldn''t stoop so low." Vanessa gave a short, contemptuousugh.


    "My mom says your mom''s back in town. The four of us should get together this weekend."


    Annoyance flickered in Vanessa''s eyes. Her father had been out more oftentely, busy with work-and less and less reliable. Faye''s mother had invited hers back to try and keep her father in line.


    "Yeah, see you tonight," Vanessa replied. Then, after a pause, she asked, "I saw those documents Eleanor posted online. Are they real?"


    Faye had seen them too. She hesitated, but finally said, "They''re real."


    "Looks like yourpetition''s tougher than you thought," Vanessa said, a hint of challenge in her voice.


    "So what?" Faye shot back, pride bristling. "There''s always more to learn. Just because she''s ahead now doesn''t mean she always will be." With that, she hung up.


    Momentster, Vanessa sawn''s official response about Eleanor''s situation.


    On camera, he stood in a sharp navy suit, his expression severe, exuding an aura that warned people to keep their distance.


    No matter how intrusive the journalists'' questions became, nothing could detract from his refined, striking appearance.


    Vanessa watched the interview through clenched teeth, exhaling sharply when it ended. She should have talked Serena out of it.


    If she had, maybe this mess wouldn''t have happened.


    Now, Eleanor had the chance to disy her ster medical credentials, whilen stood before the cameras, publicly acknowledging his duty to protect her.


    Especially that line-she will always be the mother of his child. That one stung, right in Vanessa''s chest.


    Of course. Even ifn and Eleanor were divorced, their child would forever bind them together.