Eleanor met his gaze for a few seconds. After six years of marriage,n could still read her expression without effort.


    "Mom''s been busy with worktely,”n said gently to their daughter. “Let''s let her get some rest, okay?"


    "Alright," Evelyn agreed, though even at her young age, she''d noticed her parents didn''t spend much time together with her anymore.


    That night, while Eleanor was working on her thesis, a notification arrived from Evelyn''s school.


    She picked it up absentmindedly and nced at it. The school had announced they''d invited an international pianist to teach for the semester.


    Momentster, another update popped up a special announcement. Eleanor opened it, and her face fell.


    Vanessa had been hired as the school''s consultant?


    Within minutes, the parents'' group chat was in an uproar. Everyone was buzzing with excitement, expressing gratitude that the school could recruit a pianist of Vanessa''s caliber as an arts advisor.


    But Eleanor doubted whether Vanessa was really there just to advise on music.


    She feared Vanessa''s real aim was to get closer to Evelyn, to win her over, maybe to prepare her for the day when she''d be her stepmother.


    But wasn''t Vanessa pregnant?


    Eleanor bit her lip. She suspectedn must have agreed to this behind her back.


    The news put Eleanor in a sour mood for the entire weekend. By Sunday evening at five,n brought Evelyn home.


    Taking Evelyn''s hand, Eleanor turned toward the living room. Ian was just about to leave when Evelyn''s face crumpled and she burst into tears.


    Eleanor jumped in rm, crouching down in front of her daughter. "What''s wrong, honey?"


    "I want Daddy," Evelyn wailed, shaking her head. "I don''t want Daddy to go. I want Daddy to stay with me." She broke free from Eleanor''s grasp, ran to the front door, and threw her arms aroundn''s leg, sobbing her heart out.


    Eleanor froze.


    Evelyn was only five years old. Of course she longed for both her parents'' presence. It was only natural.


    Eleanor''s heart softened immediately; she couldn''t bear to see her daughter hurting.


    She looked up atn and, forcing herself to sound indifferent, said, "If you''re not busy tonight, why don''t you stay for dinner?"


    At that, Evelyn''s tears vanished, reced by a beaming smile. She huggedn tightly. "Yay! Daddy''s going to stay with me!"


    The words hitn right in the heart.


    He knew he hadn''t spent enough time with his daughtertely.


    Eleanor steeled herself. Tonight would be an exception-he could stay for dinner, but this wouldn''t be a habit.


    When Joslyn, their housekeeper, heard Mr. Carter was staying, she immediately began preparing supper.


    Whilen yed with Evelyn downstairs, Eleanor slipped upstairs to avoid him.


    At dinner, Evelyn ate enthusiastically, swinging her little legs under the table, clearly overjoyed.


    Sharing a meal like this, just the three of them, wrapped Evelyn in a simple, innocent happiness.


    He didn''t protest, just paused to pat Princess, the family''s golden retriever, before heading out.


    Early Monday morning, Eleanor sought out Evelyn''s teacher to ask about Vanessa''s role. The teacher exined that Miss Shannon would teach piano every Thursday at two in the afternoon.


    "Mrs. Goodwin, do you know Miss Shannon?" the teacher asked curiously.


    "No, I don''t," Eleanor replied with a calm smile.


    "All the parents in the group are thrilled she''s joining as an advisor! It''ll be such wonderful inspiration for the children''s artistic development."


    Eleanor made up her mind: every Thursday while Vanessa was teaching, she''d arrange for Evelyn to stay home.


    She would not give Vanessa a single chance to get close to her daughter or to drive a wedge between them.