Seeing her daughter clutch the dinosaur toy, Eleanor realized Vanessa must have been withn that night-not only together, but likely sharing the same phone call, maybe even the same bed.


    "Ma''am, Mr. Vaughn said he''ll be having dinner here. I''ll start cooking," Joslyn announced cheerfully.


    "If there''s nothing to cook, don''t bother," Eleanor said abruptly. She had no intention of lettingn stay for dinner.


    "There''s... there''s plenty! I bought groceries for two days," Joslyn replied quickly.


    Eleanor could tell Joslyn had grown fond ofn and wanted to keep himfortable, but this was her house. She was the one in charge here.


    "Mommy, I want Daddy to stay for dinner. I don''t want him to go," Evelyn chimed


    in, tugging at Eleanor''s sleeve with a pleading look.


    With her daughter looking at her that way, Eleanor could only nod in reluctant agreement.


    "I''m going upstairs to wash my face. I''ll be down in a minute," she said.


    As she passed,n looked over at her, but Eleanor ignored him and headed up the stairs.


    Dinner was ready by the time she came back down. They gathered around the table, and suddenly Evelyn pouted, her little voice piping up, "Daddy, why are you always with Miss Vanessa? You never spend time with Mommy. Mommy''s your wife, not her!"


    Eleanor froze mid-bite, startled by her daughter''s words. How did Evelyn even know how to say things like that?


    n looked taken aback too, but then he smiled gently. "Alright. From now on, Daddy will spend more time with you and Mommy."


    "Promise! You''re not allowed to leave me and Mommy ever again!" Evelyn said, beaming.


    "I promise,”n said, soothing her.


    Eleanor watched this man weaving promises for their daughter, and a resolve started building inside her. She would need to talk to him soon—make it clear that she and Evelyn didn''t need him tangled up in their lives. She''d rather be honest with her daughter than letn spinforting lies.


    Just then, Evelyn noticed the family dog, Princess, gnawing on something beneath the table. Evelyn''s eyes went wide and she pointed indignantly. "Mommy, Princess is chewing my toy! That''s the one Mr. Vaughn gave me!"


    Eleanor saw Princess at it again, destroying toys. She stood up and went over, trying to pry the toy from the stubborn dog''s mouth.


    Princess, like a willful toddler, refused to let go.


    "Princess, drop it," Eleanor said sternly.


    Princess ignored her.


    "Princess, if you don''t listen, you''re going to get in trouble. Let go, now," Eleanor scolded, treating the dog as if she were scolding a child.


    Across the table, Evelyn chimed in with her own serious tone, "Princess, if you don''t give me my toy back, I''m not ying with you anymore! Hmph!"


    Watching mother and daughter team up to discipline the dog,n couldn''t help but smile. He got up and walked over to Princess. As soon as he knelt down, the dog seemed to sense his authority. Princess instantly dropped the toy and lowered her head, looking up atn with guilty, pleading eyes.


    Eleanor huffed in annoyance. Princess was clearly ying favorites-probably because she''d always been too soft with her.


    She handed the slobbery toy back to Evelyn, who hugged it protectively and shot Princess a re. "Princess, I''m not your friend anymore!"


    Evelyn inspected the toy and found a tiny tear. She pouted. "It''s a little bit broken."


    "I''ll take you outter, and we''ll get you a new one," Ian promised.


    Evelyn''s face lit up. "Really? Yay!"


    Eleanor frowned, recognizingn''s ploy. This was just another excuse to spend more time with their daughter.