"Hello, Miss Sutton. This is Mansfield Ellington. Would you mind adding me on WhatsApp?"


    Eleanor opened the app and, just as she expected, someone had sent her a request. She epted it.


    Sliding into the passenger seat of Joy''s car, Eleanor''s phone chimed again. She nced at the screen.


    "Miss Sutton, apologies for the intrusion. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I''m Mansfield Ellington, twenty-seven, serving as a Major General in the Ninth Military District. I''m single, no bad habits. It''s an honor to meet you."


    Eleanor stared at the message, momentarily stunned. Joy leaned over to sneak a peek, then burst outughing. "See? And he says he doesn''t like you."


    Eleanor felt her cheeks flush and had no idea how to respond.


    She simply dropped her phone back into her purse. Joy looked at her in disbelief. "You''re not going to reply?"


    "I don''t know what to say," Eleanor muttered, shoving her phone deeper into her bag.


    Joy shook her head as she steered the car through traffic. "He''s the Secretary of State''s son, you know! Already a Major General at his age-don''t tell me you''re not even a little interested?"


    "I''ve got no time for that right now." Eleanor rubbed her temples. "Theb''s project is at a critical stage, and Evelyn needs me, too..."


    Her phone buzzed again from the depths of her purse.


    Mansfield had sent a second message: "I apologize for reaching out so abruptly, Miss Sutton. Please forgive my forwardness."


    Clearly, he realized his previous message might havee on too strong and was trying to make amends.


    This time, Eleanor thought it would be rude not to reply at all.


    She typed back, "It''s fine."


    Just three words, but they carried Eleanor''s unmistakable politeness and distance.


    "Hope we can meet again sometime," Mansfield replied almost instantly.


    "Sure," Eleanor answered.


    Joy pulled up in front of Eleanor''s house, but in her distraction nearly rear-ended


    a sleek ck Mercedes parked at the curb.


    "Holy crap!" Joy mmed on the brakes.


    Eleanor looked up, startled, and realizedn''s car was blocking her driveway. Wasn''t he supposed to be taking Vanessa home?


    "Is thatn''s car?" Joy nced over.


    Eleanor nodded. "Yeah, it''s his." She opened the door and got out, calling over her shoulder, "Drive safe, okay?"


    "I will! See you!" Joy swung the car around and took off.


    Eleanor stepped into the living room to findn crouched beside the toy chest, helping their daughter hunt for something. He looked up, and in the warm glow of themp, Eleanor—with her makeup still wless and little ck dress perfectly in ce-looked every bit like she''d juste back from a date.


    "Mommy, you look so pretty!" Evelyn beamed up at her.


    Eleanor smiled back. "Did you eat your dinner?"


    "Yep! Half a bowl of rice, a chicken drumstick, and a bottle of milk."


    "That''s my girl." Eleanor ruffled her daughter''s hair, but as she leaned in, she caught a faint, unmistakable trace of women''s perfume onn.


    Vanessa''s favorite scent.


    So, they''d clearly gotten close on the drive back. That perfume only lingered like this after some real intimacy.


    "Evelyn, sweetie,e here—I''ve got a treat for you." Joslyn called from the backyard, deliberately giving the adults some space.


    As Evelyn skipped outside, Eleanor''s gaze cooled. "What are you doing in my house?"


    "Evelyn wanted to see me,"n replied quietly.


    Eleanor sighed inwardly. Their daughter must have begged Joslyn to call him. Her voice was t. "Next time, just talk to her on the phone, okay? There''s no need to keeping by."


    He''d already exceeded the eight monthly visits allowed by the custody agreement.<pn''s eyes lingered on her. In the soft light, her curls cascaded over her shoulders, skin glowing pale and smooth-so striking that, for a moment, he waspletely lost in her.