Eleanor frowned.


    "Don''t bother denying it—I already know everything," Serena scoffed, her voice icy.


    Eleanor''s tone remained calm. "My private life is none of your business."


    Serena crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. “He and my brother have been best friends since grade school. You know I like Xavier, don''t you? So tell me, what are you trying to do? Are you just trying to spite my brother? Or is it me? Is this your way of getting back at us?" Her words dripped with suspicion and malice.


    Eleanor felt nothing but boredom. Serena''s hostility was overwhelming and frankly, tiresome.


    "If you like Xavier so much, then go after him," Eleanor replied simply.


    Serena clenched her jaw. As if she hadn''t tried-she''d done everything short of dering her feelings to Xavier in front of a crowd.


    "So, what are you bragging because Xavier likes you?" Serena''s voice trembled with anger.


    "I''m not," Eleanor said, brow furrowing.


    "I know exactly what kind of person you are," Serena shot back, her words like daggers. "You schemed to get close to my brother, and now you''re ying games to win Xavier, too. The world doesn''t just hand out happy endings to people like you. You won''t get away with this."


    Eleanor just shook her head and started walking toward the front gate.


    Behind her, Serena stomped her foot in frustration and hurried after her. "Eleanor! You''d better not try to steal Xavier from me, do you hear? He''s mine!"


    Eleanor turned, her gaze cold. "Miss Goodwin, not everyone is here to indulge your whims."


    That was thest straw. Serena charged forward and grabbed Eleanor''s wrist. "Who do you think you are? You have no right to lecture me!"


    Eleanor paused, momentarily surprised by Serena''s outburst. Clearly, the girl had spent her whole life convinced the world revolved around her. With a swift motion, Eleanor pulled her hand free. "Don''t pick a fight with me."


    Serena was left standing there, stunned. She still couldn''t understand why her brother had split the family''spanies with Eleanor, letting an outsider snatch up so much of the Goodwin fortune.


    Now, with Xavier in the picture, her resentment toward Eleanor had only deepened.


    Why should Eleanor get everything so easily, when Serena had fought so hard for even a sliver of happiness?


    Eleanor walked to the gate, and behind her, Serena got into her car and sped off.


    A housekeeper opened the gate for Eleanor. As she stepped inside, she heard the sound of piano music drifting through the air. Eleanor frowned-the ying was far too skilled to be her daughter''s.


    Who was at the piano?


    A sinking feeling crept into her chest. Was Vanessa here?


    Following the melody, Eleanor walked through the garden and stopped outside the tall windows, peering in.


    Inside, she sawn, dressed infortable clothes, sitting at the piano with their daughter.


    Eleanor blinked in surprise. She''d had no idean could y the piano. Clearly, Vanessa must have taught him in private. The thought of the two of them sharing romantic duets made her chest tighten.


    A housekeeper went inside to announce her, and soonn led Evelyn out to the garden.


    "Mommy!" Evelyn called out, bright-eyed with joy.


    Eleanor shook her head. "No need. I''m just here to take Evelyn home."


    She knelt down, gently straightening her daughter''s cor. "Come on, Evelyn. Let''s go."


    Evelyn nodded, but nced back atn, hesitation flickering across her face. "But Daddy said he was going to teach me a new song tonight..."


    "I''ll drive you home,"n offered, breaking the awkward silence.


    Eleanor was about to refuse, but Evelyn pped her hands in delight. "Yes! I want Daddy to drive us home!"


    Seeing the hope on her daughter''s face, Eleanor just couldn''t bring herself to say


    no.