"He''s away on business again?"


    "No, actually-Vanessa''s feeling a bit under the weather, so he''s at her ce taking care of her," Serena said pointedly.


    In reality, Vanessa''s message said she was in the hospital andn was looking after her. But by saying "at her ce," Serena was purposefully making things sound ambiguous. After all, a man and a woman alone together at night— everyone knew what that could lead to.


    Magdalen''s expression darkened. "Is Vanessa ill every other day? Why does she always have to troublen to look after her?"


    "Grandma, why do you care so much? It''s not like my brother minds," Serena replied with a mischievous grin.


    Magdalen nced at Eleanor, watching her gather her purse and stand up. She sighed quietly. No matter how much she wished to y matchmaker, it was clear these young people''s hearts were no longer aligned.


    "Mom, can I sleep over at Grandma''s tonight?" Evelyn Goodwin wrapped her arms around Eleanor, pleading.


    Eleanor hesitated. "Evelyn, you have school in the morning."


    "Grandma said she''ll take me," Evelyn insisted, eyes wide and hopeful.


    Eleanor''s resolve softened. Her daughter loved the bustle of family, while their own home was admittedly a bit too quiet.


    "All right, you can stay for one night. I''ll head home now."


    As Eleanor stepped out through the garden gate, she realized Serena was trailing behind her, arms crossed.


    "I heard you and Xavier have been getting pretty cozy. So, did you manage to get into his bed yet?" Serena sneered.


    Eleanor shot her a cold nce, refusing to dignify the remark with a response, and turned to leave.


    But Serena wouldn''t let it drop. She hurried ahead to block Eleanor''s path, voice sharp with sarcasm. "Be honest, Eleanor-are you chasing after Xavier to make my brother jealous?"


    Eleanor let out a short, derisiveugh. "Why would I bother?"


    Serena scoffed. "Obviously, you can''t stand that my brother dumped you. You''re just trying to get his attention, to prove you''ve still got it."


    Eleanor almostughed at the absurd logic. She snorted in disdain.


    Serena''s face stiffened, her embarrassment quickly turning to anger. "Don''t think you''re so special just because you''ve got a little sess now! My brother dumped you once, and he''d do it again without a second thought!"


    Eleanor had no interest in dragging out this pointless argument. She stepped around Serena and headed for her car.


    Serena, unwilling to let her have thest word, called after her, "Let me tell you— Vanessa is the only woman my brother truly cares about! No matter what tricks you y, he won''t even look at you."


    Eleanor spun around, her tone sharp with mockery. "Serena, let me make one thing clear: your brother means nothing to me now. There are plenty of men out there far better than him."


    "You mean Xavier?" Serena''s face went pale, then flushed red. So Eleanor really did have her sights set on Xavier.


    Eleanor ignored her, slid into the driver''s seat, and forced herself to swallow the irritation burning in her chest.


    -Utterly ridiculous.


    The Goodwins always acted like they were a cut above everyone else.


    Eleanor''s thoughts drifted back to the days when she marriedn, back when she was barely worth a nce. No wonder Serena looked down on her-she once looked down on herself too.