"Okay!" Evelyn didn''t press any further.


    Eleanor, on the other hand, knew exactly why Serena Goodwin hadn''te- Serena simply didn''t want to see her. Which suited Eleanor just fine; she had no desire to face Serena either.


    No need for them to suffer through each other''spany.


    At dinner, Grandmother Magdalen kept piling food onto Eleanor''s te, her wordsced with genuine affection and concern.


    Evelyn, perched in her booster seat, basked in the double love of her grandmother and father, her little face practically glowing with happiness.


    "Come on, Ellie, eat a bit more. You''re looking thinner every time I see you," Magdalen urged warmly.


    "Thank you, Grandma. You should eat too," Eleanor replied quickly.


    "Ian," Magdalen turned to her grandson, "I''m warning you don''t let Ellie overwork herself. Make sure she gets enough time off."


    But Magdalen''s tone grew more pointed. "Honestly,n, you have such a wonderful wife, but instead you waste your time with those...unsuitable women."n''s smile faltered. He nced at Eleanor, his expression impossible to read.


    To Eleanor, that look felt like an usation—was he wondering if she''d said something to Magdalen to make her call Vanessa Shannon "unsuitable"?


    Eleanor checked the time on her phone. “Grandma, it''s gettingte. I should take Evelyn home."


    Magdalen patted her hand. "Don''t rush off yet-I have something for you." She reached into a nearby bag and produced an elegant wooden box. "I picked out a special bracelet just for you."


    Eleanor opened the lid to find a stunning amethyst bracelet, the kind that would cost a small fortune in any boutique.


    She immediately tried to refuse. "Grandma, I really can''t ept this-"


    "Take it, it''s not anything that extravagant. Look at you, not even a single ring on your hands," Magdalen insisted.


    Eleanor gingerly set the bracelet back on the table, worried she might drop it if she argued further.


    "My job doesn''t allow me to wear jewelry, Grandma. I''m in theb every day, and it just gets in the way."


    She closed the box, pushed it gently back toward Magdalen, and stood up. "But it really means a lot to me that you thought of me, Grandma. I just can''t ept it. We''ll be heading out now."


    She took her daughter''s hand. “Evelyn, say goodbye to your great-grandma."


    Evelyn waved her little hand enthusiastically. "Goodbye, Great-Grandma! Bye, Grandma! Bye, Daddy!"


    After her daughter''s sweet farewells, Eleanor quickly led her out of the private dining room.


    Magdalen let out a heavy sigh-after all that careful nning, the gift still hadn''t found its way to Eleanor.


    She shot a look atn. "This is your fault. You''ve driven away the best daughter- inw I could ever hope for."


    Gina chimed in, "Mom, must we keep talking about this?"


    Magdalen eyed the unopened gift box and turned ton. "You''d better find a way


    to get this bracelet to Eleanor, do you hear me?"


    "You-" Magdalen sputtered, too frustrated to speak.


    Gina added, "Mom, next time just get her something less expensive. Maybe then she''ll ept it."


    "Less expensive? I can''t give her something cheap." Magdalen snorted. "If anything, I wish I could give her something even nicer. This is already modest."


    She shook her head, finally relenting. "Never mind, I''ll just keep it. When Evelyn''s older, I''ll give it to her instead."