Eleanor finished typing up the day''sb report, ready to call it a night. She slipped off her white coat and hung it on the rack when a voice sounded at the door.


    "Excuse me, miss, can I help you?"


    "Could you tell me which office Eleanor is in?" A woman''s voice, clear and sharp. Eleanor''s expression darkened. That voice-why was it her? Vanessa.


    A few secondster, Vanessa strode in, the sharp click of her heels echoing through the quiet office. Her wless makeup couldn''t quite mask the storm brewing beneath.


    Vanessa stared at Eleanor for a moment before holding out a bracelet, amethyst stones glimmering in the harsh light.


    "This belongs to you," she said.


    Eleanor blinked, recognizing it instantly—the purple bracelet she''d shown offst night.


    "That''s not mine. You''ve got the wrong person," Eleanor replied coolly, arching an eyebrow.


    "I heard from Serena that Magdalen originally meant this for you. I couldn''t possibly take something that wasn''t meant for me." Vanessa''s lips curled into a sly smile. "Oh, silly me-I forgot, I already took your husband. I''ll leave the gift for you. Even I have standards."


    Eleanor let out a silent, scornfulugh. "Are you finished?"


    "I am." Vanessa tilted her head, her smile triumphant.


    Eleanor picked up her bag and adjusted her shirt cuffs. "Take your bracelet and go. I don''t want anything you''ve used. It''s tainted, and frankly, it''s bad luck."


    Vanessa''s face fell. She''d assumed anything from Magdalen would be precious to Eleanor, but Eleanor didn''t even give it a second nce.


    "Eleanor, this was a special gift from Magdalen, and you''re just throwing it away?" Vanessa''s voice took on a pointed tone. "What would Magdalen think—"


    Eleanor cut her off. "I refused when Magdalen tried to give it to me. It has nothing to do with me now. And one more thing: get out of my office."


    Vanessa''s expression twisted in anger. She sucked in a sharp breath. "Don''t pretend to be so high and mighty. The only reason Magdalen still cares is because you spent a year tending ton when he was sick. She just pities you for being tossed aside."


    Eleanor almostughed out loud.


    "You got what you wantedn. So why do you still act like the wounded one? If anyone here is pitiful, it''s you."


    "You-" Vanessa''s perfect features contorted with rage. She mmed the amethyst bracelet onto Eleanor''s desk. "You think I even want this? It''s just something the Goodwin family tossed your way. I don''t care about it, either."


    The bracelet ttered on the desk, sharp and bright. Eleanor didn''t even look up. "If you''re done, leave. I need to go pick up my daughter."


    "Your daughter?” Vanessa sneered suddenly. “You''re just using Evelyn to cozy up to Magdalen, aren''t you? Trying to worm your way back into the family with your child as bait?"


    Eleanor''s eyes shed with fury. "Vanessa, I warn you-leave my daughter out of this."


    "Oh? Did I hit a nerve?" Vanessa lifted her chin, smug. "You''re a terrible mother, using your own daughter to-"


    Smack.


    A sharp p silenced her.


    Vanessa clutched her cheek, her voice trembling with rage and shock. "You hit me?"


    "That was to teach you some manners," Eleanor said icily. "Mention my daughter again, and I won''t hesitate to remind you twice."


    Vanessa''s fists clenched, her re murderous, as if she was about to retaliate. But after a moment, she forced out a bitterugh, still holding her face. "I''ll remember this p, Eleanor. And someday, I''ll pay you back."


    With that, she turned on her heel and left.


    Eleanor eyed the amethyst bracelet on her desk with an irritated frown.


    She snapped a picture and sent it ton, her message curt: Come get your stuff.


    A minuteter,n called. His voice was low, restrained. “Alright, I''m on my way."


    "I left it in my desk drawer. Take it yourself." She hung up.


    Vanessa climbed into her car just as her phone rang. Serena''s name shed on the screen.


    "Hey, Vanessa, did my brothere get the bracelet?"


    "No, I gave it to Eleanor."


    "What? Why would you do that? Grandma never meant for her to have it."


    "I was just trying to do the right thing, Serena. And she pped me for it." Vanessa''sugh was brittle.


    "She did what? Who does she think she is?"


    "I don''t know. Maybe she thinks anything I''ve worn is bad luck. Or maybe I said something wrong."


    "What did you say?"


    "I said I shouldn''t take what she loves." Vanessa sighed. "Maybe that set her off."


    Serena tried to reassure her. "Vanessa, this isn''t your fault. Don''t let her get to you. She''s just angry about the divorce and taking it out on you."


    “Serena, am I really such a terrible person? Did I hurt her that much?" Vanessa bit her lip, voice wobbling. "Am I really a bad woman?"


    "Don''t cry, Vanessa. If Eleanor hadn''t insisted on marrying my brother in the first ce, you would''ve been the Goodwin family''s daughter-inw a long time ago. She couldn''t keepn, so why take it out on you?"


    "Thank you, Serena. That means a lot."


    "Don''t worry about the bracelet. If Grandma gets upset, I''ll take the me."


    Vanessa let out a soft breath. "Thank you for always being on my side." Serena offered more reassurances before hanging up, saying she had to head back to the Goodwin estate and not to worry about the bracelet. Twenty minutes after Eleanor left,n stepped into her office. He pulled open the top drawer and found the amethyst bracelet inside, slipping it into his pocket. His long fingers lingered for a moment on Eleanor''s freshly written report before he left.