Eleanor felt a heaviness settle over her heart. Just then, her phone buzzed unexpectedly-Xavier''s name shed across the screen.


    She stared at it for a moment before answering. On the other end, a rough male voice spoke. “Eleanor, it''s me."


    "I''m so sorry for your loss, Mr. Vaughn," she said softly.


    Xavier''s breathing was slow and weighted. "My father passed away just now."


    "I saw the news online," Eleanor replied, gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.


    She could hear Xavier''s shaky, broken breaths over the line. "Xavier, I know what it''s like to lose someone you love. I know how hard this is—"


    He let out a stifled sigh. "When I was a kid, I was always annoyed at how busy he was, too busy to even make it to a single parent-teacher meeting. When I got older, I thought he was just nagging me all the time. Now, I''d give anything to hear him nag me again, but.....”


    His voice cracked with grief.


    Eleanor thought of her own father''s passing and let out a quiet sigh.


    Xavier must have sensed he''d touched a nerve. "I''m sorry, Eleanor. I shouldn''t have brought up painful memories for you."


    "It''s all right, Xavier. Really. And again-my condolences," she offered gently.


    "Thank you." His voice was steadier now, though still tinged with sorrow. "May I ask you something?"


    "If there''s anything I can do, just say it," Eleanor replied quickly.


    "It''s not that. Three days from now, we''ll be holding my father''s funeral. Would you


    be willing toe?" Xavier''s voice was cautious, as if half-expecting her to refuse.


    Eleanor was surprised-Xavier had invited her personally.


    She nced at her calendar. Three days from now: "Defense Technology Review" was scribbled in that slot.


    Before she could answer, Xavier spoke again, his tone suddenly subdued.


    "Please don''t feel obligated, Eleanor. I know you''re busy. It was thoughtless of me to ask."


    "I''lle by early that day," Eleanor said atst.


    She could hear Xavier''s relief in the pause that followed. "Thank you. You don''t have to stay long. Just a few minutes is enough."


    Three morningster, a sudden downpour swept across the city.


    Farris''s funeral was held in a chapel on the outskirts of town. By eight a.m., mourners had already begun to arrive, umbres bobbing through the rain.


    Xavier''s closest friends,n and Henry Holt, were greeting guests at the entrance. Inside, Xavier and his family stood in the chapel, receiving condolences with weary grace.


    Just as Henry andn finished weing a group of guests, a white Porsche Cayenne pulled up a few yards away. Ian caught sight of the license te and froze for a second.


    The car door opened.


    Eleanor stepped out, dressed in a ck blouse and long skirt, her hair pulled back. The rain had already soaked her shoulders, but nothing could diminish her elegance.


    She raised her umbre against the downpour, intent on the slippery pavement beneath her feet, unaware that a pair of eyes watched her from the chapel doorway.


    Henry was surprised-he hadn''t expected Xavier to invite Eleanor. Their rtionship, it seemed, was more than passing acquaintance.


    When Eleanor reached the chapel''s covered walkway, she closed her umbre and straightened her rain-dampened skirt. Suddenly, she felt an intense gaze on her.


    She looked up, her breath catchingn stood at the entrance, expression unreadable.


    Eleanor''s face cooled, her features settling into a reserved calm as she moved toward the chapel.


    “Miss Sutton,” Henry greeted her first, “thank you foring. This way, please.” Eleanor nodded and followed him into the chapel.


    Xavier, dressed in ck mourning attire, approached. His eyes were rimmed with red, but for a moment, when he saw Eleanor, they lit up.


    "You came," he rasped, looking exhausted.


    "My condolences, Mr. Vaughn," she said quietly.


    "Thank you for being here," Xavier replied, gratitude flickering in his eyes.


    The chapel was solemn and still. Farris''s portrait hung above the altar, wreathed


    in white lilies. Eleanor joined the mourners, bowing her head in silent respect.


    Ten minutester, she approached Xavier again. "Mr. Vaughn, I should be going."


    He looked at her with quiet appreciation. That she hade-even briefly- meant more than she could say.


    "Drive carefully. The roads are bad in this weather," Xavier reminded her gently.


    Eleanor nodded. Henry walked her out, handing her an umbre as she made her way down the corridor.


    At the far end, beneath the shadow of a marble pir,n leaned against the wall, a cigarette burning between his fingers, his mood unreadable.


    "Leaving already?" he said, his tone edged. "Not staying to keep himpany?" "That''s none of your business," Eleanor answered coolly.


    movements.


    Just then, a woman''s voice called out from the main hall. n!"


    Vanessa appeared, dressed in a sleek ck dress, making her way toward him.


    Eleanor nced at Vanessa, then turned away, opening her umbre as she headed for her car.


    Momentster, the white Cayenne disappeared into the rain.