Byron said, "Mr. Goodwin wants to wait for you and head back to Ashford City together."


    "Daddy, are you staying with us tonight?" Evelyn asked, her little face turned up expectantly.


    Beforen could answer, Eleanor jumped in. "Evelyn, there aren''t enough beds where we''re staying."


    "But-but Daddy can sleep with us!" Evelyn protested, her wide eyes full of hope.


    Still so young. She doesn''t understand that moms and dads don''t just automatically sleep together.


    Byron, standing off to the side, couldn''t help but smile at Evelyn''s innocence before quietly excusing himself from the room.


    Eleanor said nothing, but her face made her feelings perfectly clear-she was not interested in the idea.


    At that moment, Byron returned. "Mr. Goodwin, the technical exchange meeting starts in ten minutes."


    "Okay!" Evelyn nodded, satisfied.


    Aftern left, Garrison entered. Eleanor took the opportunity to ask aboutn''s visit. Garrison nodded, confirming, "Yes, Meridian Dynamics has an ongoing tech partnership with us. Mr. Goodwines over for meetings a few times every year."


    Eleanor fell silent. She had never really known the scale ofn''s business before —she still didn''t. The only thing she knew for certain was that his projects spanned everything from investment banking to tech and even medical research.


    He was the archetype of a modern businessman: sharp, visionary, and always able to use every resource at his disposal to his advantage. But men like that were often deeply selfish and astonishingly arrogant.


    As evening fell, Mansfield Ellington arrived. He, of course, had heard thatn was in town.


    He nced at Eleanor, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "I heard your ex- husband is here."


    Eleanor nodded, her tone turning cool. "He''s here for work."


    Mansfield had, in fact, already checked up onn''s visit-it was prearranged, but the timing was almost too coincidental, as ifn had gone out of his way to be here while Eleanor was around. Could it be-


    "Mr. Ellington, let''s go eat! I''m hungry," Evelyn announced, breaking the tension.


    "Of course! Come on, I''ll take you and your mom to get something delicious," Mansfield replied with a cheerful smile.


    The three of them had barely stepped out of the lounge when they bumped right inton and Byron, who wereing from the conference room.


    The instantn saw the three of them together, his gaze cooled.


    "Daddy!" Evelyn squealed, running over andunching herself into his arms.


    Mansfield''s expression didn''t flicker as he extended a hand. "Mr. Goodwin. Wee to the Ninth Military District."


    The two men shook hands, all polite smiles on the surface-but Byron, watching from the side, could sense the silent tension between them. He thought, If Major General Ellington is interested in Mr. Goodwin''s ex-wife, it''s only natural that Mr. Goodwin wouldn''t like it. After all, he and Eleanor share a daughter. If Mansfield ever married her, he''d be Evelyn''s stepfather. Any man would mind, let alone someone like Mr. Goodwin, who''s used to getting what he wants.


    "Mr. Goodwin, Major General Ellington, why don''t we all have dinner in the mess hall?" Byron suggested, hoping to ease the atmosphere.


    During dinner,n patiently helped Evelyn with her food. Eleanor sat across from him, while Mansfield took the seat beside her. Byron asionally chatted with Eleanor about the finer points of their research.


    When the meal was over, Evelyn suddenly tugged on her father''s hand. "Daddy,e look for fireflies with me! You''ve never seen them like this before."


    "Care for a walk?" Mansfield offered.


    Eleanor nodded after a whole day in theb, she needed to stretch her legs. With her daughter happily entertained, it was a rare moment to rx. The early summer dusk deepened as themps along the base flickered on, and she and Mansfield strolled side by side along the tree-lined path, a gentle breeze carrying with it the coolness of the season.


    "Did your experiment go well today?" Mansfield asked.


    Eleanor looked up at the sky, where the North Star was already shining bright. "Yes, it''s progressing faster than I expected."


    Not far off,n and Evelyn were searching for fireflies in the grass. Ian''s gaze drifted over to the pair walking under the trees, and his eyes darkened even further.


    Eleanor and Mansfield walked farther and farther, disappearing around the bend. When Eleanor finally circled back, she found her daughter holdingn''s hand, looking a bit dejected. Apparently, they hadn''t found any fireflies.


    Mansfield smiled, "Maybe there are more in the grass near the cottage where you''re staying."


    "Mommy, let''s go back to the house!" Evelyn said, perking up.


    The mood grew tense for a moment. Mansfield was the first to break it. "I''ll head back, then."


    Eleanor nodded. She led the way,n carrying Evelyn a few steps behind, careful to keep his distance.


    At the cottage door,n lingered. Evelyn clung to him, refusing to let go. "Daddy,


    you have to help me catch fireflies. You can''t leave!"


    "Daddy has to work, honey. How about Mommy helps you catch fireflies instead?" Eleanor knelt to speak to her daughter.


    "Will you help me catch a whole jarful?" Evelyn asked, hopeful.


    "I will," Eleanor promised. "We''ll fill up the whole jar together."


    Just then, in themplight, a faint red mark on the side of Eleanor''s pale neck caughtn''s eye-a mark that looked suspiciously like it had been left by someone''s careful kiss.