Eleanor thought he wanted to speak with her privately. When she pushed open Byron''s office door, she foundn standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows.


    She stopped short, every nerve in her body going on high alert. Her gaze turned icy as she looked at him.


    He was, in his own way, asking for her permission.


    "Have her back by nine," Eleanor replied coolly. He had visitation rights-eight times a month. From now on, she intended to count every single one.


    She turned to leave, butn called out, "Wait."


    Eleanor didn''t turn back. She simply stood there, waiting for him to speak.


    "The Vaughn family is interested in arranging a marriage alliance with my family,"n said, his voice low as he walked closer. "If you don''t want trouble from the Vaughns, you should keep your distance from Xavier for a while."


    He paused, his tone cold and certain. "I told you, the Vaughns would never let their heir marry a divorced woman with a child."


    Rage surged through Eleanor. She spun around, herugh sharp and bitter. "Oh? So you look down on divorced women now? Am I cheap in your eyes,n?"


    He frowned. "That''s not what I meant."


    "Ian, I admit I made a mistake choosing you, but that doesn''t give you the right to belittle me, to keep treating me like I''m beneath you." Her voice rose, trembling with anger. "For six years of marriage, I was nothing to you but a free maid, a means to an end. And now you want to pretend you care? Who are you trying to fool?"


    His face shifted, as if he wanted to protest. "I never-"


    She cut him off. "Never what? Never looked down on me? I ended up a divorcée because of you. Marrying you is the biggest regret of my life. From now on, whoever I spend time with is none of your business."


    With that, Eleanor turned and mmed the door behind her, the sound echoing in the office.


    The room fell into a heavy silence. Ian turned, his hand brushing the stack of files on the desk. With a clenched fist, he swept them to the floor.


    He yanked at his tie, his chest rising and falling under his shirt as he struggled topose himself.


    Byron''s assistant, Laird, heard themotion and hurried in, only to find papers scattered everywhere andn standing by the window, radiating a cold, forbidding energy.


    "Mr. Goodwin, are you all right?" Laird ventured, voice tentative.


    Then he strode out of the office without another word.


    Ten minutester, in the restroom, Faye was in a stall when two of Byron''s assistants entered, chatting animatedly.


    "I just heard from Laird Mr. Goodwin and Eleanor had a huge argument in Mr. Chase''s office. No idea what happened."


    "Eleanor had a fight with Mr. Goodwin? Didn''t she just pull off that big experimental test?"


    "Probably something personal. Laird said Mr. Goodwin lost it and knocked all of Mr. Chase''s files to the floor. Must have beenpletely out of control!"


    Faye stepped out of her stall, having overheard everything. She looked at the assistant who''d been speaking. "Are you serious?"


    "Of course! But, you know, let''s not spread this around."


    Faye''s lips curled into a sly smile. "Don''t worry. My lips are sealed."


    Ifn and Eleanor were fighting, it probably wasn''t about work. Could Eleanor be jealous? After all, when her sisternded in the ICU,n had stayed by her side three days and nights straight.