At Goodwin Manor, Gina sat on the couch ying with her granddaughter while the kitchen staff prepared a few of Evelyn''s favorite dishes. Upstairs,n was busy in his study, working through a stack of paperwork.


    Serena had gone out to dinner with friends, leaving Magdalen happily watching her great-granddaughter. The little girl was growing prettier by the day.


    Dinner was served promptly at half past six.


    "Evelyn, I heard you and your mom visited the base today. Was it fun?" Magdalen asked, her curiosity piqued.


    Evelyn''s wide eyes sparkled as she replied, "It was amazing! Mr. Ellington caught loads of fireflies for me, and he even let me sit inside a real tank!"


    Gina paused, soupdle in midair. "Mr. Ellington? Which Mr. Ellington is this?"


    Evelyn piped up, her voice full of admiration, "Mr. Ellington is really handsome and super cool."


    A shadow flickered inn''s eyes, but he quickly recovered, cing a piece of chicken into his daughter''s bowl. In a gentle voice, he said, "Evelyn, let''s eat, sweetheart."


    Evelyn looked up at him, "Daddy, can I eat with my hands?"


    Magdalen watched her grandson with open curiosity. Considering how remarkable Eleanor had be, it was hardly surprising if she had new admirers. The thought made her re atn with a hint of exasperation.


    Gina decided to drop the subject for now. There was one question she''d long wanted to ask her son: Why had he transferred those eightpanies into Eleanor''s name after they separated? But she held her tongue.


    After dinner, Gina took Evelyn for a stroll in the garden. Evelyn gazed up at the clouded night sky. "Grandma, why can''t we see any stars at our house?"


    "Oh? Where did you see stars?"


    "At Mr. Ellington''s ce! There were so, so many."


    "Mr. Ellington''s ce?" Gina echoed in surprise.


    "Yeah! Mr. Ellington says the whole base is his,” Evelyn replied innocently.


    Gina was taken aback-what kind of big shot would im an entire base as his own? No wonder, she thought, remembering how Eleanor had refused the idea of getting back together withn. Eleanor was clearly moving in circles with some very important people. Gina sighed inwardly. Any hope of her son reconciling with Eleanor seemed fainter than ever.


    That evening, Eleanor and Joy had dinner together and browsed through a mall before heading home separately.


    As soon as Eleanor got back, Callie sent her thetestb data. She headed straight to her study to catch up on work she''d missed. A nce at the clock told her it was nearly ninen hadn''t brought Evelyn home yet.


    She went downstairs to wait in the living room.


    Around nine, Princess, their golden retriever, perked up her ears and suddenly dashed toward the front yard, tail wagging with excitement.


    Eleanor didn''t need to look to know her daughter was back. She opened the front gate just as Evelyn ran into her arms. "Mommy!"


    Eleanor knelt down to hug her, and Evelyn threw her arms around her neck. "Daddy brought me home."


    "I know, sweetheart. Let''s go inside," Eleanor replied, taking her daughter''s hand. She barely spared a nce at the man standing outside, refusing to meet his eyes.


    Evelyn skipped into the yard, then turned back and scampered out again to the gate, calling out under the streetlight, "Daddy, why don''t youe in?"


    Eleanor shotn a frosty look. He lingered a moment, then said to his daughter, "Daddy has work to finish. You and Mommy go on inside, okay?"


    "Okay!" Evelyn didn''t ask for details. She simply waved, "Bye, Daddy!"


    Princess, delighted, circledn, tail wagging. He crouched to ruffle the dog''s head,


    and Princess closed her eyes, basking in the attention.


    Eleanor, noticing Princess missing from the yard, called out with a touch of impatience, "Princess! Inside!"


    Only then did the dog trot back through the gate. Eleanor closed it firmly, shuttingn out for the night.


    Later, Eleanor sat on the bed with Evelyn, reading her a bedtime story.


    "And so, the Little Prince decided to leave his and explore the universe," Eleanor said softly.


    Evelyn rubbed her eyes and drifted to sleep in her mother''s arms. Eleanor pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter''s forehead. Nights like these were peaceful -quiet, and full offort.


    Morning arrived.


    After dropping Evelyn off at school, Eleanor headed straight to the new research facility. Several projects from Ashford Medical University had been relocated there, including her own.


    The ce had officially opened after the ribbon-cutting ceremony a few days earlier.


    As Eleanor stepped out of the elevator, she ran into Gwenda, who greeted her with delight. "Eleanor! You''re finally back!"


    Eleanor paused, then smiled. "Yes, I''m here from today on. This will be my new base of operations."