Eleanor replied, "He''s desperate for their family''s patent."


    "You don''t mean the patent is for yourb too, do you?"


    "It is."


    "No wonder he caved-turns out he''s just trying to save his sweetheart!" At that, Joy switched topics, her curiosity satisfied for the moment.


    At Xavier''s apartment, Henrietta entered hand-in-hand with her granddaughter. She still couldn''t fathom why her son, who used to live in a sprawling mansion, insisted on buying arge t in this old part of town. Sure, the ce was tastefully decorated, but the traffic here was a nightmare.


    The past two years had been a whirlwind. Her husband''s illness and her daughter''s legal troubles had kept her living abroad. Now, with her husband gone and her daughter sentenced to prison, she''de back to find herself in the middle of her son''s battle for inheritance. His ambitious uncle had been lurking, eyeing the chairman''s seat, but atst Xavier managed to secure his position. Still, Henrietta worried that the conniving uncle might try to make aeback.


    That was why she''d finally set her mind on arranging a marriage alliance with the Goodwin family.


    A littleter, Xavier came home. Henrietta sent Vivian off to the yroom and called her son over. "Xavier,e talk with your mother for a bit."


    "Mom, I''m tired." Xavier''s reluctance was obvious.


    Annoyed, Henrietta raised her voice. "So, when exactly do you n to discuss this marriage alliance with me? Are you just going to keep avoiding it forever?"


    "Mom, I have no intention of marrying for business. You don''t have to trouble yourself over it." Xavier turned away, his refusal clear and resolute.


    Until now, Henrietta hadn''t quite understood why her son was so adamant. Now, she thought she did.


    "Is it because of that Eleanor girl?"


    Xavier stopped in his tracks, turning to face her. "Mom, have you been looking into my private life?"


    Henrietta settled herself gracefully onto the couch. "I ran into her at the preschool today. She''s certainly an impressive young woman."


    "Mom, please don''t interfere in her life." Xavier turned back, but this time, instead of walking away, he came over to her. "She has nothing to do with my decisions."


    Henrietta nearlyughed at the contradiction. Her son imed Eleanor meant nothing, yet the moment she brought up the girl''s name, he pivoted and came over for a conversation.


    Did he really think he could fool her?


    "Nothing to do with her?" Henrietta lifted her teacup with a scoff. "Then why are you always taking Vivian to her house?"


    Xavier loosened his tie. "We''re just friends. Vivian and her daughter are close, that''s all."


    But Henrietta knew her son too well. The more he tried to act indifferent, the more she could see how much he cared.


    She forced herself to set aside her frustration, smoothing her well-kept features into a smile. "Fine, I won''t bother her. Let''s talk about you and Serena, then."


    Xavier met her gaze. "I only see Serena as a sister. There''s nothing else between us." He straightened, determination in his eyes. "I''ll prove myself at work. I don''t need a marriage alliance to keep my seat on the board."


    Henrietta''s irritation simmered. "I''m doing this for your own good! I hate to see you working yourself to the bone. I heard you went overseas, begging for support-" She looked at her son, heart aching. She could only imagine the humiliation orpromises he''d endured. She didn''t want to see him grovel before anyone. Xavier sighed. "Mom, let me handle thepany. I''ll take care of it."


    With that, he stood up to leave.


    Henrietta sprang to her feet, her voice rising. "You know Serena is devoted to you.


    If you married her, you wouldn''t have to work so hard!"


    Xavier paused. "I''d rather struggle than settle for a loveless marriage."


    Henrietta stared at her son, a realization dawning. "You... you''re in love with Eleanor, aren''t you?"


    Xavier''s jaw tightened, silent, but the answer was clear.


    "She''s divorced, with a child. She''s also your best friendn''s ex-wife! How could


    you possibly fall for her?" Henrietta''s disbelief spilled out.


    Xavier looked right at her. "Mom, I don''t care about any of that." With that, he


    tossed out, "My life is my business. Please stop worrying."


    Henrietta called after his retreating back, "Come back here and exin yourself! If


    you want to marry Eleanor, I will never approve!"


    The only answer was the sound of the door mming shut.


    Vivian peeked out from the yroom. "Grandma, are you okay?"


    Henrietta quicklyposed herself, forcing a gentle smile. "I''m fine, sweetheart.


    Do you want me to y with you?"


    "Yes!" Vivian nodded enthusiastically.


    Even as she yed with her granddaughter, Henrietta''s thoughts remained tangled in her son''s stubbornness. What was it about Eleanor that had captivated him sopletely?