The convention center was quiet when Eleanor''s phone rang. She nced at the screen and, without hesitation, declined the call.


    Xavier turned to her. "Not going to answer?"


    "Just another spam call," Eleanor replied casually.


    Momentster, her phone buzzed with a message. She nced down: it was fromn. "Come to my office at ten tomorrow. We need to talk."


    Eleanor frowned. There was nothing left between them worth discussing.


    She ignored the message and slipped her phone away.


    After browsing the art exhibit, Eleanor and Xavier took the kids out for dinner at a nearby bistro before heading home separately.


    Evelyn was all smiles, herughter lingering in Eleanor''s mind as she tucked her daughter into bed that night. It had been a good day-full and satisfying.


    At ten o''clock, with Evelyn already asleep, Eleanory in bed when her phone lit up again. She reached for it, half-distracted.


    "Ten o''clock tomorrow. Don''t bete."n again.


    Eleanor stared coldly at the words on her screen. What on earth did he want now? Gritting her teeth, she typed back: "What is there to talk about?"


    He replied almost instantly: “About revising Evelyn''s custody arrangement.”


    Eleanor''s breath caught. Her fingers flew across the screen. "What do you mean by that,n?"


    His answer came just as quickly. "Exactly what it says. Ten o''clock. Don''t make me wait."


    A heavy weight pressed against Eleanor''s chest. Was he really going to try and take Evelyn from her? It hadn''t even been a year since the divorce-how could he be thinking of this already?


    She looked over at her sleeping daughter and clenched her jaw. "Custody isn''t up for negotiation. I won''t give her up."


    "We''ll talk tomorrow." Ian clearly had no intention of arguing further tonight.


    Eleanor shut her eyes, resigned. She''d have to face him tomorrow and see what game he was ying.


    A momentter, she got out of bed and headed to her study. She called Frazier, her attorney, hoping for some advice.


    "Eleanor, the divorce agreement itself is solid," Frazier reassured her. "But those extra usesn insisted on... he might try to use them. Don''t worry yet. See what he has to say tomorrow."


    Eleanor hung up, still unsure whatn was plotting. All she could do was wait for their meeting.


    The next morning, after dropping Evelyn at school, Eleanor drove to Goodwin & Co.


    At 9:50, she walked into thepany''s marble-floored lobby.


    The receptionist recognized her and smiled, waving her through without question.


    Eleanor stepped onto the elevator, rode it to the top, and strode straight ton''s office.


    A young female assistant greeted her at the door. "Miss Sutton, Mr. Goodwin is expecting you. This way, please."


    She opened the office door. Ian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, back to the room. He turned at the sound, his expression unreadable as his gaze settled on Eleanor.


    "You''re here. Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the sofa. His tone was all business.


    Eleanor crossed her arms. "Let''s get this over with. What do you want?"


    Eleanor narrowed her eyes at the folder. She didn''t need to look to know it was a custody amendment. She gave a short, bitterugh. "You really think I''d sign that?"


    “I''ve decided to remove the use preventing you from remarrying for five years,” he continued. “As long as you agree to revise the custody arrangement, you''re free to marry Xavier whenever you wish." He looked up, meeting her eyes. "Isn''t that what you want?"


    A surge of anger rose in Eleanor''s chest. What kind of trick was he pulling now?


    "Whatever scheme you''re ying, I''m not interested," she said icily. "I won''t be threatened and I''m not signing anything."


    Eleanor stepped forward, grabbed the file, and mmed it down onto the floor. "Let me make this clear,n: don''t try to threaten me. I will never give up custody of Evelyn. Not now, not ever."


    The assistant had just cracked the door with a tray of coffee when the noise startled her. She peeked in, wide-eyed, then quickly closed the door again.


    Eleanor wasted no time. She turned on her heel and headed for the door. As she pulled it open,n spoke again. "Don''t let your personal life get in the way of your research. Stay on top of your project deadlines."


    Eleanor ignored him, mming the door behind her.


    Outside, the assistant shook her head in amazement. She''d never seen anyone stand up to Mr. Goodwin like that.


    After Eleanor left, the assistant knocked and poked her head in. "Mr. Goodwin, should I tidy up in here?"<pn nodded, looking lost in thought. As she cleaned up, she stole a nce at him -he was sprawled back on the sofa, eyes closed, as if blocking out the world.