The hospital''s air conditioning was sting, and even with her white coat on, Eleanor looked chilled as she slept. Ian hesitated for a moment, then draped the suit jacket he''d been carrying gently over her shoulders.


    He nced at the desk, cluttered with scattered reports and a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold. Theputer screen was still aglow, disying a patient''s real-time vitals.


    Narrowing his eyes,n gathered up the stack of reports and absently picked up the half-finished coffee, then settled himself onto the sofa by the wall.


    The quiet was broken only by the soft rustling of report pages and the subtle sound as he swallowed a mouthful of coffee.


    Eleanor slept soundly for once. Usually gued by dreams, tonight her mind was blissfully nk, though her internal clock was already nudging her awake.


    Rubbing her eyes, she propped her head on her hand, still groggy, savoring ast moment of rest with her eyes closed.


    "Awake?" A low male voice came from the sofa to her left.


    Eleanor''s eyes snapped open as she turned abruptly, only to be met byn''s piercing gaze.


    "What are you doing here?" The question burst from her lips as she jumped up, the jacket slipping from her shoulders to the floor.


    She nced down at the expensive suit jacket, wrinkled her nose, and tossed it disdainfully back at him. "Take your stuff."


    He reced the finished reports on her desk, clearly having read them all, and looked ready to leave.


    "Get some rest. Don''t wear yourself out. I''ll take care of Evelyn," he said, his voice low and even.


    Eleanor''s gaze fell on the cup in his hand-the very coffee she''d been drinking earlier.


    Her expression hardened. "Don''t touch my things again."


    A spark of irritation red up in Eleanor. "Do you think this is funny? You go through my things, pretend you care just stop with the act, okay? Worry about me if you want, but only if you''ve earned the right."


    After the door closed behind him, Eleanor stood at her desk, jaw clenched. "Jerk," she muttered under her breath.


    But work wasn''t going to finish itself. She sucked in a long breath, gave her face a brisk pat, and forced herself to focus. She couldn''t afford to waste time or energy on pointless drama.


    When Eleanor returned from her rounds, she found a paper bag from the café sitting on her desk-brand new, unopened.


    She knewn''s assistant must have delivered it. Instinctively, she reached for the bag, ready to toss it straight in the trash.


    But she''d be at the hospital until ten tonight, and she needed the caffeine to keep her brain sharp.


    Her fingers tightened around the bag. In the end, she pulled out the coffee, took a sip, and returned her attention to the reports glowing on her screen.


    At six in the evening, Simone came by. "You should head out early tonight, get home and spend some time with your daughter. Things look good for now—if anythinges up, I''ll call you."


    Eleanor''s heart softened at the thought of Evelyn. She nodded. "Thank you, Doctor."


    Around seven, she parked in front of Goodwin Manor and rang the bell. A housekeeper answered. "Miss Sutton, you''re here! Mrs. Goodwin is waiting for


    you."


    She''d nned to pick up her daughter and head straight home, but she supposed there was no harm in stopping to greet Mrs. Goodwin.


    As she stepped into the living room, the smell of home-cooked food filled the air. The hospital cafeteria was passable, but nothing beat the warmth of a real family meal.


    "Ellie, dinner''s ready-sit down and eat before you go," Magdalen called out.


    "That''s kind of you, Grandma, but I told Joslyn-"


    "We already made yours, don''t worry," Magdalen interrupted with a smile.


    Eleanor hesitated. How did the Goodwins know she''d being to pick up Evelyn, let alone cook for her?


    "Mommy, Daddy called Grandma and said you''d be here for dinner," Evelyn piped up, her little face bright with excitement.


    Eleanor''s pulse faltered. So Professor Langley had given her an early night off atn''s suggestion.


    She crouched down and hugged her daughter, who seemed a little chubbier than before after a few days apart. "All right, I''ll stay and have dinner with you before we go home," she said, ruffling Evelyn''s hair.


    Gina Quinn appeared from the kitchen. "Come to the table, dear. Everything''s ready."


    "Thank you, Mrs. Quinn," Eleanor replied politely.


    Gina paused—a little surprised at the formal tone. It seemed Eleanor was growing more distant.


    Eleanor worried she might run inton or Serena Goodwin, but both were absent tonight. She enjoyed dinner with Evelyn in peace, then led her daughter outside by the hand.


    "Mommy, Grandma says you''ve been busy. Are you finished now?"


    "Not quite, sweetheart. I still have some work to do. But tomorrow I''ll take you to school myself-sound good?"


    "Okay! I miss Vivian."


    "Vivian''s at school too?" Eleanor was surprised. She hadn''t heard from Xavier that Vivian was attending the summer program.


    "Yeah! Didn''t I tell youst time?" Evelyn replied, puzzled.


    Eleanor smiled. "Must have slipped Mommy''s mind."


    Just then, a ck Rolls-Royce pulled up next to Eleanor''s car. Evelyn squealed in delight. "It''s Daddy''s car!"


    The door opened andn stepped out, tall andposed, suit jacket draped over his arm, tie loosened a clear sign he''d juste from work.