“Nothing, just need a break. I''ll take Evelyn home," Eleanor said curtly, brushing past him without another nce.


    His gaze drifted toward the master bedroom. He remembered how much she used to love that room, all because of its breathtaking ocean view.


    Funny, isn''t it? The more Eleanor loved it back then, the more she seems to hate it now.


    Especially that bed.


    Half an hourter, Eleanor suggested they head back to the city. Ian didn''t argue -he just helped her get Evelyn to the parking lot.


    As soon as the car merged onto Riverside Highway, Evelyn fell asleep in the back, and Eleanor closed her eyes too, resting her head against the window.


    By the time they pulled up in front of Eleanor''s house, it was nearly five in the evening. Joslyn came out to greet them and carefully carried a sleeping Evelyn inside. Eleanor was still groggy from her nap; as she stepped out of the car, she nearly lost her bnce. She reached for the car door, but before she could steady herself, a hand gently caught her waist.


    Eleanor instinctively brushed him off. "Don''t touch me," she snapped.


    Without another word, Eleanor grabbed her purse and walked through the front gate, mming it behind her.


    From the yard, Princess barked twice-her way of saying goodbye to her master. That evening, when Evelyn woke up and realized her dad wasn''t there, she looked around curiously. "Mommy, where did Daddy go?"


    Eleanor hesitated, then lied gently, "He had to leave the country for something urgent."


    Evelyn didn''t fuss. Even at her age, she seemed to understand her father''s presence was something she couldn''t expect too much of.


    As if on cue, Eleanor''s phone buzzed with a new message. It was fromn. "Tell Evelyn I''ve gone abroad."


    Eleanor thought of Vanessa''s call earlier that day, how she''d insisted she needed to speak ton about something urgent. No doubt, he''d managed to hold off as long as possible, but now he was in a rush to get back and smooth things over. The vacation flew by, and soon it was thest day. That afternoon, Eleanor got a call from Gina, inviting Evelyn over to y for a few hours.


    Evelyn had been missing her grandmothertely, so Eleanor agreed and dropped her off.


    As Eleanor left the house and walked back to the street, she ran into Serena. Without the usual family gatherings, their paths hardly ever crossed these days.


    Serena''s dislike for Eleanor was always written inly on her face.


    "My brother isn''t even in the country. Why do you keep showing up at our ce?" Serena sneered.


    Eleanor ignored her-after all, Gina had asked her twice on the phone before she agreed to bring Evelyn over.


    Frustrated by Eleanor''s indifference, Serena climbed into her car, her annoyance clear. Who did Eleanor think she was, acting so aloof and untouchable? Still, Serena knew Xavier was out of the country too, so even with the holidays, Eleanor had no one to spend time with.


    After dropping off her daughter, Eleanor met up with Joy for dinner.


    They chatted about Joy''s uing wedding, but after a while, Joy turned the conversation around. "Ellie, have you thought about what''s next for you? Are you really considering joining the national research team?"


    Eleanor had thought about it, but she worried it would leave her even less time for her daughter. She still wasn''t sure.


    "I''m still thinking about it," Eleanor said, stirring her coffee.


    "And what about your personal life?" Joy teased. "Maybe it''s time to consider that too. Look, Xavier''s a good guy. Mansfield Ellington''s great. And Joel''s always been so good to you." Joy was still basking in the glow of her own engagement, hoping Eleanor might soon find a little happiness of her own.


    Eleanor took a sip of coffee, her eyes drifting to the busy street outside. She let out a quiet sigh. "They are all wonderful people. That''s exactly why I can''t drag them into my mess."