Eleanor answered her phone to find Xavier on the line. Vivian had suddenly broken out in hives, and Mrs. Vaughn, already frazzled from their hospital visit, insisted Xavier call Eleanor for advice.


    Eleanor patiently asked Xavier about test results and possible allergens, the two of them talking for a good ten minutes before hanging up.


    When Eleanor returned to the living room, Evelyn andn had disappeared somewhere, leaving only the elderly Mrs. Magdalen resting on the sofa.


    With a warm smile, Magdalen beckoned her over. "Ellie,e keep your grandmotherpany for a bit."


    Eleanor sat down beside her, and Magdalen took her hand, patting it gently. "You''ve done so much these past months, raising Evelyn all on your own. It hasn''t


    been easy."


    Eleanor offered a soft smile. "I''m doing just fine, Grandma."


    Magdalen sighed. "Ian mentioned your work is about to get hectic again, all for Evelyn''s future." She looked at Eleanor, her gaze meaningful. "Have you ever thought about-"


    "Grandma, I''m really okay on my own." Eleanor cut her off, well aware of where this conversation was headed. After a brief pause, hoping to set her grandmother''s mind at ease, she added, "Actually, I''m already interested in someone."


    Before Eleanor had even finished her sentence, a small, clear voice piped up behind her. "Mommy, is it me you like?"


    Eleanor spun around to findn holding Evelyn''s hand. At some point, they had wandered back and were now standing right by the sofa.


    Magdalen looked a little disappointed but nodded in eptance. "As long as you''re happy, Ellie, that''s all that matters."


    Eleanor got up and grabbed her bag. "Evelyn, time to go home."


    Evelyn nodded, dashing over to take Eleanor''s hand. "Bye, Great-Grandma. Bye, Daddy."


    n, go see Ellie out," Magdalen called gently.


    Ian followed Eleanor and Evelyn out through the main hall. In the garden, Evelyn skipped ahead to the car. Ian opened the back door for her, waited until she climbed in, then closed it and turned to Eleanor, narrowing his eyes. "Is it Xavier?"


    Eleanor didn''t answer. She opened the driver''s door, but before she could get in,n''s handnded on the frame, stopping her. His eyes searched hers. "Or is it Mansfield Ellington?"


    Eleanor''s gaze swept over him coolly. "It''s none of your business."


    With that, she slid into the driver''s seat, closed the door, and started the engine, pulling away with calmposure.


    -She has someone she likes?


    -Who could it be?


    That night, after bathing her daughter, Eleanor settled down to review her research notes. Simone had taken over the new drug trials, so Eleanor just needed to keep an eye on the data and step in with suggestions if anything looked off.


    At ten, her phone buzzed with a message from Joy Thatcher: Did she have time tomorrow afternoon to help pick out a wedding dress?


    For her best friend''s big day, Eleanor would make time no matter what.


    The next morning, after dropping Evelyn at school, Eleanor headed straight to Meridian Dynamics for the early meeting. She spent her lunch break drafting a project n, then met Joy at a high-end bridal boutique at two.


    Joy had her eye on a designer gown worth a small fortune and had scheduled a fitting for today.


    As they entered the shop, a sales associate greeted them eagerly. "Good afternoon,dies. Do you have an appointment?"


    "Yes, for three o''clock. Joy Thatcher," Joy replied.


    "Of course. Right this way, Ms. Thatcher." The associate ushered them toward the VIP fitting area.


    Just then, Eleanor stopped short. Through a ss partition, she spotted a familiar silhouette—a woman in a dazzling mermaid gown, a store assistant crouched at her feet, arranging the train.


    Noticing Eleanor''s sudden pause, Joy followed her gaze. Inside the fitting room stood Vanessa.


    What was she doing here, trying on wedding dresses? Joy whispered.


    Before they could move on, Vanessa turned, catching sight of them through the ss. For a moment, she froze. Then, a sly, challenging smile crossed her lips as she turned back to the mirror, deliberately showing off her perfect figure.


    The sales associate, picking up on the tension, asked, "Miss Shannon is also here for a fitting. Are you friends?"


    "No," Joy replied coolly, grabbing Eleanor''s hand. "Come on, let''s go."


    After Joy had tried on her gown, the two of them left the boutique together.


    "What''s going on? Didn propose to Vanessa? Are they getting married?" Joy asked as they stepped outside.


    "It doesn''t matter," Eleanor said, brushing it off. "Let''s go grab some coffee."


    Since they still had time, they found a cozy café nearby. Joy, always the inquisitive friend, couldn''t help herself. "So, you''ve leftn''sb. What''s next?" But she was caught off guard by Eleanor''s response.


    "You''re staying at Meridian Dynamics? Working forn again?” Joy''s eyes widened in disbelief. "What did he do to make you stay?"


    Eleanor shook her head. “Nothing like that. I have my own research project to finish."


    Joy figured there must be more to it but knew better than to press. After all, Eleanor''s work was often confidential.


    "Oh, by the way, what''s going on with you and Mansfield Ellington? Have you been in touchtely?" Joy asked, clearly fishing for gossip.


    Eleanor shook her head again. “He''s out of the country. We rarely talk.”


    Joyughed. "Honestly, the two of you-one''s always buried in research, the other''s too busy saving the world. If you ever get married, will you even find the time to have a kid?"


    Eleanor just rolled her eyes.


    Joy burst outughing. "Come on! With Mansfield''s stamina, I doubt making a baby would take long."


    Eleanor stirred her coffee, smiling at her friend''s antics. "Maybe you should have


    a kid first. That way, you''ll be too busy to tease me all the time."


    Joy groaned at the thought. "Spare me, please!"