Thest time she''d caught up with Vanessa at home, their conversation had circled mostly around work-Vanessa was always rushing from one project to the next, constantly flying abroad for performances. Compared to Eleanor andn, Vanessa barely spent any time withn at all.


    Faye decided she had to remind Vanessa to keep an eye onn, before Eleanor used work as an excuse to lure him back.


    Back in her office, Faye dialed Vanessa''s number.


    She ryed everything she''d observed. There was a brief silence on the other end before Vanessa replied, "Looks like I need to have a conversation with Eleanor soon."


    "Just a conversation? Don''t you think you should really warn her off?" Faye, as a third party, was already finding it hard to watch. If it were her boyfriend, she would''ve lost her temper ages ago.


    "Ian doesn''t want me and his ex-wife to have a public falling out," Vanessa said.


    It took Faye a second to process thatn cared about appearances. If Vanessa


    and Eleanor had a messy confrontation, he''d be embarrassed.


    "Just be careful. Ian is in high demand, you know." With that, Faye hung up.


    Evening.


    Eleanor arrived at the school right on time. As she walked inside to pick up her daughter, Miss Alice hurried over. "Ms. Sutton, Evelyn''s practicing piano-Miss Shannon is here, too."


    Eleanor''s breath caught. Vanessa had shown up again?


    "Miss Shannon isn''t our music consultant anymore," Miss Alice exined. "She just dropped by to see Evelyn today. She seems very invested in her."


    Eleanor couldn''t really me the teacher, so she strode quickly toward the piano room. Through the door, she heard her daughter ying piano, Vanessa''s voice singing along.


    Eleanor pushed open the door. Evelyn nced up, her face brightening. "Mommy, you''re here!"


    "Evelyn, why don''t you keep practicing? I need to chat with your mom for a moment, okay?" Vanessa said gently.


    Evelyn nodded and continued to y. Vanessa approached Eleanor with a pleasant smile. "Eleanor, can we talk for a minute?"


    Eleanor picked up her phone. "You''ve got sixty seconds to disappear, or I''m calling the police."


    Vanessa''s smile froze. "Eleanor, I mean no harm."


    "You''re the other woman trying to cozy up to my daughter, and you say you mean no harm? I don''t mind blowing this whole thing wide open-let everyone see just how cruel and conniving you were during my marriage."


    Vanessa''s face darkened. "Then let me warn you, Eleanor-don''t use work as an excuse to seducen." She hesitated, then added, "Faye told me everything. Don''t think I don''t know."


    "If you had any sense, you''d keep him on a tighter leash, instead of letting him show up and disgust me." Eleanor let out a coldugh.


    Vanessa stared at her, but oddly, Eleanor''s words seemed to bring her a measure of relief. This was the reaction she''d been hoping for.


    "Fine. I''ll keepn in check and make sure he stays out of your way. Consider this my apology—it''s my failure for not managing my man. I''m sorry, Eleanor." Vanessa forced a smile, and was just about to leave when Xavier walked in, hand in hand with Vivian.


    Vanessa''s expression faltered. She stopped in her tracks.


    "Xavier!" she greeted him, summoning a brittle smile.


    Xavier''s gaze flicked from her to Eleanor, whose face was still tense. "As I recall, the school''s already let you go as their piano consultant."


    "Yes, I just wanted to see Evelyn for a moment," Vanessa replied, clutching her purse a little tighter.


    "Didn ask you toe?" Xavier pressed.


    "Um, no, it was my own idea," Vanessa answered, keeping her smile in ce.


    "It''d be best if you came to see Evelyn only withn''s approval or Eleanor''s," Xavier said calmly, though his meaning was clear: Vanessa needed to remember her ce.


    Vanessa seethed inwardly but kept up her performance as the gentle, refined pianist. "Of course, it was thoughtless of me." She turned back to Eleanor and added, "I''m sorry, Eleanor. Next time, I''ll ask your permission before visiting Evelyn."


    Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed her bag and hurried out.


    Vivian ran to the piano to y with Evelyn while Xavier turned to Eleanor. "Are you alright?"


    Eleanor mustered a strained smile. "I''m fine. Thank you."


    Xavier kept his voice low. "If she tries to get close to Evelyn again, you can telln to handle her. He''s the only one she''ll really listen to."


    Eleanor nodded and walked over to her daughter.


    Xavier lingered, his mind drifting back to the first time he''d met Vanessa-five years ago, at a Drexford g. Ian had brought her along, introducing her to the heads of elite art schools. After that, Xavier had returned home to take over a management position at the familypany and rarely saw Vanessa. Henry, meanwhile, had invested in Drexford and built himself a private estate, where every year he hosted a gathering for their circle of friends.


    At every party, Vanessa was there. Ian and Henry both looked out for her. Ian wouldn''t let Vanessa touch a drop of alcohol, but she always seemed to push his limits, their flirtation obvious to everyone.


    Vanessa was drawn ton, despite his marriage. Henry, meanwhile, had quietly be one of her admirers.


    But Xavier-he''d seen it in Vanessa''s eyes the very first time they met: she was greedy, but not for money.


    She craved the attention of every aplished man in the room—including his. But from the start, Xavier had made it clear he would keep his distance.


    Men are often defenseless against the advances of beautiful women. Without a clear head, it''s easy to fall-just look at Henry, still waiting foolishly in the wings.


    As forn-he''d always preferred to be alone, rather than settle for less.