As Eleanor passed the nurses'' station, she felt a few pairs of eyes sizing her up. She couldn''t quite figure out why.


    What she didn''t know was that everyone at the nurses'' station had already pegged her as Xavier''s girlfriend, and so their curiosity was only natural.


    Eleanor pushed open the door to Xavier''s private room. The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up and he tried to prop himself up in bed. "You''re here early," he said, a smile breaking across his face.


    She hurried over, cing the breakfast bag on his nightstand. "Don''t move around so much—you''ll pull the IV." Her hand reached out to steady him, the gesture so natural she didn''t even think about it.


    Xavier could feel the warmth of her fingers. It sent a shiver through him, an electric charge that left him momentarily breathless.


    Eleanor helped him sit up, then quickly withdrew her hand.


    "I brought you some savory pie and mushroom soup," she said, opening the insted containers. The fragrant steam filled the room, warm andforting. "See if you feel like having either."


    Xavier swallowed, his Adam''s apple bobbing. "From that ce we triedst time?" She nodded. "You said you liked it, so I went out of my way to pick it up."


    He stared at her for a few seconds, surprised she remembered something as trivial as his breakfast preference—especially since theirst breakfast together had been months ago.


    Did this mean he''d carved out a ce for himself in her heart?


    Eleanor gently stirred the soup, waiting for it to cool. When it was ready, she began to feed it to Xavier.


    He smiled, a little embarrassed. "I can manage. You don''t have to fuss over me."


    Truth be told, he''d managed perfectly well on his own the night before.


    She didn''t insist. Instead, she adjusted the bed so he could sit up morefortably, then handed him the soup. Xavier lifted the bowl in his good hand, sipping the hot broth. "Thank you for taking care of me."


    Eleanor shook her head. "If it weren''t for you, I''d be the one lying here right now."


    Xavier stopped mid-sip, looking up at her. "As long as I''m around, I''ll never let anything happen to you."


    Her breath caught as she met his gaze, gratitude shining in her eyes.


    Outside, a steady winter rain began to fall, drumming softly on the window. For a moment, neither of them spoke.


    "I had my assistant bring a couple of books. Want to take a look?" Xavier asked, breaking the silence.


    One was on business strategy, the other on medicine. Eleanor knew Xavier had picked them out to help her pass the time. "Thank you," she said, genuinely touched.


    So the two of them sat quietly in the sunlit room, each with a book in hand, asionally chatting about work.


    By two in the afternoon, Eleanor was starting to feel drowsy, her head propped on one hand as she struggled to keep her eyes open. Suddenly, the door swung open.


    Eleanor looked up just as Vanessa entered, wrapped in a beige cashmere coat, a bouquet of flowers in her hands. She hesitated when she saw Eleanor, but after a moment regained herposure. Henry came inst, pausing in surprise at the sight of Eleanor.


    He''d assumed that bying at this hour, he''d avoid running into her.


    Butn hade straight from the airport, clearly worried about Xavier.


    Vanessa walked over to the bed, ncing at Xavier''s arm in a cast. "Xavier, I heard what happened. Ian and I came to check on you."


    The room felt suddenly tense. Eleanor closed her book and stood, turning to Xavier. "I''ll head out now."


    Xavier nodded. "It''s raining-drive carefully."


    She gathered up the containers from his nightstand one of them was a special sk of bone broth Joslyn had made for him.


    Seeing this, Xavier said, "Tell Joslyn not to bother with soup tomorrow. You must be tired carrying it back and forth."


    Eleanor smiled. "It''s no trouble. Tomorrow I''ll have her make chicken soup instead." With that, she picked up the bag and headed for the door.


    Henry, noticingn''s reaction, narrowed his eyes. From where he sat, he could see the tension inn''s jaw. Any man would mind seeing his ex-wife caring for his brother like this.


    After Eleanor left, Vanessa smiled. "Xavier, I heard you got hurt saving Eleanor. She must be so grateful."


    Xavier''s gaze flickered, but he said nothing.


    Henry stepped in to smooth things over. "For Xavier, it was nothing, really."


    Xavier understood what he was asking and grew serious. “The police are running


    a thorough background check."


    "If you need help with anything, just say the word," Ian replied.


    Henry turned to Vanessa. "You''re still jetgged. Let me drive you home so you can rest."


    Vanessa looked briefly atn, who didn''t nce back. She nodded at Henry. "Thank you."


    Henry said to Xavier, "I''lle byter."


    After Henry and Vanessa left,n studied Xavier''s bandaged arm, clearly deep in thought-trying to piece together exactly how the ident had happened.


    "Thank you, Xavier,"n said quietly, his voice low.


    Xavier managed a small smile. "There''s no need."


    Xavier''s expression was calm as he nodded. "It''s my duty to protect Eleanor."


    For a moment, the only sound was the rain growing heavier on the windows, echoing the unspoken tension in the room.


    Sitting up straighter, Xavier said, n, we''ve known each other since we were seven. You know me."


    "If you''ve really let go, then do itpletely," Xavier said, drawing a breath. "I think Eleanor has, too."


    "You''re sure she has?"n''s voice was rough, uncertain.


    Xavier held his gaze. "At the very least, she''s not looking back anymore."