Vanessa paused for a moment, then walked over to Henry and gave his shoulder


    a gentle pat. "Henry, I have to go. Something came up."


    "Let me give you a ride," Henry offered immediately, remembering that her manager had dropped her off earlier and she didn''t have her car.


    "That''s all right," Vanessa replied, ncing at Mia Brown standing nearby. "You should stay and take care of Miss Brown."


    Without waiting for a reply, she turned and strode out of the ballroom. Henry stood there for a moment, and as Mia Brown was about to ask if he wanted a drink, he suddenly made up his mind and hurried after Vanessa.


    Behind him, Mia Brown''s expression faltered-she finally understood. Henry''s heart clearly belonged to Vanessa.


    Henry caught up with Vanessa by the elevator. She looked a little surprised. "Why are you out here?"


    "I want to see you off."


    "But your date is still waiting inside!"


    He caught the hint of annoyance in her voice and chuckled, shaking his head. "Are you actually jealous over that?"


    Vanessa arched an eyebrow and smiled. "Why would I be jealous? I''m not your girlfriend." She stepped into the elevator, but just as Henry moved to follow, she stopped him with an outstretched hand. "Henry, tonight, I just want to be alone. Go back and keep Miapany."


    The elevator doors slid shut, leaving Henry standing outside, letting out a quiet sigh.


    Back in the ballroom, Xavier''s speech wasing to an end. His gaze drifted over the crowd and settled on Eleanor. "And finally," he said, "I want to give special thanks to someone very important to me for being here tonight." The room fell silent.


    On stage, Xavier didn''t rify Eleanor''s identity; he simply held her gaze for a few quiet, meaningful seconds before stepping down.


    The guests followed his line of sight and spotted a graceful woman standing in the shadows, her face obscured by the dim light, but her calm elegance drew every eye in the room.


    Meanwhile, Henry was making his way towardn. He hadn''t expected Xavier to dere his feelings for Eleanor-so openly, yet with such subtlety. Instinctively, Henry nced atn.


    Eleanor, after her initial surprise, knelt down to straighten her daughter''s dress. Evelyn bounced on her toes. "Mom, can we go to the lounge and y with the toys?"


    Eleanor took her daughter''s hand and headed toward the staircase. When they reached the upstairs lounge and disappeared from view, the ballroom lights brightened. Guests turned back, but the woman in the gown was nowhere to be seen.


    On the opposite side of the ballroom,n stared up toward the VIP lounge, his empty ss turning slowly in his long fingers.


    "Ian." Henry approached and followed his gaze. "You all right?"


    Henry nced over at Xavier, who was now surrounded by businessmen eager towork. Soon, though, Xavier wrapped up the conversation and made his way


    over.


    "Xavier, you look great tonight," Henryplimented.


    Xavier turned ton. "Ian, have a drink with me?"


    "Congrattions on the anniversary,"n said to Xavier, his tone polite but distant. "Thank you. I''m really d you could both make it," Xavier replied.


    Henry found himself at a loss. When had the three of them started speaking in such formal, careful tones?


    He sighed wearily, wanting to say something to break the ice, but then caught the electric tension betweenn and Xavier—an unspoken current passing between them, invisible to everyone else.


    Nervously, Henry gripped his ss, half-expecting the two men to explode at any moment.


    Just then, Eleanor appeared at the top of the stairs, holding Evelyn''s hand. Her fitted gown shimmered under the lights, her graceful silhouette instantly easing the charged atmosphere between the two men.


    "Dad, I want to go home," Evelyn said quietly.


    "All right, sweetheart. We''ll leave now,"n replied, his voice gentle.


    Evelyn let go of Eleanor''s hand and looked up at her. "Mom, can I stay at Grandma''s tonight?"


    Eleanor hesitated for a moment.


    Evelyn went on, "I''ll ride with Daddy to Grandma''s. You can stay and have fun for a while longer."


    Xavier smiled encouragingly. "Eleanor, why not stay? Enjoy yourself a bit."


    Evelyn''s face fell, but she nodded obediently. "Okay."


    "Bye, Mommy!" Evelyn waved as she left with her father.


    Eleanor watched her daughter go, then turned to Xavier. "Xavier, I should get


    going too. Thank you for inviting me tonight."


    Xavier understood all too well-Eleanor''s heart had left with her daughter. There was no way she could truly stay and enjoy herself now.