After ying for about ten minutes, Evelyn came out to find her father already gone. She felt a twinge of disappointment, but didn''t make a fuss. Meanwhile, Eleanor returned to her study. Her phone buzzed at her side—a call from an unfamiliar number.


    She picked up. "Hello, this is Eleanor. Who''s speaking?"


    A warm, energetic woman replied, "Hi! Is this Dr. Sutton? I''m Daphne, Mrs. Ellington''s assistant. Does that ring a bell?"


    Eleanor immediately pictured the slightly plump girl she''d met before and smiled. "Yes, of course. Is there something Mrs. Ellington needs?"


    Daphne''s tone was eager. "Mrs. Ellington is hosting a charity g this Saturday evening, a fundraising event for leukemia patients. She mentioned your outstanding work in the field and would love to invite you as a special guest."


    "What time will it be?" Eleanor asked.


    "It''s at seven p.m. this Saturday, in the main hall of the City Cultural Center," Daphne answered, a note of hope in her voice. "Would you be able to attend?"


    "I''d be happy to," Eleanor replied warmly. She genuinely admired Mrs. Ellington''s dedication to phnthropy.


    "Wonderful, I won''t keep you any longer, Dr. Sutton." Daphne ended the call.


    Almost immediately, a message popped up from Xavier: "It''s your birthday tomorrow. Any ns? There''s a new ce nearby-I can reserve a table if you''d like?"


    Eleanor paused, surprised that Xavier had remembered her birthday.


    She replied, "Thanks for the thought, but I''m nning to just have a quiet evening at home."


    Birthdays had never meant much to her. If Joslyn hadn''t mentioned it recently and Evelyn hadn''t insisted on having cake, Eleanor might not have remembered at all.


    Xavier wrote back, "A night in sounds good too. Happy birthday in advance."


    "Thank you," Eleanor texted, meaning it.


    That night, as she tucked Evelyn in, the little girl was already drifting off but managed to mumble, "Mom, I want strawberry cake tomorrow!"


    Eleanor couldn''t help but smile at her daughter''s adorable reminder. She kissed Evelyn''s cheek. "Alright, sweetheart. Now get some sleep."


    Evelyn''s eyes fluttered open again. "Mom, can Dade for your birthday too?"


    Eleanor stroked her daughter''s hair gently, her smile tender. "He''s busy with work, honey. I don''t think he can make it."


    "Did you ask him?" Evelyn''s sleepy eyes searched her mother''s face.


    Eleanor nodded. "I did."


    Her daughter''s attachment ton was still so strong. Even though Eleanor resentedn, she couldn''t bring herself to ruin his image as a father in Evelyn''s heart.


    "Oh, okay," Evelyn murmured, not pushing further. Eleanor softly patted her back, watching as her daughter fell asleep nestled in her arms.


    She pressed a gentle kiss to Evelyn''s hair, her heart overflowing with love.


    ...


    Wednesday.


    After dropping Evelyn off at school, Eleanor headed straight to theb. Today, Joel was away at a meeting at Goodwin & Co.


    Her phone rang just as she was typing at herputer. She nced at the screen-Mansfield''s name shed across it.


    Eleanor froze for a second, remembering today was the day he''d be discharged from the hospital.


    She answered, "Hey, Mansfield."


    "Are you busy?" his clear, easy voice came through.


    "I just got to theb. You''re out of the hospital?"


    "Just finished the paperwork," he replied. "Do I need to pick up anything for dinner tonight?"


    Eleanor''s mind went nk for a split second-she''d almost forgotten he wasing over for dinner. "No need, the housekeeper will handle the groceries. Juste and eat."


    "Alright. What time should Ie by?"


    "I''ll be home around six."


    "See you tonight then."


    "See you."


    After hanging up, Eleanor remembered she''d moved recently and quickly texted him her new address-better that than having him show up at the old house.


    At ten-thirty, downtown.


    At the counter of an upscale jewelry boutique, a casually dressed man leaned in, examining the disy. Ever since he''d walked in, the sales staff couldn''t help but stare—he was not only strikingly handsome but also carried himself with a natural strength and confidence.


    "He''s gorgeous. Absolute perfection," one clerk whispered.


    "Is he a celebrity?"


    "Doubt it-he''s better looking than most movie stars."


    Mansfield seemed oblivious to the attention, focused on the jewelry in front of him. There was an innate air of elegance about him.


    He''d noticed that Eleanor always wore a watch, rarely a ne. Whatever he chose, it should be something she''d actually use.


    A brooch? Earrings?


    He stopped in front of the earring disy, his long fingers tapping lightly on the


    ss as he studied each pair with care.


    Atst, his gaze settled on a pair of exquisite diamond studs.


    "Could I see these?" he asked, pointing.


    The sales clerk''s eyes lit up. "Excellent choice, sir. These are ourtest arrivals. Each stone is four carats, rity VVS."


    Mansfield picked them up, holding them under the light. The diamonds sparkled brilliantly. He imagined how they''d look on Eleanor, and a faint smile yed at his lips.


    "I''ll take them. Please wrap them up," he said decisively.


    "Are these for your girlfriend?" the clerk ventured as she packaged the earrings. Mansfield smiled. "They''re for someone very important."


    Until Eleanor agreed to be his girlfriend, he wouldn''tbel her as such he didn''t want to put any pressure on her.


    Later that afternoon, Gwenda stopped by Eleanor''s office with a beautifully boxed coffee mug. "Eleanor, just a little something for you. Hope you like it."