Mansfield Ellington insisted on walking Eleanor Sutton all the way to her front door before taking his leave. When Eleanor invited him in for a cup of tea, he politely declined.


    It waste, after all, and Mansfield knew better than to risk any misunderstanding, even though he wanted nothing more than to ept her invitation. He didn''t want to leave Eleanor with the wrong impression.


    That gentlemanly restraint left Eleanor with an even better opinion of him.


    "Mom!" Evelyn Goodwin ran up and threw her arms around Eleanor, her cherubic face beaming. "I didn''t eat any extra cookies! Just a tiny pack, I promise!"


    Eleanor knelt down and pressed a kiss to her daughter''s cheek. "I know you always keep your word, sweetheart."


    Joslyn, standing nearby, couldn''t help but smile at the scene. Under Eleanor''s guidance, Evelyn was growing more thoughtful and considerate every day.


    She still took after her father in looks, but her nature was bing more and more like Eleanor''s.


    Eleanor stayed on edge for most of the evening, half-expectingn Goodwin to show up at her door. Thankfully, he never came by to disturb her.


    At the hospital-


    Serena Goodwin had just been out to dinner with friends when she received a message from Vanessa Shannon. Vanessa was back in the hospital,ining of heart trouble.


    This was her future sister-inw, after all-Serena didn''t hesitate for a second before dropping everything to rush over.


    She found Vanessa lying in a hospital bed and immediately sat at her side, concern written all over her face. "Vanessa, you were fine just yesterday. What in the world happened today?"


    Vanessa didn''t answer. Her eyes were red with unshed tears, her lips pressed tight—she looked utterly wronged and vulnerable.


    Serena''s heart gave a jolt. Vanessa had always seemed so strong and independent; what on earth could have upset her like this? Could her brother have done something awful?


    "Vanessa, what''s going on?" Serena took Vanessa''s hand in hers. "Did my brother upset you?"


    Vanessa turned away, dabbing at her eyes. "It''s nothing-I don''t want you to get upset on my behalf."


    "So it is my brother?" Serena''s worry turned to anger. "You''re the only person I''d ever ept as my future sister-inw. If he''s hurt you, I won''t stand for it."


    Vanessa shook her head. "It''s not about your brother."


    Serena frowned. If it wasn''tn, then who? Suddenly a thought struck her.


    "Was it Eleanor?" she blurted out.


    Vanessa finally turned back, trying to muster a reassuring smile through her tears. "Serena, the ne you gave me wasn''t really meant for me. It was a limited edition your brother ordered months ago for someone else."


    "He bought a limited edition piece and it wasn''t for you? Then who could it have been for?" Serena was stunned. Did her brother have someone else?


    "There''s a name engraved on the back of the pendant," Vanessa said, her voice thick with emotion. "It was custom-made-for Eleanor."


    Serena''s eyes went wide. "No way. My brother would never-"


    Vanessa nodded, her expression full of bitter resignation. "Eleanor''s name is right there on the back."


    Serena was both shocked and furious. "Is he out of his mind? He gave that to her? She doesn''t deserve it!"


    "Don''t me your brother," Vanessa said quickly, trying to shieldn. She sighed. "You know how Eleanor has always resented me—"


    Serena snorted. "I knew it. Even after the divorce, she can''t mind her own business. First she walked away with eight of the family businesses, and now she''s scheming for limited edition jewelry? Isn''t she ever satisfied?"


    Vanessa squeezed her hand. "Serena, promise me you won''t make a scene with your brother. It''s my fault. If I''d noticed the engraving sooner, I wouldn''t have had to endure her sarcasm tonight."


    "Did she say something to you? Is that why your heart''s acting up?" Serena asked, her anger simmering.


    Vanessa managed a bitter smile. "Serena, don''t ask. She said some very hurtful things. It''s best if we just leave it."


    "No, I want to know. Tell me what exactly did she say?" Serena demanded. She wanted to know how vicious Eleanor could be, so she could expose her true colors to their grandmother and put an end to Eleanor''s favoritism once and for all.


    "She said I was always picking up things she didn''t want anymore," Vanessa whispered. “And she''s not wrong, really. The bracelet Grandma gave was meant for her. Now this ne, too. Even your brother-" Vanessa let out a sigh. "She said he was just someone she didn''t want anymore."


    Serena let out a sharpugh, as if she''d just heard the world''s worst joke. "What? She didn''t want my brother? Who does she think she is? It wasn who divorced her, not the other way around!" Then, realizing her outburst, she bit her lip and apologized. "I''m sorry, Vanessa. The bracelet and the ne-this is all my fault. It has nothing to do with you. I''ll exin everything to my brother."


    Vanessa looked at her, deeply moved, but shook her head. "There''s no need. I shouldn''t have epted the ne in the first ce."


    Serena''s guilt only grew. "If I''d just checked for the engraving, you wouldn''t have had to go through that humiliation. This is all on me."


    Inside, Serena''s resentment toward Eleanor grew. She''s divorced, yet she''s still treating my brother like her personal ATM?


    "And my brother-he really doesn''t know his own heart, does he?"


    "Eleanor is important to him," Vanessa said quietly. "She''s hispany''s chief researcher, after all."


    Serena ground her teeth in frustration. "So now she thinks she can demand anything she wants, just because she''s indispensable at work? Unbelievable. No. This ne should be yours, Vanessa. I''ll talk to my brother and have him remove Eleanor''s name and rece it with yours."