It was as if Xavier didn''t notice anyone else in the room. After whispering


    something to his client, he strode straight toward them.


    "Eleanor! Dr. Kingsley! What a coincidence, I didn''t expect to see you both here!"


    Joel offered a polite nod. "Mr. Vaughn."


    Xavier always found Joel pleasant enough. He suspected Joel liked Eleanor, but only in the way colleagues or friends sometimes did-there was no hint of anything more.


    "Are you here for Dr. Windsor''sb?" Xavier asked with genuine curiosity.


    Eleanor set down her fork and nodded. "Yes, we had a meeting here this morning."


    “Let me take care of the bill," Xavier said quickly. "Just put everything on my tab." "That''s not necessary," Eleanor replied with a smile. "I promised Joel lunch today." Xavier let out a helplessugh. "No need to be so formal with me."


    Across the room, Serena kept ncing back, hoping Xavier would notice her. But he was too engrossed in his conversation with Eleanor to even nce her way. Even Serena''s friend sitting across from her grew anxious, knowing full well about Serena''s not-so-secret crush on him.


    "Really, it''s fine. You should go take care of your guests," Eleanor insisted gently.


    Xavier didn''t push. As a thought struck him, he added, "Let me treat you and Evelyn to dinner next time. I recently found a wonderful family-friendly ce- Evelyn would love the food there."


    Eleanor nodded, smiling genuinely. "Sounds good. Let''s set it up when we''re both free."


    That was when Serena couldn''t take it anymore. She rose to her feet and called out, "Xavier."


    He finally turned, noticing her for the first time. His expression cooled a little. “Serena, I didn''t realize you were here."


    "Yeah, just grabbing lunch with a friend," Serena replied, forcing a smile. She wondered if Xavier would offer to pay for her meal too-he had done that before. "Alright, enjoy your meal." With that, Xavier turned back to Eleanor. "You two take your time. We''ll catch up soon-I need to get back to work."


    He nodded at Joel before heading off, not sparing Serena''s table another nce. Serena stood frozen, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Her friend tugged at her sleeve, whispering awkwardly, "Serena, I''m full. Should we go?"


    Serena shot a re at Eleanor. Why was it that Eleanor always got Xavier''s undivided attention?


    Eleanor had finished eating as well and turned to Joel. "Shall we head back?"


    Joel nodded, and as they walked past Serena''s table, Serena red daggers at Eleanor, her eyes full of resentment.


    Eleanor didn''t even flicker. Not a sideways nce, not the slightest acknowledgment.


    It was more effective than any argument or shouting match. Sometimes, being utterly ignored hurt more than any insult.


    Sure enough, Serena''s chest was heaving with frustration. Her friend tried to soothe her. "Serena, don''t let it get to you."


    Serena wanted nothing more than to have it out with Eleanor-at least then her anger could find an outlet, instead of burning her up inside.


    She was never good at hiding her temper, and now her resentment just sat there, lodged in her chest, heavy and stifling.


    Outside the restaurant, Joel nced at Eleanor. "You and Xavier-?"


    Eleanor answered calmly, "Just friends."


    Joel understood. He knew Eleanor well enough—someone as exceptional as her was bound to attract equally outstanding men.


    After lunch, Serena dragged her friend to a major real estate agency. She had her mind set on Cloudcrest Manor.


    If her brother refused to let her stay with him, she''d buy her own ce. Better that than being shuttled around.


    "There''s a unit avable on the twenty-third floor of Building 12. Would you like to take a look?" the agent offered.


    Serena hesitated. If she bought a ce on the same floor as her brother, she''d run into him all the time. Lately, she''d been avoidingn-after hisst cutting remark had left her in tears, she didn''t want to see him at all.


    "Do you know which building and floor Xavier lives on?" she asked the agent.


    "Mr. Vaughn? Oh! Are you a friend of his?" The manager''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Serena leaned in conspiratorially. "Yes, we''re very close. Do you know which unit Xavier purchased?"


    "I''m afraid I can''t disclose that—it''s a matter of client privacy."


    "Don''t worry, Xavier and my brother are practically family. I''m not some random stranger. Tell you what-if you give me a hint, I''ll buy a unit from you today. Deal?" Serena said, lowering her voice.


    As it happened, this agent did know Xavier''s details. He hesitated, whispering, "Miss, that''s really against our policy, I can''t—"


    "I''ll buy any unit in his building. In cash," Serena dered.


    Half an hourter, Serena strode out of the agency, thoroughly satisfied.


    "Serena, you''re incredible! You really bought it outright? Your brother must give you a pretty generous allowance!"


    Serena never asked her brother for money-she had her own Darcy trust fund, one her father set up before he passed away. Three million a month, deposited without fail.


    "Now you and Xavier are not just neighbors, you''ll be living in the same building. This is your chance!" her friend teased.


    Serena bit her lip, her eyes shining with hope. If she could really get closer to Xavier, maybe things would finally change.


    Of course, moving to Cloudcrest Manor wasn''t just about Xavier-she needed to keep an eye on Vanessa for her brother''s sake.


    Whenever she thought of Vanessa''s wrist, so thin and covered in scars, her heart ached.