Back home, Serena Goodwin sat rigidly on the couch, staring in disbelief at the screenshot she''d managed to save. Although Xavier had deleted his post almost immediately, she''d been obsessively tracking his every move online and caught it in time.


    This was the second time Xavier had posted something for Eleanor-the first had been thatte-night cooking photo, and now this, snapshots from their trip abroad together.


    Serena''s grip tightened around her phone, her fingers pressing so hard against the ss she thought it might crack.


    She''d known her brother was traveling with Eleanor for work in Drexford, but no one told her Xavier hade along too. And now her brother was already back home, which meant that Eleanor and Xavier were off vacationing together with the two kids?


    It was right there in Xavier''s photos the four of them at Fairytale Meadows, smiling, looking for all the world like a family.


    The image of Eleanor with the children stung, but Xavier''s caption was what really made Serena''s blood boil.


    Anyone who didn''t know the truth would think they were a picture-perfect family.


    A heavy ache settled in Serena''s chest, jealousy burning hot in her veins. She''d been furious when her brother had agreed to apany Eleanor on that work trip, but this—this was so much worse. Eleanor had even managed to persuade Xavier to take a trip abroad with her. What a maniptor she was.


    One business trip and suddenly she had two men orbiting around her.


    At least her brother hade home the moment Serena called; she hadn''t given Eleanor the satisfaction of having both men at her beck and call. But Xavier-who knew what kind of spell Eleanor had cast over him? With her brother gone, what was stopping Eleanor from pulling out all the stops to seduce Xavier?


    Images flooded Serena''s mind: the kids asleep, Eleanor sneaking into Xavier''s room... Had they already crossed some unspoken line?


    After all, Eleanor had been divorced for two years now. Her brother had moved on to Vanessa, so surely Eleanor would have found someone else by now. Someone like Xavier.


    Serena was more convinced than ever. Xavier was utterly devoted to Eleanor- there had to be something going on behind the scenes, something Eleanor had done to keep him so loyal.


    Suddenly, hot tears spilled down Serena''s cheeks. It felt like her heart was being torn apart, the pain of rejection almost too much to bear.


    Grinding her teeth, she logged into her own social media ount, posted Xavier''s already-deleted photo with a scathing caption: Some people just can''t wait to trade up after a divorce-dragging their kids along to seduce someone else. Absolutely disgusting.


    Gavin, who was at the airport waiting to board his flight, saw Serena''s post immediately. He kept a close eye on the Goodwin family''s updates and instantly understood that Serena''s attack was aimed at Eleanor.


    He knew if the press got hold of this, it could ruin Eleanor''s reputation. Without hesitation, he calledn.


    "Hello?"


    "Mr. Goodwin, Miss Goodwin just posted something that could seriously damage Miss Sutton''s reputation." As he spoke, Gavin sentn the screenshot.


    His handsome features darkened for a moment before he dialed Serena''s number.


    "Brother."


    "Delete that post. Now."


    Serena''s voice trembled with indignation. "Why should I? She''s seducing Xavier, and who knows what else they''ve been doing overseas-"


    "Enough," Ian cut her off sharply. "Delete it. Now."


    "I won''t! I want everyone to see what kind of person she really is. Just because she''s a scientist-does she think she''s better than everyone else?"


    With that, Serena hung up on him.


    Ten minutester,n strode into Serena''s room, not even bothering to remove his coat. His gaze was icy. "Delete that post."


    "She''s treated you like this and you still want to protect her?" Serena snapped, her anger ring. "I can''t stand the way she throws herself at Xavier, acting like some homewrecker. For all we know, they''ve already—”


    A sharp p echoed through the room.


    Serena clutched her cheek, stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You... you hit me?"


    Tears ran down Serena''s face as she wailed, "You hit me for Eleanor?"


    "She''s been divorced for two years! You really think she hasn''t gone after Xavier by now? He''s perfect, and you think she''d just let him go?"


    "But-"


    "That''s enough!"n''s tone was ice. "This is thest time I''m going to say it- delete the post."


    Biting her lip, Serena snatched up her phone and deleted the post with shaking hands, then hurled it aside and ran out of the room, sobbing.


    In the hallway,n leaned against the wall, rubbing his brow, every line in his body screaming exhaustion.


    Downstairs, he grabbed his car keys and was almost out the door when he heard Gina Quinn''s voice ring out, "Serena, what happened to your face? Who hit you?"


    From the living room came Serena''s muffled sobs and Gina''s gentle consoling.


    In just two days, Eleanor would be back.