Still, he was now acting as if he were Eleanor''s boyfriend. He couldn''t see her expression from where he sat, but it was clear she had tacitly epted the role.


    After Mansfield took his seat, he winked at Eleanor. She shot him a wry smile, resigned; if she wanted to swap seats, she''d at least need a reasonable excuse.


    Vanessa nced back atn, who was staring out the window, his handsome profile tense, jaw clenched.


    She looked away, her face clouded with frustration.


    From what she knew ofn, he was proud-someone who always held the upper hand in a rtionship, never one to change for anyone, least of all for Eleanor.


    Yet as she mulled this over, Vanessa bit her lip, a swirl of conflicting emotions welling inside her. So much had shifted between them, quietly and irreversibly.


    When she looked up, she found Henry watching her with concern. If there was one thing she could be sure of, it was that Henry''s feelings for her had never changed.


    She managed a small smile and shook her head, reassuring him she was fine. The ne lifted smoothly off the tarmac. As they climbed through the clouds, Eleanor instinctively gripped the armrest, knuckles white.


    Mansfield''srge hand settled gently over hers, steady and reassuring.


    She didn''t pull away. Instead, Eleanor offered him a grateful smile and closed her eyes, willing herself to ride out the pressure in her chest.


    Once they reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants bustled around, all warmth and efficiency. Eleanor sipped a ss of iced c, settling her uneasy stomach. Later, she folded down her tray table and opened her iPad, catching up on the summit documents she hadn''t finished reading.


    Mansfield nced over at the dense medical terminology and felt genuine admiration. He couldn''t help but wonder how much effort she''d poured into her work to achieve what she had.


    He left her in peace and asked a flight attendant for a magazine.


    The flight attendants were especially attentive today; after all, two of the passengers were public figures, and Mansfield''s identity was something of a mystery.


    York had dozed off, andn requested an extra nket for him. The attendant draped it carefully over York, taking the opportunity to study this refined business magnate up close.


    "Mr. Goodwin, would you like a nket as well?" she asked with a friendly smile.


    From the row in front, Vanessa overheard the attendant''s cheerful tone and frowned, a flicker of irritation crossing her face.


    The two-and-a-half-hour flight passed quickly.


    Afternding, the group made their way to the arrivals hall. Ian and the others had private cars waiting, while Henry had arranged for hispany''s driver to pick them up.


    Asn walked toward his car, he paused to look back at Vanessa, his voice unusually deep. "Take care of yourself."


    With that, he turned and strode toward the waiting convoy.


    Vanessa stared at the ck cars with government tes, her nails digging into her palms. She couldn''t help but recall how, not long ago, Eleanor had been nothing more than a housewife-and now, she was orded this kind of respect.


    "Henry, do you know where they''re going?" Vanessa asked, unable to keep the question in.


    Henry shook his head. "Not exactly. But whoever''s meeting them must be someone very powerful."


    A weight settled on Vanessa''s chest. She remembered Eleanor standing on stage


    at a medical conference, earning a standing ovation. Now, seeing this scene, it was even clearer to her.


    Eleanor was no longer justn''s former wife. She stood shoulder to shoulder with him and in her own field, she shone even brighter.


    "Let''s head to the hotel," Henry said gently.


    Vanessa nodded and climbed into the car Henry had sent for her.


    Outside, rain was falling in Kingston. Through the shimmering curtain of water, three government cars sped off together into the city.