"Let me go." Eleanor struggled, trying to pushn away.


    Just then, a woman nearby her seatbelt apparently unsecured-was tossed from her seat into the aisle, letting out a piercing scream.


    "I don''t need your help." Eleanor''s hand emerged from beneath the nket, pushing at him.


    "Don''t move."n''s voice was low as he pressed her back into ce.


    Fear prickled at Eleanor''s skin. She squeezed her eyes shut and held still, her heart thundering as passengers'' terrified cries echoed through the cabin.


    Atst, the ne steadied. The flight attendants hurried out to calm the panicked travelers, and a collective sigh of relief rippled through the aisle.


    The moment she regained herposure, Eleanor shovedn away. "Let me go."


    "Feeling any better?"n asked, reaching out suddenly to smooth the hair from her forehead.


    Eleanor jerked back, batting his hand away. "Don''t touch me."


    He didn''t look offended-just quietly withdrew, no longer pushing her boundaries.


    The flight attendants moved through the cabin, checking for injuries.


    The rest of the flight passed in rtive calm. Passengers gradually collected themselves as the ne began its descent. The lights of Ashford City twinkled into view through the windows.


    Eleanor gazed out at the city below, desperate to get off the ne as soon as possible.


    When the ne finally rolled to a stop and the doors opened, Eleanor shot to her feet.n asked, "Do you have someone picking you up?"


    "None of your business." She tossed the words over her shoulder and strode down the aisle ahead of him.


    Eleanor, in fact, hadn''t arranged for anyone to pick her up. Even if she called Ellington now, it would be toote. She decided to hail a taxi.


    At the baggage im, Eleanor grabbed her suitcase, andn retrieved his own, trailing after her.


    At the arrivals gate, Gavin Young was waiting. He spotted Eleanor immediately and hurried over. "Miss Sutton."


    "Gavin." She nodded in greeting.


    "Our car''s this way, Miss Sutton," Gavin said quickly.


    "I''m not riding with you." Eleanor''s tone was brisk as she nced toward the taxine.


    Just then,n strode over and addressed Gavin, "You drive her back to the city. I''ll take a cab."


    "Mr. Goodwin, why don''t you bothe with me?" Gavin offered, trying to smooth things over.


    "She doesn''t want to be in the same car as me. Take her," Ian replied, his voice just loud enough for Eleanor to hear.


    Sensing the tension, Gavin hurried after Eleanor. "Miss Sutton, let me drive you home. It''s not safe for a young woman to take a cab alone thiste."


    "Thank you, Gavin, but that won''t be necessary," Eleanor replied, not wanting to given the satisfaction of looking after her.


    Gavin looked anxious, sweat beading on his brow. Ian called to him, "Give me the car keys. You ride with her back to the city."


    Gavin hesitated, then realized it was a workable solution. He handed the keys ton. "The car''s just outside, Mr. Goodwin."


    He turned to Eleanor. "Miss Sutton, let me carry your bag."


    Before she could object, Gavin had already taken her suitcase and hurried ahead


    to the taxi queue. Eleanor fumed-who wasn to dictate her ns?


    She could be angry atn, but she couldn''t bring herself to snap at Gavin. After all, he had helped her during her marriage.


    Atst, they gged down a taxi.


    Gavin took the front seat, leaving Eleanor in the back.


    The ride was filled with Gavin''s cheerful chatter, mostly directed at the driver to keep him alert and awake, the conversation wandering from one topic to another. Finally, they pulled up outside Cloudcrest Manor. Eleanor lifted her suitcase and thanked Gavin. "Thank you, Gavin."


    "Don''t thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Mr. Goodwin," Gavin replied with a wry smile.


    Eleanor just nodded and headed inside.


    At home, Joslyn was waiting for her, and quickly whipped up a simple bowl of


    pasta. Eleanor, who hadn''t eaten on the ne, was famished and gratefully dug


    in.


    Her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Xavier Vaughn.


    "I saw your lights on upstairs. Are you home?" he asked.


    Eleanor paused, guessing he must be out for a walk nearby. She replied, "Just got


    in."


    "Alright. Rest well, I won''t disturb you," came his immediate response.


    "Thank you for checking in," she texted back.


    After finishing her meal and taking a quick shower, Eleanor retreated to her study.


    She''d fallen behind on organizing herb data and needed to catch up.


    For now, she wanted to avoid any unnecessary trips and focus on her work.


    It waste, and she didn''t want to disturb her daughter-she was probably getting ready for bed anyway.


    That night, as Eleanory in bed, the terror from the flight reyed in her mind. For those few seconds, her mind had gonepletely nk. She''d thought of her daughter.


    If something had happened to both her andn on that ne, what would be


    of her child?


    In that instant, all grudges and heartache seemed trivial. The only thing that mattered was surviving.


    Eleanor closed her eyes and forced herself to sleep.


    When she opened them again, morning light was spilling through the window.


    She decided to head to theb early. She was among the first to arrive, and Joel Kingsley was surprised to see her. "You''re here early."


    "Yeah. I didn''t have to take my daughter to school, so I came straight in.”


    "Did you have breakfast?" Joel asked.


    "Not yet," Eleanor admitted with a shake of her head.