Serena bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. She never imagined that a few careless words could spark such fury in her eldest brother.


    Clearly, Evelyn must have told Eleanor what happened, and then Eleanor went to confront her brother, which exined why he was so upset.


    n, dinner''s ready." Gina called to her son as he stormed downstairs, radiating anger.


    "You all go ahead and eat, Mom!"n barely managed to contain his temper, grabbed his suit jacket, and strode out the door.


    "What is going on with you two?" Gina muttered in frustration.


    Just then, the olddy made her way over from the sunroom. Her hearing had gotten worsetely, and it was only after a maid told her that she learnedn and his sister had argued.


    "What happened? Why are they fighting?" Magdalen asked her daughter-inw. "It''s nothing, Mom, let''s just eat," Gina replied, not wanting to worry her mother-in-w. Both her children had be a handfultely.


    "Didn''tn just get home? Where is he?" Magdalen pressed.


    "He had something to take care of and left again," Gina replied, before heading upstairs to check on her daughter.


    She knocked on Serena''s door and found her tear-streaked, eyes red and swollen. Gina frowned, her patience wearing thin. "Look at what you''ve done- your brother was furious. Now how''s he supposed to face Xavier?"


    Serena clenched her jaw. "He''s not mad because of that."


    "Then what is he so angry about?" Gina asked, genuinely surprised.


    Serena buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled with regret. "He''s mad because I... I told Evelyn that Vanessa would be her new mom someday." "What?" Gina was stunned, struggling to process it. After a long pause, she asked, "Serena, did you really say that to Evelyn?"


    Serena nodded, biting her lip, then retorted, "Was I wrong to say it?"


    "How could you say something like that to Evelyn?" Gina''s own frustration started


    to show. "She''s just a kid, she doesn''t understand any of this. And even if someone had to exin it, it certainly wasn''t your ce."


    "I know it was wrong now! I didn''t expect Evelyn to repeat everything I said," Serena said, remorseful but helpless.


    "Evelyn''s still so young-innocent and sweet. Don''t me her for this, me yourself for saying the wrong thing," Gina scolded.


    Serena hugged her knees, tears streaming down her face. The fact that her brother had been so angry-for Eleanor''s sake, no less-was something she just couldn''t wrap her head around.


    And yet, as far as she was concerned, she hadn''t said anything wrong. Vanessa would eventually marry into the Goodwin family and be Evelyn''s mother. She had only tried to prepare Evelyn for what wasing.


    "If you''ve lost your appetite, just stay here and think about what you''ve done," Gina said, leaving the room and closing the door behind her.


    Serena picked up her phone and sent a message to Vanessa: "Vanessa, are you back yet?"


    "Not yet, Serena, what''s going on?"


    "It''s nothing. My brother''s already home. You shoulde back soon, too."


    "Okay! I''ll be back tomorrow."


    "Alright." Serena stared at her phone, tempted to text Eleanor and ask why she was driving a wedge between her and her brother.


    But then she thought about it-Eleanor was now her brother''s lead researcher, and he clearly sided with her more these days. Serena swallowed her frustration, deciding to save the confrontation for another time.


    At eight-thirty that evening, Eleanor finished dinner and sat on the couch, helping her daughter with some simple math problems. Evelyn was suddenly obsessed with numbers, pestering Eleanor to give her one problem after another.


    Eleanor was more than happy to teach her while she was interested.


    Just then, the doorbell rang. Princess, their golden retriever, perked up instantly, ears pricked and tail wagging excitedly-it was obvious the visitor was someone the dog knew well.


    Evelyn saw Princess''s reaction and immediately guessed who it was.


    "It must be Daddy!" she squealed, dashing off to answer the door.


    Eleanor didn''t have time to stop her; the child and the dog were already at the door. When it swung open, who else could it be butn?


    He bent down and scooped Evelyn into his arms, his gaze drifting past her to Eleanor waiting in the living room. His suit jacket hung over one arm, his shirt cor slightly undone, as if he''de straight over in a hurry.


    "Daddy!" Evelyn clung to his neck, beaming. "Mommy''s teaching me math!"


    "That''s wonderful,"n said, ruffling her hair before looking at Eleanor. "Is it alright if Ie in?"


    He was asking for her permission, aware that this was Eleanor''s home now, and he was technically a guest.


    Eleanor walked over, her expression unreadable. "It''ste. What brings you here?"


    "I just wanted to see Evelyn," Ian replied quietly.


    "In ten minutes, she needs to get ready for bed," Eleanor said coolly, making it clear he had a limited window.


    Evelyn pouted. "But I want Daddy to stay a little longer!"


    Eleanor pressed her lips together, but said nothing more.