Vanessa nodded thoughtfully. "All right, go ahead."


    Serena didn''t even bother with goodbyes-she made a beeline for Vaughn Group.


    By four o''clock, she arrived at the Vaughn Group''s headquarters.


    She''d worked here before; the receptionists all knew who she was, so no one tried to stop her.


    Serena headed straight for the elevator and pressed the button for Xavier''s floor.


    Once the doors slid open, she strode confidently across the skybridge. The secretary at the end of the corridor looked up in surprise. "Miss Goodwin, what brings you here?"


    "I need to speak with Mr. Vaughn. Is he in?"


    "He just finished a meeting-he''s in his office now."


    Serena walked to Xavier''s door and knocked. When she heard his voice from inside, she let herself in.


    Xavier was bent over a stack of paperwork. He nced up, brows drawing together in a frown. "Serena? What''s going on?"


    "I need to talk to you. It''s important," Serena blurted, crossing the room in a hurry. "It''s about Eleanor."


    Xavier''s expression instantly tightened. "What about Eleanor? Did something happen to her?"


    For a moment, Serena was stunned by how much Xavier seemed to care about Eleanor. She pushed down the sour ache in her chest, thinking of the blow Xavier was about to take.


    "You know Eleanor''s been on a business trip in Kingston for the past two days, right? But she wasn''t just there for work-she''s been seeing another man." Serena''s voice was unwavering. "She''s been stringing you along, Xavier."


    His eyes narrowed, his demeanor turning cold. "Serena, I know what kind of person Eleanor is, probably better than you do."


    Seeing him still defend Eleanor made Serena''s eyes sting with frustration. She leaned over his desk, her voice urgent. "I''m telling the truth, Xavier. She was in Kingston with a man named Mansfield. They were all over each other in public- my brother and Vanessa saw it with their own eyes. If you don''t believe me, ask them."


    Xavier''s breath caught, his expression flickering through a mess of emotions. "Serena, you can''t just make usations like this."


    "I''m not making it up," Serena insisted, certain that Vanessa wouldn''t have lied to her.


    Xavier''s gaze darkened briefly, but he quickly regained hisposure. "Eleanor went to Kingston on business. Meeting new people is normal."


    So it''s true-Eleanor and Mansfield are actually involved? If that''s the case, Xavier felt a bitter pang. Mansfield really was a reliable man.


    "Xavier, can''t you see she''s ying with your feelings? If you don''t believe me, call Vanessa or my brother and ask if they saw Eleanor in Mansfield''s arms."


    "Your brother was there too?" Xavier asked, eyes narrowing.


    "Yes-at the Military Medical University. He saw them together," Serena answered quickly.


    Xavier studied her for a long moment. "You should go home, Serena. I have work to finish."


    Serena stared at him, stunned. This wasn''t how she''d pictured things at all.


    She''d imagined Xavier would be furious when he found out he was being used-if not angry, at least cold and distant. But the calm, unreadable Xavier sitting across from her was nothing like she expected.


    "Xavier-you''re not mad?" Serena bit her lip, almost pleading.


    He leafed through the papers on his desk, his voice steady. "Feelings aren''t ck


    and white, Serena. If Eleanor''s found someone new, I wish her well."


    "So you''re just going to let her get away with this? Don''t you want to confront her?" Serena pressed.


    Xavier looked up, frowning. "Eleanor and I have always just been friends. There''s nothing to ''get away with.""


    Serena wondered if he was too hurt to show it. She tried to coax him. "Xavier, if you''re upset or angry, just let it out, okay? Don''t bottle it up. A woman as fickle as Eleanor-"