Eleanor''s hand stilled for a moment as she looked at her daughter. Her voice was gentle but firm. "Evelyn, Great-Grandma is getting on in years. Sometimes she gets things mixed up."


    Evelyn tilted her head, lips pursed in a little pout. "But Great-Grandma said I''m Daddy''s only daughter!"


    Joslyn, sitting nearby, felt her heart skip a beat. If Evelyn clung to that belief, she''d only end up hurt someday. After all, Mr. Goodwin and Miss Shannon were practically engaged. In another year or two, they''d probably have a child of their


    own.


    Quickly, Joslyn changed the subject. "Evelyn, look at these strawberries-don''t they look fresh? Why don''t you try one and see if it''s sweet?"


    Evelyn immediately popped one into her mouth and beamed. "It''s really sweet!"


    Eleanor let out an inward sigh. When had Grandma Magdalen Goodwin mentioned this to her daughter? She''d have to talk to Magdalen-better not to give Evelyn false hopes.


    After all, when it came ton''s estate, Eleanor would never let her daughter get caught up in any inheritance battles.


    "Evelyn, when you''re grown up, I''ll send you to the best university to study business. I know you''ll do amazing things with Mommy''spany one day."


    Evelyn nodded solemnly, even if she only half understood. "Okay, Mommy. I''ll do my best."


    By ten o''clock, after tucking her daughter into bed, Eleanor sat by the floor-to- ceiling window, gazing out at the city lights before opening herptop to work.


    Just then, her phone chimed. She picked it up—Joy had sent her a link.


    "Did Vanessa really end up in the ER?"


    Eleanor frowned and clicked the link. The headline was clear: that afternoon, a reporter had caught footage of Vanessa being rushed into the hospital. Eleanor checked the timestamp-it was right when they''d been having lunch.


    So that''s whyn had left in such a hurry. Vanessa had been taken to the emergency room again.


    "Was her car ident really that bad?" Joy messaged again.


    Eleanor didn''t bother opening the video. She replied, "I''m not sure either."


    "Are you busy? Am I interrupting?"


    “No, just reviewing some research data,” Eleanor typed back.


    "Then I''ll let you get back to it. I should get some sleep anyway."


    "Don''t stay upte," Eleanor reminded her. "You have to take care of yourself."


    "Got it! You''re not allowed to pull all-nighters either."


    They exchanged a few more messages before Eleanor set her phone aside and focused on the spreadsheets glowing on her screen.


    Outside, the city sparkled against the night, and Eleanor lost herself in work.


    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Vanessa slept in her bed whilen and Henry waited nearby.


    The two assistants looked terrified. One''s eyes filled with tears as she stammered, "Mr. Goodwin, Vanessa''s been on a diet fately e might have used some expired meal recements by mistake"


    "And she hasn''t been in the best mood," the other added nervously. "We''re worried she might be a bit depressed. Could she have identally taken something she shouldn''t have?"


    Their manager shot them a sharp look. “Don''t jump to conclusions. Vanessa cares


    about her health. She wouldn''t just take random medication."


    Henry''s expression was grim. "If you knew she was dieting, it was your responsibility to keep an eye on her—and talk her out of anything extreme."


    "We were scared too," one of the assistants murmured, wringing her hands. "No one wanted this. She was just resting in her room, and suddenly she started vomiting and passed out."


    A female doctor approached. "Who''s the patient''s family? I need to speak with you."


    Henry started forward, butn was quicker. "I''m her family. How is she?"


    "She''ll be fine. After the stomach


    pump, there''s no immediate danger. But clearly she was poisoned. We'' have to wait for her to wake up to find out what exactly she took the doctor handedna clipboard. "I''l need your signature here, please."