Since she was asking him to look after their daughter, Eleanor knew she couldn''t be too cold. She nodded. "Okay, I will."


    "Gavin is waiting for you in the garage. Let him drive you to the airport,"n added. He had already called Gavin, who, for the sake of convenience, had rented an apartment in another building at Cloudcrest Manor.


    Eleanor paused and nced at him. Ian didn''t seem to be expecting a thank you. He simply carried their sleeping daughter and left.


    Ordinarily, Eleanor would have refused his help, but with a flight to catch, she decided not to argue. She quickly packed a suitcase and went downstairs.


    In the underground garage, Gavin was waiting by the elevator. "Miss Sutton, you''re here. Please, get in."


    He was drivingn''s Maybach. He took her suitcase and ced it in the trunk. Eleanor opened the back door and slid inside.


    Up on the twenty-seventh floor,n gently ced Evelyn on his bed. The little girl stirred, kicking her feet restlessly. Ian immediatelyy down beside her, patting her back gently. "Shh, it''s okay," he murmured. "Daddy''s here."


    Evelyn settled down and fell back asleep. Ian hadforted her to sleep


    countless times since she was a baby, and she feltpletely safe in his presence. After turning over a couple of times, she snuggled into her father''s arms and drifted back into a deep sleep.


    On the way to the airport, Eleanor''s mind was racing. Gavin drove in silence,


    noticing that she was constantly exchanging messages with someone.


    An hourter, they arrived. Gavin escorted her all the way to the security checkpoint.


    "Miss Sutton, please let Mr. Goodwin know when you''vended. He''ll be worried," Gavin reminded her.


    Eleanor nodded. "Thank you, Gavin."


    "You''re wee." He waved and left.


    Once on the ne, exhaustion hit her. As soon as the flight stabilized, she asked the flight attendant for a nket and tried to get some rest.


    The two-and-a-half-hour flight to Kingston passed quickly. As soon as her nended, a series of messages flooded her phone.


    "Contact the number I sent you as soon as yound. The driver will take you to a hotel near the hospital."


    "Remember not to take a cab by yourself. Stay safe."


    "Have you seen my messages? I''m worried about you."


    And then another one: "Do you have someone picking you up in


    1.n


    Kingston''ve arranged for a driver to meet you at the airport. The number is..." This message was from tartplete with the driver''s name and phone number.


    Eleanor stood by the baggage carousel, frowning at her phone. Why hadn arranged for a car?


    Mansfield had already insisted on sending someone for her. During their phone call, he had been so adamant that she couldn''t refuse. In the end, she had agreed.


    After retrieving her suitcase, she stood to the side and replied ton''s message.


    "You can tell your person to go home. I have a ride."


    The message sent. Back in Ashford City, in the living room of the twenty-seventh-floor apartment,n''s phone screen lit up. He


    snatched it immediately R


    her reply his fingers tightened around the device.


    *I have a ride.*


    It was obvious who it was.


    Mansfield. Or someone from the Secretary of State''s office.


    He replied, "Alright. Just text me when you''re safely at the hotel."


    More than ten minutes passed, but his phone remained silent.n closed his eyes, his throat tightening.


    By now, Eleanor was already in the car Mansfield had arranged, heading toward Kingston. She had seenn''sst message but had no intention of Replying She felt no need to to her, he was a stranger now.