Just then, Ellington smiled and gently reminded Xavier, "Mr. Vaughn, Mr. Goodwin is here as well."


    Only then did Xavier turn, a hint of surprise on his face.


    He spottedn a few tables away and raised a hand in a casual wave. n, you''re here too."


    From across the room,n lifted his ss to Xavier in a rxed greeting.


    Eleanor gracefully popped a piece of honeydew melon into her mouth and began asking Xavier about elementary schools for the children. Xavier was considering which top-tier school to choose for Vivian; with his resources, she could attend the very best.


    "I was thinking we could pick the same school," Xavier suggested with a smile. "That way, the kids will have each other."


    Eleanor offered a faint smile of her own. "I''m still thinking about it."


    "No rush, it''s still early," he replied, his smile unwavering.


    Just then,n stood up to take a call. His brow furrowed as he nced toward Eleanor, and after a quick word with his associates, he started walking in her direction.


    "Mr. Goodwin, is something the matter?" Ellington asked, rising to meet him.


    A small smile touchedn''s lips, as if her coldness didn''t faze him at all. He pped Xavier on the shoulder. "I''m off."


    Xavier nodded, andn departed, looking as though he had urgent business to attend to.


    A littleter, Eleanor and Xavier made their way out of the main banquet hall. Mayor Ellington was scheduled to give a speech soon. and neither of them wanted to miss it. As Eleanor scanned the crowd, her eyesnded on a familiar figure standing among the guests, seemingly searching for someone.


    .n


    It was Vanessa. She was exquisitely dressed for the evening in a stunning wine-red mermaid gown elegantly chatting with an older gentleman as she surveyed the room. Just as Eleanor was about to look away, Vanessa''s eyes found hers. The smile on vanessa''s face instantly chilled as she took in the sight of Eleanor standing so


    naturally beside Xavier.


    At that moment, a gentle hand tapped her shoulder. Vanessa turned to find Henry


    looking at her, his gaze deep and intense.


    She pressed her lips into a smile and murmured, "You''re here."


    Henry''s eyes lingered on her, a fleeting expression of pain and guilt crossing his features before he


    smoothed it over, resuming his


    usual air of casual


    elegance


    He


    hadn''t missed Xavier and Eleanor standing together. It seemed the once inseparable trio of brothers


    had finally drifted apart.


    "Where''sn? I don''t see him," Henry asked.


    A flicker of disappointment crossed Vanessa''s eyes. "I haven''t seen him either."


    "He''s not always one for these kinds of events," Henry said, offering a smallfort.


    Vanessa pushed aside her own sense of loneliness. Just then, Mayor Ellington took the stage, delivering a fifteen-minute speech that was met with thunderous apuse.


    Deciding to touch up her makeup, Eleanor headed for the restroom. As she stepped into the quiet hallway, a voice stopped her. "Eleanor, do you have a moment to talk?"


    It was Vanessa. Her expression was deceptively friendly, but her eyes held an unmistakable glint of provocation as she stared unabashedly at Eleanor.


    Eleanor met her gaze, her eyes sweeping over Vanessa from head to toe for the first time with aplex expression.


    Vanessa was taken aback. In the past, Eleanor would have simply walked away with an air of detached superiority. Why was she reacting like this now? "What do you want to talk about?" Eleanor asked, her tone distant and cold.