Eleanor was taken aback. "It''s fine, Gavin. You can go home."


    But Gavin shook his head. "Mr. Goodwin insisted. He said you''ve been working too hard and shouldn''t drive while fatigued."


    Eleanor was, in fact, exhausted. She had felt dizzy when she stood up earlier. It was better not to push her luck.


    "Thank you, Gavin," she said, epting his offer.


    It was after ten when she finally got home. As she walked in, Joslyn rushed over to take her bag. "Ma''am, you''re back sote."


    Eleanor noticed the silence and immediately asked, "Where''s Evelyn? Isn''t she back yet?"


    "Mr. Goodwin took her downstairs to y. They should be up any minute now," Joslyn exined.


    Eleanor then realized Princess was gone too. Ian must have taken them both out.


    "I''m going to take a shower," she told Joslyn. "In ten minutes, go downstairs and knock on his door. Tell him to bring Evelyn up."


    "Of course," Joslyn nodded.


    Eleanor went upstairs to wash up.


    Twenty minutester, her hair dry and dressed in afortable cotton pajama set, she was applying skincare at her vanity when she heard footstepsing up the stairs. Assuming it was her daughter, she smiled, ready to read her a bedtime story.


    The bedroom door opened. She turned with a smile, but it froze on her face when she saw who walked in.


    It wasn, carrying their sleeping daughter in his arms.


    "She tired herself out ying and fell asleep downstairs," he exined in a low voice, his eyes lingering on Eleanor''s makeup-free face and her pajamas.


    A beat toote, Eleanor realized what he was seeing. She instinctively crossed her arms over her chest; she never wore a bra to bed after a shower.


    Her movement drew his eyes to her chest for a fleeting second before he forced his gaze away, carrying their daughter to the bed. He gentlyid her down and carefully pulled the covers over her.


    By then, Eleanor had grabbed a robe and wrapped it tightly around herself.n looked up and saw her bundled up, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. They had once been the closest two people could be; now, a chasm wider than one between strangersy between them.


    "Joslyn was downstairs feeding Princess, so I brought Evelyn up myself. I''m sorry," he exined quietly.


    Eleanor pushed the issue aside and went straight to the point. "It''ste. You can go now."


    She had no intention of epting his concern. "I''m capable of managing my own work," she said tly.


    He nced at their daughter''s peaceful face on the bed, then quickly looked back


    at Eleanor before turning to leave. With his hand on the doorknob, he paused. "I''ll take Evelyn to school tomorrow."


    Then, he quietly opened the door and left.


    Eleanor let out a breath and took off the robe, returning to her skincare routinez Under the soft light, her thick, dark hair framed a face with delicate features and eyes that held a cool, clear depth:  S to''


    After she was done, she turned off the main lights, leaving only a dim night light on. She picked up her phone, nning to read the news to help for fall asleep, She sawa headline about Garth Elfington diplomatic trip abroad, which made


    her think of Mansfield, oma mission


    in a foreign country.


    His current work was so sensitive that she couldn''t even send a simple message


    to check on him, for fear ofpromising his safety. The urge to reach out was strong, but she forced it down.