"I''m not going anywhere," Eleanor reassured him.


    Just then, Xavier tried to stand, stumbling again. Eleanor quickly wrapped her arms around his waist to steady him. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against her shoulder, his voice a low apology. "I''m sorry... I''m so sorry, Eleanor."


    She was about to push him away, but she couldn''t understand why he was apologizing so profusely. Then, his voice, bitter and hoarse, sounded next to her ear. "I chose mypany, so I couldn''t choose you... I''m such an idiot."


    Eleanor froze, the words stunning her into silence. *Chose hispany, so he couldn''t choose me? What did that even mean?*


    And that was the scene that greeted the man stepping out of the building''s main entrance.


    Eleanor turned, surprised. "What are you doing down here?"


    Xavier, too, seemed to register the change. He looked up with bleary eyes and sawn. He sighed. n. You''re here too."


    At that moment, Gavin appeared, handing the purse to Eleanor. "Miss Sutton, you forgot this."


    Eleanor took the bag, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. Now she knew whyn had shown up.


    She looked at Xavier with concern. "You should go home and get some rest."


    Xavier seemed to sober up slightly. He tried to stand straighter. "Okay. You go take care of Evelyn. I''ll letn take me home."


    Eleanor turned and walked back into the soft glow of the building lights.n watched her for a second, his expression unreadable, before turning to Xavier. "Is your mother home?"


    "Yeah, she is."


    "You can''t let Vivian see you like this,"n said. "I''ll take you to a hotel nearby for the night."


    A flicker of warmth touched Xavier''s heart. He nodded. "Okay. Thanks."


    Gavin, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward. "Mr. Goodwin, my car is right outside."


    "How did you get this drunk?"n asked, supporting Xavier as they walked out of theplex.


    "Had a few drinks with Henry. I knew you were busy, so I didn''t call," Xavier exined.


    When Eleanor got back to her apartment, Evelyn looked up at her curiously. "Mommy, Daddy ran out in such a hurry. Was something wrong?"


    From the side, Joslyn added, "He didn''t even have time to change his shoes."


    Eleanor frowned slightly, then turned to her daughter. "Have you had your bath?"


    "Yes."


    In the car, dan looked down and


    noticed he was still wearing a pair of Eleanor''s


    men''s slippers from Eleanor''s


    apartment. He''d left in too much of a rush to even think about it.


    He got Xavier settled in a hotel room. Xavier copsed onto the sofa, rubbing his temples with his eyes closed, clearly exhausted. Jan opened a bottle of water and ced it off the table before sitting on the sofa opposite him. "Drink some water. It''ll help you sober up."


    Xavier sat up, took the bottle, and gulped down arge mouthful. He closed his


    eyes again. n, you can go. I just need to rest."


    then nodded and stood to leave.


    Just as he reached the door, Xavier''s


    voice stopped him. Tan, tell me the


    truth. Do you want to get back together with Eleanor?"