"Come on,n, just tell me! How did you fall in love with Ellie?" Serena''s question pulled him back from his reverie.


    He seemed reluctant to discuss it, picking up another document. "Why are you asking all this?"


    Serena grabbed his arm, her eyes pleading. "Can you win her back? Make her my sister-inw again."


    "But I can see it! You still care about her. Whenever Ellie''s in the room, your eyes are glued to her. I know you love her." Serena''s voice broke with self-reproach. "I was so stupid before, so blind. I always thought Ellie wasn''t good enough for you, and I was so awful to her. But now I see how wrong I was. I''m so sorry for what I did to her."


    "Ian," she pressed on, "you always said I was immature, but I see things clearly this time. Even though you''re divorced, you''re still in love with her, aren''t you?"


    But Serena was persistent. "What''s stopping you? Is it... is it because of Vanessa?"


    "Enough,"n cut her off, his tone sharp and unyielding. "The most important thing right now is your and Mom''s health. We can talk about everything elseter." He picked up his pen and focused his attention back on the document.


    "Then just answer me this: do you love Vanessa?" Serena pressed her hand down on the paper, determined to get an answer.


    "Is it that hard of a question? Either you love her or you don''t. Why are you avoiding it? If you asked me who I liked, l''ate you straight out."


    Serena felt her brother was hiding too much, and she was determined to uncover something.


    Clearly unsatisfied, Serena pouted. "From where I''m standing, it looks like you love Vanessa more. You always protected her, gave her whatever she wanted. I bet Eleanor divorced you because—"


    "Don''t,"n interrupted, looking up with a gravity she had never seen in his eyes. "Don''t ask any more questions. Don''t make a scene. Once Mom''s condition is stable exin everything. Now, please leave."


    Seeing the deep exhaustion on her brother''s face, Serena swallowed the words


    on the tip of her tongue. "Fine. I won''t bother you."


    As she left the room, Serena felt


    more confused than ever. Ifn truly considered. Vanessa his girlfriend, why hadn''t he let her visit their


    mother? Why had he forbidir,


    Serena from contacting Vanessa


    and telling her toe to theb? At first, she thought he just didn''t want to worry Vanessa But now, with their mother''s condition worsening did his actions make any sense? Why wouldn''t he let his future daughter-inwe and show her support?


    Or was it because Eleanor was here, and he didn''t want her to get the wrong idea? If that was the case, then he must still love Eleanor. He must still care.