As Serena reached the door, she couldn''t help but add onest thing. "My brother, my entire family, and I... we all want to thank you."


    Eleanor didn''t respond. She simply sat back down at herputer, her attention already fixed on the new data disyed on the screen.


    Serena closed the door gently behind her, a storm of emotions churning inside. If she felt this terrible, how much pain would her brother be in when he found out Eleanor hadpletely moved on?


    All she could do was what she had done. Beyond that, there was nothing more she could do to help.


    ***


    Night fell.


    In a dimly lit bar, Vanessa sat in a corner booth. She arranged a dozen different drinks on the table, snapped a photo, and sent it ton.


    n, if you still care about me,e get me. Otherwise, I''ll drink everyst one of these.*


    After sending the message, Vanessa stared at her phone, expecting an immediate response. In the past,n''s call would alwayse through instantly-whether he was scolding her, ordering her to stop, oring to find her himself. That feeling of being controlled, of being cared about, was a thrill she savored. She was sure this time would be no different.


    But the seconds ticked into minutes, and the screen remained ck. No calls, no messages. Nothing.


    Vanessa swallowed hard, forcing herself to be patient. She sent another text. n, you don''t think I''d dare?*


    The tone was a clear threat.


    Five minutes passed. Then ten. A crushing wave of disappointment and the humiliation of being ignored. wrapped around her heart like a


    being.ig


    thorny vine, squeezing tighter and tighter.


    She jabbed at the screen with a trembling finger and sent onest message.


    *Fine. If you won''te, then I''ll drink them for you.*


    Vanessa grabbed a bottle of hard liquor from the table and tilted it back, pouring the contents into her mouth, Laverne, who was sitting beside her, gasped in rm. She could tell Vanessa was in a foul mood, but she hadn''t been able to stop her froming to the bar. All she could do was stay close, terrified Vanessa might do something reckless. After all,


    was still an internationally renowned pianist with seven or eight


    endorsement deals to her name.


    "Vanessa, stop! You know you''re not supposed to drink! Mr. Goodwin has warned


    you about it," Laverne pleaded, reaching for the bottle.


    Vanessa shoved her hand away with a coldugh. "Doesn Goodwin control


    me? Who is he to me? He''s just a cold, heartless businessman."


    She took anotherrge gulp, the burn in her throat a dull achepared to the agony in her heart. She knew her greatest fear of thest decade had finallye true.


    "Vanessa, please don''t do this," Laverne begged, her voice strained with worry. "Whatever it is, we can talk it out. Why hurt yourself like this?"


    Vanessa ignored her. After two more swallows, an intense bitterness filled her eyes. The more she thought, the more furious she became. Staring at the still dark phone screen herst Shred of sanity seemed to crumble.


    She took a ragged breath, snatched her phone, and dialedn''s number.


    The phone rang for a long time. Just as Vanessa was about to give up, the call connected.


    n!n, did you see? I''m drinking-you-"


    A man''s voice, so calm it was almost cruel, cut her off. "You''ve breached our agreement."