Five in the afternoon.


    Eleanor went home to take a shower. Mansfield, worried that being away from her daughter for two days would make the child anxious, had urged her to go home, saying Mrs. Ellington was there to look after him.


    Just as Eleanor finished drying her hair and came out, she heard her daughter''s cheerful, lively voice from downstairs. "Daddy, look at Mommy''s shoes! Mommy''s home!"


    Joslyn came over with a smile. "That''s right, your mommy''s back. She''s upstairs taking a shower!"


    "Okay! You have to be on time to take me to school tomorrow!"


    "Daddy promises to be on time," Ian assured her, stroking her little head. As he was about to turn and leave, he heard footsteps on the stairs. He instinctively looked up and saw Eleanor, her hair still half-damp, walking down.


    Fresh from her shower, she was dressed infortable, elegant loungewear. With her long hair down, she looked as fresh and lovely as a lotus emerging from water.


    As Eleanor reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes fell on his graying hair. She seemed to want to say something but held back, finally just murmuring, "Thank you for looking after Evelyn."


    "It''s my duty,"n said, his gaze lowered. "I''ll be going."


    Suddenly, Evelyn got emotional and hugged his leg. "Daddy, don''t go! Please stay and have dinner with us."


    Eleanor nodded and spoke up. "Stay for dinner."


    If her kindness stemmed from that,n would rather she remained cold to him.


    "No, thank you. I have a meeting,"n


    said, gently taking his daughter''s hand. His voice was soft but firm. "Daddy wille pick you up


    tomorrow morning, okay?"


    Evelyn pouted. "Alright."


    Eleanor keenly sensed his shift in mood. She said to her daughter, "Go y with Princess. I''ll see your dad out."


    Evelyn nodded and ran off to the balcony to y with Princess.


    Eleanor walkedn to the entryway. She wanted to talk to him, so she slipped on her outdoor slippers and followed him out the door.


    Just as she turned to close the door, an intense presence overwhelmed her. She was trapped between his strong arms, her back against the door.


    Eleanor looked up;n looked down.


    Even without makeup, her face was fair and her lips red, and she carried a light, pleasant fragrance from her shower.


    Eleanor took a shallow breath and pushed against him. "Let''s just talk."


    "Did you say yes to him?"n''s body didn''t move, but his eyes were locked on hers, demanding an answer.


    Eleanor looked up and red at him in frustration. She had thought they could have a civilized conversation, but clearly, the man''s domineering nature hadn''t changed.


    n, we''re divorced. Who I''m with is none of your business."


    His arms remained firm, his gaze burning. "So you''re dating him?"


    Eleanor turned her face away. "It has nothing to do with you."


    "True. You''ve always been the one with more courage, the one to take the first step,"n''s voice was low and pained.


    "We ended a long time ago. Let''s just let each other go," Eleanor said, looking up to meet his bloodshot eyes.


    The words were like a bucket of cold water, snapping him back to reality. He let out a ragged breath, his gaze fixed on the woman in his arms, as if desperately suppressing some wild impulse But the more he suppressed it, the more painful became, his eyes revealing a storm of untamable passion.