The man who''d just turned away paused, his expression darkening at her words. A server passed by, and he reached out, taking a ss of whiskey from the tray before heading toward the center of the room.


    "Ellie, we meet again," ra said with a smile. Three years younger than Eleanor, she had a more lively and yful air about her.


    "Shona."


    "Just call me ra."


    Mrs. Ellington''s arrival immediately drew the attention of several societydies, and soon a crowd had gathered to greet her. Caught up in the social obligations, she turned to her daughter and said, "Why don''t you go chat with Eleanor for a bit? I''lle find you twoter."


    Eleanor and ra found a quieter spot to talk. Eleanor tried to suppress her question, but she couldn''t hold it back any longer.


    "ra, has your cousin Mansfield been in touch with the family recently?"


    ra shook her head, a flicker of worry in her eyes. "There''s no news yet, but don''t worry, he''s always like this when he''s on a mission. Do you miss him?"


    ra smiled reassuringly. "When he gets back, I''ll make sure he makes it up to you properly."


    Eleanor pressed her lips into a faint smile. "I''m just worried about him."


    Not far away, Vanessa watched as Walden Wells chatted with his friends, leaving


    her feeling neglected. She was merely his date for the evening, not close enough to be included in his work discussions.


    Her gaze inevitably drifted ton. He stood at the center of a crowd, holding a ss, surrounded by industry tycoons. He moved among the guests with ease, maintaining the grace and presence expected of the President of The Guild of Commerce.


    He was wearing those gold-rimmed sses again tonight. But he wasn''t nearsighted, so who bought them for him? And who was he wearing them for?


    Realization dawned on Vanessa, and her eyes shot toward Eleanor.


    So,n was deliberately wearing them at such an important event as a gesture of reconciliation toward Eleanor?


    The thought made her grip her ss so tightly she almost crushed it. As she watchedn, she noticed that even while conversing with others, a part of his attention was always on Eleanor.


    Meanwhile, since she had arrived at the banquet, she hadn''t received so much as a sideways nce from him.


    Vanessa bit her red lip in humiliation as jealousy raged within her.


    The sound of footsteps made her


    nce up. Walden Wells was


    walking toward her. She quickly arranged her features into an inviting smile Done with your


    conversation?" As Walden came came over, he naturally draped an arm around her waist. "Come on, I''ll introduce you to some friends."


    Vanessa immediately struck a pose, swaying her hips and raising an elegant smile, determined not to embarrass him.


    Later, Mrs. Ellington brought Eleanor and her daughter into her social circle, introducing Eleanor to her friends.


    Eleanor''s reputation was already well-known in high society, and seeing her rtionship with the Ellington family, they treated her with even more respect.


    Walden Wells basked in the envious looks he received from his friends because of Vanessa. Just then, hez received an important work call I''m going to the lounge to take this call," he told Vanessa. You can mingle for a bit."


    Vanessa nodded with a smile. After he left, she sawn finish his conversation with


    several entrepreneurs and walk toward the terrace.


    Seeing her chance, Vanessa immediately followed him.


    On the terrace,n stood alone, leaning against the railing. The whiskey in his hand glowed an amber color in the moonlight, and the night breeze gently lifted his silver-white hair Behind the O gold-rimmed sses, his eyes were as deep as the ocean.


    hair gehind the i


    "Ian," Vanessa called softly from behind him.