Vanessa bit her lip. Ian was out of the country? What for?


    Just then, she heard a car pull up outside. She immediately deleted her chat history with Gavin, not wanting Walden Wells to find out she''d been askingn for a gift.


    Wearing a sexy, wine-red slip dress, Vanessa gracefully descended the stairs, only to find Walden Wells storming in with a thunderous expression. He didn''t even nce her way, which sent a jolt of rm through her.


    "Walden, is something wrong?" Vanessa asked, approaching him with concern.


    Walden Wells dropped onto the sofa and mmed his fist into a throw pillow. n was invited to the Sun Valley Conference," he growled, his voice dark. "Who knows how many deals he''ll close this time."


    Vanessa''s heart raced.


    The Sun Valley Conference was held only once every three years—a gathering of the world''s top business leaders. Invitations were extended only to the most influential figures in their respective fields. She rememberedn attending three years ago, and now he was there again.


    Just how far hadn''s business empire expanded?


    "Walden, don''t be angry—" Vanessa tried to console him.


    "How can I not be angry?" Walden Wells sneered. "That young punk actually got an invitation from Sun Valley."


    Meanwhile, even if he went, he would only be able to linger on the fringes, never touching the real centers of power.


    Vanessa lowered her gaze, hiding the jealousy and bitterness in her eyes. If Eleanor hadn''t developed the drug that saved the Goodwin family, she would still ben''s sole donor. She wouldn''t have had to throw herself into the arms of a man in his sixties.


    When Walden Wells was in a bad mood, he was like a raging beast, and anyone who got too close was bound to suffer.


    "Walden, let me make you some tea to help you cool off," Vanessa said, bringing over the tea she had just prepared.


    But Walden Wells swatted it away, knocking the cup from her hand. Tea sshed everywhere, staining her beautiful dress.


    Vanessa froze, biting her lip. She felt wronged but didn''t dare say a word.


    Walden Wells snorted. "Have someone clean this up." With that, he turned and went upstairs.


    Standing alone in the living room, Vanessa''s fingers tightened into fists Eleanor was bing more dazzling by the day, andn''s career was flourishing, while she was stuck here, cating this old man.


    But she had to endure it, even with her grievances, for the sake of the freedom Walden Wells could buy her.


    Tonight, Eleanor wanted to go home to her daughter, but with her arm injured and immobilized, she knew her presence would only worry the little girl Serena was staying with Evelyn inn''s guest room anyway, and during their video call, her daughter seemed excited


    So, Eleanor decided to stay in the hospital for observation.


    On the third day, Joel finally heard the news and rushed over to see her.


    "You have to be more careful next time," Joel urged, relieved that it was only her arm. If it had been her face, Eleanor''s beautiful features could have been ruined.


    Eleanor just smiled. "I will. I''ll be more careful from now on."


    After chatting about work for a while, Joet had to leave for


    meeting. The civilian project was running smoothly under his management, proving thatn had


    chosen the right person for the job.


    In the afternoon, Serena came to visit with a bouquet of flowers, but she didn''t stay


    long before leaving to pick up Evelyn from school.