Joslyn remembered how Eleanor often had clogged milk ducts back then. Evelyn was too small to draw the milk out properly, which made her wail in frustration, and she refused to take a bottle.


    So, on many asions, her husband would go into the room first. By the time Joslyn brought Evelyn in, Eleanor''s face would be beet red. As an experienced woman, Joslyn knew better than to make a fuss.


    Living under the same roof, such scenes were not umon. In the middle of the night, she would sometimes hearn carrying Eleanor from the master bedroom to the guest room. She knew to give the young couple their privacy and never disturb them.


    Thinking back on their first four years of marriage, Joslyn could still feel the warmth and happiness that filled the house. After the baby was asleep, Eleanor loved to rest her head on Mr. Goodwin''s shoulder and read, while he would wrap one arm around her and continue working with the other. Once Eleanor fell asleep, he would carry her back to their bedroom.


    Back then, the vi, the garden, the dining room, the living room-everywhere you looked, you could see the loving family of three.


    Eleanor was so doted on byn that she was like a child, innocent of the world''s troubles, with a perpetual light of happiness in her eyes.


    But when did it all change?


    It was in their fourth year of marriage.


    She remembered being at the airport once with Gavin to pick up Evelyn, who was returning from a trip. She saw a morous, mboyant woman standing next to Mr. Goodwin, looking at him with adoration.


    On the way back,n specifically told her not to mention it to his wife. From that day on, Joslyn was on edge.


    Even though she kept her mouth shut, Eleanor eventually sensed something was wrong. Joslyn saw Eleanor crying ale at night, and she watched as the warmth in their home slowly faded.


    Before, even when Mr. Goodwin was away on business for as long as six months, his wife never doubted his fidelity. But after that, she knew he had a mistress abroad.


    At the time, Joslyn couldn''t believe that the Mr Goodwin who loved his wife so deeply would cheat. But then she thought of the other woman, Miss Shannon, an international pianist, dazzling and captivating. In contrast, his wife, a homemaker at the time, was like a delicate flower he kept carefully tended indoors.


    She suspected that Miss Shannon would be the catalyst to destroy her employer''s happiness, and sure enough, after enduring it for a year and a half, his wife initiated the divorce.


    Joslyn had truly admired her


    courage back then. She had seen too many wealthy wives stay in unhappy marrages for money and status, but Eleanor chose to walk


    away with nothing, asking only to take her daughter with her


    Joslyn carried the freshly made chicken soup to Eleanor. "Ma''am, have some soup first," she said gently.


    Eleanor looked up from herputer with a smile. "Thank you, Joslyn."


    Joslyn smiled back and returned to the kitchen Her employer was doing well now. More importantly, she had her own career and was making a name for herself in the scientificmunity. She had also attracted excellent men, like that Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Ellington. Both were good choices.


    Lately, it seemed Mr. Goodwin had a change of heart, which was a wee surprise.


    She had noticed that recently, whenn dropped Evelyn off, Eleanor no longer rushed him out the door.


    If possible, she still hoped this family could one day return to the happy times of the past.


    In the afternoon, Valery, the driver arranged by Ellington, came to take Eleanor to


    the hospital. The moment she stepped through the main entrance, she saw a figure already waiting in the lobby.


    "I''ll go with you to get your stitches out,"n said softly.


    At this point, Eleanor didn''t have the energy to send him away. She had to go to the<pb after this anyway. She simply clutched her bag and walked forward.