Eleanor''s steps subconsciously faltered. She looked around, searching for Ellington, butn was already walking toward her. "Don''t bother looking," he said in a low voice. "I''m the one picking you up."


    Eleanor frowned. "Why are you here? Where''s Evelyn?"


    "Serena picked Evelyn up to have dinner at my ce,"n said, naturally reaching out to take theptop bag from her hand. He practically had to take it from her, a mix of gentle force and her resignedpliance.


    "Did you see him?"n asked, his voice low and steady.


    "Yes," Eleanor nodded, a hint of weariness in her brow, but also a sense of settled determination in her eyes.


    In the crowd, a paparazzi photographer had been focused on Eleanor since she appeared. He had originally been there to stalk a celebrity but had gotten lucky, catching the moment the billionairen Goodwin quietly came to greet his ex-wife.


    Moreover, the thoughtful caren showed in every gesture suggested that the high- profile divorce from two years ago might have a chance of being reversed.


    "You must be tired. The car''s outside,"n said, not pressing for more details, and turned to lead the way.


    Eleanor walked beside him, looking at his broad, straight back. For a moment, her mind seemed to go still. In the middle of the bustling crowd, the tightness in her chest began to ease.


    Once inside the car, the outside noise was cut off. The enclosed space was filled with a faint, crisp scent that was uniquely his-he had driven himself.


    Eleanor didn''t refuse to talk about it with him; after all, he was the one leading the research for Mansfield''s rescue. "The meeting went smoothly. The expert panel generally approved my proposal."


    The car fell into a brief silence. Ian nced at Eleanor''s expression in the rearview mirror and saw her with her eyes closed, as if she were truly exhausted.


    "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat out or go straight home?" he asked.


    "I want to go home and rest," Eleanor replied, opening her eyes to meet his gaze in the mirror.


    "Alright." Ian didn''t say more, just steadily steered the car in the direction of Cloudcrest Manor.


    The car fell silent again, but this time the atmosphere was different. Eleanor''s resistance towardsn had clearly vanished. They seemed to have found an anchor for peaceful coexistence.


    The car drove into Cloudcrest Manor and stopped in front of Eleanor''s building.


    It was still early, son didn''t n on picking up their daughter just yet. He carried Eleanor''sptop bag and walked her to the door. As Eleanor took the bag, she hesitated for a moment ther looked at Him. Have, you eaten?


    Eleanor thought about how he had missed dinner just to pick her up and asked subconsciously, "Do you want toe in and have Joslyn cook some noodles?"


    Eleanor pushed open the door to her


    warm home. Joslyn came to greet


    them, and seeing the two of them


    arrive together without Evelyn, she guessedn must have picked


    Eleanor up from the airport.


    "Joslyn, could you please cook two bowls of noodle soup for us?" Eleanor asked.


    Joslyn''s face lit up with joy. "Of course, I''ll get right on it," she said, then turned ton. "Mr. Goodwin, please have a seat."


    "Don''t worry about me,"n said with


    a low chuckle. He saw Princess wagging her tail at his feet, so he crouched down and couldn''t resist petting her Princess became even more affectionate.