The copse of trust often begins with the smallest of cracks. In Eleanor''s eyes,n''s silence andck of exnation were admissions of guilt and signs of indifference. She began to doubt, to feel insecure, to scrutinize everything about their rtionship. The sweetness and certainty they once shared were slowly eroded by suspicion and disappointment.


    When it came to reading people, Vanessa was undeniably precise. She exploitedn''s refusal to exin and Eleanor''s deep-seated insecurities, patiently weaving a web of lies and misunderstandings that ultimately killed Eleanor''s love for him.


    "Vanessa, what are you thinking about?" Laverne''s voice pulled her back to the present. She was curious about what new scheme was brewing in her mind.


    Vanessa turned to look out the window, her eyes growing colder. Evelyn, the child she once used as a tool, was growing up, and all her old weapons had be useless.


    Did she truly have no power left to fight back against Eleanor andn?


    Just then, the sound of a car reached them from downstairs. Laverne''s heart skipped a beat. She picked up her iPad and said, "Vanessa, I should get going. Call me if you need anything."


    Laverne disliked interacting with Walden Wells, but as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she ran right into him as he was entering the house.


    "Mr. Wells, you''re back," Laverne greeted him with a warm smile.


    "How''s Vanessa? Is she in a better mood?" Walden Wells asked.


    "Vanessa''s been in good spirits today," Laverne replied.


    Walden Wells nced at her and waved a hand, dismissing her.


    He headed upstairs. Vanessa bit her lip as a n began to take shape in her mind. Walden''s dissatisfaction withn was already palpable.


    By the time Walden Wells pushed the door open, Vanessa had alreadyposed her features into an alluring and charming expression. A red dress made her look stunningly beautiful.


    Walden looked at her, his heart stirred. He walked over and pulled her into his arms. Vanessa draped her arms around his neck. "Walden, I''ve been thinking about something recently."


    "What is it?" he asked.


    Vanessa looked up, hesitating for a moment before speaking as if she had finally made up her mind. "Walden, did you know thatn shifted his investment focus to the pharmaceutical industry a few years ago?"


    Walden snorted. "Of course, I know. The kid has a decent eye for investments."


    Vanessa continued, "The reasonn has been able to make such breakthroughs in the medical field isn''t because of his unique vision.or his team''s brilliant analysis. Hes- been able to bet on all the right horses because of his ex-wife, Eleanor, and his former father-inw, Elliot Sutton."


    Walden''s expression immediately darkened. Vanessa''s words reminded him of something. The recent string of breakthroughs in the medical world was indeed credited ton''s ex-wife. He''d also heard that Goodwin & Co. had poured a lot of money into her core technology.


    "What are you trying to say?" Walden''s gaze sharpened as he stared at Vanessa. He was beginning to realize she was more than just a pretty face; she had a cunning side to her.


    Vanessa calmly met his gaze. "What I''m thinking is, the media has caughtn trying to get back together with his ex-wife. He''s bound to favor her when ites to major investment decisions. Everyone knows medical research is a bottomless pit, sometimes you can pour fortunes into it and not even make a ssh. Ifn lets his personal feelings cloud his judgment and throws all that


    money at Eleanor''s research


    projects, do you think the board


    members and shareholders at


    Goodwin & Co. will just sit back and watch?"


    Vanessa pouted her red lips. "Walden, is my idea too naive? Just think of it as a joke."


    But a sharp glint shed in Walden''s eyes. "What shareholder would be happy about losses to thepany''s bottom line?"