Throughout the exchange,n remained silent, watching Eleanor. The look in his eyes wasn''t one of relief, but of heartache.


    He knew that behind Eleanor''s magnanimityy all the grievances and pain she had once endured alone.


    Xavier also kept quiet, giving Henry and Eleanor the space to resolve their past issues.


    Henry''s purpose ining today was to formally apologize to Eleanor. He had been nervous on the way here, but her gracious forgiveness now brought him a sense of relief.


    "I should get going. I still have a few things to take care of before the wedding," Henry said, taking his leave.


    "Go on. Get everything ready for the wedding. Ian and I will be there early," Xavier told him.


    Henry nodded and turned to leave.


    Just then, Evelyn and Vivian came running over, their hair damp with sweat. Eleanor said to her daughter, "Evelyn, it''s gettingte. We should go home and get you ready for your bath."


    Though reluctant to leave, Evelyn nodded obediently. She looked up excitedly. "Mommy, Vivian said we can go to school together from now on!"


    "That''s great. You two will have each other forpany again," Eleanor said, turning her gaze to Vivian. "Vivian, you''ve grown taller!"


    Xavier took Vivian''s hand. "Say goodbye to Ms. Sutton and the others."


    "Bye, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Goodwin, Evelyn!"


    "Goodbye,"n said with a warm smile, exchanging a brief, knowing nce with Xavier. The two men gave a slight nod of mutual understanding.


    Xavier led Vivian toward his apartment building while, on the other side,n and Eleanor walked with Evelyn toward theirs.


    After a few steps, Vivian dropped one of her small toys. She turned back to pick it up, and Xavier turned with her He nced up casually and saw Evelyn, holding hands with both Eleanor and Tan, happily chattering away as she skipped between them.


    The scene was so harmonious and warm, just like a family.


    Xavier watched quietly until their figures disappeared among the shadows of the trees. Only then did he slowly pull his gaze away. In that moment, something inside his heart quietly snapped.


    From the moment Eleanor had fallen into the water and he had jumped in after her without hesitation, a thought he couldn''t express had been tangled in Xavier''s heart.


    He knewn''s eyes had held both gratitude and shock that time. That night, Eleanor had been utterly disappointed, and on some strange impulse, he had driven after her But he also knew that seconds after his car pulled away,n''s car had followed.


    That night, Eleanor had gotten into his car. As they drove away, he sawn''s car stopped in ce.


    Another time after Eleanor dropped off the kids at school, Xavier noticed she was walking home. The sky was overcast, threatening a


    thunderstorm. That day, xavier.ne


    hae


    followed behind Eleanor, and sure enough, the heavens opened up. After Xavier invited Eleanor into his car, he noticedn''s car was driving up behind them as well.


    He had seenn''s neglect and coldness toward Eleanor during their marriage, and


    he had seen Eleanor''s disappointment and despair.


    He had once truly believed thatn had betrayed her. After their divorce, he had hoped he might have a chance to enter Eleanor''s world, to offer her warmth and protection.


    Now, he knew the truth aboutn and Vanessa. He knewn had been bound and controlled by Vanessa''s status as the world''s only donor for a critical patient, and that his rtionship with her was merely a necessary means to an end.


    He could see thatn was now trying to make up for everything with his actions.


    Vivian retrieved her toy and took his hand again. "Uncle, what are you looking at?" Xavier came back to himself, a smile of relief on his face. "Nothing."