Xavier understood the true meaning behindn''s question. He lowered his gaze slightly, a smile of eptance on his lips. "For now, I''ll focus on taking care of Vivian and managing thepany. My personal life can wait."


    Xavier paused for a moment, then realized he was talking about Eleanor falling into


    the pool.


    "It was the right thing to do," Xavier replied softly. "Anyone would have done the same in that situation."


    Under the moonlight, the two men''s gazes met. Emotion tightened his throat for a moment. "I''ll never forget that."


    Xavier nodded gently. Some thanks didn''t need to be spoken; some bonds were understood without words.


    That night, whenn had jumped in to save Vanessa, Xavier had been in the water to rescue Eleanor no more than three secondster.


    "Why didn''t you save Eleanor first?" Xavier suddenly asked, still curious after all this time. There were plenty of people there that day; even if someone fell in, it wouldn''t have been a fatal ident.


    it happened, he had taken a phone call.


    He looked up and sighed heavily. "Ten minutes before it happened, I had just learned that my mother''s blood disease had a fifty percent chance of being passed down to Serena, and a thirty percent chance of being passed to Evelyn."


    The truth left Xavier speechless. He had never imagined that behind such a seemingly cold choicey such aplex and heavy consideration.


    "Have you exined this to Eleanor?" Xavier asked, his eyes narrowing.


    Some exnations, when theye toote, lose their meaning.


    Xavier understood. To remain silent when Eleanor needed an exnation the most, and then to bring it up now that so much time had passed, would only seem like making excuses. Why disturb her with old entanglements?


    smile as she went down the slide, a


    his lips. "What


    bitter smile and the


    matters is the


    future. What I can do is take good


    care of Evelyn and make sure she


    grows up healthy and happy-"


    Cóntent


    It dawned on Xavier what he had said. His eyes widened in shock. "You just said


    Evelyn might have inherited it?"


    So much had happened recently thatn hadn''t had a chance to tell Xavier everything. He nodded now. "Eleanor has already developed a cure. Serena has recovered from the initial also


    symptoms and my moth the initial


    recuperating. We don''t have to worry too much about Evelyn''s future."


    Xavier nodded slowly, realizing that even though they were divorced, their child would forever bind them together. He looked at the innocent Evelyn on the slide and felt a sense of relief. She was lucky to have such good parents.


    One spared no expense to build ab, and the other worked tirelessly to develop a cure, all to ensure her lifelong health and safety.


    ***


    The early summer night breeze was


    slightly warm. After walking Princess a couple ofps, Eleanor led her into the elevator lobby. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her hair was slightly disheveled, adding a lively beauty to her usual cool demeanor. Ian was leading his daughter toward the elevator, and as be turned, he saw Eleanor casually tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, revealing the slender, pale line of her neck.


    "Mommy!" Evelyn happily ran over and hugged her leg.


    Eleanor bent down and ruffled her daughter''s hair. "Did you have fun?"


    "Lots of fun!" Evelyn''s head was also covered in sweat. Eleanor made a mental note to give her a bath as soon as they got back.


    She had fallen into a habit of being polite with him. A simple "thank you" clearly delineated their current rtionship—a parenting partnership.


    A sense of helplessness washed overn. He replied softly, "You''re wee."


    Eleanor closed the door. Ian stood there for a moment before turning and walking back to the elevator.