The dull ache in his chest grew sharper, apanied by a powerful sense of helplessness that made his breathing shallow.


    He knew he had to face this, to calmly ept the happiness she had chosen. But that was far from easy.


    The room was scattered with some of his daughter''s toys. He patiently knelt to tidy them up, then went to the liquor cab and poured himself a ss of whiskey. The amber liquid swirled in the ss, reflecting his heavy thoughts.


    Just then, his phone chimed with a message from Gavin Young. [Mr. Goodwin, Major Ellington has returned to Kingston.]


    Gavin immediately replied, "Dr. Lyman sent over an inventory list. I casually asked if Miss Sutton was at the hospital, and he mentioned she had gone home. Major Ellington returned to Kingston this afternoon."


    Only Mansfield went back to Kingston? Eleanor didn''t go with him?


    Given Mansfield''s current physical condition, he should have needed Eleanor''s care. And given their rtionship, Eleanor should not have left his side at such a critical moment.


    "Mr. Goodwin? Is there anything else?" Gavin asked tentatively from the other end.


    "No,"n said tly and hung up.


    He downed the whiskey in one go and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, unable to make sense of the situation.


    Eleanor had risked everything to save Mansfield. Why, when he needed her most, hadn''t she apanied him to Kingston to care for him? After all, he had taken their daughter, and her work was just minor wrap-up tasks.


    Unless-


    His throat went tight as the idea caught and burned through him.


    If his guess was correct, that meant...


    Whether it was because of the alcohol or something else,n felt his heart begin to


    race.


    He grabbed his phone and dialed Eleanor''s number.


    Eleanor was already in bed reading a book. Her brain had been


    overworkedtely, and she had


    decided to read a physical book t


    give her eyes a rest. When the phone rang, she assumed it must be her energetic daughter calling at this hour.


    "Hello," she answered warmly.


    There was a two-second silence on the other end, followed byn''s deep voice. "It''s


    me."


    Eleanor''s expression cooled slightly, and her tone became distant. "It''ste. Is something wrong?"


    "I heard Major Ellington went back to Kingston. Why didn''t you go with him?"n''s voice was tinged with curiosity.


    Eleanor frowned, surprised by his question. Her voice remained cool. "They have a professional medical tear to look after him in Kingston wasn''t needed."


    "Is that all?"n pressed. "You''re not worried about him?"


    "With Principal Maxwell''s team there, there''s no need to worry," Eleanor continued to respond.


    "Have you two discussed when you''re getting engaged?"n asked abruptly. Annoyed, Eleanor closed her book. n, that''s none of your business, is it?"


    The words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the hope that had just begun to flicker within him. Standing by the window,n''s lips curved into a self-deprecating smile. "Sorry. I crossed a line."


    Two secondster, the line went dead.