When Faye got home, she found her mother looking haggard. The face she usually took such good care of had aged several years overnight.


    She had to stay calm and face this with her mother. She would not let her father and Cathie run off with the money to live happily ever after abroad.


    A vicious glint appeared in Faye''s eyes. She knew her father was a shrewd, maniptive man, and Cathie was just as sharp. She and her mother wouldn''t stand a chance against them.


    But the evidence Horace had—of her father''s pastmercial bribery and illegal asset transfers-was the perfect weapon.


    A wild n quickly formed in her mind: she would use Horace to threaten her father and demand a huge sum for his silence.


    Let her shameless father and Horace tear each other apart. Regardless of who won, it would be a bloodbath. Either her father''s reputation would be ruined and he''d be thrown in jail, or Horace''s extortion attempt would be enough tond him behind bars for a few years.


    Once they had destroyed each other, she would find a way to get her hands on that one billion dors.


    Faye knew her mother couldn''t handle the shock, so she decided not to tell her. She would handle this herself.


    After a long, scalding shower, Fayey in bed, her mind racing. Besides her family drama, she couldn''t stop thinking about the poised and elegant figure of Eleanor among the military representatives that day.


    In their field, reputation was even more desirable than money.


    ***


    The next morning, Eleanor opened her front door, ready to take her daughter to school, only to findn leaning against the wall, waiting.


    "Daddy!" Evelyn chirped, running over to hug him.


    "Daddy''s taking you to school," Ian said, ruffling her hair. He looked up at Eleanor. "Together?"


    Before Eleanor could answer, Evelyn looked at her with pleading eyes. "Mama, can youe with us?"


    "Alright," Eleanor nodded. She had to go out anyway. She said ton, "I''ll drive."


    "Sounds good. We can head to theb together,"n said with a low chuckle, clearly nning to hitch a ride.


    Eleanor frowned, sensing he had deliberatelye without his car.


    Eleanor pulled up to the school and found a parking spot. The car in


    front ofthem was Xavier''s sir


    Bentley.


    in."


    Then, he turned to Eleanor. "Does Mama want toe?"


    Eleanor paused. It was the name he''d always used for her in front of their daughter when they were married.


    "No, I''ll wait in the car," she replied.


    A few minutes after they went inside, Eleanor sawn walking back toward the car, chatting with Xavier.


    Eleanor had already rolled down her


    window. From a few yards away, Xavier''s eyes met hers. Eleanor gave nod Noticing


    him a small, Scar Xavier seemed


    to understand. He smiled and


    nodded back before getting into his own vehicle.


    Eleanor started the car, following Xavier for a short distance before their paths diverged.


    Xavier nced at the white sedan shrinking in his rearview mirror, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.


    Wasn''t this a metaphor for their lives?


    He and Eleanor were destined to


    head in different directions. Meanwhiten and Eleanor''s lives would always revolve around their shared work and their shared child. They were fellow travelers on the same path.