Just as she stepped into the lobby of her apartment building, she came face-to-face with a man walking out of the elevator.


    Since the divorce, he had mostly seen Eleanor in her whiteb coat, or looking confident on a lecture stage, or elegant at a g. It had been a long time since he''d seen her like this-so full of life, vibrant and energetic.


    The sunlight streamed in from behind her, outlining her slender, lithe silhouette. Her form-fitting workout clothes entuated her slim yet athletic figure. A few stray, sweat-dampened strands of hair clung to her cheek, creating an unexpectedly... sensual look.


    A sharp tightness grippedn''s throat, his gaze lingering on her. He knew better than anyone how incredible her body was, even after having a child.


    Feeling his eyes on her, Eleanor wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and was about to walk past him when she heard his deep voice.


    "Morning."


    Eleanor paused. "Morning."


    "Went for a run?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Eleanor nodded.


    "I have an international video conference, so I''m heading to the office,"n volunteered.


    Eleanor nced up at him and replied naturally, "Oh."


    "Want to pick up Evelyn together for lunch?" he asked again.


    Eleanor hadn''t made any ns for lunch yet, as she had given Joslyn the day off. "We''ll see," she said.


    With his suit jacket over his arm,n walked toward theplex entrance, his tall frame and dignified air cutting an imposing figure. His thick, silver-white hair was particrly striking.


    ***


    Aftern got in the car, Gavin drove for a short distance before starting his verbal report on the uing meeting. However, when he finished and waited for his boss''s input, he noticedn staring out the window, lost in thought.


    Still, Gavin shrewdly sensed that his boss was in a rather good mood.


    Onlyn knew what was on his mind. His thoughts were still filled with the image of Eleanor''s vibrant energy after her morning run.


    His memory drifted back to more distant scenes: the girl who would drowsily cling to him in the morning, yfully begging him not to go to work. The girl who would run to him when he got home, wrapping her arms around his waist and softly calling him her husband.


    All those sweet, everyday moments he had once taken for granted, he now realized, were unbearably precious in their absence.


    It felt as if an invisible hand squeezed his heart, and a wave of bitter regret washed over him, mixed with an undeniable longing.


    He took a deep breath, forcing himself to pull away from those beautiful memories.


    He knew it wasn''t time yet.


    "Mr. Goodwin?" Gavin asked tentatively.


    Just then, Gavin''s phone buzzed with a message. He stopped at a red light and nced at it. Then, he turned ton in the back. "Mr. Goodwin, Walden Wells''s son just died in Montir."


    Gavin considered the implications.


    With Walden Wells having lost his heir, he might actually marry Vanessa to produce a new one for the walls family If that happened with Wells backing, would vanessa stiffwillingly honor her contract?