And now?


    Gwenda had a stable job and was bing increasingly valued by Eleanor''s side. But she... she was now the daughter of a murderer.


    Perhaps Gwenda''s life would never be one of great wealth, but it would be stable, solid, and progressively better.


    Meanwhile, Faye was shackled with the stigma and burden her father had left her, her future looking bleak.


    "I''m fine," Faye said, almost instinctively straightening her back and responding in a cool tone.


    Gwenda smiled. "That''s good to hear."


    After speaking, Gwenda ordered two coffees. Just then, a few other employees walked over and greeted her warmly. It was clear Gwenda was well-liked by her colleagues.


    Faye bit her lip. She had once beenbeled the cool, unapproachable goddess, but now, who even noticed her?


    "Isn''t that Faye? The former Yeaton Holdings chairman in the news today is her dad!"


    "Yeah, that''s her."


    "I can''t believe her dad would do something like that."


    Faye''s face went white, feeling as though all eyes in the room were fixed on her. She abruptly turned and walked away, leaving her untouched juice on the table.


    ***


    At six in the evening, Eleanor had just gotten home when she received a call from her daughter. She andn were waiting for her in the underground parking garage. Having finallypleted all the handover tasks, Eleanor felt a weight lift from her shoulders. Dressed for thete June weather, she wore a simple t-shirt and a denim skirt. Her long hair was pulled up into a bun, with soft wisps framing her face, making her look several years younger.


    When Eleanor reached the garage, she saw a Rolls-Royce parked there. She opened the back door, and Evelyn''s adorable little face beamed at her.


    "You decide," Eleanor said. She was just there to rx with her daughter and didn''t want to make the decision.


    "Let''s ask Evelyn,"n said, his gaze softening as he looked at their daughter.


    "I want..." Evelyn considered it seriously. Then, thinking of a big chicken leg, she smiled. "I want Chinese food!"


    "Alright, Daddy will take you,"n said, starting the car.


    After a simple dinner with their


    daughter, the little one refused to go home, insisting they go to a nearby


    ?


    za that was bustling with activity. To keep her from running off and getting hurt, Eleanor held herhand. A momentter, Evelyn happily reached out to take her father''srge hand as well.


    The scene created the perfect image of a happy family.


    simply tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and avoided his gaze.


    A momentter, Evelyn was begging to go on the swings. As Eleanor gently pushed her from behind, a s?ft smile on her face, the man standing nearby felt as if time had turned back four years.


    "Higher, Mommy, higher!" Evelyn shouted with glee.


    The unreserved joy Eleanor showed her daughter made her lips curve into a bright, eye-catching smile under the lights. For a moment, her eyes met the man''s across from her, but her expression was only calm and natural.  s?novels


    He saw it all, a bittersweet ache settling in his heart.


    No matter how much their rtionship seemed to have eased, it felt like there was still an invisible chasm between them.


    Eleanor was no longer rejecting his presence, but he had no idea how to gauge the right distance to approach her without scaring her away again.