Just then, arge hand reached out, took her purse, and generously offered her his arm. "Do you need this?"


    Eleanor was about to say she didn''t, but she suppressed the refusal and took his arm for support.


    The simple touch sent a jolt through him, followed by a rush of warmth he couldn''t hide. He tightened his arm. At that moment, he couldn''t care less if they werete; he wished the walk to his car was much longer.


    However, it was only a fifty-foot distance to his car. He opened the door for her like a gentleman, and as Eleanor bent down to get in, his hand, which had been protectively shielding her head from the doorframe, withdrew in perfect time.


    He handed her purse back to her. Eleanor took it and nced at the time. It was almost seven o''clock. The sky had already darkened, and the city lights were just beginning to twinkle.


    Eleanor expectedn to step on the gas, but she noticed he was pressing the elerator at a leisurely pace, even slower than usual.


    She checked the time again and couldn''t help but nce at the man in the driver''s seat. "Shouldn''t you... drive a little faster? It''s gettingte."


    Eleanor looked ahead. There was hardly any traffic. Just as she was about to say something else,n smiled, a rare stubbornness in his tone. “Like this—just the two of us enjoying the night view. Isn''t that nice?"


    Eleanor was taken aback. He was doing this... on purpose?


    n, your grandmother is waiting," Eleanor said with a helpless nce.


    "I know,”n replied with a grin. “Grandma won''t mind. In fact, I bet she''d be thrilled that we''re spending some time alone.”


    Eleanor was so exasperated she almost wanted tough. She turned her head to the window and said sullenly, "I''m hungry."


    She really was. At lunch with York, they had been so focused on work that she had barely eaten.


    "Why didn''t you say so earlier?" As the words left his mouth, he pressed harder on the elerator, and the car instantly sped up.


    "You didn''t eat properly at lunch?" he asked.


    "I was busy talking work with Mr. Windsor," Eleanor replied.


    "Hang in there, we''re almost there,”n said, elerating further.


    Eleanor didn''t answer. Gazing out the window, she didn''t know why, but she found herself smiling faintly, amused.


    Arriving at the hotel lobby,n handed the car keys to the valet and led Eleanor toward the elevators.


    They entered a luxurious restaurant


    on the eighth floor and were shown to a private room by a waiter. As the door opened, Evelyn appeared dressed in a beautiful little princess gown.


    "Daddy, Mommy, you''re finally here!"


    Eleanor immediately apologized.


    "I''m sorry Mommy''ste." Then, she


    addressed Magdalen, who was


    seated at the head of the table


    Grandma, sorry to keep you


    waiting."


    Magdalen looked at her grandson, who followed Eleanor in, an


    irrepressible smile on her fanét


    IM


    Not


    "It''s alright, Ellie, we weren''t in a rush."


    "Grandma, let''s have them serve the food. Eleanor''s hungry,"n said to Magdalen.


    The matriarch heard this and turned to Serena. "Serena, go tell the waiter to bring the dishes."


    In front of Evelyn was a kid''s meal, indicating she had already had one round of food.


    "Wow! Mommy, you look so pretty tonight!" Evelyn said, tilting her little head up, then looking at her dad. "Daddy is handsome too."


    Then, Evelyn blurted out, "You two look like a bride and groom about to get married!"


    For a moment, the entire room fell silent.