His response was augh,ced with exasperation. "Do we really have to be so transactional about everything?"


    Eleanor pressed her lips together. He wasn''t short on money, but she couldn''t just ept his kindness as a matter of course. It was a habit she had developed over the past three years an unconscious instinct to draw clear boundaries.


    "It''s not about being transactional. I just don''t want you to spend money on my behalf. This is a birthday gift for Grandma, after all," Eleanor said, her voice clear but firm.


    "Are you sure you want to keep score like this?" he asked, his voice deepening.


    Eleanor looked up into his eyes, unable to find a reason to argue. But giving someone a gift he had bought for her... it just felt wrong.


    “Fine, I''ll ept the gift, but I''ll pay you back—"


    "Eleanor,”n interrupted, his tone gentle yet unyielding. "I said, you don''t have to."


    Eleanor''s grip on her phone tightened. She could have had Ellington deliver something in time, but since he''d already taken care of it, she sighed softly and relented. "Alright. Thank you."


    "If you really want to thank me, you can treat me to dinner sometime," Ian said with


    a low chuckle. "It''s been a long time since you''ve offered to treat me to a meal."


    At least, not since the divorce.


    "Okay," Eleanor nodded.


    "Let''s go back. The soup will get cold."


    Eleanor had only had half her soup before she left. She nodded.


    They returned to the private room one after the other. Evelyn was nestled in Serena''s arms, the aunt and niece looking very close.


    "Ellie, are you done with your call? Come, have some more food," Magdalen said to her.


    Eleanor nodded and sat back down. With the gift situation resolved, she could finally eat in peace.


    The birthday dinner officially began in a rxed atmosphere. Magdalen was in high spirits, and when the cake was brought out, Evelyn''s eyes lit up. "Wow! I love cake!"


    "Alright, how about Evelyn blows out the candles for her great-grandma in a little bit?"


    "Okay!" Evelyn was more than happy to oblige.


    Soon, the candles were lit. Evelyn sang the birthday song, and after Magdalen


    made her wish, Evelyn pursed her lips and blew out the mes. Then, it was time for cake.


    Tonight, Eleanor let her daughter indulge her sweet tooth and didn''t stop her.


    Eleanor hadn''t had cake in a long time, either. Evelyn, with a smudge of frosting on her face like a little kitten made everyoneughn, gently took a napkin and wiped her mouth.


    Around nine o''clock, everyone had eaten their fill, and the birthday celebration began to wind down. As the group walked out of the restaurant,n retrieved two gifts from his car. "Grandma, these are from Eleanor and me."


    "We''re family, there''s no need for gifts! Just having you here for my birthday makes me happy."


    "1


    Magdalen turned to Eleanor. "Effie, you don''t need to be so formal with


    us


    “Grandma, it''s only right. Please ept it," Eleanor said, though she had no idea what giftn had chosen. She trusted it would be something Magdalen liked.


    Gina had a bodyguard ce the gifts in the trunk of their car, then turned ton. "You should take Eleanor and Evelyn home so they can get some rest." "Okay, Mom,"n nodded.


    "Ellie, we''ll see youter!" Serena said as she walked to her own car.


    After watching the Goodwin family leave, Eleanor took her daughter''s hand. "Let''s head home, too."


    On the way home, Evelyn was so exhausted she fell asleep in Eleanor''s arms. In the quiet of the car, Eleanor couldn''t help but ask, "What was the gift you gave to Grandma?"