"Stop talking nonsense and let''s go. Help me pick out a pen for him," Eleanor said, pulling her along.


    Joy didn''t press the issue. Even without her spelling it out, Eleanor knew exactly what was going on. Ian had done so much, and his goal was crystal clear.


    "Let''s go then! But are you sure you just want to get him a pen?"


    "Yeah," Eleanor nodded. She was sure.


    "A pen works, but knowingn, he''s probably going to hope he can use it to sign your remarriage papers someday!" Joy''s guesses were getting wilder by the minute.


    Eleanor shot her a warning re. "Joy."


    "Okay, okay, I''ll stop joking. Come on, there''s a Montnc boutique just up ahead." Joy finally dropped the teasing.


    After buying the pen, Eleanor went with Joy to a children''s clothing store, picking up three outfits for Joy''s baby while they were there.


    Eleanor got home at three in the afternoon. Not wanting to head over to Goodwin Manor too early, she worked until five-thirty before finally driving over.


    When she arrived at Goodwin Manor, she saw that Serena had arranged an borate setup. The entire garden was steeped in a festive, birthday atmosphere.


    String lights twinkled, balloons floated in the air, and giant marquee letters glowed in the twilight. A long dining table sat on the stone patio in the middle of thewn, draped in a crisp white tablecloth and set with elegant tableware and fresh floral centerpieces. Several waitstaff in matching uniforms moved about, bustling yet organized.


    Goodwin Manor rarely hosted such lively parties, but this was undoubtedly Serena''s idea.


    Eleanor carried her gift into the living room, where Magdalen greeted her happily. "Ellie, you''re here."


    "Grandma!" Eleanor walked over and sat beside her.


    The older woman was in


    exceptionally high spirits. "It''s been a long time since we''ve had such a grand dinner. Serena has such a creative mind andn let her handle


    all the decorations: Evelyn


    Kon


    thrilled."


    "Mom!" Evelyn came running over, lifting the hem of her beautiful dress before throwing herself into Eleanor''s arms. Forn''s birthday, Evelyn was dressed up like a little princess.


    "Mom, do you like my princess dress?" Evelyn twirled around, her little face beaming with pride. "I helped Auntie decorate, too!"


    "You did such a great job, Evelyn," Eleanor praised her with a smile.


    "Ellie, you made it." Serena walked over, praising how well-behaved Evelyn had been that day.


    A momentter,n walked in. He


    uj


    was dressed in a ck suit, looking as if he had just stepped out of an important meeting. He scooped Evelynup with a smile and walked. over to the sofa where his grandmother sat.


    "Grandma."


    n, you''re way too dressed up! Do you want to go change into something morefortable?" Serena asked him.


    When their eyes met, Eleanor subtly looked away. A soft smile touchedn''s eyes as he headed upstairs.


    Twenty minutester, he came back down wearing a dark blue button-down shirt. The top buttons were left casually undone, giving him an effortlessly charming look.


    He stepped out of the living room and into the garden. His family was already seated out there under the starry sky, surrounded by an atmosphere of pure, sweet happiness.


    He listened to theughtering from the dining table—his grandmother, his mother, Eleanor, his sister, his daughter. The scene felt like a warm embrace, leaving asting impression on his heart.


    For so many years, his life had been consumed by work, responsibilities, and an endless stream of goals. He had taken over the Goodwin & Co. empire amassed wealth and, prestige, and calcted every move with precision. But he rarely stopped to ask himself: what was the point of it all?