Eleanor finally regained her senses. Her face burned hot as she quickly let go of his shirt and tried to push herself out of his arms.


    "Careful. The ground is uneven here," he warned in a low voice, his eyes lingering on her flushed face. "Did you get scared?"


    Eleanor put some distance between them, though her heart was still hammering against her ribs. "I''m fine... Thanks."


    Her thoughts were in a total tangle.


    But shepletely missed the look of dark satisfaction and lingering desire on the face of the man beside her.


    "Let''s keep walking a bit longer,"n said, unwilling to head back just yet.


    "Alright," Eleanor nodded. She didn''t want to ruin the mood of their walk, but she made sure to step far more carefully for the remainder of the path, trying her best not to cause him any more trouble.


    They walked a little further until they reached an observation deck equipped with an octagonal gazebo. In the distance, the rolling mountains were shrouded in morning mist, looking like a scene straight out of a fairy tale.


    Eleanor stared in awe for a few seconds before taking a seat on a bench inside the gazebo. Ian sat opposite her, his tall, lean frame exuding azy, casual elegance. His long legs were stretched out, and the wind yfully ruffled his slightly graying hair, drawing attention to his striking, chiseled features and giving him an edge of untamed maism.


    Eleanor couldn''t help but notice him, mainly because he was staring at her with a tant smile. Feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze, she turned her head away. "What are you looking at?"


    "You''re beautiful," Ianplimented her without missing a beat.


    "Even if I am, it has nothing to do with you anymore," Eleanor retorted, flustered by his shameless staring.


    Eleanor hadn''t expectedn to act like such a shameless rogue. It left her entirely speechless.


    ????


    "I''m not expecting to magically go back to how things were, and I haven''t thought about getting remarried because that piece of paper doesn''t matter,"n said, his gaze turning incredibly earnest, almost reverent. "just hope I can be here with you, watching our daughter grow up healthy and happy. Is that okay? I won''t bother you, and I won''t pressure you. Just being like this... is enough."


    Eleanor looked at him and let out a soft sigh, demanding rity. "Are you absolutely sure this is enough for you?"


    "I''m very satisfied," the man replied. His voice was quiet, but unyielding. "I won''t force you for anything more."


    "Ian, I can''t give you any guarantees. If you''re willing to just co-parent like this and


    be there for Evelyn, I have no objections," Eleanor told him clearly.


    Eleanor turned her gaze back to the distant scenery, saying nothing


    more. It wasn''t until she felt het


    tumblings of hanger that she looked back at him. "Let''s head back and get some food. I''m getting hungry."


    "Sure,"n replied, a breezy lightness in his tone.


    They retraced their steps back down the trail. Although they didn''t speak much, the atmosphere between them was so incredibly peaceful and harmonious that they truly felt like an old married couple again.


    By the time they returned to the vi, breakfast had arrived. Evelyn came sprinting over from thewn. "Mommy! Daddy! Where did you go?"


    "We went for a walk," Eleanor answered.


    Evelyn tilted her little face up. "Can you take me next time?"


    After breakfast, Magdalen wanted to take a walk around the estate, and Eleanor happily kept herpany.


    Following lunch, everyone retreated


    to their rooms to rest. Eleanor took a nap with her daughter, waking up past three in the afternoon. Evelyn spent the rest of the day practically vibrating with anticipation for their evening firefly hunt.


    After dinner, the resort arranged for golf carts to drive them over to the ecological meadow.


    The staff thoughtfully provided them with small ss jars to catch the insects in.