Chapter 1452

Across the pool, Evelyn panicked for a moment. “Mommy, are you okay?”

The little girl started to paddle over in her floatie, but a hand quickly held her back. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Your daddy is protecting your mommy.”

At a moment like this, Serena wasn’t about to let her little niece interrupt. She had to hold her back.

Eleanor brushed the water from her face and reassured her daughter, “Evelyn, Mommy’s fine. Don’t worry.”

She wiped the water from her eyes and opened them, only to be met with a view of taut, powerful lines of muscle-

Her body instantly froze, and her face grew hot. Ian’s hand was still clamped around her waist, his palm scorching.

The position was far too intimate, like a throwback to the years when they were at their closest.

And just then, Eleanor saw the tattoo over his heart.

S.G.

Her gaze locked onto it, stunned.

She had seen those black, simple letters four years ago.

Eleanor’s breath hitched. Four years ago, that tattoo had been like a thorn driven deep into her heart. She had always believed it had something to do with Vanessa— the first letters of Vanessa Shannon’s and lan Goodwin’s last names.

Now, seeing the tattoo again at such a close distance, Eleanor’s feelings were a complicated mess.

-S.G.

-Could it be… Eleanor Sutton and lan Goodwin?

The first letters of her and lan’s last names? Or hers and their daughter’s?

The realization made her go rigid.

lan followed her gaze, glanced down at the tattoo on his chest, and when he looked up again, his eyes were swirling with intense emotion, like something suppressed for too long had finally found an outlet.

“Sorry, I never had a chance to tell you about this,” lan’s voice was low and raspy, his gaze locked on her. “I got it four years ago.”

Eleanor’s heart jolted. Apparently, he had no idea she had already seen it back then. “What does it mean?” Eleanor asked coolly, pretending she hadn’t already guessed. lan looked down at the tattoo again, then met her eyes with a frank, direct gaze. He let out a low chuckle. “It’s the first letters of your and our daughter’s last names.”

The words struck Eleanor’s heart like a physical blow. So—

So all that pain she’d felt four years ago… had it all been a misunderstanding?

“Back then, when I was abroad, I passed by a tattoo shop and went in on a whim to get these two letters was originally thinking it would be a nice surprise for you-” lan’s gaze rested Len her damp, fair face.”I wanted to tell you that you and Evelyn are, and always have been, the most important people in my heart.”

That’s why he had it tattooed over his heart.

He spoke slowly. Eleanor’s throat tightened, and her vision blurred with unshed

tears. She looked away, fighting for composure.

lan’s tone was sincere and straightforward; he clearly wasn’t lying.

Seeing her look away, a pang of bitterness hit him. His arm subconsciously loosened its grip on her, and he took a step back. “Bo

you think this is a little unnecessary now?”

Or did she just not like him getting it at all?

How could lan have known that this tattoo was not only unnecessary but had also

dealt Eleanor a devastating blow four years ago?

Eleanor took a shallow breath, cupped some pool water, and splashed it on her

face. As she wiped away the droplets, she said, “As long as you like it.”

She didn’t want to bring up the past, and she certainly didn’t want him to know she had seen it before.

Since he was willing to explain, she would just listen and let it be.

“Do you like it?” lan asked suddenly, his voice low.

He had intended to surprise her with it four years ago. Bringing it up now, he wasn’t

sure if Eleanor would still like it.

But for him, her opinion was what mattered.

Eleanor’s hand paused as she wiped her face. If their marriage hadn’t been plagued by so many misunderstandings four years ago, she probably would have been` ecstatic she would have seen it as the most romantic declaration of love.