Chapter 18

“Mom, can you peel the shrimp for me?” Evelyn’s eyes sparkled with longing as she eyed the platter of glazed jumbo shrimp.

Eleanor smiled. “Of course, sweetheart. Let me do it for you p>

She peeled five shrimp and set them on Evelyn’s plate before getting up to wash her hands. Across the table, lan’s chewing slowed, his gaze following Eleanor as she disappeared into the kitchen.

“Dad, I’ll share one with you!” Evelyn, ever thoughtful, picked up a peeled shrimp and dropped it into her father’s bowl.

“No need, honey. You eat it,” lan replied softly, placing the shrimp back on her plate.

When Eleanor returned, hands clean, she sat gracefully and continued eating, her attention never straying far from her daughter.

Evelyn blinked her big eyes and asked, “Mom, do you not like Daddy anymore p>

Eleanor smiled, a bit absent. “Of course I do p>

“Then why don’t you peel shrimp for him? You used to,” Evelyn pressed, her almost five-year-old mind always saying exactly what she was thinking.

Eleanor ruffled her daughter’s hair, still smiling. “My hands are tired from all that peeling p>

“Oh! Let me see.” Evelyn reached for her mother’s hands.

Eleanor held out her fingers-no cuts, no redness-yet Evelyn gently blew on them as if to soothe them. The gesture softened Eleanor’s eyes, and under the warm light, she looked radiant and lovely.

“You’re such a sweet girl,” Eleanor praised.

Across from them, lan set down his fork and left the table first.

That night, after bathing her daughter, Eleanor moved Princess, Evelyn’s little puppy, into her bedroom. The two little ones played for a bit before drifting off to sleep.

Soft lamplight filled the room as Eleanor sat quietly, watching her daughter’s peaceful face. Just then, lan walked in, fresh from a shower, draped in a black robe with the collar open, exposing the sculpted muscles of his chest—a sight that once might have made her heart skip, but not anymore.

Eleanor glanced at him, detached. She realized that, now, even if this man stood naked before her, she felt nothing.

lan leaned down and kissed Evelyn’s forehead. As he did, Eleanor noticed a new tattoo on his chest-simple black letters: W.Y.

Obvious enough—it was Vanessa’s initials.

As lan pulled his hand away from Evelyn’s hair, his fingers, whether by accident or intention, brushed lightly across Eleanor’s cheek.

She tensed. Then, without warning, lan’s hand slipped beneath the covers. Before she could stop him, he claimed his husbandly rights.

He wasn’t gentle. His touch was rough, almost teasing, leaving Eleanor gasping in surprise. Then he withdrew, his voice low and husky: “Come to my room p>

His meaning was clear.

He wanted her his wife-in his bed.

How absurd. He could sneak around with another woman and still expect to fulfill his marital needs at home? Eleanor found the idea laughable.

She ignored lan’s demand. To be safe, she locked the bedroom door from the inside after he left.

The next morning, Eleanor led Evelyn downstairs, only to find lan sitting at the table, his face clouded with irritation.

Noticing her father’s mood, Evelyn skipped over and clung to his arm. “Daddy, what’s wrong p>

“Nothing. Finish your breakfast. I’ll take you to school,” he replied.

“Okay!” Evelyn nodded obediently.

lan grabbed his car keys and left. Eleanor smiled sweetly at her daughter. “See you this afternoon, Evelyn p>

“Mom, can you bring Princess when you pick me up?” Evelyn hated leaving her puppy behind.

“Of course, I’ll bring her to meet you,” Eleanor promised.

At nine, Eleanor drove out to meet her friend Joy.

At the law office, after listening carefully, Joy sighed. “Are you sure you want a

divorce? Women would kill for your life right now p>

“If someone else wants it, they can have it,” Eleanor replied calmly.

“You’d really give up being the wife of a billionaire? A title most women only dream of p>

“I’d give up everything-except my daughter,” Eleanor said, her expression serene.

“And lan? You’re willing to let him go, too?” Joy’s tone turned teasing.

“A man who can’t stay faithful? I wouldn’t take him back if he were handed to me on a silver platter p>

“Still, you should know this won’t be an easy case,” Joy warned. “Unless you catch them in the act, lan won’t give up custody so easily. You’ve been a stay-at- home mom for five years, no real income, no power or influence. How are you planning to fight for Evelyn p>