Chapter 36
Eleanor thought her heart had long since gone numb, but seeing this scene felt like being lashed all over again. She wished she could go the rest of her life without ever laying eyes on him again.
But fate wasn’t going to give her another shot at love. In front of her was only a failed marriage, and the storm of divorce looming on the horizon.
She brought a bowl of soup to Joel’s bedside. Joel glanced at the clock and said, “You should go home and be with your daughter. Times like these, your husband ought to have his family around him p>
“Alright, call me if you need anything,” Eleanor replied. She did want to be with her daughter. As for her husband, well, he was already keeping someone else company.
Instead of leaving through the outpatient wing, she circled around to her car. It was already eight thirty. She wanted to bring her daughter home for a few days.
By the time she arrived at Goodwin Manor, the New Year’s Eve dinner was long over. Magdalen asked if she’d eaten, and Eleanor could only nod and say she had. When she asked Evelyn if she wanted to come home, the little girl nodded eagerly-she wanted to be with her mother and Princess, her puppy.
Just then, Serena came downstairs and called out, “Eleanor, what’s been keeping you so busy these days p>
“Not much,” Eleanor answered with a small smile.
“Must get pretty boring at home while Evelyn’s at school all day, huh?” Serena’s tone had a hint of condescension.
Eleanor remembered Serena once calling her a clingy nuisance in front of her daughter. It was clear Serena had always looked down on her.
“It’s not so bad. I usually catch up on my reading or study a little,” Eleanor said, still smiling.
Serena scoffed, “Oh? What kind of books do you read? Don’t tell me you’re into cheesy romance novels p>
Eleanor’s expression didn’t change. “No, I prefer medical books, actually p>
Serena didn’t buy it. A woman who’d supposedly given up everything for a man- could she really have any ambition left after marriage? Finding nothing more to say, Serena soon wandered back upstairs.
Eleanor turned to her daughter. “Ready to go home, sweetheart? Princess has grown so much p>
Evelyn nodded, and Eleanor took her hand to find her mother-in-law. Gina looked displeased at the thought of her granddaughter leaving, but seeing how much Evelyn wanted to go, she relented. “Alright, but make sure you bring her back for New Year’s Day p>
Eleanor nodded and led her daughter outside. As they got in the car, Evelyn asked curiously, “Mommy, will Daddy come home tonight p>
“He’s busy with work, baby. He might not make it,” Eleanor said gently.
Evelyn’s face fell as she looked down at her shoes, disappointed.
But once they were back home, with Princess wagging her tail, Evelyn’s spirits lifted. Eleanor turned to the housekeeper. “Joslyn, could you make us some dumplings p>
“Ma’am, you haven’t had dinner yet?” Joslyn looked surprised-it was New Year’s Eve, after all.
“No, I haven’t. Make extra, so Evelyn and I can eat together p>
Fifteen minutes later, Eleanor and Evelyn sat together at the table, eating
dumplings under the warm glow of the lights. Evelyn, always thoughtful, pushed her plate toward her mother. “Mommy, I already had dinner. You eat more p>
Eleanor felt a rush of warmth and gratitude.
That night, as she read storybooks to Evelyn, Eleanor deliberately chose ones with encouraging messages.
Sometime after midnight, drifting half-asleep, she heard someone enter her room. She opened her eyes instantly. Against the light spilling in from the hallway, she recognized lan.
Her daughter was asleep in her arms as lan’s large hand reached over to gently ruffle Evelyn’s hair. Eleanor caught a faint whiff of women’s perfume lingering on his fingertips-the kind of scent you only pick up after an intimate encounter.
Women usually dab perfume on their wrists, behind their ears, or along their necks.
Which meant lan’s hands had just been caressing Vanessa in those very places. Not until lan withdrew his hand did Eleanor finally let out a quiet sigh.
The next morning, several messages popped up on Eleanor’s phone.
“Miss Sutton, I’m sending you a few photographs to have a look at p>
The detective sent three pictures. In the first, Vanessa sat looking fragile at the doctor’s office with lan right beside her, personally asking the doctor about Vanessa’s condition.