Chapter 601
lan suddenly stood up and walked over to the window, his gaze fixed on the blurred world outside, his emotions impossible to read.
“lan,” Xavier said softly, “if you still care about her, let her live her own life p>
lan didn’t answer at first. After a moment, he replied quietly, “I haven’t interfered with anything.” He turned around, his expression complex as he looked at Xavier. “Are you serious about this p>
“I am,” Xavier answered without hesitation.
After more than twenty years as friends, it wasn’t hard to guess what the other was thinking.
They locked eyes for a moment before lan nodded. “I’ll respect any choice she makes p>
With that, he grabbed the overcoat slung over the back of his chair and draped it over his arm. “Take care of yourself and get some rest. I’ll check in on you again in a couple of days p>
At the door, he paused. “But this concerns the safety of my child’s mother. I’ll have someone look into that driver p>
Xavier was caught off guard. Before he could say anything, lan had already pushed open the door and left. Xavier frowned, thinking to himself: Ian keeps saying he respects Eleanor’s choices, yet he can’t help interfering in every part of her life.
Meanwhile, Eleanor was resting at home, still an hour away from picking up her daughter. Joslyn, the housekeeper, noticed Princess-Eleanor’s golden retriever -whining at the door, as if sensing someone familiar outside.
There weren’t many people Princess welcomed so enthusiastically; Joslyn had a pretty good guess who it was. Right on cue, the doorbell rang.
Eleanor was resting upstairs, and Joslyn didn’t want to disturb her, but she figured she ought to greet Mr. Goodwin herself.
She grabbed an umbrella and stepped outside. When she opened the door, she found lan standing in the rain, drenched from head to toe, looking far more exhausted than usual.
“Is Eleanor home?” lan asked.
Joslyn was startled. He looked worn out, the rain darkening his hair and suit, the usual sharpness in his eyes dulled by fatigue.
“Mrs. Goodwin is resting upstairs. Mr. Goodwin, do you ” Joslyn hesitated, unsure whether to invite him in.
“I need to speak with her.” lan glanced up toward the second floor.
Joslyn, feeling a pang of sympathy, nodded. “Please come inside and get out of the rain. You’ll catch a cold standing out here like this p>
lan didn’t protest. He strode through the garden and into the foyer; Joslyn quickly fetched him a pair of slippers.
He slipped off his wet coat, and Joslyn, out of habit, took it and hung it in the entryway.
Upstairs, Eleanor half-heard the voices below. Still groggy, she sat up and started down the stairs, calling, “Joslyn, who’s here p>
Joslyn hurried to the banister. “Ma’am, it’s Mr. Goodwin p>
Eleanor’s expression hardened instantly. She clutched her cardigan closer, her
voice colder than the winter rain outside. “What do you want p>
lan looked up at her, his dark hair slicked back. He got straight to the point. “Have you upset anyone recently p>
Eleanor paused, her hand tightening on the railing. She walked down the stairs slowly, thinking for a moment before replying, “What are you trying to say p>
“I just want to make sure the accident wasn’t anything but that—an accident p>
Eleanor’s gaze turned icy. Whether the incident was deliberate or not, Xavier was already investigating. “Xavier is looking into it,” she said flatly.
“If you need anything, I can “
She cut him off sharply. “I trust him p>
Those words “I trust him”-made something in lan’s expression darken. His jaw tightened, and when he spoke again, his voice was rough. “I only want to make sure you and Evelyn are safe p>
Eleanor turned away. “Joslyn, show Mr. Goodwin out p>
lan’s fists clenched at his sides, then relaxed. Eleanor disappeared upstairs; Joslyn walked over and said quietly, “Mr. Goodwin, maybe you should go. She’s been exhausted these last few days p>
lan made his way to the entryway, grabbed his coat, and walked out into the rain without looking back.
Joslyn barely had time to fetch an umbrella for him before Princess darted past her, chasing after lan. He was just about to open his car door when he noticed Princess crouched behind him, looking up at him with watery eyes. Rain streamed down his face as he turned and knelt beside her, rubbing her head gently. “Back inside, girl p>
Princess tilted her head, tail wagging, but didn’t budge.
“Go on,” lan said, his tone firmer.
Looking dejected, Princess finally retreated behind the gate. Ian closed it behind her and glanced up at the second floor, lingering for a few seconds in the rain. Then he slid into his black sedan and drove away, his car vanishing into the storm.
Upstairs, Eleanor’s phone rang at that very moment. Xavier was calling-he’d just received the police report.
It had been an accident after all. The driver was a rookie, licensed for barely three months, who’d just picked up his new car. Excited and careless, he’d run a red light at excessive speed, causing the crash.