Chapter 642

lan’s gaze turned icy. “That won’t be necessary p>

With that, he calmly adjusted his cufflinks and strode toward the door.

Gwenda was waiting by the entrance. The moment she saw him emerge, her breath caught; she hurried to see him off. “Have a good evening, Mr. Goodwin p>

Watching lan disappear toward the elevator lobby, Gwenda couldn’t help but think to herself-falling in love with a man like that, let alone marrying him, would take real courage.

He just had this overwhelming presence.

Outside Cloudcrest Manor, Joslyn had gone to pick up some household essentials from the nearby grocery store. She’d borrowed a shopping cart from the building management and kept double-checking her shopping list, convinced she’d miscalculated something. Absentmindedly, she pressed the button for the twenty- eighth floor as usual.

As the elevator climbed upward, Joslyn looked up and realized she’d hit the button for the twenty-seventh floor by mistake. She quickly added the twenty- eighth.

But when the elevator chimed and stopped at twenty-seven, the doors slid open to reveal a familiar figure waiting in the hallway. Startled, Joslyn hit the “open” button. “Hey! Gavin? What are you doing here p>

“Joslyn.” Gavin greeted her with a friendly smile, looking entirely unsurprised.

“You live here?” Joslyn couldn’t hide her astonishment.

Gavin gave a sheepish grin. “No-not me. Mr. Goodwin just moved in p>

“Oh! So Mr. Goodwin’s living here now too? That’s actually great-makes it easier for him to see Evelyn p>

“Need a hand with all that?” Gavin gestured at the cart overflowing with supplies.

Joslyn waved him off with a smile. “No need, this cart makes it easy. I’ll head up first p>

Once Joslyn got home, she started unpacking everything.

At five-thirty that afternoon, Eleanor returned with her daughter. Evelyn darted around the new apartment, giggling as she explored, Princess-their golden retriever—trotting along at her side, as inseparable as ever.

Eleanor settled onto the couch on the balcony with a glass of water. Joslyn brought over a fruit platter and, almost offhandedly, remarked, “By the way, Mr. Goodwin moved into our building-he’s on the twenty-seventh floor p>

Eleanor spat out her water in shock, splattering it across the floor.

“How do you know that?” she demanded.

Joslyn recounted her run-in with Gavin in the elevator. Eleanor’s chest rose and fell as she tried to process it. What was lan playing at? He had visitation rights— eight times a month, not a permanent pass for daily visits.

Trying to keep her temper in check, Eleanor grabbed her phone and retreated to her bedroom. She dialed lan’s number.

“What is it?” His low, rich voice came through.

“Ian.” Eleanor’s tone sharpened. “What exactly are you trying to do? Why did you deliberately move into the apartment below mine p>

“I won’t be living at Cloudcrest Manor full-time. It’s just a convenient place to stay when I’m visiting Evelyn,” lan replied evenly.

Eleanor wasn’t buying it. She took a deep breath. “I want you to move out p>

“I’m only here so I can spend time with my daughter. Don’t worry, I won’t intrude on you.” lan’s tone made it clear he had every intention of keeping the place.

Eleanor realized that since Gavin was already moving things in, the apartment must already be under lan’s name.

“I keep my word,” lan assured her quietly.

Eleanor clenched her jaw. She hadn’t lost her temper like this in ages, but this was really pushing her buttons.

“You’d better,” she said coldly, hanging up. She knew, in the end, she had no real right to interfere with lan’s decision.

Meanwhile, down in the underground parking garage-

Xavier’s car rounded the corner just as a black Rolls-Royce approached from the opposite direction. The license plate caught his eye, and he honked a greeting.

The Rolls pulled to a stop, the window gliding down to reveal Gavin behind the wheel. Gavin nodded politely. “Mr. Vaughn p>

“Gavin?” Xavier raised his eyebrows. “What brings you here p>

Gavin smiled. “Mr. Goodwin just moved in-I was helping him with some things for the new place p>

Xavier’s expression froze for a moment. “Is that so? Any idea when he’s officially moving in p>

“Still furnishing, so I’m not sure yet,” Gavin replied.

“Alright, I’ll let you get on with it.” Xavier waved him off.

As Gavin drove away, Xavier lingered in his seat, a complex look on his face. lan’s move was clearly about Eleanor. Was it really all about being closer to his daughter-or was there something more?

Later, at dinner-

Xavier met Henry at a restaurant, where Henry was enthusiastically outlining his company’s latest development plans.

“Xavier, are you listening? Do you think the resort project still has potential p>

But Xavier seemed lost in thought, barely registering Henry’s words.

Henry finally stood up and waved a hand in front of his face. “Earth to Xavier?” Xavier snapped back. “Sorry-what were you saying p>

Henry rolled his eyes. “Never mind what I was saying. Out with it-what’s got you so distracted?” He leaned his head on his hand and swirled his wine, waiting.

Xavier hesitated, but Henry’s concern was genuine. He narrowed his eyes. “lan moved into my building. Did you know p>

“What?” Now it was Henry’s turn to be surprised.

“Because Eleanor just moved in this week too,” Xavier explained.

Henry’s eyes widened further. “You don’t think lan’s doing this because of Eleanor, do you p>

“What else would it be p>

Henry chuckled. “Come on, it’s obviously about spending more time with Evelyn! I know lan better than that p>

Xavier liked to think he knew lan too-but lately, lan’s actions didn’t match the man he used to be.