Chapter 934

“Oh, and lan specifically told his mother and me not to tell you,” Magdalen added. “He didn’t want you to feel burdened by it p>

An indescribable mix of shock and confusion churned in Eleanor’s chest. Ian had made such a monumental decision and had hidden it from her all this time.

“Grandma,” Eleanor’s voice was strained, “did my father know it was lan’s decision alone p>

Magdalen nodded. “Ian handled all the donation paperwork himself p>

Eleanor felt a sharp prick in her heart. Ian had never said a single word about it.

“Ellie, you don’t need to feel any pressure about it. It’s been so many years, and our family has moved past it. I just thought I’d mention it,” Magdalen said. There was a hint of helplessness in her eyes, as if she wouldn’t have brought it up if her grandson weren’t so guarded, if she didn’t feel Eleanor needed to understand him better.

“You sit here for a bit. I’m going to check on dinner,” the old woman said, getting up and heading to the kitchen.

Eleanor took a sip of her now-cold tea, her thoughts a million miles away. She couldn’t help but think of lan in the hallway earlier, his eyes filled with a desperate need to explain. Maybe she did need to find a time to talk to him, to ask what her father had really told him, to understand why so much had been kept from her.

A few moments later, Evelyn ran over with a drawing, pulling Eleanor from her thoughts. She took the picture; it was abstract but full of childish charm.

“This is wonderful,” Eleanor praised.

Soon, dinner was served. After a pleasant meal filled with light conversation, Eleanor saw that it was getting late and decided it was time to take her daughter home. Though Magdalen was sad to see them go, she understood and waved them off.

As Eleanor pulled into her parking spot, she noticed a black Maybach parked in the adjacent space, its engine still running.

“It’s Daddy’s car!” Evelyn exclaimed happily.

Eleanor frowned. Before she had even turned off her own car, lan was getting out

of the driver’s seat. He waited for her to kill the engine, then opened the back

door. Evelyn scrambled out and threw her arms around him.

“Daddy p>

lan ruffled her hair. “Did you have fun at Great-Grandma’s p>

“Yes! Great-Grandma and Mommy talked for a long time,” Evelyn reported.

lan looked over at Eleanor, his gaze deep and questioning.

Eleanor got out of the car with her purse, avoiding his eyes. Ian turned back to his daughter. “I’ll walk you two. His words were meant for Eleanor as much as for Evelyn.

The elevator rose to their floor. Ian carried Evelyn to the door, and Eleanor opened it. Joslyn was there to greet them, her surprise evident at seeing lan.

Eleanor paused for a moment, then spoke softly to her daughter. “Evelyn, you go inside. Mommy and Daddy need to talk about something p>

Evelyn nodded obediently. “Okay.” She looked from one to the other, her big eyes serious. “But you can’t fight, okay p>

“We won’t. We’re just going to talk,” Eleanor promised.

Satisfied, Evelyn nodded and allowed her mother to close the door.

lan’s throat felt tight, a subtle tension coiling in his stomach. He had no idea what Eleanor wanted to discuss, but he knew the hallway wasn’t the right place p>

“Come over to my place?” he invited.

Eleanor looked up at him. “We can talk here. I want to know what my father told you back then. I want you to tell me everything you and my father discussed that I don’t know about.” She added, “Your grandmother told me about your father’s donation today p>

lan’s body went rigid. He hadn’t expected his grandmother to bring that up.