lan's hand tightened around his glass. Hearing the sound of gentle laughter coming from the sunroom, he adjusted his collar and walked out the front door.

Evelyn was engrossed in her new toy. Serena saw lan leave and followed him out into the yard. She found him on a garden bench and went to sit beside him.

"Ian, I heard Ellie is... dating someone," Serena said, turning to gauge his reaction. lan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Mm."

"lan... why don't you try to win her back?" Serena ventured, trying to encourage him.

lan gazed at the distant sunset, his expression surprisingly calm. "As long as she's happy, that's enough."

"Ian, tell me the truth. Do you still love Ellie?" Serena asked suddenly.

lan was silent for so long that Serena thought he wouldn't answer. She was about to get up and leave.

The last rays of the sunset caught his graying hair, casting a faint golden glow over it. He finally spoke, his voice slow. "What right does a man who doesn't even know how to love have to talk about love?"

Serena's heart went out to him. "Ian, you love Ellie. You need to tell her your side, explain everything. She might hear you out. I know you never broke her trust."

lan rubbed his temples, his voice hoarse. "Serena, stop."

Serena felt a sting in her nose.

She suddenly realized that behind lan's gray hair, there was not only the pain of losing Eleanor, but perhaps his own remorse as well.

Just then, the bright lights of the sunroom illuminated Eleanor's figure on the phone. Through the glass, they could see the gentle smile on her face. She was sitting in an ornate chair by the French doors, her chin propped on her hand, looking relaxed and happy.

Watching this scene, Serena knew that this version of Eleanor would never come back to lan.

She glanced at lan beside her. As dusk settled, the breeze ruffled his hair. His gaze was also fixed an

Eleanor. Though the appeared cata,

Serena could sense the unspoken anguish in his heart.

In Serena's eyes, lan had always been spirited and confident, his every move exuding a natural strength. But now, this proud man didn't even have the courage to speak of love.

She decided not to disturb him any longer and went back inside to be with her niece.

Eleanor was on the phone with

Mansfield, listening to him describe

how his grandmother had visited

and forced him to drink some

medicine. As he described f

Eleanor could just picture

Mansfield's grandma Mildred

taste

fussing over her grandson, and she

couldn't help but laugh.

After hanging up, Eleanor returned to the living room, where the old woman was

asking, "Ellie, have you seen lan?"

Eleanor paused; lan wasn't on the sofa.

"Could you find him for me? Tell him to come in for dinner," Magdalen said to Eleanor.

Understanding that it was difficult for Magdalen to get around, Eleanor nodded. "Okay, I'll go look for him."

Eleanor instinctively went out into the yard. After a few steps, she saw lan sitting alone on the bench, lost in thought.

"It's time for dinner," she said to him.

lan looked up, his gaze meeting hers, looking especially deep in the dim light. He slowly stood up, his voice low. "Okay."

He started walking toward her, but Eleanor turned and headed for the main hall first.

lan paused for a moment before following slowly behind her.

In the dining room, Magdalen was waiting for them at the head of the table.

Eleanor sat next to her daughter. Evelyn said coaxingly, "Mommy, I want some shrimp."