Eleanor finally regained her senses. Her face burned hot as she quickly let go of his shirt and tried to push herself out of his arms.

lan didn't release her immediately. He waited until he was certain she had regained her balance before slowly letting his arm fall away.

"Careful. The ground is uneven here," he warned in a low voice, his eyes lingering on her flushed face. "Did you get scared?"

Eleanor put some distance between them, though her heart was still hammering against her ribs. "I'm fine... Thanks."

Her thoughts were in a total tangle.

But she completely missed the look of dark satisfaction and lingering desire on the face of the man beside her.

"Let's keep walking a bit longer," lan said, unwilling to head back just yet.

"Alright," Eleanor nodded. She didn't want to ruin the mood of their walk, but she made sure to step far more carefully for the remainder of the path, trying her best not to cause him any more trouble.

They walked a little further until they reached an observation deck equipped with an octagonal gazebo. In the distance, the rolling mountains were shrouded in morning mist, looking like a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

Eleanor stared in awe for a few seconds before taking a seat on a bench inside the gazebo. Ian sat opposite her, his tall, lean frame exuding a lazy, casual elegance. His long legs were stretched out, and the wind playfully ruffled his slightly graying hair, drawing attention to his striking, chiseled features and giving him an edge of untamed magnetism.

Eleanor couldn't help but notice him, mainly because he was staring at her with a blatant smile. Feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze, she turned her head away. "What are you looking at?"

"You're beautiful," Ian complimented her without missing a beat.

"Even if I am, it has nothing to do with you anymore," Eleanor retorted, flustered by his shameless staring.

lan chuckled. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes burning with intensity. "How can it not? I'm working hard right now to make sure it does."

Eleanor hadn't expected lan to act like such a shameless rogue. It left her entirely speechless.

กวนๆ

"I'm not expecting to magically go back to how things were, and I haven't thought about getting remarried because that piece of paper doesn't matter," lan said, his gaze turning incredibly earnest, almost reverent. "just hope I can be here with you, watching our daughter grow up healthy and happy. Is that okay? I won't bother you, and I won't pressure you. Just being like this... is enough."

Eleanor looked at him and let out a soft sigh, demanding clarity. "Are you absolutely sure this is enough for you?"

"I'm very satisfied," the man replied. His voice was quiet, but unyielding. "I won't force you for anything more."

"Ian, I can't give you any guarantees. If you're willing to just co-parent like this and

be there for Evelyn, I have no objections," Eleanor told him clearly.

lan smiled, his eyes shining with a captivating light. "Alright. It's a deal."

Eleanor turned her gaze back to the distant scenery, saying nothing

more. It wasn't until she felt het

tumblings of hanger that she looked back at him. "Let's head back and get some food. I'm getting hungry."

"Sure," lan replied, a breezy lightness in his tone.

They retraced their steps back down the trail. Although they didn't speak much, the atmosphere between them was so incredibly peaceful and harmonious that they truly felt like an old married couple again.

By the time they returned to the villa, breakfast had arrived. Evelyn came sprinting over from the lawn. "Mommy! Daddy! Where did you go?"

"We went for a walk," Eleanor answered.

Evelyn tilted her little face up. "Can you take me next time?"

lan affectionately ruffled his daughter's hair, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "Of course. We'll take you next time."

After breakfast, Magdalen wanted to take a walk around the estate, and Eleanor happily kept her company.

Following lunch, everyone retreated

to their rooms to rest. Eleanor took a nap with her daughter, waking up past three in the afternoon. Evelyn spent the rest of the day practically vibrating with anticipation for their evening firefly hunt.

After dinner, the resort arranged for golf carts to drive them over to the ecological meadow.

The staff thoughtfully provided them with small glass jars to catch the insects in.