"Thank you," she murmured, taking a seat and slowly stirring the tea.

lan sat across from her. He made no move to leave, simply watching her in absolute silence. His gaze was impossibly soft, mirroring the gentle moonlight spilling through the window.

Eleanor scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and took a sip. The warm tea instantly soothed her stomach and eased the tension in her chest.

"Are your cramps any better?" lan asked gently.

Eleanor shook her head. "They're manageable."

"Could it be from the stress? I don't remember it ever being this bad for you before," lan noted.

Lowering her eyes, she replied quietly, "Yeah. Just stress."

She drank her tea in silence. Just as she was about to get up for a second helping, Ian beat her to it, taking her bowl and returning with another half-serving.

Eleanor genuinely enjoyed the tea, easily finishing the second bowl. It was then she realized that the man across the table was staring intently-not at her face, but lower.

Her cheeks flushed hot. She glared at him in exasperation. "What are you looking at?"

She had completely forgotten that she hadn't put a bra back on after her shower. Beneath the thin cotton of her pajamas-

lan cleared his throat, lifting a fist to his lips. "I wasn't looking on purpose."

Despite his words, his eyes didn't waver, his gaze darkening with undeniable heat.

Eleanor decided to ignore him. Although they had once shared every imaginable intimacy, the three years since their divorce made those memories feel almost forbidden now.

Setting her spoon down, she stood up. "I'm done. I'm going to bed. You should get some sleep too."

He had spent the entire previous night sleeping upright on the sofa. He had to be exhausted.

lan stood up as well, watching her head for the stairs. "Goodnight."

Eleanor closed her bedroom door, her heart skipping a traitorous beat, though she forced herself not to dwell on it.

Thanks to the exhaustion of her cycle, she slept incredibly well, making it through the night without a single dream.

Around nine the next morning, Gina called, inviting her over for lunch at Goodwin Manor.

"I'll have lan pick you up. He's coming home today anyway."

"Alright, Gina," Eleanor agreed easily, realizing it would be a good opportunity to check on Magdalen.

At eleven, lan picked her up and they

headed toward the estate. In just a

couple of weeks, they would be moving into lan's neighborhood.

putting an end to these Tong thirty-minute drives just for a family meal.

FindNovel.net

The house Eleanor had chosen was also much closer to her lab, cutting her commute down to a mere fifteen minutes.

When they arrived at Goodwin Manor, Evelyn ran over with a bright smile. "Mom! Dad! You're here!"

Magdalen had recently acquired a few new antique treasures, courtesy of lan's aggressive auction bidding. She was currently in the collection room and requested Eleanor presence to admire them.

Magdalen looked around the room, surrounded by her beloved artifacts. Most had been won at auctions, incredibly rare pieces that rarely saw the light of day.

"Ellie, do you like these antiques? After I'm gone, someone will have to take care of them," Magdalen said suddenly.

Eleanor's heart sank. She reached out and gently squeezed the older woman's hand. "Magdalen, you're going to live a very long time."

"I'm seventy-eight this year. I've lived a full life," Magdalen said with a peaceful, accepting smile.

"Then these should go to Serena," Eleanor insisted gently.

"That girl gets a headache just looking at these things. She wouldn't know how to appreciate them. I think it's best to leave them to Evelyn But until she's old enough, I to

want you look after the net?

Magdalen patted Eleanor's hard firmly. "It's settled then."