"Here you go."

Eleanor smiled, took it, and took a bite. The sugar melted instantly in her mouth, beautifully sweet.

After a couple of bites, she held it up to lan. "You try it too."

lan leaned down and took a bite. He looked at her, his eyes brimming with affection. "Yeah, it's very sweet."

Just as Eleanor lowered her head for another bite, surrounded by the bustling crowd, lan leaned close to her ear. "But you're sweeter."

His words made Eleanor's ears burn. Ian chuckled softly behind her, stepping up to take her hand again.

After their shopping trip, lan took her to an exclusive private kitchen restaurant for lunch.

Once they finished, the driver took them back to the hotel to grab their luggage before heading to the airport.

They arrived home at five in the evening. Evelyn happily received several gifts, but the one she was most interested in was an intricate Nine-Linked Rings puzzle.

Eleanor sat down with her, watching her daughter experiment and explore. Evelyn cupped her cheeks in her hands, looking so serious and focused.

Evelyn didn't pester Eleanor for help. After fiddling with it for a while, she managed to unlock one ring, filling her with a massive sense of pride and accomplishment.

"Mom, I'm going to figure out how to unlock all of them one by one," Evelyn announced. It was clear that challenging toys were her absolute favorite.

Eleanor could feel that her daughter was truly growing up, developing her own independent thoughts and opinions.

That night, Evelyn took her toys back to her room to study them. She was already accustomed to sleeping independently, though Eleanor still checked on her occasionally to make sure she hadn't kicked off her blankets.

Eleanor herself didn't stop working. She sat in the study, opened her laptop, and logged into the database to cross-reference Sophia's medical files. She was determined to do everything in her power to help the girl recover.

Before she knew it, the clock struck eleven. She hadn't noticed the time until a figure appeared in the doorway to remind her.

"It's very late. Shouldn't you be resting?" lan leaned against the doorframe, wearing a dark gray robe. His hair was still slightly damp, clearly fresh out of the shower.

Eleanor glanced up at him before looking back at the screen. "Almost done. Just let me finish comparing this last set of data."

A helpless look crossed lan's eyes. He walked in, sat on the sofa opposite her, and silently kept her company.

"Is that girl's condition complicated?" he asked.

"A bit more complicated than I expected, but as long as we use the right methods, there's a very high chance she'll walk again."

"Are you confident?"

Eleanor thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, but it will take time."

lan looked at her. He knew she was doing this because Mansfield had asked, and she would undoubtedly see it through to the end.

Eleanor finally finished checking the

data.ne

down her laptop. and

leaned back in her chair a wave of exhaustion washing over her face.

"I'm going to take a shower," she said, standing up.

lan went to check on their daughter Seeing the little girl sleeping soundly

with her arms wrapped around?

doll he leaned down and gently Kissed her forehead.

Closing the door behind him, he returned to the master bedroom.

When Eleanor stepped out of the bathroom, the man was already leaning against the headboard in bed.

"Come here," his voice was husky, his eyes heavy with dark desire.

Eleanor sat on the edge of the bed, and he immediately reached out to pull her in by the waist. "Are you tired?"

"Yeah, exhausted." Eleanor nodded, leaning completely into his embrace.

lan wrapped his arms tighter around her. He reached out and turned off the lights.

In the dim room, he pulled her closer, his lips pressing into her soft hair.

"Goodnight," Eleanor mumbled, nuzzling against his chest. She was genuinely dead on her feet.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed in the darkness. His large hand rested

her

on her waist, gently.co.

skin as his lips brushed her earlobe.

lan lowered his head and whispered, "Ellie."

"Mhm," she replied vaguely.

lan gently stroked her long hair. A moment later, he looked down, only to realize the woman in his arms had completely fallen asleep.

The moonlight spilled over her radiant, luminous face. Her brows were relaxed, and she slept without a single guard up.

lan didn't know whether to be angry or to laugh.

He had waited all day.

From Kingston to Ashford City, from the afternoon until night. He had finally made it

to this moment, and the result was...

She fell asleep.

So much for helping him test his recovery.

"Sleep well," he murmured helplessly, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. He would just have to find an opportunity over the next two days.