Vanessa's lips curled into a mocking smile as she casually forwarded the photo to lan. “Ian, I just ran into Eleanor and Xavier on a date," she messaged, as if she'd stumbled across them by chance.

lan didn't reply.

But Vanessa didn't need him to. All she cared about was making sure he knew his ex-wife and his old friend were out together.

He pretended not to care, but she knew he had to feel it. Watching your ex-wife get close to your best friend-anyone would be unsettled.

After a while, Eleanor excused herself to the restroom. A few minutes later, Vanessa followed. She sauntered in, pretending to touch up her makeup, and glanced at Eleanor through the mirror.

"Some people," Vanessa began, powdering her face, "only got ahead thanks to a man, but still act like they're so independent. Who are they trying to fool?"

Eleanor was tapping out a message on her phone, but she met Vanessa's gaze in the mirror. Vanessa grinned, her red lips twisted in challenge. "Congratulations, Eleanor. I heard your research just made a major breakthrough."

Eleanor couldn't be bothered to answer.

"But," Vanessa's tone shifted, "I am curious. How did you pull it off so quickly? Maybe you've secured some... new support?"

She folded her arms, cold amusement in her eyes. "Impressive, really. Barely six months after your divorce, and you've already landed Xavier."

Eleanor dried her hands, ready to leave. Vanessa's eyes gleamed with malice as she pressed on, "Well, it's only fair. Ian poured so much money into your lab- there ought to be some results, don't you think?"

Eleanor let her drone on, but before she reached the door, Vanessa let out a laugh. “You really know how to take it, Eleanor. Not that it's a surprise you've put up with worse, haven't you?"

"Are you done barking?" Eleanor shot back, her voice icy. "Or should I call lan to come collect his pet?"

Vanessa's face darkened. "Eleanor, doesn't it seem pathetic to work in a lab funded by your ex-husband? If I were you, I'd have walked away ages ago.”

"Ian never saw you as anything more than a moneymaker. That miracle drug you developed made him a fortune, and the patent is in his name. How much will you make him this time?" Vanessa smirked, eyes narrowing.

Eleanor's response was cool and measured. "I stay in the lab because it's my career, not lan's. And for your information, the patent is in my name-he's just the investor." She paused, letting the words sink in. "Next time, do your homework. Otherwise, you'll just look foolish."

Vanessa's expression froze.

"Eleanor, you-"

Eleanor walked out, not sparing her another glance.

Neither Vanessa's jabs nor lan's cold indifference could touch her anymore.

Left alone, Vanessa leaned back against the counter, biting her lip in frustration. She'd hoped to drive Eleanor out of lan's lab with these taunts, but clearly, Eleanor wasn't biting.

And now, with Eleanor's research breaking new ground again and again...

Vanessa's lips tightened as she grabbed her purse and swept out of the restroom.

Back in the restaurant, Eleanor had already finished her meal. She turned to Xavier, "Let's get going."

When Vanessa returned to her seat and saw them leaving, she checked her phone. Still nothing from lan.

Not that it mattered. Even if he saw her message, he'd pretend not to care.

Xavier's family was powerful, sure, but compared to lan's empire, they came up short. And with Xavier's father still running the show, he didn't have real control of the Vaughn family yet.

lan, on the other hand, had taken over his family business at eighteen, after his father passed. Every dollar he had, he'd earned himself.

There was a ruthless intensity about lan, the kind that comes from clawing your way up after being knocked down over and over-something Vanessa found dangerously irresistible. He was a man with ambition.

Xavier fit the mold of the privileged heir: accomplished, yes, but until he truly took the reins, he'd never show his full potential.

Back at the lab, Eleanor received a terse email from lan.

"Regarding the progress of the lab-meet me in my office at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Bring your latest research data."

She stared at the screen, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

That commanding tone-she knew it all too well.

But that was just lan, the businessman.

The next morning, after dropping her daughter off at school, Eleanor arrived punctually at Goodwin & Co. headquarters. The elevator took her straight to the executive floor, where the secretary greeted her, "Mr. Goodwin isn't in yet. Please wait here, Miss Sutton."

Eleanor's expression soured. He'd ordered her to come in this early, only to keep her waiting was this deliberate?