Eleanor slid back into the car; it was already half past four. Time to pick up her daughter. As she reached for her phone, a new message flashed on the screen. She checked it quickly-disappointed, it wasn't the one she'd been waiting for. With a sigh, Eleanor set the phone down. Still no word from Mansfield Ellington.

But, considering the sensitive nature of his work, it made sense. He wouldn't risk reaching out locally at a time like this.

At the Yeaton household, it was a rare afternoon with everyone under one roof. Since Roland Yeaton's company had gone public, he'd become practically a ghost, buried in endless meetings and networking events.

Mrs. Yeaton had her complaints, but with the business thriving, she'd learned to let it go. After all, the fortune he was building would one day belong to their daughter-it hardly seemed like wasted effort.

Faye was lounging on the living room sofa, scrolling through her phone, when Vanessa Shannon walked in. Vanessa settled into the armchair opposite, fixing Faye with a thoughtful look.

"Did Eleanor finish her resignation paperwork yet?" Vanessa asked.

"Not yet. She's still tied up with the new drug trials," Faye replied with a shake of her head.

Vanessa frowned. "She's not having second thoughts, is she?" Lately, Vanessa hadn't seen much of Eleanor and had no idea what she was planning. Faye, on the other hand, worked in the same lab as Eleanor and was surely more in the loop.

After a pause, Faye looked up at her sister. "Hey, can you do me a favor? I want to join Meridian Dynamics' brain-computer interface project. Could you talk to lan for me?"

Everyone in the family saw lan as Vanessa's future husband-it was a foregone conclusion. At first, calling lan her "brother-in-law" had felt awkward to Faye, but now it rolled off her tongue without a second thought.

Vanessa just smiled, calm and confident. "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Faye grinned. "So, when do we finally get to toast at your wedding?"

Vanessa's lips curled with amusement. "Ian's swamped at work, and I've got a few ad campaigns to shoot. Give it some time."

Faye's eyes flickered with envy. Even though her sister hadn't officially joined the Goodwin family yet, lan had already showered her with all the perks. Faye noticed that since Vanessa had returned from Drexford, a diamond ring glittered on her left hand-so large it could hardly go unnoticed.

"Is that your engagement ring?" Faye leaned closer, eyes widening in admiration.

Vanessa lifted her hand, letting the stone catch the light. "Pretty, isn't it?" She didn't deny it.

"It's gorgeous," Faye said, nodding. "You can tell it's worth a fortune. Suits you perfectly."

Vanessa admired the ring herself. She had always loved jewels and anything luxurious—these things brought her comfort, a sense of security, and a happiness she felt she'd earned.

Just then, the rumble of a car engine drifted in from the driveway. Faye glanced up. "Dad's home."

Roland entered, spotting his two beautiful daughters on the sofa. Satisfaction spread across his face. Not only were they both striking, but they were smart and capable as well.

Especially Vanessa. Thanks to her connections, lan had invested in the company, paving the way for a successful IPO. Roland's name now carried weight in the business world, and he was enjoying all the prestige that came with it.

"Vanessa, Faye-what are you two chatting about?" he asked, settling into an armchair.

"Dad, what have you been up to lately?" Faye asked, recalling how their mother often complained that he was gone for days at a time.