Noticing Xavier still brooding over the situation, Henry raised his glass and said, "Eleanor moving into Cloudcrest Manor-doesn't that make it easier for you to be close to her? If you ask me, that's a win for you." He paused, curiosity getting the better of him. "Did lan move in next door to Eleanor?"

"Technically, he's downstairs from her," Xavier replied.

"Either way, I doubt lan plans to live at Cloudcrest Manor long-term. You might be overthinking it," Henry offered, trying to reassure him.

Xavier's eyes darkened slightly. If what Henry said was true, then he had nothing to worry about. Eleanor had always been firm with lan—there was no chance of reconciliation between them.

"Enough about me. How's your dating situation going? Are your parents still putting the pressure on?" Xavier asked, a note of concern in his voice.

Henry took a sip of his wine, looking a little dejected. "I told them I wouldn't even consider marriage until I'm thirty. Right now, it's not on my radar."

Xavier shot him a sympathetic glance. "Have you even told Vanessa how you feel about her?"

Henry froze, then took another drink. "Well, let me ask you this-have you ever told Eleanor how you feel?"

That shut Xavier up.

"There are some things that, once said, might mean you can't even be friends anymore," Henry sighed, swirling the wine in his glass.

Henry's words left Xavier deep in thought, his gaze clouding over.

"You're right. Some lines, once crossed, you can never return," Xavier admitted quietly.

"We're both just unlucky souls drifting through life," Henry muttered, draining his glass.

"I'm not like you," Xavier said, lifting his head.

"Oh? How so?"

"At least in my case, Eleanor would never give lan a second chance. But between you and Vanessa, lan is still in the picture," Xavier pointed out bluntly. "If lan so much as gave her a nod, Vanessa would marry him in a heartbeat."

Henry let out a bitter laugh. "You really know how to hit where it hurts."

"I just want you to see things clearly. Vanessa's carried a torch for lan for eight years. She's not going to move on that easily," Xavier said, meeting his friend's eyes.

Just then, the waiter arrived with their meal. Henry waved him over. "Bring us a bottle of whiskey, will you?"

Xavier recognized the look of frustration on Henry's face and decided to let the subject drop for now.

"Why not try sounding lan out sometime?" Xavier suggested, picking up his glass and taking a measured sip. "Maybe he doesn't feel that way about Vanessa at all."

"As long as Vanessa can't let him go," Henry said, tossing back a mouthful of whiskey, "it doesn't matter what I ask."

The two of them fell silent, two men nursing heartbreak in the quiet hush of the restaurant.

"Alright, enough of this," Henry said at last, forcing a change of subject. "Help me analyze the island investment plan, would you?”

Downstairs, Eleanor hadn't told her daughter that lan now lived in their building, though she knew it was only a matter of time.

Eleanor's mind was elsewhere, too-wondering whether lan, now that he had a place here, would occasionally bring Vanessa around.

She tossed and turned that night, sleep eluding her until nearly two in the morning.

The next day, Eleanor took her daughter downstairs to drive her to school. Evelyn wouldn't start first grade until September next year, so they could hold off on moving until then. For now, she wanted her daughter to finish preschool without disruption.

On the way, Eleanor's phone rang-Simone was calling to remind her of the audit meeting that afternoon and to confirm her attendance.

The meeting had been postponed from last Saturday, so Eleanor had to be there.

Just as Eleanor was about to pull away from the school curb, Xavier's car pulled up behind hers. She paused, hand on the door, and, seeing each other, decided it was only polite to say hello.

Xavier opened his back door, and Vivian ran ahead toward the school entrance, waving as she went.

Dressed in a camel-colored overcoat, Xavier looked refined and collected as he walked over. "Eleanor, did you know lan moved into our building?"

Eleanor's expression soured as soon as he mentioned it. She nodded. "I know." "Did he talk to you about it first?" Xavier asked.

Eleanor gritted her teeth. "His choices aren't really my concern.”

Realizing he'd crossed a line, Xavier quickly apologized. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

Eleanor checked her watch. "I need to get to the lab. There's a crucial meeting this afternoon."

Xavier nodded. "Drive safe."

"Thanks,” Eleanor said, slipping into the driver's seat.

At noon, Eleanor was busy with work in the lab. By two-thirty, she set out with Simone for the audit meeting at Ashford Medical University's conference hall. That day, Eleanor wore a tailored charcoal blazer over a navy turtleneck and matching slacks. Her long hair was swept into a low, elegant knot at the nape of her neck, a few soft strands framing her face, lending her a quiet sophistication. When she and Simone entered the conference hall with their team, Eleanor immediately drew attention.

Several experts glanced up in unison, eyeing the young prodigy who had already made waves in the research world.

Her father's reputation in medicine was equally renowned.

"This is Dr. Sutton," a middle-aged man introduced her, his tone warm but respectful. “You're truly gifted."

Eleanor returned his smile, listening as he introduced the audit team. She greeted each expert with polite warmth. Once she and Simone had finalized the last data points, the meeting officially began.

Eleanor slipped off her blazer, the turtleneck emphasizing her slender figure. As

she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her pearl earrings caught the light, casting a gentle glow against her porcelain skin.