lan was teaching his daughter, and Evelyn was gliding along beautifully—her technique was impressive for her age.

Vivian, on the other hand, was more timid. She crept forward in tiny, careful steps, her movements cautious and deliberate.

After Eleanor fell for the third time, Evelyn couldn't bear to watch any longer. She nudged her father. "Dad, you should go help Mom!"

Seeing his daughter was getting tired, lan nodded. "Take a break here, sweetheart. I'll be right back."

He turned to Gavin, who was standing nearby. "Keep an eye on Evelyn for me."

"Of course, boss," Gavin replied with an easy grin.

lan skated over to where Eleanor had ended up sprawled in the snow, catching her breath.

"Need a hand, Dr. Sutton?" he asked, bending down and offering his hand.

"I can do it myself." Eleanor turned her face away, pushing herself up with her ski poles. But she'd stopped on a short, steep slope and the moment she tried to stand, she lost control, sliding forward with alarming speed. Ian moved instantly to keep up. She was clearly unsteady, on the verge of tumbling face-first when he planted himself right in her path.

"Move aside," Eleanor snapped, waving him away in irritation.

lan didn't budge. Not a second later, Eleanor-like a runaway comet-collided straight into his arms.

He caught her, solid and unyielding, and they both went down, tumbling into the snow with Eleanor sprawled awkwardly on top of him.

"Let me go." She pushed herself up, her gloved palm braced against his broad chest.

Instead of releasing her, lan tightened his hold, locking her firmly in his embrace. His eyes, reflecting the pale winter sky, were dark and magnetic, as deep as obsidian.

"You barreled into me, you know," he said, his voice low and slightly hoarse.

Eleanor's usual composure deserted her. She tried to push herself free, but the thick ski suit made her efforts all the more futile.

Not far away, Xavier watched the whole scene unfold. He frowned, his gaze darkening. From his vantage point, all he could see was Eleanor sprawled on top of lan in the snow, and it was impossible to tell what was really happening— anyone watching might think they were flirting.

But who could truly guess what Eleanor was going through in that moment?

"Let go!" Eleanor was genuinely angry now.

lan didn't answer. Right then, he was being completely unreasonable-childish, even a far cry from his usual controlled, distant self. He only hugged her closer, so tightly Eleanor could barely breathe.

"lan!" Eleanor sucked in a deep breath. "Have you finished hugging me yet?"

Something in her serious, angry tone finally broke his stubbornness. Ian let her go, and Eleanor scrambled to her feet, flustered and breathless. Just then, the instructor arrived, and Eleanor seized the opportunity to ask for help getting away. lan stood, brushing snow from his clothes, throat working as he swallowed hard.

Realizing she just wasn't cut out for sports, Eleanor decided to wait in the lodge for the others to finish.

By the end of the morning session, lan brought the two girls over and they all had lunch together at a nearby restaurant. Xavier was unusually quiet throughout the meal, and when the afternoon session rolled around, Eleanor chose to sit it out. The day's skiing finally wound down in the late afternoon.

At dinner, both girls were exhausted. After eating, they each went off to rest for the night.

Back in his room, lan took a hot shower. Wrapped in a towel, he stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows as his phone rang.

"Hey! lan, are you at Drexford with Evelyn and Eleanor? Why didn't you tell me you were going?" Serena's voice was sharp with accusation.

"There was no need for you to come," lan replied coolly.

"What do you mean, 'no need'? You left Vanessa in my care, and then you run off on a ski trip with Eleanor. Don't you feel even a little bit guilty? Do you even know that Vanessa had a sudden fever last night and ended up in the ICU?"