The airport was buzzing at 7 p.m., its fluorescent lights glinting off polished floors. After a long-haul flight, Eleanor and Xavier emerged from the arrivals gate with their two children in tow. The kids had each managed a decent nap on the plane, so they were still full of energy, while Xavier's assistant wheeled Eleanor's suitcase behind them.

"Tired?" Xavier asked with gentle concern.

Eleanor shook her head. "I'm all right." She'd managed to nap, too, her daughter curled in her arms during the flight.

Just then, Xavier's assistant approached. "Mr. Vaughn, the car's waiting right outside."

"Thanks." Xavier gave a nod, then turned to Eleanor. "We'll be home soon. You can rest."

Since Xavier had already arranged transportation, Eleanor hadn't bothered calling Ellington.

Suddenly, Evelyn's eyes widened with delight as she spotted a familiar figure emerging through the crowd.

"Daddy!" she squealed, darting forward.

lan, dressed casually, strode over to meet his daughter. He scooped her up, then glanced over Evelyn's shoulder to lock eyes with Eleanor. The brief look between them was icy, tension flickering in the air.

"Ian," Xavier greeted, standing shoulder to shoulder with Eleanor as he held Vivian's hand.

For a moment, the two men sized each other up, a subtle undercurrent shifting between them.

"Thank you for bringing them home safe,” lan said, addressing Xavier. "I appreciate it."

"It was no trouble," Xavier replied with a polite smile.

Even in this simple exchange, something unsaid lingered, quietly sparking.

"Evelyn, we'll ride home with Mr. Vaughn. Come down, sweetheart," Eleanor called to her daughter.

But Evelyn, having missed her father these past few days, clung to his neck, refusing to let go. "I want to ride with Daddy."

"Let her spend some time with lan," Xavier suggested gently.

lan's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he turned to Eleanor. "Come with us?" His meaning was clear-he wanted Eleanor to join him in his car.

Xavier's gaze flickered to Eleanor as well. In that instant, it felt like an unspoken contest between the two men. Whom would she choose?

Oblivious to the adult tension, Evelyn squirmed in lan's arms and piped up, "Mom, I'm hungry. Can we get something to eat?"

Eleanor, despite her reluctance to ride with lan, knew she would go wherever her daughter was.

She turned to Xavier. "Thank you for everything these past few days, Xavier. Let me treat you to dinner sometime."

Xavier smiled. "No need to thank me. Traveling with you all was a pleasure."

There were still some expenses she needed to settle with him, given that Xavier had handled all the arrangements, but now wasn't the time.

"We'll be off, then," Ian said, arching a brow at Xavier.

lan's assistant stepped over to take Eleanor's suitcase. As Eleanor and lan walked away, Xavier watched her for a few lingering seconds. Beside him, Vivian tilted her head up, curiosity bright in her eyes. "Uncle, do you like Ms. Sutton?" Caught off guard, Xavier looked down at his niece. "Was I that obvious?"

"Of course! You're always looking at her and smiling. I saw you watching her on the plane the whole time," Vivian replied matter-of-factly.

Xavier flushed slightly. "Was I... really?"

"Uh-huh! And you even asked the stewardess for an extra blanket for her!" Vivian added.

Xavier pressed a finger to his lips. "Let's keep that a secret for now, okay? Don't tell Ms. Sutton."

Vivian nodded solemnly, her small fist clenched with resolve. "I hope you marry her. I'd love for her to be my aunt." Maybe it was her own complicated childhood, but Vivian was more perceptive than most children her age. She'd noticed, all along, how Xavier looked at Eleanor.

Meanwhile, Eleanor settled into the back seat of lan's car, daughter in her lap. She expected lan to take the front seat, but instead, he slid in beside her. The car started moving before she could change her mind, so she shifted closer to the window, gazing outside at the passing city lights.

"Daddy, why did you come home early?" Evelyn asked, breaking the silence.

"I had something important to take care of," lan replied, his voice a little rough from fatigue.

"Next time, you can't leave me and Mom in another country while you come home alone!" Evelyn's protest was indignant. She hadn't been upset at the time, but the thought of it now made her frown.

"Okay, I promise. It won't happen again,” lan said, pressing his forehead gently to his daughter's.

Evelyn lifted her tiny finger and pointed at him, bossy as ever. "Now you have to apologize to Mom. Say sorry."

lan was caught off guard, amused by his daughter's grown-up demand.

"Come on!" Evelyn insisted, her tone earnest.

lan's Adam's apple bobbed as he glanced at Eleanor, who kept her face turned

toward the window, her profile cool and distant.

"I'm sorry, Eleanor," lan said quietly, voice low and sincere.

Evelyn turned to her mother, harrumphing when Eleanor didn't reply. "See, Mom's mad at you. She won't talk to you anymore."

"It's my fault,” lan said, pulling Evelyn close and pressing a kiss to her hair.

Stubbornness ran in Evelyn's blood-she had inherited lan's pride. She crossed her arms and turned her face away, pouting dramatically.

lan couldn't help but smile, doting on her as he tried to coax her back into a good mood. "Daddy's sorry."

Just then, Eleanor's phone buzzed. She fished it out of her bag and checked the message.

"Did you land safely?" The text was from Mansfield Ellington.

Eleanor's heart gave a small jolt. Was he tracking her flight information?

"Mom, who is it?" Evelyn asked, curiosity piqued.

"It's Mr. Ellington," Eleanor answered truthfully.

"Is Mr. Ellington coming to our house?" Evelyn asked, all innocence.

Eleanor was typing a reply as she shook her head. "No, sweetheart."

Another message pinged in: "I'm in Kingston. Before I return to base, I'll come see you in Ashford City."