"I won't keep her long," lan said to Xavier, then turned his gaze back to Eleanor, his voice a low plea. "Can we?"

Eleanor glanced at the time. "Come on up."

A faint smile touched lan's eyes. He turned to Xavier. "We're heading up, then."

"Thanks for the ride tonight," Xavier said to Eleanor.

"Don't mention it. Of course," she replied with a small smile. "Get some rest."

As Xavier watched the two of them disappear into the elevator, a bitter and helpless feeling washed over him. He had tried for so long, yet he could never truly get close to Eleanor's heart. In contrast, even two years after their divorce, lan was a constant, inescapable presence in her life in a way he could never be.

Inside the elevator, Eleanor stared blankly at the changing floor numbers, making no move to speak. Ian stood a slight distance behind her, his eyes fixed on her back. Just then, her phone rang. She frowned, glancing at the screen, where the name "Mr. Secretary of State" was displayed.

Eleanor's eyes widened in surprise. From behind her, lan used his height to his advantage and easily saw the caller ID. His expression instantly became dark and unreadable.

She watched the numbers climb, unwilling to answer the call in front of him. When the elevator dinged, she turned to lan. "Go on into my apartment. I need to take this."

With that, she walked down the hall toward a small balcony, took a deep breath, and answered the phone.

"Hello, Mr. Ellington."

"Eleanor, I hope I'm not disturbing you," came Garth's steady, yet gentle, voice.

"Not at all, sir. What can I do for you?" Eleanor tried to keep her voice calm, shocked that he was calling her personally.

Garth paused for a moment before speaking. "Eleanor, has Mansfield been to see you recently?"

She remembered Mansfield's visit on New Year's Eve. "Yes, we saw each other the night before New Year's."

"He left for an overseas mission. About an hour ago, his team reported in, but they've lost contact

with him, Garth said, his tone heavy with worry despite its steadiness. "If he calls you you must Jet me know

immediately."

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Eleanor's mind went blank. She gripped the phone tighter, fighting to control her emotions. "When did he leave the country?"

Garth didn't hide the details. "The kid left on New Year's Eve without a word to anyone."

A sharp pain pierced Eleanor's heart. Had Mansfield come to say goodbye that night? And she... she hadn't even offered him dinner.

"Alright, I'll let you know if I hear anything. And if he calls you, please inform me right away," Garth said, his voice laced with the weariness of a worried father.

"Of course. I'll let you know immediately," Eleanor promised.

He hung up, but Eleanor remained frozen, one thought replaying in her mind: *Mansfield is missing. Mansfield is missing on an overseas mission.*

As she thought about his visit and her cold dismissal, her eyes suddenly burned with tears of guilt She paused to collect herself, drawing a steadying breath before turning toward her apartment.

But as she rounded the corner from the balcony, she looked up and saw that lan hadn't gone inside. He was leaning against the wall in the shadows a few feet

way waiting

for her.

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