Selma nodded with a smile. "Good. Let's go home."

A wave of relief washed over Henry, and the rest of the drive suddenly felt pleasant and light.

"I'd like to listen to some music," Selma said.

Henry immediately unlocked his phone and handed it to her. "Pick whatever you like."

Selma paused, her eyes meeting Henry's smiling face. She took the phone and chose a song she liked.

Upbeat music filled the car, and even the night seemed to grow clearer and more

serene.

After dropping Selma off at her place, she told him, "Drive safe."

"I will," Henry replied, but he didn't immediately drive away.

Selma looked at him and asked with a smile, "Why are you still here?"

Startled, Henry finally put the car in gear, but he watched her in the rearview mirror until he turned the corner.

On the drive home, Henry replayed Vanessa's confession in his mind-the truth about her relationship with lan. It still felt unbelievable. Could it be that their entire relationship was nothing more than a transaction?

Henry recalled the time he had asked lan out for a talk. Ian had admitted that he and Vanessa were just friends. At the time, Henry had been too emotional, dismissing it as a cruel lie.

Had he misjudged his best friend? Was lan telling the truth all along?

The more Henry thought about it, the more confused he became. It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to clear the air with lan once and for all.

Eleanor arrived home at nine-thirty. Joslyn informed her that lan had taken their daughter downstairs to his apartment for the night. Sighing, Eleanor dropped her bag and headed back down.

Princess, her dog, trotted out after her, following her into the elevator and all the way to the door of the twenty-seventh-floor apartment.

Eleanor rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Evelyn Goodwin in her pajamas. Behind her stood lan, dressed in casual loungewear, his usual cold demeanor replaced by a softer warmth.

"Mommy, you're back!" Evelyn chirped happily.

"Come on, sweetie, let's go upstairs," Eleanor said, holding out her hand.

"But I want to sleep with Daddy," Evelyn said, tilting her head up.

"Just let her stay with me tonight. I'll take her to preschool in the morning," lan offered, his gaze resting on Eleanor's weary face.

"Evelyn, be good. Come home with Mommy," Eleanor insisted, her hand still outstretched.

Evelyn looked back at her father. Ian smiled, leaned down, and scooped her into his arms. "Daddy will walk you up."

"Okay!"

In the elevator, Evelyn looked up at her father. "Daddy, I want you to take me to school tomorrow."

"Of course," lan said, smoothing a stray hair from her forehead.

Eleanor watched them, conflicted. She didn't want any more

entanglement with lan, but her net

daughter's yearning for her father was undeniable.

When they reached her apartment, just as Eleanor was about to send lan on his way. Evelyn tugged on his hand. "Daddy, I want you to help me brush my teeth." Śwnovels

lan glanced at Eleanor, who sighed in exasperation. Had it only been a few days, and her daughter was already this attached to him?

Seeing that Eleanor didn't immediately refuse, lan smiled. "Alright, Daddy will help you."

Eleanor turned away. "I'm going to take a shower. Brush your teeth and then wait for me in your room."

Ian helped his daughter brush her teeth in the downstairs bathroom. Afterward, Evelyn waved goodbye. "See you tomorrow, Daddy."

"See you tomorrow."

lan smiled warmly at his daughter, his eyes lifting for a moment toward the second floor before he stepped out the door.

Lying in bed, Henry couldn't sleep. He glanced at the time, picked up his phone, and finally dialed lan's number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered with a simple, "Hello?"

"Ian, am I bothering you?" Henry asked, then continued, "I wanted to ask you something, about you and Vanessa—"

"Henry, some things are better discussed in person. We'll talk tomorrow," Ian's calm voice came through the line.

"Alright, let's set a time to meet

tomorrow, then." Henry didn't press

the issue. Vanessa's behavior

tonight had made him realize that he

might have been

kept in the dark

about many things over the years.