Serena scoffed, undeterred. “My brother and Vanessa have been in love since eight years ago. If you hadn’t barged in back then—”
Eleanor cut her off coldly. “I’m not interested in your brother’s love life.”
Serena faltered, biting her lip. “Do you know who just called my brother? Do you know why he rushed out so suddenly?”
Eleanor, bored, stood up. Serena followed suit, refusing to let it go. “There’s only one woman who can make my brother drop everything with just a phone call—you know who I’m talking about!”
Eleanor checked her watch, then headed toward Gina. “I’m going to take my daughter to rest,” she said. Gina tried to persuade her to stay, especially since Eleanor hadn’t touched her holiday dinner, but Eleanor insisted.
Cradling her daughter, Eleanor left for the penthouse suite she’d reserved atop the Vesper Joy Hotel. Tonight, it would just be the two of them.
She had the hotel staff prepare a lavish dinner spread. From here, they could watch fireworks bursting in every direction beyond the windows. It was a quieter celebration, but not without its own charm.
“Wow, Mommy! Over there—look, more fireworks!”
Eleanor pressed her cheek to her daughter’s and smiled. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
By ten o’clock, she’d tucked Evelyn into bed. Wearing comfortable pajamas, Eleanor sank into the sofa with a medical journal.
Her phone chimed.
“Is Evelyn asleep?” It was a message from Ian.
Eleanor glanced at the screen, then turned her phone face-down on the table without answering.
Outside, a riot of fireworks lit up the night sky, the colors playing over her calm, distant features.


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