Eleanor slid back into the car; it was already half past four. Time to pick up her daughter. As she reached for her phone, a new message flashed on the screen. She checked it quickly—disappointed, it wasn’t the one she’d been waiting for.
With a sigh, Eleanor set the phone down. Still no word from Mansfield Ellington.
But, considering the sensitive nature of his work, it made sense. He wouldn’t risk reaching out locally at a time like this.
—
At the Yeaton household, it was a rare afternoon with everyone under one roof. Since Roland Yeaton’s company had gone public, he’d become practically a ghost, buried in endless meetings and networking events.
Mrs. Yeaton had her complaints, but with the business thriving, she’d learned to let it go. After all, the fortune he was building would one day belong to their daughter—it hardly seemed like wasted effort.
Faye was lounging on the living room sofa, scrolling through her phone, when Vanessa Shannon walked in. Vanessa settled into the armchair opposite, fixing Faye with a thoughtful look.
“Did Eleanor finish her resignation paperwork yet?” Vanessa asked.
“Not yet. She’s still tied up with the new drug trials,” Faye replied with a shake of her head.
Vanessa frowned. “She’s not having second thoughts, is she?” Lately, Vanessa hadn’t seen much of Eleanor and had no idea what she was planning. Faye, on the other hand, worked in the same lab as Eleanor and was surely more in the loop.
After a pause, Faye looked up at her sister. “Hey, can you do me a favor? I want to join Meridian Dynamics’ brain-computer interface project. Could you talk to Ian for me?”
Everyone in the family saw Ian as Vanessa’s future husband—it was a foregone conclusion. At first, calling Ian her “brother-in-law” had felt awkward to Faye, but now it rolled off her tongue without a second thought.
Vanessa just smiled, calm and confident. “Don’t worry, leave it to me.”
Vanessa admired the ring herself. She had always loved jewels and anything luxurious—these things brought her comfort, a sense of security, and a happiness she felt she’d earned.
Just then, the rumble of a car engine drifted in from the driveway. Faye glanced up. “Dad’s home.”
Roland entered, spotting his two beautiful daughters on the sofa. Satisfaction spread across his face. Not only were they both striking, but they were smart and capable as well.
Especially Vanessa. Thanks to her connections, Ian had invested in the company, paving the way for a successful IPO. Roland’s name now carried weight in the business world, and he was enjoying all the prestige that came with it.
“Vanessa, Faye—what are you two chatting about?” he asked, settling into an armchair.
“Dad, what have you been up to lately?” Faye asked, recalling how their mother often complained that he was gone for days at a time.

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