Chapter 1580
Eleanor didn't go back. But as she retreated to her own room, the adrenaline faded, and clarity rushed in. She realized she had picked the absolute worst time to say
those things.
Today was his grandmother's funeral. She shouldn't have driven a knife into his heart when he was already drowning in grief.
She wanted to apologize, but it felt pointless now.
If her goal was to force him into a new life, then she had to stick to the script.
Her right hand-the one that had been pressed against lan's cheek-still felt unusually hot. Eleanor frowned, rubbing her fingers together. Was that just his normal body heat?
Or...
Was he running a high fever?
The thought suddenly hooked into her brain and refused to let go. She replayed lan's behavior from a few minutes ago. He had looked completely out of it— exhausted, broken, out of control. And he had literally collapsed on the floor...
But he was a grown man. If he was sick, he would call a doctor. If he was tired, he would go to sleep. He wouldn't just sit on the floor forever.
He had far too much pride for that.
He had probably already gotten up, taken a shower, and gone to bed.
After trying to rationalize her panic away, Eleanor pulled Evelyn closer in the bed. The little girl was tossing and turning, and Eleanor was terrified she would have a nightmare. She wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter. Once Evelyn settled into a deep sleep, exhaustion finally claimed Eleanor as well.
The next morning, Eleanor woke to the sound of the front door opening. Joslyn was talking to someone. Eleanor went downstairs and found Serena standing in the foyer.
"Eleanor, my mom really misses Evelyn. Can I take her over to spend the day with her?" Serena asked hopefully.
Eleanor knew Gina and Magdalen had been incredibly close, and Gina's grief had to be suffocating. Evelyn was the family's little ray of sunshine; maybe she could bring Gina some comfort.
"Of course. I'll go get her."
Serena hadn't gone over to lan's side of the house. She figured her brother was finally getting some much-needed sleep and didn't want to disturb him.
Eleanor brought Evelyn downstairs.
As Serena took her niece's hand and headed for the door, she looked
back. "Eleanor my brother is probably in a really dark place right now. If you have time, could you go check on him?"
Eleanor gave a small nod. "I will."
Listening to Serena's car pull away, Eleanor stared at the adjoining door connecting their houses.
"Ma'am, I made breakfast," Joslyn called out. "Should I go see if Mr. Goodwin wants to eat?"
Eleanor checked the time. It was eight-thirty. He was probably still asleep. She shook her head. "No, let's not wake him yet."
Outside, a cold, miserable autumn
drizzle had started to fall. Eleanor
stood by the floor-to-ceiling
windows, wrapping her arms around herself against the sudden chill Maybe it was because of Magdalen's passing, but even the raín felt steeped in tragedy today.
She turned to head upstairs when a terrifying thought suddenly slammed back into her mind.
lan's cheek against the back of her hand last night... it hadn't just been warm. It had been burning.
A sudden wave of sheer panic seized her. She sprinted to the adjoining door, throwing it open without a second thought.
The room was completely dark, the heavy curtains drawn tight. A tall silhouette was slumped awkwardly across the living room sofa, fast asleep.
Eleanor's heart dropped into her stomach. Why was he on the couch? Why hadn't he gone to bed?
She rushed over and immediately pressed her palm against his forehead.
His skin was practically radiating heat. Eleanor's heart hammered against her ribs in sheer terror.
lan was burning up with a terrifyingly high fever.
It felt dangerously hot. Eleanor spun around, desperate to grab a thermometer, but a
large hand suddenly clamped down like a vice around her wrist.
Eleanor whipped her head back. In the dim light, lan's eyes were open. They looked like dying embers desperately trying to reignite, filled with a crushing, suffocating agony and exhaustion that he could no longer hide.