The air in the Ainsworth mansion hung thick with unspoken tension, a palpable weight pressing down on everyone since Eleanor’s announcement. After Ethan's blustering attempt to buy her affection and Julian's shallow promises of celebrity, Oliver felt a nervous dread creeping into his heart. He knew neither approach had even scratched the surface of Eleanor’s resolve. He had watched her, fascinated, ever since she’d become… different. The spark in her eyes, the unexpected pronouncements, the unsettling maturity – it was all captivating and, frankly, a little intimidating.