In the hallway, Vanessa nced at Faye with curiosity. "How did Eleanor end up on your research team?"


    "You know her?" Faye replied coolly.


    "I do." Vanessa didn''t borate.


    Faye''s tone remained even. "Her father, Elliot, is a well-known figure in the medical field and a close friend of our senior fellow, Dr. Lyman. Dr. Lyman made an exception for her, out of respect for her father."<fn96db> Official source is Find_Novel(.</fn96db>


    Vanessa nodded, understanding the situation clearly.


    Eleanor''s return to Ashford Medical University was nothing more than her attempt to shed the image of a useless housewife. Of course she''d do whatever it took to join a prestigiousb, desperate to prove her worth.


    But the research world wasn''t somewhere you could just muscle your way into. Faye turned the question back on her. "And what brings you here?"


    Vanessa was about to reply when Eleanor emerged from the conference room, clutching aptop. Vanessa''s lips curved into a small smile. "Honestly, I didn''t intend toe. Butn insisted I apany him."


    She said it loud enough for Eleanor to hear.


    As Faye caught sight of Eleanor approaching, she tensed and quickly tugged Vanessa away. "Let''s talk in my office."


    "Sure." Vanessa shot Eleanor a triumphant look before following Faye down the hall.


    Meanwhile, in Joel''s office,n had only just finished a brief conversation. He handed Joel a folder. "This is a document my father-inw gave me years ago. His signature is at the bottom. I need your team to begin this research as soon as possible."


    Joel''s eyes widened the moment he saw the file. The donor listed for the project was Sara Whitmore-Eleanor''s mother. The document was dated fourteen years ago, the year Sara passed away, and included her official donor registration number.


    "Mr. Goodwin, you want to use your mother-inw''s bone marrow for the experiment?" Joel asked, astonished.


    "Well... shouldn''t you get your wife Eleanor''s consent before moving forward?" Joel pressed.


    "My father-inw signed off on this himself,"n replied, his voice turning cold. "His word is final. No further consent is needed."


    Joel already knew about the frequent meetings between Eleanor and himselftely, and he''d always felt sympathy for her. But clearly,n wasn''t interested in anyone else''s opinion-least of all Joel''s.


    Joel''s shock lingered as he looked atn.


    "Is there anything else?"n narrowed his eyes.


    Joel let out a quiet sigh. "No... no further questions for now."


    "Good. Then let''s assemble the research team." Rising to his feet,n radiated an unmistakable air of authority. "I expect results. Don''t disappoint me."


    Joel got up as well. "Have a good day, Mr. Goodwin."


    Vanessa, now standing with Faye at the door to Joel''s office, answered. "Ian, let me introduce you. This is my sister, Faye."


    Faye looked at the man before her tall, sharp-featured, and strikingly handsome. Yet, standing in his presence, she couldn''t help but feel a wave of pressure and


    unease.


    "Mr. Goodwin. It''s a pleasure," Faye said with a polite smile.


    Faye''s eyes flickered in surprise, but she managed a smile. "Thank you."


    Vanessa cast a quick nce at Eleanor down the hallway. For now, she kept quiet about Eleanor''s ce on the team-she didn''t wantn paying any extra attention to her.


    Back in Joel''s office, he sat staring at the file, rubbing his brow in confusion.


    Why would Mrs. Sutton entrust herte wife''s bone marrow ton, her own son-in-w, as a research sample? And why would she have signed off on it herself all those years ago?