Eleanor''s patience snapped. "If you''re not going back, I''ll just grab a cab myself."


    Without another word, she stepped to the curb and gged down a taxi. Ian caught up quickly, his voice low but firm. "Come on. Let''s go."


    Only then did Eleanor follow him to the car. As they settled in, she picked out a bracelet she liked and slipped it onto her slender, pale wrist. Even though the bracelet had only cost a few bucks, it looked delicate and lovely on her.


    "Back already? Let me see what you picked out!" Grandma called from her armchair, eager to check what her grandson had brought home.


    Eleanor held out her wrist with a gentle smile. "Look, Grandma, I got a bracelet. It''s just my style."


    "Oh, Ellie, with your fair skin and pretty face, everything looks good on you," Grandma praised. Her eyesight wasn''t what it used to be-she took one look at the bracelet and assumed it must be a high-end piece worth thousands.


    "Why don''t you both stay the night?" Grandma suggested warmly.


    Eleanor''s heart skipped. "That''s all right, Grandma, we''ll just go home and sleep in our own beds."


    "This is your home too, sweetheart!" Grandma insisted, her tone brooking no argument. "Go on upstairs and get some rest, both of you."


    "Grandma..." Eleanor tried again, but the olddy was having none of it.


    "Hush now, listen to your grandmother. Both of you, up to bed!"


    Eleanor knew if she kept pushing, Grandma''s temper would re. She pressed her lips into a small smile. "You should get some rest too, Grandma."


    "Off to your room, both of you!" Magdalen added slyly from her corner. She wanted to see the two of them head upstairs together-she''d heard from her great-granddaughter that the couple had been sleeping in separate rooms for ages, and she was convinced that was why things felt so distant between them. Tonight, she was determined they''d finally share a room.


    Grandma, a woman of experience, knew that sometimes all a marriage needed was a little simple closeness-even a hug or a kiss at night could work wonders.


    Eleanor picked up her bag and started up, mind already racing for a way out. If it came to it, she''d wait until everyone was asleep, then slip out and catch a ride to Joy''s ce. But first, she''d need to make sure Grandma was fast asleep.


    Insiden''s room, Eleanor checked the time-it was ten o''clock. By now, her daughter would be asleep with her mother-inw.


    Eleanor sat down on the sofa, making no move to shower or get ready for bed.


    Eleanor scrolled through her phone, catching up on the news. Thanks to the antiviral medication she''d developed, the global spherical virus outbreak was finally under control and fading from the headlines. Beneath the articles, she found a video of an interview with Joel and Faye-the one she''d missed. She clicked y, and the screen filled withments:


    "Faye is amazing! My idol."


    "Joel is so handsome-my dream guy."


    "Faye, thank you for your research! You saved my family-I love you!"


    "This is the kind of hero we should admire. Star Researcher Award-Faye is the best!"


    Because Eleanor had missed the interview, Faye had ended up in the spotlight, and the public assumed she was the mastermind behind the breakthrough.


    Twenty minutester, the bathroom door slid open with a soft hiss, andn emerged, wrapped in a robe.<fn6d6b> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel</fn6d6b>