"Then how about we make a bet?" Eleanor said with a calm smile.


    "A bet? On what?" Simone raised an eyebrow.


    "If I pass my elerated graduation exam and finish early, you''ll let me join your research team. But if I fail, I''ll walk away from medicine for good."


    Simone stared at her, wide-eyed-she could hardly believe this girl dared to make such a bold im.


    Elliot''s daughter really was reckless,pletely unaware of her own limits.


    "Alright, I ept. If you graduate early, I''ll let you join my team," Simone replied, her interest piqued. She was certain Eleanor would never pull it off.


    This was her chance to put Eleanor in her ce.


    Just because she was Elliot''s daughter didn''t mean she was special.


    Simone would make sure she understood the consequences of arrogance, and let her taste what failure really felt like.


    In a way, she was doing Elliot a favor by teaching his daughter a lesson.


    "Young people should be careful not to let pride get the better of them. There''s a fine line between confidence and arrogance-don''t bring shame to your father." Eleanor smiled faintly. "Thank you for the advice, Dr. Langley. I''ll keep that in mind."


    As soon as she stepped out of Simone''s office, Eleanor clenched her fist. There was no room for failure this time-she had to pass the exam, no matter what.


    She had barely left when Simone''s phone rang. She nced at the screen and answered, "Hello, Mr. Goodwin."<fn0366> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn0366>


    "Dr. Langley, sorry to bother you. I have a favor to ask,"n''s voice came through.


    "Go ahead."


    "Eleanor''s my wife. I wanted to ask if you''d consider letting her join your research team."


    Simone let out a smallugh. "Your wife was just in my office, actually."


    "Did she say anything to you?"n asked.


    "She challenged me to a bet," Simone replied, then exined, "She''s trying to graduate early. She said if she seeds, I have to let her join the team; if she fails, she''ll quit medicine entirely."


    "She really said that?"n chuckled.


    "I already agreed. Don''t worry, Mr. Goodwin. Sometimes, young people need to stumble a bit to learn humility. It''s not a bad thing, really."


    "If she does fail, please don''t hold it against her,"n said politely.


    Simone''s tone softened. "Don''t worry. Even if she doesn''t make it, I''ll let her join for your sake."


    Besides, Simone thought, even if Eleanor failed, she hadn-the richest man in the country-as her safety.


    An academic father, a billionaire husband... was that what made Eleanor so confident?


    Simone was determined to cut her down to size, to teach her a lesson about overreaching.


    "Thank you, Dr. Langley," Ian replied courteously.


    "My pleasure."


    After hanging up, Simone fell silent, her mind wandering back to the days when Elliot was young and brimming with ambition. Eleanor really was her father''s daughter-fearless to the core. But could she really live up to his genius?


    Just then, Faye entered the office with a stack of files. Noticing that Eleanor had already left, she looked curious. "Dr. Langley, what did Eleanor want?"


    "She made a bet with me," Simone replied, always open to conversation with Faye.


    Faye''s eyes lit up with curiosity. "What kind of bet?"


    "If she passes her early graduation exam, I have to let her join the research team."


    "And if she fails?" Faye pressed.


    "She said she''d leave medicine for good," Simone replied, pushing her sses up her nose.


    A flicker of satisfaction crossed Faye''s face. Finally, she thought, that troublesome Eleanor might be out of their lives for good.