"These are very generous terms, Ellington." Eleanor nced up after skimming through the documents. "But I need some rification-will there be any strings attached to this support?"


    Raleigh gave a slight, reassuring smile and took a sip from his cup. "No need to worry, Miss Sutton. Mr. Goodwin and I have just reached a few partnership agreements. I''m offering these resources to you, free of charge."


    A pang of anxiety tightened Eleanor''s chest; her fingers unconsciously clutched the edge of the folder. But then she rememberedn himself had said these arrangements had nothing to do with her-she shouldn''t overthink it.


    So Eleanor focused on the specifics, spending almost two hours in deep discussion with Raleigh. As she prepared to leave, Raleigh personally escorted her to the elevator.


    "Miss Sutton, I look forward to seeing your research. Let''s work together for the advancement of medicine."


    Eleanor thanked him sincerely for his generosity.


    When she got home, the house was unusually quiet. She hurried into the living room and called out to Joslyn, "Joslyn, is Evelyn not back yet?"


    "I thought she was with you!" Joslyn''s voice immediately tightened with concern.


    Eleanor offered a soothing smile. "Her father was picking her up today. Maybe he decided to take her out for a little fun."


    Joslyn finally rxed. Eleanor took out her phone and sentn a message.


    "Where''s Evelyn?"


    "I took her shopping at the mall."


    "Bring her home soon."


    "Will do."


    At half past eight, the doorbell rang. Ian had brought Evelyn Goodwin home. Eleanor stood in the doorway to the living room as Joslyn opened the door.


    Joslyn caught the exchange and, almost out of habit, asked, "Sir, would you like toe in for a bit?"


    With that, he turned and walked away.


    Joslyn was taken aback. She''d always sensed that Mrs. Goodwin was distant with her husband, but now she could feel the gap fromn''s side as well-he wouldn''t even set foot in his wife''s house anymore.


    With Raleigh''s support, Eleanor''s experiments progressed more rapidly, saving her a great deal of time and hassle.


    Simone soon received an invitation from Juliette''sb-they were announcing a major breakthrough that afternoon at three o''clock.


    Eleanor, Faye, and Joel were all summoned to attend the presentation.


    Faye and Joel rushed back from Meridian Dynamics together. In the cafeteria, Faye seemed to be in particrly high spirits.


    "Mrs. Grayson really does have an impressive team! Word is, they''re about to announce something huge in the field of Al cell research." Faye gave Eleanor a sidelong nce, her lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.


    At three o''clock sharp, the announcement began. Taking the stage was Juliette Lab''s director of biotechnology. He introduced their area of research, then pressed a button to start the projector, andunched into the details of their breakthrough in Al cell technology.


    As


    walked through the demonstration, Eleanor''s fac went suddenly pale-the technique he was describing was almost identical to the core simtion algorithm developed at Meridian Dynamics!


    "This can''t be..." she murmured.


    Joel looked at her in shock. "Eleanor, this "


    Faye, hiding a private smirk, feigned surprise. "How could this happen? Isn''t that our research-?"


    Eleanor''s mind nked for a moment.


    Joel''s expression darkened; the new technique mirrored their own work far too closely.


    A flicker of schadenfreude shed in Faye''s eyes-she was clearly hoping Eleanor would take the fall for this. After all, Eleanor was the one who''d always kept close contact with people at Juliette''sb.


    Eleanor kept her gaze fixed on the stage, lost in thought, until Joel nudged her. "Professor Langley wants to see us outside."


    In the hallway, Simone''s face was grave. "Can any of you exin what''s happened?"


    "I swear I''ve never disclosed any research details to anyone," Faye dered immediately, her tone unwavering.


    Just then, Joel''s phone rang. He nced at the screen. "It''s VP Chase. I''ll take this."


    As Joel stepped away to answer, Faye turned to Eleanor. "Eleanor, do you know what''s going on?"


    Eleanor shook her head. "I have no idea."


    Faye''s eyes narrowed. "My sister said you and Xavier have gotten pretty closetely and Xavier just happens to be the head of Juliette''sb. Could it be?”


    Eleanor cut her off coldly. "If you''re using me, you''d better have evidence. Don''t throw around baseless spection."


    Simone interjected, "I trust Eleanor''s integrity."


    Faye bit her lip, her hostility clear. "Fine, Eleanor-then would you care to exin the experimental data from Mrs. Juliette Grayson that was sitting on your desk?"


    Eleanor stared at her, momentarily stunned. "You were looking through my things?"


    "It wasn''t intentional. I was dropping off some documents for you, and you weren''t there. I noticed a folder from Juliette''sb on your desk and nced at it out of curiosity," Faye replied, feigning innocence.


    Simone looked at Eleanor, a little taken aback.


    Joel returned just then. "VP Chase knows what''s happened. Meridian Dynamics is


    in an uproar-they think someone leaked our core research."


    A heavy weight settled in Eleanor''s chest.


    Simone''s phone buzzed. She nced at it. "It''sn. You all figure out how to proceed—I''ll take this on the balcony."


    Simone stepped outside to answer the call.


    Eleanor met Faye''s gaze, but Faye immediately looked away.


    Eleanor narrowed her eyes. She was starting to see the picture.


    Simone hurried back. "Ian wants everyone at Meridian Dynamics for a meeting. We need to go now."


    Half an hourter.


    The entire group arrived at the Meridian Dynamics conference room. Byron''s team was already there, and at the head of the table,n sat with a face as cold and inscrutable as stone.