Eleanor returned to her study, switched on herputer, and began reviewing thetestb results. Though her body still felt weak, immersing herself in work


    allowed her to forget her troubles, at least for a little while.


    Before long, her phone buzzed with a message from Joy, asking about Juliette. She''d seen the obituary online.


    Eleanor replied, confirming the news. Juliette was gone.


    "What a shame. She was such a renowned phnthropist," Joy wrote.


    Eleanor sighed. Who could disagree?


    A littleter, Xavier messaged her. Juliette''s funeral would be held in three days.


    On Sunday afternoon, Gina dropped Evelyn back at home. As Eleanor greeted her daughter, she noticed that Gina lingered, hesitant to leave. Eleanor paused, ncing at her. "Is there something else, Gina?"


    Gina hesitated. "Eleanor, Mrs. Grayson''s mother has been asking about you these past few days. Would you...?" Her voice trailed off, pride keeping her from making a direct request.


    Eleanor understood. She nodded. "Of course. I''ll make time to visit her soon."


    Only then did Gina seem relieved, nodding as she got back into her car.


    Three dayster, Juliette''s funeral took ce in a cemetery just outside the city.


    Dressed in a ck suit, Eleanor went alone.


    From a distance, she saw Xavier greeting guests at the entrance to the chapel. Juliette, with no children of her own, had treated her nephew as her heir. Now, Xavier was honoring her memory with a dignified and grand farewell.


    He stood among the mourners in a ck suit, his face drawn and tired, but still managing a polite smile.


    "Mr. Vaughn," Eleanor said quietly as she approached.


    Xavier turned, fatigue giving way to a flicker of pleasant surprise. "Miss Sutton, I''m d you came."


    "My condolences," Eleanor offered softly.


    Xavier nodded. "Thank you for being here. About theb funding, I''ll find a good time to discuss it with you."


    Eleanor waved it off. "Let''s talk after Mrs. Grayson''s affairs are settled. There''s no rush."


    He nodded again, about to say more, when his gaze shifted past her shoulder. Eleanor turned and sawn, Vanessa, and Henry walking toward them together.n wore a ck suit with a white boutonniere. Vanessa was in an elegant ck dress, her makeup perfectly done.


    "Are you feeling better?"n asked, stepping closer.


    Eleanor ignored his concern and turned to Xavier instead. "I''m going to pay my respects."


    Inside the chapel, Eleanor bowed deeply before Juliette''s portrait. In the photo, Juliette''s gentle smile was just as kind as Eleanor remembered.


    Rest in peace, Mrs. Grayson, she thought. I promise to make good use of the funding you left behind. I won''t let you down.


    Footsteps sounded behind her. Expecting another mourner, Eleanor stepped aside, but the person stopped next to her. It wasn.


    He looked solemn as he took three candles handed to him and lit them, offering his own silent tribute. Vanessa soon joined him, and the two of them stood together in front of the portrait, looking every bit the perfect couple.


    Outside, Eleanor found Xavier finishing a conversation with an older rtive. He came over as soon as he spotted her. "If you''re not in a hurry, why don''t you stay for the luncheon?"


    Eleanor checked her watch. "I need to get back to theb."


    "Then let''s have dinner together another time," Xavier said.


    She nodded. "Sure. Next time, then. I''ll be going."


    From then on, Eleanor''s days blurred into a routine of shuttling between home and theb. She led her research team as they pushed forward with the next round of experiments.


    Faye had been stopping by more often, updating her on Meridian Dynamics'' progress. Compared to Eleanor''s team, their pace had slowed considerably.


    One afternoon, Faye and Gwenda were chatting in the break room. When the conversation turned to Eleanor''stest breakthroughs, Faye''s expression darkened.


    "Who knows if she''s just headed down another dead end? Wasting money, wasting time," Faye scoffed.


    Gwenda nodded, remembering how Eleanor''s previous string of promising results had ended in failure, causing many to doubt her abilities.


    "But if she actually pulls it off this time, it''ll be incredible. Maybe she could even-"


    Before Gwenda could finish, Faye cut her off. "Are you about to say she''ll win the Nobel Prize?"


    Gwenda grinned. "It''s not impossible!"


    Fayeughed derisively. "You''re giving her too much credit. Even her father never got close to that. What makes you think she could?"


    Gwenda puffed out her cheeks. "Still, if someone from ourb won the Nobel, that''d be something to be proud of."


    "If anyone''s getting that prize, it''ll be Joel, not her," Faye said with absolute certainty.


    "But Eleanor''s project really does have Nobel potential!" Gwenda protested.


    Faye shot her an annoyed look. "What''s gotten into you? Why are you always singing her praises? Has she ever done you any favors? Don''t forget who brought you into this team."


    Gwenda immediately forced a smile and kept quiet.


    A weekter, Eleanor''s team was in the thick of things.


    Eleanor had just stepped out of theb when her assistant hurried over. "Ellie, the data from the third round of trials is in. You should take a look-the results are even better than we hoped."


    Despite her exhaustion, Eleanor''s spirits lifted. She hurried over to theputer.


    The data curves perfectly matched her theoretical predictions. This meant her new drug had reached a critical breakthrough.


    It was time to prepare for the next phase of trials.


    Soon, word reached Simone, who quickly arranged for a panel of experts to


    review Eleanor''s results the following week.


    In the days leading up to it, Eleanor pushed her team to work around the clock.


    Even meals were eaten hastily at theb benches.


    A weekter, Simone came by to check in.


    "The review''s tomorrow. Are you ready?" she asked.


    "I''ll finish my presentation tonight," Eleanor replied.


    Simone looked at her-Eleanor had barely touched the ground these days, and she was noticeably thinner. With a gentle pat on her shoulder, Simone offered a reassuring smile. "You''re doing great. After the review, I''m giving you three days off. You''ve earned it."