As Byron handed it over, he leaned in close, speaking in a voice only Eleanor could hear. "Eleanor, it''s up to you to save the day."


    She gave him a small, reassuring nod. Byron added, "Joel''s got a presentation on myptop. I''ll put it up for you-you can follow along with the slides to make it a bit easier."


    Eleanor nodded again.


    From the audience,n fixed his gaze on her. In that moment, he knew-she would be just fine.


    He hadn''t forgotten thest time, half a year ago, when she''d delivered a stunning keynote in wless English.


    He narrowed his eyes, hesitated, but finally stayed seated.


    Meanwhile, backstage, Vanessa hurried through the side aisle. When she saw Faye crouched on the floor, hugging her arms and sobbing, her heart ached with sympathy, but she was also frustrated at her sister''sck ofposure.


    Such a golden opportunity-wasted. In the end, it was Eleanor who''d benefited. And to make matters worse, her foolish sister had just made Eleanor look even more capable by contrast.


    On stage, Byron called for the assistant to queue up the presentation for Eleanor, but just then, a technician rushed over, flustered. "Mr. Chase, I forgot—I left the sh drive back at the office."


    Byron''s face turned pale. Of all times, how could something so important be forgotten?


    The technician looked helpless. How could he have known Faye would freeze up?


    Eleanor was standing nearby. As Byron shot her a panicked nce, she stepped forward and said, "I have a copy of the presentation in my email. You can use that version."


    Byron breathed a sigh of relief. At least Eleanor hade prepared.


    In truth, she hadn''t nned for this at all. She''d only thrown the slides together on


    a whim when she heard she might have to present. It would have to do.


    In the audience, guests began murmuring among themselves again. Clearly, no one had expected so many hups at Meridian Dynamics''unch event.


    Just then, the massive screen flickered to life as the crew got things ready. Eleanor tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze bright and steady as she looked out over the crowd.


    "Good afternoon, everyone. I''d like to discuss our breakthrough in Al-driven biomimetic cell technology from three different perspectives—”


    Her voice rang out, clear and confident, carrying the calm assurance of a true professional. She turned, picked up aser pointer, and began her presentation, guiding the audience throughplex ideas with rity and ease.


    The panel of experts, who had been whispering among themselves on stage, gradually fell silent. Even those in the audience who weren''t specialists, who just moments ago had seemed bored or impatient, were now captivated by Eleanor''s steady voice and the sense of authority she projected.


    In her seat, Serena had little interest in hearing Eleanor speak. She''de to see Faye present, and instead, it was Eleanor who took the spotlight once again.


    How infuriating—to have Eleanor perform in front of her older brother and Xavier. Frustrated, Serena stood and slipped out, making her way backstage.


    Back in the green room, Vanessa was gently rubbing Faye''s back, trying to help her calm down. Faye had curled up on the couch, eyes rimmed red.


    "I blew it," Faye choked out.


    A female assistant tried to reassure her. "It''s alright. Eleanor''s covering for you now-theunch will still be a sess."


    But the words only made Faye look even more devastated. Vanessa shot the assistant a look of irritation. "Give her some space. Leave us, please."


    The assistant looked bewildered, unsure what she''d done wrong, but slipped out quietly.


    A few momentster, Serena entered, giving Faye a look of sympathy. Faye wasn''t untalented-she''d just happened to run up against someone as formidable as Eleanor.


    Faye sat up, biting her lip, her fist pounding the armrest. "It''s just not fair."


    Serena sighed. "Fair or not, it''s done. Eleanor stole the whole show."


    Vanessa looked over at Serena. "Serena "


    Serena fell silent. Vanessa patted Faye''s shoulder. "Don''t lose heart. There will be more chances."


    But Faye knew, deep down, she''d never stand on a stage this grand again.


    Out front, Eleanor was reaching the heart of her presentation. The audience was utterly silent, many snapping photos or taking notes, some lost in thought as they absorbed her words.


    Though she had her slides as a guide, she barely nced at them, delivering her talk almost entirely from memory. The presentation was there for the audience''s reference, not hers.


    He remembered: after her mother died, Eleanor had lived with her father, who had himself stood on countless stages, presenting his research withposure and conviction. Clearly, she''d absorbed that same confidence from a young age.


    In the crowd, Xavier watched her with a newfound intensity. He''d stopped listening


    to the content of her talk-his attention was fixed on Eleanor herself: the way she swept her hair back, the quiet joy in her smile as she discussed her breakthroughs, the grace and brilliance she radiated.


    Every facet of Eleanor drew him in, stirring a fierce possessiveness he''d never known before. He wanted her-wanted her to belong to him alone.


    As Eleanor approached the end of her talk, her voice carried through the hall.


    "Finally, I want to thank the entire team for their dedication. Scientific progress is


    the result of collective wisdom, not individual effort."


    With that, she bowed gracefully to the audience.