Principal Maxwellughed heartily, raising his ss towardn Goodwin. "Naturally. With someone as talented as Eleanor, she''ll have our full support."


    Simone Langley watched the exchange with satisfaction. Withn managing theb''s external rtions, future support for their research was practically guaranteed.


    Soon, another professor steered the conversation toward renewable energy.


    As dinner drew to a close, the professors were reluctant to part ways. Someone suggested continuing the evening at one of their homes, and the group eagerly agreed.


    They piled into a waiting car. Simone turned to Eleanor Sutton. "Eleanor, letn drive you back to the convention center, alright?"


    Eleanor''s car was parked there.


    "Go ahead, Professor Langley. I''ll make my own arrangements." Eleanor waved as the group climbed into the car and drove off.


    "I''ll drive you,”n said quietly at her side.


    "That''s not necessary. I''ll get a cab." Eleanor''s tone was frosty, her expression colder than a winter morning.


    "It''s not far-barely ten minutes."n was clearly determined.


    Just then, a taxi Eleanor had gged down from a distance pulled up. Without another word, she opened the door and slid inside.


    The driver nced atn standing outside and couldn''t help himself. "Miss, your boyfriend''s still out there!"


    Fastening her seatbelt, Eleanor replied, her voice chilly, "I don''t know him."


    The car windows were rolled down, son caught every word. He narrowed his eyes, lips pressed tight.


    The driver quickly realized he''d just witnessed a lovers'' spat. He wisely kept quiet, asked for her destination, and pulled away.


    Still, he couldn''t help but think to himself those two made one stunning couple.


    When Eleanor arrived at the convention center, she walked straight to the parking lot, then drove toward the research facility. She arrived around half past two. In her office, a bouquet from Xavier Vaughn stood in a vase, brightening the space.


    Gwenda came in with a stack of files. "Beautiful flowers, aren''t they? Do you know what champagne roses mean?"


    Eleanor shook her head, not really interested.


    "The meaning is: ''Loving you is the greatest happiness of my life. Missing you is the sweetest pain. In this lifetime, I love only you."" Gwenda recited as if reading from a book.


    Eleanor nced at her, a little embarrassed. "Where''d you find that?"


    "I looked it up! These roses aren''t cheap, you know." Gwenda grinned. Eleanor didn''t reply, instead burying herself in the newly delivered reports. Gwenda left her to it. Even though Faye Yeaton''s words earlier that day had stung, Gwenda knew it was just Faye stirring up trouble. It had nothing to do with Eleanor.


    The next two days, Eleanor was consumed by experiments. Next Monday, the new drug would enter clinical trials; she braced herself for an intense schedule.


    On Sunday evening,n messaged, asking if he could take their daughter, Evelyn, to stay with the Goodwin family for three days.


    Eleanor understood. With the clinical trial starting, she''d barely have time for herself, and Evelyn had been missing her grandmother.


    She agreed. When it came to cultivating her daughter''s family bonds, Eleanor never interfered-she just didn''t participate.


    Monday morning, Eleanor arrived at theb an hour earlier than usual. She donned herb coat, pulled her hair into a neat bun, put on her mask and gloves, and double-checked the day''s protocol. Today marked the first clinical trial of the drug she had led from concept to reality.


    At eight sharp, she and Simone arrived at Ashford General Hospital.


    "Dr. Langley, Miss Sutton, wee." Mr. Ackerly, the clinical coordinator, greeted them.


    "All patients have signed consent forms and meet the inclusion criteria."


    Eleanor entered the patient ward, schooling her expression. She knew that empathy could cloud her judgment, but when she met the gaze of a ten-year-old boy-eyes burning with the will to live-her heart grew heavier.


    These were people who had nearly lost all hope.


    She watched as the first injection was administered. Simone nced at her, gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and Eleanor nodded resolutely in return.


    The second and third days passed with Eleanor on edge, barely sleeping. On the fourth morning, her daughter called, begging to stay a little longer with the Goodwins. Eleanor agreed.


    After lunch, Eleanor sat in her makeshift office at the hospital, reviewing data. The hallway outside was unusually quiet. Weariness crashed over her, and she rested her head on her arms, drifting into sleep almost instantly.


    Just then, a nurse led someone down the corridor. "This is Miss Sutton''s temporary office."


    The door opened. The nurse saw Eleanor sleeping at her desk and whispered to the man beside her, "Dr. Sutton must be exhausted. She''s been stayingte at the hospital every night."


    The visitor was none other thann.


    He''d found a moment to stop by after speaking with Simone. As the project''s sole investor-and with the drug''s patent registered to hisb-he had every reason to check in on the progress.


    "Thank you, I''ll take it from here,"n said softly.


    His deep, gentle voice made the nurse''s heart skip a beat. Blushing furiously, she excused herself.


    She was turned slightly on her side, cheek resting on her arm, hair slipping free from its bun,shes casting delicate shadows on her cheeks. Her breathing was deep and evenpletely lost to sleep.