After all, the sess she had achieved wasn''t just her own doing; it owed just as much ton, who had spared no effort to give her resources and opportunities.


    But now that she was leaving theb, wouldn''t those opportunities fall to someone else?


    -And hadn''t Nina just said that Professor Langley was doing everything he could to keep Eleanor from leaving?


    Faye clenched her fists. It looked like it was finally time for her to leave Meridian Dynamics, too. She couldn''t keep wasting her time on this project-she needed to get back to the main research facility right away.


    She would wait there for the independent PI project toe her way.


    Without hesitation, Faye headed straight for Joel''s office. When she told him she wanted to withdraw from his team, Joel looked surprised, but he didn''t try to stop her.


    "Alright, then. You can report back to the research base starting tomorrow," he said with a nod.


    Faye studied Joel, realizing that from now on, he wouldn''t be able to back up Eleanor anymore. Just how far could Eleanor go on her own?


    But once Faye made her mark at theb, she wouldn''t have to worry about being overlooked by Joel again.


    Half an hour passed.


    Eleanor was in her office, absorbed in reading patient reports from the hospital, whenn walked in without warning.


    She nced up, her eyes shing. "Ever heard of knocking?"


    Eleanor closed the file, her tone dripping with irritation. "I don''t want to talk."


    He walked over, bracing his hands on her desk, looking down at her from above. "We have to."


    Eleanor met his gaze, anger simmering beneath the surface.


    Butn''s tone softened slightly as he pulled out the chair beside her and sat down. "Why are you leaving all of a sudden?" He paused, narrowing his eyes. "Is it because of me?"


    "Don''t tter yourself." Eleanor let out a cold, mockingugh. "You''re nothing to me."


    But her words didn''t fazen in the slightest. He just kept his steady gaze fixed on her. "Then give me a reason you''re leaving theb."


    "A reason? Why should I give you a reason?" Eleanor found his question ridiculous.


    "If you can''t give me one, I won''t let you go." Ian''s voice was calm, not the least bit forceful, but it still pressed down on her like a weight.


    That was the aura he''d perfected over years of being in charge.


    Eleanor hated the way he made her feel.


    "In any case, once the clinical trial wraps up, I''ll hand over my work properly." She


    stood, striding to the door and pulling it open. "You can leave now."


    Eleanor''s expression turned frosty, though she couldn''t deny he was right.


    Her eyes burned with defiance. "I''ve made you enough money. That should be enough for you."


    "If you want to go further, stand taller, I can "


    She cut him off coldly. "I''m done being your money-making tool."<pn stood up, his gaze darkening. "I''m not letting you go."