Eleanor let out a coldugh as she turned away, her eyes icy and hard. "Make amends?n, do you really think every mistake can be fixed?"


    She hadn''t wanted to dredge up memories of that night, but now the images came rushing back-her daughter burning with fever, her small hands and feet like ice. Alone in the hospital, Eleanor had cradled Evelyn on the narrow bed, tears slipping down her cheeks as she tried desperately to cool her daughter''s skin.


    Hatred shed in Eleanor''s gaze. Her voice dripped with scorn. "You think you can just make things right? Is this for your own peace of mind? Let me tell you, it''s toote for that."


    Eleanor sneered. "Listen to me,n. I won''t give you the chance to make it up to Evelyn. I want your conscience to haunt you for the rest of your life." She paused, a mocking smile ying on her lips. "That''s if you even have a conscience."


    She picked up a ss of water and headed upstairs. Behind her,n stayed silent, his tall frame shuddering as though struck. He pressed a hand to his chest, steadying himself against the table.


    A momentter, he walked out the front door and stopped by his car. Suddenly, he turned and mmed his fist into the trunk of a nearby maple tree, the rough bark tearing the skin on his hand. Blood trickled down his wrist, butn seemed numb to the pain.


    Joslyn happened to return home just then and gasped at the sight. "Mr. Goodwin, are you alright?"


    His gaze was sharp andmanding, and Joslyn understood instantly-this was a responsibility he was entrusting to her.


    She nodded. "Of course. Don''t worry, I''ll look after them."


    Joslyn nced at the tree trunk, noticing the faint smear of red. For a moment, she stood there stunned. Was this guilt she was seeing? Or just anger after another argument with his wife?


    Back inside, she crept upstairs and peeked in on Eleanor and Evelyn. Mother and daughter were fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb them, Joslyn slipped away.


    She let out a quiet sigh of relief. At leastn had cared enough to look into Evelyn''s surgery all those years ago. If he''d never found out the truth, Mrs. Goodwin''s heart might have broken entirely.


    Maybe, just maybe, this time they''d be able to resolve some of their misunderstandings.


    That evening, Joslyn found a quiet moment to mentionn''s bloodied hand to Eleanor. All she got in response was a curt, "Joslyn, I''m not interested in hearing about him anymore."


    Joslyn gave an awkward little smile. "Of course."


    Three dayster, Evelyn was bouncing around the house, healthy and cheerful again. In the meantime,n had been checking in on her through Joslyn; he''d texted Eleanor directly as well, though she never replied.


    At Meridian Dynamics, Eleanor had taken three days off. Work had piled up, so she spent the morning tackling paperwork and the afternoon in meetings.


    At two-thirty sharp, a meeting began on the eighth floor. Eleanor sat at the conference table, leafing through her reports with focused attention.


    Byron Chase entered with someone in tow.


    "Mr. Goodwin, please take a seat at the head," Byron offered.


    "I''m fine here,"n replied, his deep voice steady. He walked right past the head of the table, pulled out the chair beside Eleanor, and sat down.


    Across the table, Faye Yeaton''s expression flickered. There was an empty seat right next to Byron-why wouldn choose to sit next to Eleanor instead?


    Eleanor frowned. This meeting was for the project team;n had no reason to be here.


    Faye couldn''t help noticing. It didn''t feel liken was here for the meeting at all— he was here for Eleanor.


    Byron cleared his throat and started. "Tomorrow, our research team will head to the testing facility to begin work."


    Just then, Eleanor''s phone lit up with a message.


    She nced down instinctively. It was from Mansfield Ellington.


    "Back in Ashford City to recover-just letting you know. No need to visit, alright?”


    Eleanor couldn''t help the small smile tugging at her lips.


    Immediately, she felt a heated stare from beside her.


    She typed back quickly, "Rest up. I''ll drop by when I have a chance."


    Mansfield replied almost instantly, as if he''d been waiting for her response. "Really? I''ll look forward to it, then."


    Eleanor''s features softened. At that moment,n spoke up. "No phones during the meeting."


    His tone was calm but edged with frost-and anyone paying attention could pick up the jealousy buried in his words.


    Faye certainly noticed.


    Eleanor calmly locked her phone and returned her focus to the meeting.


    When Byron finished discussing the testing facility, he turned to Eleanor. "Given that you have a young child, we''re waiving the clock-in requirement for you. Just take care of your responsibilities, and that''s all we need."


    Eleanor offered a grateful smile. "Thank you, VP Chase. I appreciate your consideration."