He drew a deep breath and stepped back toward the door. "I brought a gift for Evelyn. Would you mind giving it to her for me?"


    With that,n cast a final nce toward the sofa, where Joel was ying with their daughter. He allowed himself onest look at Eleanor, pressed his lips together, and turned to leave.


    Eleanor went back to the sofa. Joel looked up, concern etched in his features. "Are you alright?”


    She shook her head with a small, reassuring smile. "I''m fine."


    Joel took the notebook she handed him and began flipping through its pages. The meticulousness of Elliot Sutton''s medical research filled him with respect; every set of data was recorded with painstaking precision.


    "Looks like your dad started researching leukemia six years ago. I don''t remember him ever mentioning an interest in that field before," Joel said as he skimmed the entries.


    Eleanor nodded. "Yeah. Six years ago, he changed his focus all of a sudden."


    "Did something happen? Was there a reason?" Joel asked, curiosity piqued.


    Eleanor thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I honestly don''t know. He never talked about it with me."


    Joel continued leafing through Elliot''s notebook when Evelyn wandered over, clutching her plush bunny. "Mom, are you talking about Grandpa?"


    Eleanor pulled her daughter into herp. "We are. Grandpa used to be a brilliant scientist."


    "I know!" Evelyn dered proudly, tipping her chin up. “Last time Dad took me to the university, I saw Grandpa''s picture on the wall."


    Eleanor paused, a little surprised. She''d almost forgottenn had brought Evelyn to Ashford Medical University-of course, her father''s portrait and bio were disyed there.


    Just then, Joslyn called everyone to the table. Dinner was a hearty, home-cooked meal. Joel ate with genuine enjoyment; ever since his mother''s passing, it had been months since he''d had a family dinner like this.


    Meanwhile, just a floor away-separated only by the hardwood and concrete of the twenty-seventh-story penthousen was working out in his private gym, sweat pouring down his body as the overhead lights carved his muscles into sharp relief.


    His hands gripped the dumbbells so tightly the veins stood out on his forearms, every rep fueled by a pent-up energy he never let show elsewhere.


    It was as if, in silence, he was channeling all his emotions into the cold steel of the equipment.


    Gavin brought in his dinner and set it neatly on the side table. He stepped into the gym, watching his boss who''d been training for nearly an hour. "Mr. Goodwin, you should eat something."


    Frankly, Gavin couldn''t help but envy his boss''s discipline. Despite the relentless pace of his work,n''smitment to his body bordered on obsessive. The man was like a precision engine-never off bnce, never skipping a beat.


    After finishing his session,n took a quick shower and rejoined Gavin for dinner, listening as Gavin gave him a rundown of the day''s business.


    New Year''s Day arrived. Eleanor took Evelyn out to the mall to pick up some household essentials and treat their golden retriever, Princess, to a grooming appointment. These little routines-running errands and spending time together- filled Evelyn with delight, and Eleanor found herself smiling too.


    Sometimes, for a child, nothing is more meaningful or joyful than simply being out and about with their mother.


    Three days slipped by in a blink. Monday morning, Ellington texted Eleanor a reminder: the Goodwin & Co. board meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m.


    As one of thepany''s shareholders, she couldn''t afford to miss it.


    She arrived at the Goodwin & Co. Tower with Ellington at her side, her assistant following behind, carrying a slim leather briefcase filled with documents for the meeting.