Eleanor held her daughter close, her thoughts drifting back into old memories. After a moment, she said, "Your dad and I met at the hospital."


    "Oh! So who liked who first?" Evelyn asked, sounding like a pint-sized grownup.


    Eleanor''s reply was a bit stiff. "Mom liked your dad first."


    "But Daddy liked Mommy too, didn''t he?" Evelyn pressed, her curiosity undimmed.


    Eleanor sighed softly. "It''s gettingte, honey. How about we save the chatting for tomorrow?"


    "Alright," Evelyn agreed obediently. She picked up a rag doll and began whispering stories to it, lost in her own little world.


    Eleanor closed her eyes, and memories crashed over her. She was seventeen, hurrying through those bleach-scented hospital corridors, arms full of paperwork. She ran straight inton, and everything she was carrying spilled across the floor.


    She''d been a flustered teenager, cheeks burning, whilen-just neen-was so calm and collected he seemed older than his years.


    After that day, she stopped studying at the school library. Instead, she spent her afternoons in the hospital''s tiny reading nook, wheren always studied, too. She read medical texts; he had his nose buried in business school materials.


    Her father happened to be the lead doctor onn''s father''s medical team.


    One day, needing her father''s signature, Eleanor pushed open the conference room door. Inside,n sat at the head of a long table, surrounded by the world''s top medical experts. Her father led the discussion about treatment options forn''s dad.


    She froze in the doorway, overwhelmed by the crowd of brilliant doctors. But her gazended onn—white shirt, brow furrowed, exuding a maturity well beyond his age.


    That day, her father finally made formal introductions. "This is my daughter, Eleanor-she just got into Ashford Medical," he said, then turned to her, "Ellie, this is Mr. Goodwin''s son,n."


    "Mommy, I have to go potty."


    Eleanor''s reverie was broken by her daughter''s urgent voice. She looked down at Evelyn''s sweet, expectant face and, for a moment, felt utterly dazed. Her daughter was the one thing in her life she never, ever regretted.


    Once Evelyn was tucked back in bed, Eleanor nced at the clock-it waste. Not wanting her little girl to be tired for school, she gently patted Evelyn''s back to help her drift off. Before long, Eleanor herself began to doze.


    She opened her eyes.


    Morning light spilled into the room. Eleanor turned to see her daughter sprawled out beside her, still fast asleep, and felt a surge of energy fill her for the day ahead.


    For Eleanor, everything she did was for two things: to prove her own worth, and for her daughter.


    After dropping Evelyn off at school, Eleanor hurried to theb. The winter holidays were approaching, and the streets were already dressed up with festive decorations.


    Ashford Medical University celebrated its annual Founders'' Day on January 15th just next Wednesday.


    Eleanor had been invited as a guest lecturer.


    Faye Yeaton, still a student, had also received the notification. She didn''t care much for these ceremonies-at events like this, Eleanor always stole the spotlight. Faye would have been happier if there were no celebration at all. She stared at her phone, scrolling irritably through the event details.


    Her ssmates'' group chat was buzzing.


    "Did you hear? Goodwin & Co. donated an entire new research building this year, and Mr. Goodwin himself will be at the ceremony!" someone posted.


    "No way!n Goodwin?" someone replied. "He''s Ashford City''s most eligible bachelor!"


    Faye scoffed under her breath, muttering, "As if any of you have a shot."


    "And his ex-wife, Dr. Sutton, will be there too."


    "They say all of Dr. Sutton''s research is funded by Goodwin & Co. Are they really divorced?"


    "Maybe they''re not."


    Faye finally chimed in: "It''s as real as pearls, believe me."


    "Faye, aren''t you working in Dr. Sutton''sb? I''m so jealous!" someone messaged her.


    Faye didn''t feel the least bit ttered. The group chat continued its lively gossip, but she couldn''t be bothered to keep up.


    Later, Joel stopped by Eleanor''s office. He''d also been invited to the Founders'' Day as a guest. Smiling, he said, "I''m looking forward to it—it''s your alma mater, and your father''s too."


    Eleanor nodded. "Great. Let''s make an appearance together."


    "Sorry aboutst night," Joel added. "I realized I forgot to send you the data analysis and ended up wasting your time."


    Eleanor smiled, shaking her head to show it was no big deal.