Eleanor, Joel, and Byron continued to immerse themselves in the meeting.


    Byron had assumedn''s abrupt departure would throw Eleanor off her game. To his surprise, not only did she answer every question with pinpoint uracy, her mind was so razor-sharp he struggled to keep up.


    "Eleanor, do you think this method might not be the most effective?" Byron asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.


    Eleanor considered it for a moment. "We''ll lose a bit of precision," she admitted, "but it''s safer for civilian use. For the consumer market, safety should alwayse first."


    Fifteen minutes into the meeting, Eleanor''s phone buzzed. She nced at the caller ID-Laird, Simone Langley''s assistant. "Excuse me, I need to take this," she said to Joel and Byron.


    They nodded as she stepped out of the conference room, answering the call with a soft, "Hello, Laird."


    "Dr. Sutton, I''m not sure if I should be telling you this," Laird hesitated, her voice wavering.


    "What''s this about?" Eleanor''s tone softened, sensing something was off.


    "It''s about Dr. Langley''s health," Laird said quietly. "Professor Langley told me not


    to say anything to anyone, but... I''m worried."


    A chill ran through Eleanor. "What''s wrong with her? Is she ill?"


    "I identally saw her hospital filest week. It said there''s suspicion of pancreatic cancer."


    Eleanor''s mind went nk for a second, her grip tightening on the phone. "When did she find out?"


    "A month ago."


    Eleanor recalled thatn''s foundation had invited Simone to this summit, but she''d taken leave and said she had personal matters. Now the truth hit her-Simone had been sick all along.


    "Eleanor, Professor Langley just called and asked me toe to the hospital with her. I''m heading over now," Laird added.


    "I''ll go with you," Eleanor said without hesitation.


    "I don''t want to impose-Professor Langley didn''t tell you because she thinks your time is too precious," Laird protested.


    "Wait for me in the parking lot. I''ll drive us," Eleanor replied, already making up her mind.


    Laird sounded relieved. "Okay."


    Eleanor ducked back into the conference room, quickly informed Joel and Byron, and hurried out.


    Joel and Byron exchanged a look. Joel frowned, noticing the urgency in Eleanor''s expression. Something was wrong-seriously wrong.


    Eleanor and Laird rushed to the hospital and made their way to the third-floor corridor. There, Simone sat slumped on a bench, looking exhausted, a folder of medical records in her hand.


    Laird hurried over. "Professor Langley."


    Simone looked up, first spotting Laird, then, to her surprise, seeing Eleanor right behind. Eleanor immediately stepped forward. "Professor Langley, what''s going on? Are you all right?"


    Simone had hoped to keep her diagnosis a secret, but she could see from Laird''s anxious expression that Eleanor now knew.


    She managed a tired smile. "I was diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer after a physicalst month. I''m here for more tests and to discuss treatment options. But why are you here?"


    Eleanor''s heart clenched. Pancreatic cancer-the "king of cancers." Even in the early stages, it was perilous.


    She looked at Simone, usually so decisive andmanding, now sitting alone on a bench, her silhouette fragile and solitary. A wave of sympathy swept over Eleanor.


    Simone turned to Laird, her tone a mixture of reproach and affection. "Didn''t I tell you not to say anything?"


    "I''m sorry, Professor Langley. I was worried, and I thought you could use some support,” Laird sniffled, fighting back tears.


    If something happened to Simone, she''d be at a total loss-she wouldn''t know what to do. That''s why she''d confided in Eleanor. Eleanor and Simone were close; she''d be able to handle this.


    "How could you keep this from us?" Eleanor said softly.


    Simone let out a weary sigh. "You''re busy with work, and your son is still little. I''m not experiencing any symptoms yet. If it''s treatable, I''ll fight it. If not, well..."


    "You''ll beat this," Eleanor assured her, squeezing Simone''s hand. "Have the test resultse back yet?"


    "I just finished the CT scan. I''m waiting for the report." Simone forced a smile. "Honestly, it''s not as bad as it sounds. If you catch it early, there''s a good chance."


    Eleanor knew she was putting on a brave face. As a medical professional, Simone understood all too well how dangerous this was.


    Eleanor sat beside her, quietly reviewing some of Simone''s paperwork. Laird fidgeted nervously, ncing around the hallway. Suddenly, her eyes widened. She tugged at Eleanor''s sleeve and whispered, "Ellie, isn''t that Mr. Goodwin?"


    Eleanor looked up. At the far end of the corridor,n walked towards them, apanied by Vanessa, her manager, and their entourage. Gavin trailed besiden. The entire group stood out in the busy hallway.


    Eleanor frowned. Vanessa''s forehead was wrapped in white gauze-a clear sign she''d suffered a head injury in the ident.


    Were they here for a CT scan too?


    Eleanor quickly averted her gaze, son didn''t notice her right away. But Vanessa, ever attuned to her surroundings, spotted Eleanor first. She was stunned to run into Eleanor here, of all ces.


    As the group passed by, Vanessa suddenly staggered, nearly copsing againstn, her face pale and drawn, clutching his arm as if she might faint.


    "Ian, I feel so dizzy..." Vanessa''s voice was weak, almost childlike.


    Simone looked up and immediately greeted him. “Ian?"


    who was looking down at a medical chart. He froze, clearly shocked to find Eleanor here.