She was responsible for her own safety; she didn''t need to report her whereabouts to an outsider.


    The car moved steadily along the highway to Kingston. Outside the window, the tall por trees lining the road blurred into a continuous streak as the sky began to fade from ck to a hazy, predawn gray. Eleanor leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes, exhausted. The driver, sensing her need for rest, drove on in silence.


    When they arrived at the hotel, the driver was exceptionally respectful. "Miss Sutton, allow me to carry your suitcase up for you."


    "That''s not necessary, but thank you," Eleanor replied politely.


    It was clear he was a professional driver, calm andposed. A thought suddenly struck her. Mansfield was at the base, so the person he arranged must have been from the Secretary of State''s office. Could this man be the Secretary''s personal driver?


    A sense of being unexpectedly honored washed over her. She checked into the hotel. It was already four-thirty in the morning. She decided to rest for two hours before heading to the hospital.


    At six-thirty, Eleanor arrived at the hospital. Outside Simone''s room, she found Laura asleep on a bench in the empty corridor. Laura stirred and opened her eyes as Eleanor approached.


    "Ellie, you''re here!" she eximed, sitting up.


    Laura exined that Simone''s sister and niece had arrived and were resting at a hotel across the street. Eleanor sat with her for a while. Seeing that Simone was still asleep, the two of them went to grab some breakfast.


    "Ellie, you must not have slept either," Laura said, noticing the dark circles under Eleanor''s eyes.


    "It''s fine. I can manage," Eleanor said, shaking her head.


    "I just can''t believe it spread so quickly. She seemed fine thest time we saw her," Laura sighed.


    "It''s okay," Eleanor reassured her. "As long as she has the surgery promptly, she''ll recover."


    "I feel so much better now that you''re here," Laura said.


    Eleanor thought Laura had done a remarkable job herself. As Simone''s student and assistant, her loyalty and dedication were truly admirable.


    When they returned, Simone was awake. She looked even more frail, her eyes sunken. It was clear the illness was taking a heavy toll on her both physically and mentally, Shortly after, her sister and niece arrived, and a nurse came in to go over the pre-operative procedures.


    At eight o''clock sharp, Simone was wheeled into the operating room. Eleanor,


    Laura, and Simone''s family waited anxiously outside.


    met


    Around ten, as Eleanor stared nkly at the light above the operating room door, she heard footsteps approaching from t elevator hall. Both she and Laura looked up to see a familiar figure striding toward them.


    It was Faye Yeaton. She hade too.


    Laura leaned over and whispered to Eleanor, "Faye called mest night, so I told her. I can''t believe she actually came."


    When Faye saw Eleanor, her expression flickered for a moment before she turned


    to Laura. "Laura, is Professor Langley still in surgery?"


    "Yes, she''s still in there. You can sit with us and wait," Laura replied.


    Faye greeted Professor Langley''s sister first, then took a seat nearby. She nced at Eleanor before turning back to Laura and


    "Laura, you should have told me


    about this sooner. Why did you keep it from me for so long?"


    Laura looked helpless. "Professor Langley asked me not to tell anyone."


    Faye scoffed internally. If Professor Langley wanted to keep it a secret, then why


    did she tell Eleanor? In the end, it was obvious that Eleanor was the only one who truly mattered to her.


    Just then, Eleanor''s phone buzzed. She picked it up to see a message from Mansfield.


    "Are you at the hospital?"


    Eleanor was stunned. Was he asking because he was back in Kingston? Was heing here?