A wave of panic washed over Faye.


    Just then, the operating room doors opened. An assistant surgeon stepped out. "The patient is awake. We''re about to move her to her room. You can wait for her there."


    A jolt of relief went through the group. Eleanor''s tense expression finally softened. "That''s wonderful news," Sonya said, her eyes welling up with tears.


    Everyone hurried toward the patient room, with Mansfield naturally falling into step beside Eleanor, andn and Xavier following closely behind. They gathered outside the VIP room, waiting.


    Soon, a nurse wheeled the bed over. Simoney on it, her face pale, an oxygen mask covering her mouth and nose. Her consciousness seemed hazy, but her eyes were open.


    "Sister," Sonya whispered, rushing to her side, her voice choked with emotion.


    "Professor Langley," Faye said, stepping forward.


    Eleanor hung back as the head surgeon approached to give Sonya and her the post-op instructions. "The anesthesia hasn''t fully worn off yet. She needs quiet rest. The family should monitor her closely."


    Sonya turned to Eleanor. "You should go in and see her."


    Eleanor nodded and entered the room. She gently took Simone''s hand. "Professor Langley, the surgery was a sess. Don''t worry. Just focus on resting."


    Simone, who had been unresponsive, slowly moved her eyes, as if recognizing Eleanor. Her fingers twitched in Eleanor''s grasp, a silent acknowledgment.


    Faye watched from the side, a familiar sting of jealousy rising in her. Of course. In Professor Langley''s eyes, only Eleanor mattered. She had called out to her earlier, but Simone hadn''t reacted at all.


    Sonya came in a momentter. "Miss Sutton, we''ll take it from here. You should go home. I hear you have a very demanding job—"


    "It''s fine," Eleanor said. "I''ll leave tomorrow."


    "In that case, could you please ask those three gentlemen to go home and rest as well? We''ve taken up so much of their time. I feel terrible, Sonya said, clearly overwhelmed by the presence of such influential men.


    Eleanor could see her difort and nodded. "Of course. I''ll tell them to go. You should stay with Professor Langley. The doctors are here if you need anything. I''ll be at the hotel across the street."


    "Okay, you go on then," Sonya said, then turned to Faye. "Miss Yeaton, if you''re busy, you should head back too. I''ll tell my sister you came to see her when she''s more awake."


    Faye nodded. "Alright." She had no more time to waste here. She needed to use the weekend to study for her rescheduled assessment on Monday.


    Laura, of course, stayed behind.


    Eleanor stepped out of the room and saw the three men standing a short distance away. A look of relief washed over her tired face as she walked toward them.


    She addressedn first, her tone carefully distant. "Professor Langley is awake and stable. I''m heading back to Ashford City tomorrow. You should go home and look after Evelyn. We can handle things here."


    of the ange for othe


    help, to someone to stay, held back,


    said, nodding. "I''ll leave Gavin here. Call me if you need anything."


    "That won''t be necessary. Gavin can go back too," Eleanor stated.


    Gavin nced at his boss, awaiting hismand. Ian frowned but eventually nodded. He didn''t leave immediately, however, clearly curious to see how she would dismiss the other two.