The crosswalk light turned green. Eleanor looked up and started forward, so exhausted she didn''t even noticen following close behind her.


    From his car at the red light, Mansfield watched until she disappeared into the crowd. A few impatient honks sounded from behind him, but the car directly in hisne remained silent. The driver had seen his government tes and wisely kept his hand off the horn.


    A momentter, the army-green SUV shot away like an arrow released from a bow.


    Then, a ck Bentley pulled up from behind, and Xavier''s assistant drove off in a different direction.


    "Mr. Vaughn, the hotel is booked at the "


    "Just get me a room at the hotel across from the hospital," Xavier cut him off.


    The assistant paused for a second before understanding. "Right away, sir. I''ll see if they have a suite avable."


    "A standard room is fine," came the reply from the back seat.


    "Yes, sir," the assistant quickly agreed.


    Eleanor stepped into the hotel lobby as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She touched her forehead and was shocked to find it burning up.


    She pressed the elevator''s up button. When the doors slid open, she stumbled inside and leaned against the cool metal wall, her eyes closed, willing herself to get to her room quickly.


    Just as the doors were about to close, they opened again, and a tall figure stepped inside.


    Eleanor''s eyes snapped open, her brow furrowing in annoyance.


    *Why did he follow me?*


    As the elevator began to ascend, a dizzy spell hit her, the world tilting violently. The long hours in theb,bined with exhaustion, low blood sugar, and a mounting fever, finally took their toll. Her vision went ck.


    In herst moment of consciousness, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist as she copsed into his arms.


    He felt the heat radiating from her body and leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers.


    She was burning up. Damn it, she had a fever.


    "Eleanor?"n''s deep voice wasced with urgency.


    When she didn''t respond, he pulled out his phone and dialed Gavin. "Meet me at the elevator. Eleanor copsed."


    "On my way."


    Gavin didn''t hesitate, stomping on the gas. Just then, the gloomy sky opened up, and a heavy rain began to fall While waiting at a red light, Gavin nced back to see fan holding Eleanor as gently as if she were a child.


    "Mr. Goodwin, what happened to Miss Sutton?"


    "She has a fever. She''s unconscious,"n said, his gaze fixed on Eleanor''s face


    as hisrge hand cupped her cheek.


    At the hospital, Gavin arranged for a VIP room.n carried Eleanor in and ced


    her on the gurney before a doctor came to examine her.


    Aftern exined the situation, the


    doctor concluded that Eleanor''s exhaustion had weakened her immune system, leading to a high lever. They would start by bringing the fever down before running more tests.


    butn''s jaw tightened as he watched the needle pierce the delicate skin on the back of her hand.


    Once the nurse left, the only sound


    in the quiet room was their breathing,n noticed Eleanor''s hair was a mess. He instinctively reached out to smooth it, his hand freezing mid-air for a moment. It had been so long since they''d shared such an intimate gesture?


    Letting his hand fall, his fingers gently brushed her forehead as he tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear.


    He looked at the womanpletely lost to the world on the bed. If he hadn''t


    followed her, she would have copsed alone with no one to even take her to the hospital.