Eleanor''s eyes sharpened, but she quickly understood. This wasn''s attempt at a truce, a maniptive gesture to get her to participate in Smith''s experiment and save his mother.


    "I will no longer interfere with your freedom to remarry,"n stated, his gaze fixed on her. "Who you choose to be with is your right."


    But the use had never been a threat to her. Even watching him nullify it now stirred nothing inside her. It was just a meaningless piece of paper.


    She tossed the document onto the table. "Ian, I don''t have time for these games. Just tell me who the donor is."


    Her dismissive reaction seemed to surprise him for a second, but he quickly regained his usual stoicposure. He was silent for a moment, as if gathering his strength for a final, difficult admission. Finally, he met her gaze, his own expression unreadable.


    "It''s Vanessa."


    The name struck Eleanor like a physical blow. The air rushed from her lungs, and for a moment, every expression on her face froze, her mind struggling to process the information.


    Eleanor was utterly stunned, momentarily incapable of thought. Vanessa? She was the donor Gina had been depending on for a decade?


    "Ten years ago,"n continued, "my mother was first diagnosed with this rare blood disease. It was a medical puzzle. It took me a full year, with her on the brink of death, to find Vanessa. She was the first person in the world who was a sessful match."


    Eleanor turned her head to stare out the window, her fingers unconsciously curling into fists, her nails digging into her palms. So,n''s mother, his sister, and her own daughter''s futures all depended on Vanessa?


    The irony suddenly hit her-what a sick joke fate had yed. Here she was, enjoying the lifestylen gave her, while literally keeping his mother alive with her blood.


    A coldugh escaped her lips. "I didn''te here to rehash the past."


    "But there are things I need you to understand," Ian insisted.


    "Enough," Eleanor snapped, cutting him off. "I don''t want to hear about your history with Vanessa, your transactions, or any of your sordid affairs. I''m not interested."


    She turned back to him, her gaze sharp and piercing. "Right now, I only care about one thing: finding the


    most effective treatment for the


    gic risk Evelyn faces." She?


    a deep breath. "I spoke with Dr. Smith. The infusions are losing their effectiveness for your mother, so we need a new n. It would be best if Vanessa agrees to cooperate with the new experimental therapy. Whatever her conditions are, you need to meet them."


    at Eleanor, his gaze intense. "Her condition... is to be Mrs. Goodwin."


    He held her gaze, watching for any flicker of emotion on her face.


    Eleanor remained impassive. "Her terms are reasonable. For you, it''s a small price to pay to save your mother and your sister. A very good deal, I''d say."


    "Eleanor!"n''s voice finally broke, a raw edge of frustration cutting through hisposure. He stared at her. "You just mentioned Serena-"


    Eleanor had already considered this. To find a cure for her daughter, Serena was the ideal test subject; Gina was too weak. It was a selfish thought, but a necessary one She met his eyes. "Your sister may already be symptomatic."


    "This disease can manifest


    suddenly, tan. Serena''s lifestyle is


    incredibly unhealthy, which could


    easily elerate the gic,


    mutation. You need to get her tested


    immediately."


    Eleanor stood and picked up her bag. "Get Vanessa to agree to the experiment. Soon."