"I''ll apologize in person when I get back."


    Reading the messages, Eleanor''s eyes flickered with guilt, momentarily forgetting that another man was in the room with her. Ian watched her expression shift as her fingers flew across the screen, obviously typing a reply. His jaw tightened. He sat in silence, watching her exchange what looked like sweet nothings with another man.


    "It seems he''s safe,"n remarked, his tone devoid of any discernible emotion.


    Eleanor''s head snapped up, suddenly rememberingn was still there. "We''re done here. You can go now," she said, her voice turning distant. The dismissal was clear.


    With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.


    Eleanor frowned. Even without his reminder, she knew exactly what she had to do. Researching a cure for the rare blood disorder was the most important-and only thing that mattered. She had to ensure her daughter had a bright, healthy future.


    She had just told Mansfield toe home safe, and he had replied with two words: "Yes, ma''am."


    Eleanor closed her eyes and let out a soft breath. When Mansfield returned, she would be the one who needed to apologize. If she had known he was saying goodbye that night, she would have invited him in for New Year''s Eve dinner. She owed him an apology and a meal, but that was all. She knew she couldn''t give him any expectations beyond friendship. She couldn''t hold him back.


    Setting her phone aside, Eleanor cleared her mind of all distractions and refocused on the experimental protocol.


    She remained in her study until nine-thirty. When she came downstairs, she could hear her daughter''s cheerful chatter mixed withn''s lowughter. She frowned. Why hadn''t he left yet?


    As she reached the bottom of the stairs,n was ruffling their daughter''s hair. "Daddy has to go now."


    "Daddy, are you going back to your apartment downstairs?"


    "No, Grandma hasn''t been feeling welltely, so I need to go home and take care of her,"n exined.


    "Oh! Then can I go visit Grandma soon?" Evelyn asked thoughtfully.


    "Of course. Daddy will arrange it."


    Eleanor frowned. "I''ll walk you out."


    Once they were outside the


    apartment, she closed the door behind them, took a deep breath, and met his gaze, her own clear and resefute. "We have a lot of work ahead of us. I won''t concern myself with whatever is going on between you and Vanessa anymore."


    "Therefore she continued, "you must ensure that Vanessa cooperates fully throughout the entire experimental process. Before we can save Evelyn this is the only n to save your mother and sister."


    His jaw clenched, his Adam''s apple bobbing. "So, in your eyes, I''m just a tool to


    be exchanged for an experiment?"


    Eleanor''s brow furrowed. "What else would you be?"


    A storm brewed inn''s eyes. He suddenly grabbed her arm, his tatl frame looming over her as he stepped closer. "Is there really nothing left between us besides daughter?


    She instinctively tried to pull away but found his grip too tight. At that moment, the phone in his hand lit up again. The name *Vanessa* was clearly disyed on the


    screen.


    Eleanor yanked her arm free and met his intense, almost searing gaze. "Go answer her call."


    With that, she opened her door and disappeared inside.<pn looked down at his phone, his fingers gripping it so tightly it seemed the screen might crack. After a few seconds, he turned and strode away.