At the restaurant, as soon as Vanessa and Faye were seated, they drew stares from men all around the room.


    Faye enjoyed the attention, but she knew most of it was directed at her sister. Vanessa possessed a strong artistic aura, and the alluring grace in her every nce gave her an irresistible presence that men found captivating.


    Faye was trying to learn from her, but her work at theb meant her style was more conservative and simple. It was hard to maintain the same level of constant sophistication and allure as Vanessa. A flicker of envy and jealousy crossed Faye''s eyes as she looked at her sister.


    Vanessa stirred her coffee elegantly, long ustomed to being the center of attention. She cared more about tangible things than such vanities.


    "How are things at theb?" Vanessa asked, her tone casual.


    Faye''s expression soured. "It''s fine. Just data entry work. Boring and repetitive." Then, a thought urred to her. "I was chatting with a colleague recently, and she said she hasn''t seen Eleanor at theb in a long time. Do you know where Mr. Goodwin sent her?"


    Vanessa''s hand, holding her fork, paused. A sh of surprise crossed her face. "Isn''t Eleanor on the Neural Interface Project team at yourb?"


    "Not anymore. My colleague said she hasn''t seen her in almost two weeks," Faye said, her own expression darkening. Had Eleanor been promoted to an even more advancedb?


    Vanessa''s face fell. The timing of Eleanor''s disappearance coincided exactly with the arrival of Dr. Smith''s team in Ashford City.


    Hadn moved Eleanor to Smith''s team? To work on a new treatment for his mother?


    The thought made Vanessa''s heart sink. Eleanor had achieved several breakthroughs in just two years in the research field. It was entirely possible...


    Noticing Vanessa''s grim expression, Faye asked, "Are you not feeling well?" Vanessa seemed even thinner than usual, and herplexion was pale.


    Vanessa quicklyposed herself, forcing a smile. "I''m fine. Just haven''t been sleeping welltely."


    But inwardly, she was certain her suspicion was correct. Ian had transferred èleanor to Smith''s team. While she had expected it, the thought of bing a test subject for Eleanor''s research filed her with a profound sense of humiliation and resentment. She felt like an object on ab table, her fatepletely in Eleanor''s hands.


    "Sis, you have to talk to Mr. Goodwin about Dad''spany," Faye pleaded. "Otherwise, this time—"


    "I told you," Vanessa interrupted, raising her eyebrows with an air of confidence, "Goodwin & Co. will take care of it."


    Faye''s lips curved into a smile. "Well, that''s a relief."


    Vanessa''s confidence reassured her. Faye was counting on inheriting her father''s business one day; if it went bankrupt now, her social standing would copse. She had long enjoyed the benefits of her family''s wealth and naturally wanted the


    After lunch, Vanessa''s private car arrived to pick her up. As she was about to get in, she heard voices behind her and turned instinctively Twovishly dressed socialites were


    walking out of the restaurant


    followed by an elegant young


    woman carrying a handbag.


    Vanessa immediately recognized one of the women as Henry''s mother. The girl trailing behind them was Selma Quigley-the same girl she had seen at the banquet, Henry''s intended match.