Eleanor turned her focus back to Dr. Smith. "ording to the data, Vanessa''s antibodies have a dual-action mechanism-external suppressionbined with internal activation."


    "This is incredible, El! You''re a genius," Dr. Smith eximed, pushing his sses up his nose. "This isn''t just a treatment; it''s a full reboot of the patient''s own defense system. This is the real cure we''ve been looking for!"


    "That''s one way to put it," Eleanor agreed. "This opens up an entirely new therapeutic path. We would no longer bepletely reliant on an external donor and long-term infusions. Instead, we could activate the patient''s own immune potential to control, and perhaps even cure, the disease."


    "When can we begin implementation?"n asked, his voice low and trembling with excitement.


    Eleanor paused. "We''re still in the preliminary stages. We need to conduct extensive research to assess its stability and safety. For now, all I''ve found is a very promising direction."


    "El, this is fantastic! You''ve made this breakthrough in such a short amount of time. It''s truly remarkable," Dr. Smith praised, pping his hands. His team murmured in agreement, their faces filled with admiration.


    "El, this is a milestone discovery. We need to immediately re-prioritize our research efforts."


    Eleanor gave a slight nod, epting the praise with her usualposure. "It''s just a phase-one discovery. We''re still a long way from sess," she said.


    Eleanor gave him a fleeting nce before turning to Dr. Smith. "I''m heading back to theb."


    As Eleanor stepped out of the conference room, she ran into Serena in the main hall. Serena''s first instinct was to hide. But as Eleanor strode toward her, she instinctively took a step back, her eyes darting away, unable to meet Eleanor''s gaze. A blush of shame crept up her neck.


    "El-Ellie," Serena stammered, biting her lip, looking utterly lost. Memories of all the times she had been cruel and condescending to Eleanor flooded her mind, leaving her feeling mortified.


    Eleanor stopped and looked at Serena calmly. "What are you doing here today?"


    "I''m with my mother. She copsed


    the night beforest and was


    hospitalized. My brother just had ter transferred here for treatment, Serena answered honestly


    Eleanor''s brow furrowed. So that''s whyn had been at the hospital all night, taking care of his mother.


    "I see," Eleanor said curtly, and started to walk away.


    Serena watched her go, then suddenly mustered her courage and called out, "Ellie."


    Eleanor paused and turned back. "Is there something else?"


    "I... I wanted to say I''m sorry. And... thank you." The words seemed to take every ounce of her strength.


    Eleanor simply gave a slight nod and continued on her way.


    Serena clutched her chest, realizing she was gasping for air long after Eleanor''s figure had disappeared around the corner.


    That afternoon, Eleanor apanied Dr. Smith to Gina''s room for an


    assessment.


    The room was quiet. Gina was propped up in bed, looking pale and even more frail than before. Serena, who had been sitting by the bed, immediately stood up to make way for them content


    Dr. Smith went through his routine examination while Gina answered his


    questions, her eyes frequently drifting toward Eleanor.