The next morning,n was at the door right on time to take Evelyn to school. Eleanor watched them go before getting ready for theb.


    When she got down to her car, however, she found someone already waiting for her. It was Xavier.


    Eleanor paused, then walked over to him, her voice filled with concern. "Are you okay?"


    Xavier thought of how he had drunkenly grabbed her and spouted nonsense the night before, and a wave of embarrassment and regret washed over him.


    "Good morning," he said, his voice a little hoarse, his eyes still bloodshot. "I came to apologize. Last night I... I had too much to drink and said some stupid things. Please don''t take any of it to heart."


    Seeing his condition, Eleanor was more worried than offended. "It''s okay. You don''t look well. Don''t drink that much; it''s bad for you."


    "I know," Xavier nodded. He looked at her, searching for something else to say, but in the end, he just took a step back. "You should get going. I''ll see you around."


    With that, he walked back to his car.


    Eleanor found it strange; it felt like Xavier was deliberately keeping his distance. But she didn''t dwell on it. She got into her car and drove toward the garage exit.


    Xavier, however, pulled back into his parking spot. He hadn''t slept well at the hotel and knew he desperately needed some real rest.


    At theb, Eleanor was in a meeting when she sawn''s figure pass by in the hallway. He paused for a few seconds, and their eyes met through the ss wall. She gave him a cool, detached nce before turning her attention back to the meeting.n moved on.


    At midday, she went to do rounds on Gina. The stem cell infusion had improved her condition somewhat, and Serena had transformed from a carefree socialite into a patient and attentive daughter. She now stayed by Gina''s side constantly, with a nurse providing round-the-clock care.


    After Gina finished speaking with Dr. Smith, she looked at Eleanor with guilt in her eyes. She had been wanting to apologize again, but Eleanors attitude remained distant and she was always busy.


    "Miss Goodwin, could I speak with you outside?" Eleanor said to Serena.


    Serena nodded and followed her out of the room.


    "Based on your mother''s treatment n, we need to run aprehensive set of blood-rted tests on you. This is the consent form. Please review it and sign if you agree."


    Serena''s fingers trembled as she took the papers. Her eyes caught on the words "Test Subject," and a chill of fear snaked through her. She wasn''t nearly as brave as she pretended to be.


    "Ellie..." Serena looked up, her fear evident.


    Eleanor''s expression softened slightly. "It''s just a routine screening."


    A sudden surge of courage filled Serena. She picked up the pen and signed her name. "Ellie, for my mom, I''ll do whatever it takes. I will cooperatepletely."


    Eleanor nodded, took the form, and walked away.


    Serena stared after her for a moment. From what she had observed recently, Eleanor''s professionalism was beyond question and her personality was blend of gentleness and strength. She felt like a fool for being so blind to Eleanor''s qualities before.


    Her animosity toward Eleanor had always stemmed from the belief that Eleanor had leveraged a debt of gratitude to force her way into their family derailing what should have been a future between her brother and Vanessa. She knew Vanessa had metn long before Eleanor did, and from the moment she met Vanessa, she knew the woman was in love with her brother.


    In her eyes, Eleanor was an opportunist who had stolen him away, and she''d


    resented Eleanor for it.