So, even if they were to meet, Eleanor couldn''t do anything to her. In fact, she might even have to beg, just liken did.


    At this thought, Vanessa felt a sudden, eager anticipation to have a proper conversation with Eleanor.


    Just then, another wave of dizziness washed over her. Vanessa clutched her head, gasping for breath. A nce at the clock showed it was three in the morning. For the past few nights, she had been tormented by insomnia, unable to find any peace. She had even increased her dosage of sleeping pills. She walked to the master bedroom, opened the bottle, swallowed two pills, and finally climbed into bed.


    The next morning, Eleanor drove her daughter to school. After watching Evelyn disappear into the campus, she headed to theboratory.


    When she arrived,n wasn''t there yet.


    Dr. Smith approached her. "Mr. Goodwin went to visit his mother. He''ll be here shortly. El, get your materials ready. We''ll tell him the good news when he arrives."


    Eleanor nodded and went into theb to get started.


    Serena was chatting with a nurse, her spirits visibly lifted. The red blotches under her skin had started to fade, which was enough to make her happy. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Vanessa.


    "Serena, it''s been a while. Are you still busy?"


    "Vanessa, long time no see. What have you been up to?" Serena replied.


    "Just busy with work. How have you been?"


    "I''m doing great," Serena typed back.


    "We should get together for dinner sometime. I miss you."


    Serena stared at Vanessa''s friendly message and blinked. An idea had been taking root in her mindtely-a long shot, perhaps, but one she was determined to pursue. She wanted to get Eleanor and her brother back together She had even started collecting evidence to support her cause.


    "Sorry, Vanessa, I''m really busy right now. Maybe some other time."


    "Okay, let me know when you''re free," Vanessa replied without pushing.


    Serena let out a breath of relief, but a question lingered in her mind: was her brother really in love with


    Vanessa? Based on the evidenc


    she had gathered the


    way he


    looked at Eleanor-she realized he had never looked at Vanessa like that.


    At the hospital, Gina''s condition had improved over the past two days. She was eating breakfast when she looked up and saw her son walk in. Her initial joy quickly turned to shock.


    n, your hair—what happened to your hair?"


    "Let me see. Come here and let me see," Gina said, horrified. Her son was only twenty-nine. How could his hair already be showing signs of gray? And so noticeably, too. She had only seen him two days ago.


    in her eyes. She knew her condition had worried him for a decade. This had to be


    the result of immense stress, and she was ovee with guilt.


    "Mom, it''s really nothing,"n said, handing her a tissue. "I just haven''t been


    sleeping well. It''ll be fine after I get some rest."


    believe him. This


    But Gina didn''t be


    wasn''t just fromck of sleep; it was from anxiety and emotional


    exhaustion, from shouldering the burden of her and her daughters gic illness, from worrying about Evelyn''s future and the entire family.