"Don''t work yourself too hard, Callie," Eleanor advised.


    Callie''s heart warmed. "I know. You two enjoy your lunch."


    Once Callie had left, Joel''s gaze settled on Eleanor''s slightly pale face. "How are things over there?"


    "Let''s go to the restaurant and talk while we eat," Eleanor suggested. A lot had happened recently, and if she needed a good listener, Joel was definitely the best choice.


    In the restaurant across from theb, Eleanor exined the situation with Smith and mentioned the transactional nature of Vanessa andn''s rtionship.


    Joel was stunned silent for a long moment before he finally processed it. "You mean to say,n and Vanessa were never lovers? It was a transaction from the very beginning?"


    "I''m not sure if they were lovers or not, but they definitely had a deal," Eleanor confirmed. n needed her to provide stem cell donations at least once a year, and in return, he provided for her financially."


    Joel had seenn and Vanessa together before. Ian''s care and attentiveness toward her had been obvious. It couldn''t have been just a cold transaction.


    "Your research breakthrough has effectively removed Vanessa''s status as the sole donor. Nown is no longer beholden to her. He should be grateful to you," Joel said, picking up his teacup. "Has he given you any exnation for everything he did to you in the past?"


    Eleanor''s fingers tightened around her water ss. She turned to look at the spring scenery outside the window. An exnation? What they had been through couldn''t be resolved with a simple exnation.


    "The past doesn''t matter anymore," Eleanor said, looking back at Joel. "What''s important now is that we''ve both moved on."


    Joel was taken aback. He had witnessed everything Eleanor had been through, but this was the first time he had seen her so calm about the past. She had matured, grown. He deftly changed the subject. "Well, let''s not talk about that. Once you''re done with Smith''s experiments, you nning to return to the BCI


    team? Callie seems overwhelmed on


    his own."


    Eleanor nodded. "Of course, I''ming back. I don''t have a habit of leaving my research half-finished."


    Joel smiled. He, too, had been through a lot recently in themercial projects division and had interacted withn several times an had been incredibly supportive of his work providing funding, equipment, and personnel. For that, Joel was grateful. He wanted to say a few words inn''s


    defense but worried Eleanor


    wouldn''t want to hear them.


    The fact that Goodwin & Co.


    operated so smoothly wasrgely due ton at the helm. Joel hade to understand the internalplexities of thepany and the challenges of expanding into international markets. Countless eyes were onn, waiting for him to make a mistake, waiting for him to fall. The business world was a battlefield, and as a man, Joel had to admiren''s skill and decisiveness.


    Now, adding the pressure of his


    family''s health issues, the past


    decade couldn''t have been easy for him.


    "Tell me about yourmercial projects," Eleanor asked, wanting to catch up on Joel''s work.


    "Everything is proceeding in an orderly fashion," Joel began, choosing his words carefully, his tone objective. "And speaking of which,n''s support for scientific research is trulymendable. Our division''s three major projects recently received full funding, equipment, and staffing, all thanks to him."


    Eleanor nodded, listening quietly. Joel continued, "I''ve been in a lot of meetings at Goodwin & Co.tely, and I''ve learned a bit about the business world. He''s incredibly capable to manage apany like that."


    Noticing that Eleanor didn''t seem keen on the topic, Joel smiled. "Anyway, you know my work is all about following the development n. It''s your research that''s truly worth discussing."


    Eleanor offered a small smile. She understood the implication behind Joel''s words. It wasn''t that she was unaware ofn''s difficult position; it was just that, having stepped out of the role of his wife, there was no longer any need to dwell on the past.


    As they walked back to theb, Eleanor spotted a familiar figure. She quickened her pace in surprise. "Professor Langley."