Back at theb, Eleanor was leaving her office to discuss some data with Smith.


    As she reached his door, she heard him on the phone and decided toe backter, but then she overheard him say, "Make sure you bring the original documents. Mr. Goodwin wants to terminate the agreement with Miss Shannon for good this time, so we can''t afford any mistakes."


    Eleanor froze, ncing toward the office with a frown. Ian was terminating his agreement with Vanessa?


    Just then, Smith''s assistant approached her. "Dr. Sutton, are you looking for the doctor?"


    Smith, still on the phone, saw Eleanor through the ss wall of his office. He quickly wrapped up his call.


    "Eleanor, did you need something?" Smith asked as he stepped out of his office.


    Eleanor nodded. "I wanted to discuss a few data sets with you. Do you have a moment?"


    "Come on in," Smith said, nodding.


    Once inside the office, Eleanor couldn''t help but ask, "Doctor, I overheard you on the phone just now. Isn terminating the donation agreement with Vanessa?"


    Smith didn''t see any reason to keep it a secret. He nodded. "Yes, Mr. Goodwin called me about it himself just a little while ago. It seems he''s very eager to end things with her."


    As for the reason, Smith had a pretty good idea.


    Eleanor offered her professional opinion. "Doctor, I don''t think it''s the right time to terminate the agreement. Vanessa could serve as a valuable backup donor, just in case."


    "Hmm." Smith stroked his chin and nodded. "That''s what I said, but Mr. Goodwin seems quite insistent."


    Smith looked at Eleanor, his tone earnest. "Eleanor, I''m sure you understand why Mr. Goodwin is in such a hurry to terminate the contract."


    Eleanor''s expression remained neutral. She handed him the file. "Doctor, take a look at these two data sets from this morning. I think the values are still bit hight a We


    might need to adjust for stability.


    Smith''s focus immediately shifted to the data. After they had discussed it for a while, he saw Eleanor getting up to leave and couldn''t help but advise Eleanor, if you want to keep Vanessa as a backup donor, you should be the one to tell Mr. Goodwin. I think you''re the only one who can change his mind."


    Eleanor considered it for a moment, then nodded. "If it''s necessary, I''ll call him."


    On her way back to her office, Eleanor mulled it over. This wasn''t a matter of personal grudges; it was about the future of the Goodwin family and her daughter.


    Even withn as the primary donor, having a backup was always the safer, more responsible choice.


    Meanwhile,n was resting on the sofa, the fatigue from the fever making it difficult to do much else. Just then, his phone screen lit up with an iing call from-Eleanor.


    He raised an eyebrow in surprise and quickly answered, "Hello."


    On the other end, Eleanor''s voice came through, as calm and direct as ever. "I heard from the doctor that you''re nning to terminate the agreement with Vanessa."


    He grunted in affirmation, not denying it.


    Eleanor was silent for a few seconds


    Silent


    before she spoke again. "Ian, I hope you''ll reconsider. While the research has made a breakthrough, medicine is full of uncertainties. Keeping Vanessa as a backup donor provides an extrayer of security. It''s the more responsible choice for your family and for Evelyn."