She had definitely inherited her father''s obsessive work ethic. That time she had worked for three days straight and copsed... standing outside the emergency room that day, he had made up his mind about what he would tell her.


    It was for the best. Let her hate him.


    She had already solved the problem. The heavy weight no longer needed to press down on her.


    By taking one burden off her shoulders, maybe she could live a little more freely.


    At eleven,n''s hoarse voice broke the silence. "You should go back and get some rest. I''ll be fine."


    Eleanor nced at the time, stood up, and actually began to leave.


    "Eleanor-" he called out hoarsely, pushing himself abruptly off the sofa.


    However, the weakness and dizziness from the fever were far worse than he had imagined. He had stood too quickly, and his vision instantly went ck. His body stumbled forward uncontrobly-


    Hearing his footsteps, Eleanor turned just in time to seen copsing toward her. Acting on pure instinct, she rushed forward and caught his falling upper body.


    The heavy weight of the man pressed down on her, nearly knocking the wind out of her.


    "Don''t go—" he gasped against her shoulder, his breathing ragged. Then, his long arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. His voice was muffled and raw with an almost desperate plea. "Stay with me a little longer... just a little longer, please?"


    Eleanor''s body went rigid. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to push him away; it was that she couldn''t.


    Even sick, the man''s strength was terrifying.


    "Let go," Eleanor ordered, turning her head to avoid his feverish breath.


    "No," he rasped, his arms tightening around her.


    Eleanor gritted her teeth and finally stopped struggling, letting him hold her. In the deep silence of the night, their breathing intertwined.


    The man''s burning forehead rested against the cool skin of her neck. Though the fever had drained his strength, his senses


    e slowmet


    returning. The stiffness in her body


    was a clear warning stop clinging to her like a desperate fool.


    Slowly, his grip loosened. Ian forced himself to take a step back, breaking the intimacy he had created.


    "I''m sorry," he apologized, seemingly regaining his calm, self-possessed demeanor. "You can go."


    With that, he turned, walked back to the sofa, and sat down, his face looking exceedingly pale in the dim light.


    Eleanor stood frozen for a moment looking at the man on the sofa. In


    the end she said nothing did


    nothing. She turned and walked


    toward the door once more.


    The moment the door clicked shut, the silent room was filled with nothing but the man''s heavy, suppressed breathing.


    On the sofa,n remained in that position, motionless for a long, long time.


    The next morning, when Joslyn came down with soup, she saw Gavin packing a suitcase. "Where is Mr. Goodwin?" she asked.


    "The boss won''t be staying here for a while. Could you please let Miss Sutton know?" Gavin said, lifting the suitcase.


    Joslyn was surprised but didn''t ask any more questions.


    On her way to theb, Eleanor received a call from Joslyn, who she had indeed asked to make soup and bring it down that morning.


    "Since he''s not there, you don''t need to go to the trouble of making him soup anymore," Eleanor said.


    For the next three days,n was nowhere to be seen. Then, on the afternoon of the third day as


    Eleanor was leaving the fab, passed by the blood collection room. Her steps faltered.