The threat in his words made Vanessa tremble. What didn mean? Was he nning to bankrupt Yeaton Holdings sooner orter?


    That realization made Vanessa sway on her feet. Looking at the man before her, she knew with chilling certainty that if he decided to do something, he would see it through.


    "Ian, I was wrong. I shouldn''t have said those things to provoke Eleanor. Please, don''t touch my father''spany, okay?" Vanessa lunged forward and grabbedn''s sleeve, her face pleading.


    His gaze drifted toward the hallway where Eleanor had disappeared. "Get rid of those cheap tricks of yours," he said coldly. "If you dare interfere in my business with Eleanor again, I guarantee Yeaton Holdings willpletely disappear from Ashford City."


    His words terrified Vanessa. "Ian, you can''t do this to me," she said, her voice choked with sobs. "I know I was wrong. Please, for the sake of the ten years I''ve donated blood for your mother, let Yeaton Holdings go. Let my father go."


    When Vanessa reached for his arm again,n deftly stepped aside, his entire demeanor radiating an unapproachable coldness.


    "Leave,"n said without another nce at her. He turned and walked away, his resolute back leaving Vanessa frozen in ce.


    She regretted provoking and trying to alienate Eleanor, but at the same time, she felt a sliver of satisfaction for having twisted the knife in Eleanor''s heart one more time.


    Vanessa wiped her tears and headed to the nearest restroom topose herself.


    She had just entered a stall with her purse when she heard two nursese in, chatting.


    "Did you notice earlier? Mr. Goodwin''s hair seems to have more gray in it. Do you think he''ll end up with a full head of silver hair?"


    "It happened that night Dr. Sutton copsed and was rushed to the emergency room. Mr. Goodwin''s hair turned gray overnight."


    "It seems Mr. Goodwin really does still love Dr. Sutton."


    "Too bad Dr. Sutton doesn''t seem to feel the same way. She''s always so cold whenever she sees him."


    The two nurses chatted for a bit longer before leaving. In the stall, Vanessa emerged with her bag, a look of shock on her face. She


    narrowed her eyes. She had


    noticedn''s hair before, but now that she thought about it, it did seem grayer.


    If she hadn''t heard what the nurses said, she would have just assumed he was overworked.


    So, it was because Eleanor had copsed and been rushed to the ER? He was that worried about her?


    Vanessa picked up her lipstick and carefully painted her lips, a smug, cold smile ying on them.


    He deserved to savor that pain. It would serve him right.


    It would be even better if all his hair turned white.


    That was the best news she had heard all day.


    She also realized something else: her value as the sole global donor was diminishing. Had Eleanor made another research breakthrough? She''d


    I had a bad feeling ever since


    that night she deliberately got drunk andn hung up on her.


    Now,n''s attitude toward her made it clearer than ever. He really didn''t need her anymore.


    As for why he hadn''t terminated the


    contract, it was because even if she wasn''t the only donor she might still. have some other value in the future.


    No, she had to find a reason to terminate it.


    She no longer wanted to be his donor, and she certainly didn''t want to be constrained by this contract. She had to find a way to meet the conditions for termination.


    Sunlight streamed into the clear, bright office, falling on Eleanor''s bare face. She looked fresh and alert, her features distinct in the spring light.