Joslyn was getting Evelyn ready for her bath. Eleanor walked downstairs and sawn by the sofa, picking up his suit jacket, ready to leave.


    Eleanor came down the stairs. "Thank you for looking after Evelyn."


    Eleanor was taken aback, sensing something unusual in his words. She stopped a few feet away from him and looked him straight in the eye. "Tell me the truth. Is this project rted to someone very important?"


    "Who?" Eleanor''s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.


    "The former vice president,"n answered in a low voice, then added a warning. "Don''t tell anyone."


    Eleanor was shocked. The former vice president''s sudden incident had been followed by apleteck of news. So he was still alive? Did he need the Neural Interface Project to be awakened? Was this the person Dean Maxwell had avoided talking about? Was this why Garth was personally overseeing the project?


    If that were true, the stakes and urgency of this project would be beyond anything she''d imagined.


    He said gravely, "This technology might be the only hope right now. Therefore, it cannot have any setbacks. We must achieve a breakthrough as soon as possible."


    Eleanor looked up at him, sensing the pressure he was under. Although he was just a businessman, he had been drawn into thisplex situation and was shouldering the burden.


    "Eleanor, I need you to understand that this is no longer just a scientific challenge. It''s a mission that cannot fail,"n said, his eyes filled with an unprecedented gravity.


    Eleanor took a deep breath. Her questions were answered, and she knew who they needed to save weight on her shoulders felt beavier.


    Sho


    nodded. "Alright, I''ll give it my


    all."  s?novel


    he eventually turned and walked to the entryway.


    Eleanor heard the door close and


    took another deep breath. That night, after her daughter was asleep. Eleanor returned to her study and worked until the early hours of the morning.


    The next morning,n arrived on time to take their daughter to school, and Eleanor went to theb as scheduled.


    Ryan, Maxwell''s doctoral student, was already there. After some introductions and discussion, they dove into their research.


    Over at the civilianb, Joel was reviewing thest report when someone knocked and entered. It was Faye, and she didn''t look well.


    "Faye? Is something wrong?" Joel asked, looking up.


    Faye looked at Joel''s handsome face, a lump forming in her throat. She took a deep breath. "Joel,


    something hase up my


    family. Can textend my leave?-


    The crisis at Yeaton Holdings had already been all over the news, so Joel was aware of it. "I''ll give you another three days," he replied.


    Faye breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes were filled with pain and resentment as she looked at Joel.


    "If that''s all, please close the door on your way out." Joel looked back down at his report, not sparing her another nce.


    Faye fought back tears, gave him onest look, and turned to leave.


    Faye knew that only Eleanor was ever worthy of Joel''s attention. He wouldn''t even spare a second nce for any other woman.