"I''ll order for you,"n said, then suggested, "I''ll get that fish chowder from the ce you love."


    Eleanor looked at him, her gaze clear and direct, and refused. "No, thank you. Just because I liked it back then doesn''t mean it suits my taste now."


    Eleanor shook her head. "The hospital''s meals are fine."


    "Alright," was all he said in the end.


    The room fell into a silence thatsted for a dozen seconds. Ian nced at his watch. "I''m heading back now. Gavin is outside the door, so if you need anything, just ask him."


    "That won''t be necessary. Please tell him to go home and rest. I''ll call a nurse if I need anything," Eleanor said, not wanting to trouble Gavin.


    "I''ll have him stay until ten,"n insisted. Then, he picked up his suit jacket, draped it over his arm, and left.


    In the quiet hospital room, Eleanor picked up her phone to check her messages and emails. As she was reading, there was a gentle knock on the door.


    "Come in," Eleanor called out.


    Gavin pushed the door open. "Miss Sutton, sorry to bother you. May I have a word?"


    Eleanor nodded. "Please,e in."


    Gavin gently closed the door and stood a few feet from the bed, his tone sincere. "Miss Sutton, there''s something I''d like to ask you to persuade Mr. Goodwin about. It concerns the future of Goodwin & Co."


    Eleanor was slightly taken aback. "What is it?"


    "Mr. Goodwin has decided to cancel his trip to The Sun Valley Conference tomorrow."


    Eleanor looked at Gavin in surprise. "Why would he do that?"


    "I believe it''s so he can take better care of you and your daughter," Gavin said, then continued, "But this conference is crucial for Goodwin & Co. Three years ago, when thepany was facing a crisis it was the partnerships from The Sun Valley Conference that helped us pull through. And now, the Neural Interface Project we''ve invested in urgently needs the international resources and coborations this conference can provide. Otherwise, the board members will surely protest again."


    Eleanor listened in silence, then looked up and asked, "Goodwin & Co. faced a crisis three years ago? When exactly?"


    Gavin recalled, "In June, three years ago. Goodwin & Co. was targeted for a hostile takeover by a foreign tech giant who wanted to force Mr. Goodwin to ept their acquisition offer."


    Gavin''s words made Eleanor frown. June, three years ago—that was when her daughter was hospitalized with pneumonia.


    was critical," Gavin


    "The situation w


    continued. "The otherpany


    spared no expense in attacking


    Goodwin & Co.''s core business


    causing the stock price to plummet for days. During The Sun Valley Conference, Mr. Goodwin worked almost non-stop in negotiations and ultimately brought back SIX


    international partnership


    agreements, which saved the


    Eleanor''s fingers unconsciously tightened on the bedsheet.


    dat


    Gavin looked at Eleanor''s silent expression, unsure if she even


    wanted to hear all this. He exined, "Miss Sutton, I know Mr. Goodwin neverexins these things to you. He doesn''t want you to bear the pressore with him. There were many expenses that year? He personally funded all of Dr. Smith''sb, pouring billions into it annually. The pressure on him was immense."


    "So, what do you need me to do?" Eleanor looked up at Gavin, her eyes calm andposed.