Although he said that, Eleanor still subconsciously wanted to say something more to make up for her rudeness earlier.


    But when she looked up, she met a pair of eyes as deep as the sea, in whichplex emotions were faintly churning.


    Eleanor instinctively turned her face away, avoiding his heated stare. "It''s gettingte. You''ve had a long day too. You should go home and rest."


    Seeing her evasive look,n immediately shuttered the light in his eyes, his tone returning to normal. "You get some rest too. Don''t overthink things."


    With that, he didn''t linger and walked toward the door.


    Eleanor heard the door close and slowly let out a breath, her tense shoulders rxing. She finished her water and went upstairs.


    After her shower, she had justin down when the sleeping Evelyn, just like when she was little, automatically snuggled closer, nestling into her arms with her head on Eleanor''s arm, sleeping like a baby who needed to be held to feel secure.


    Eleanor felt a pang of guilt and kissed her little head. For the foreseeable future, she would likely be too busy to spend time with her.


    For the next three days, Eleanor devoted herself entirely to her work, until a call from Principal Maxwell made her breath catch in her throat.


    "Eleanor, find some time toe to Ashford Medical University tomorrow. We need to discuss Mansfield''s treatment n, and we''d like you to be a part of it."


    Eleanor took a deep breath. "Can I see him?"


    "Of course," Principal Maxwell replied.


    After hanging up, Eleanor immediately checked flight schedules and decided to leave early the next morning, aiming to return within the day.


    When she got home from work that evening,n was still at her house. Eleanor mentioned her trip, andn told her to go to Kingston without worry; he would look after their child.


    Eleanor was momentarily at a loss for words. Ian then asked her, "Do you need me to go to Kingston with you?"


    Eleanor was taken aback and shook her head. "No, I''ll be back the same day."


    At nine-thirty,n took a call on the balcony. From his expression, Eleanor could tell


    it was work-rted, and that something had gone wrong.


    "Is something wrong?" Eleanor asked, stepping forward with concern.


    "Then you should go take care of it," Eleanor said, then turned away to tidy up her daughter''s toys on the sofa.


    Though Eleanor''s tone was normal, it seemed to carry a hint of gentleness.


    moment, like a beast breaking free from its cage, spreading wildly.


    Stepping back without pushing was the most dignified moven could make in that moment.


    "Goodnight,"n said in a low voice before walking to the door.


    The next morning, Eleanor assumed he had been too busy with workst night to take their daughter to school. But when she opened her door,n was standing right there, his face showing a hint of fatigue, as if he had been dealing with work all night.


    "I''ll take her. You go back and rest," Eleanor said to him.


    "Mommy, don''t you have to catch a flight? Just let Daddy take me!" Evelyn said sensibly, waving her small hand.


    Eleanor felt a lump in her throat and waved back at her daughter.


    Ellington drove Eleanor to the


    airport. On the way, he took the opportunity to ask for her decisions on several projects, which Eleanor


    confidently entrusted to him.


    The ne took off, and Eleanor fought against the unease of ascent. At that


    moment, her heart had already flown ahead to Kingston.