Eleanor nced at the time. It was still early. "Let''s eat somewhere near theb," she suggested.


    Eleanor was still feeling the effects of herte night, her head feeling heavy. She needed to rest up for the afternoon meeting.


    During the drive, she sat in the back seat with her eyes closed. Ian didn''t disturb her, only asionally checking on her in the rearview mirror.


    When they arrived at a restaurant across from theb,n parked the car. Eleanor woke up immediately, rubbing her temples. She looked up and met a pair of deep eyes looking back at her from the mirror.


    Their eyes met for a split second. Eleanor was the first to look away.


    "Are we here?" she asked, smoothing her hair.


    "Yeah."n unbuckled his seatbelt, got out, and came around to open her door.


    They entered the restaurant, which was elegantly decorated and frequented by manyb employees.


    At a window seat, a pair of eyes widened in shock as they saw the two walk in. It was Faye Yeaton.


    Though the Yeatons had gone bankrupt, she had managed to keep her job in the civil projects division. Now, with her father having fled the country to escape his debts, she and her mother had moved out of their mansion and were renting an apartment near theb.


    They had sold everything of value, including her shy Bentley convertible.


    Faye never expected to run into Eleanor andn here. The man who was always the untouchable CEO of Goodwin & Co. was now pulling out a chair for Eleanor, his movements gentle and graceful.


    Even though Yeaton Holdings was bankrupt and she had fallen from grace, suffering ridicule and scorn-and despite the rumors thatn was behind it all-Faye found she couldn''t bring herself to hate him.


    Just then,n''s gaze swept casually across the restaurant and briefly met hers. Faye quickly looked down, her heart pounding like a drum.


    Despite the mortifying incident where she''d tried to im a connection to him, and knowing he never gave her or Yeaton Holdings a second thought, her attraction to power made her almost pathologically obsessed with him.


    After ordering, Eleanor sensed something and looked over. This time, Faye didn''t look away, meeting her gaze directly.


    Eleanor merely nced at her before turning back. Although she and Faye had a history, Eleanor now felt at peace with their past grievances.


    After all, their careers would never intersect again.


    Eleanor''s indifference made Faye grip her fork so tightly her knuckles turned white. In the world of white.


    research, Eleanor was in the top tier. They had been ssmates, both


    starting as ordinaryb technicians, but now Eleanor''s status was a world away from hers.


    Meanwhile, she was still doing basic work in the civil projects division. The vast chasm between them was harder for her to ept than her family''s bankruptcy.


    Just recently, she had seen another one of Eleanor''s papers published in a top journal, its groundbreaking findings drawing global attention.


    So, when Eleanor had nced at her so casually just now, it felt like a confirmation that they were no longer on the same level, not even in the same world.


    Faye felt the food in her mouth turn to ash. The two colleagues sitting across from her were lowering their voices, their earlier surprise now turning to whispers.


    "Oh my god, is that Mr. Goodwin and Dr. Sutton? What an honor to be eating in the same restaurant as them."


    Faye couldn''t help but look over again.


    phone whilen attentively refilled her tea. He didnt seem like an


    phone was looking at her et


    ex husband at all, more like a suitor.


    Faye suddenly had a realization. Wasn trying to win Eleanor back? Were they nning to remarry?


    Her colleagues were still whispering.


    "I heard Dr. Sutton''s paper was epted into—"


    "Mr. Goodwin has been pouring money into the Neural Interface Project to support her research-"


    The words were like needles in


    Faye''s ears. Everything her colleagues said only served to highlight Eleanor''s status in the researchmunity, a height she could only dream of reaching.


    She nced over atn and Eleanor again. Eleanor was saying something, andn


    was listening intently, a faint smile on his lips.


    Faye''s suspicion hardened into certainty.


    The decisive, ruthlessn of the business world was acting like a loyal, devoted


    guardian, watching over Eleanor''s every move.