A short whileter,n''s phone rang. He stepped outside to answer it. Eleanor nced at him as he returned. He looked at her, his expression calm. "It was nothing important."


    The implication was clear: nothing was more important than staying with her while she got her IV.


    Eleanor''s mind felt foggy. She had been overworking her brain recently, and the fever made her feel dizzy and disconnected. At least she had made it through the meeting, which would allow Principal Maxwell and his team to better n the next steps of the treatment.


    Half an hourter, the nurse came to remove the IV. Eleanor pressed a cotton ball to the back of her hand. Perhaps from sitting for so long, she felt a wave of dizziness as she stood up. She instinctively closed her eyes, andn was there in an instant, his hand steadying her arm.


    "Can you walk?" he asked in a low voice.


    Eleanor nodded and pulled her arm away. Ian watched her walk ahead, her steps clearly a little unsteady. His tall frame followed close behind, his eyes never leaving her.


    "I''lle in and stay with you until Joslyn gets back,"n said at the door.


    "There''s no need. I can take care of myself," Eleanor said, shaking her head. While she was grateful he had stayed with her at the hospital, she didn''t want to trouble him further.


    "Eleanor, don''t be stubborn." Ian frowned, his tone firm and unyielding. "I don''t feelfortable leaving you alone in this state."


    Eleanor met his gaze, her own unwavering. "I said, I''ll be fine."


    He assumed she was refusing to be alone with him because she was afraid he''d make a move.


    Eleanor frowned and looked away. "I just want to be alone."


    "I won''t need to," Eleanor bit her lip, making it clear she wouldn''t be bothering him again.


    of loneliness as he walked toward the elevator.


    Eleanor had just gotten home and was about to get a ss of water when her


    phone rang. It was Ryan.


    She picked it up. "Hello, Ryan."


    "Eleanor, we have a problem," Ryan''s voice was urgent. "Something I need to report. Ourtest simtions


    show that the current neural interface chips


    on''t have en


    processing power to handle theplex neural signals. They can''t support the full load of the new algorithm." Ryan sighed. "In other words, our chips aren''t powerful enough."


    Eleanor''s breath caught. She had worried about this, and now the problem was real.


    "Ryan, what do you suggest?" she asked him.


    "I rmend we procure the new


    ''Helios'' series high-end chips just released by Andreessen & Co. They''re the only ones that will meet the demands of the next phase Otherwise, all our algorithm optimizations are just theoretical, and Mansfield''s treatment n will stall."


    Eleanor felt her chest tighten. Andreessen & Co. was an industry giant, known for its technological monopoly and exorbitant prices The Helios chip was theirtest product, incredibly expensive, with aplicated procurement process and a typically long review period.


    "Let''s prepare the materials and submit a purchase request to Andreessen & Co. immediately," Eleanor said calmly.