He had been on the brink of death, and these two people and their teams had fought to give him a chance at life.


    The debt was heavier than a mountain.


    He slowly closed his eyes, suppressing the storm of emotions inside him. "I understand, Mr. Maxwell. Thank you for telling me all this."


    ***


    Eleanor awoke from another startling nightmare.


    Like a drowning person suddenly breaking the surface, she gasped for air and shot upright.


    "Is he awake? Is Mansfield awake?" she asked, grabbing his arm, her voice hoarse and desperate.


    A dull ache spread through his chest for a few seconds before he quickly took her hand in his, his grip firm and reassuring. His voice was low and gentle. "He''s awake."


    Seeing the uncertainty still in her eyes, he continued, "He''s fully conscious and in stable condition."


    Eleanor let out a huge sigh of relief. She took several deep breaths. She knew their rescue n had been cobbled together at thest minute; she hadn''t been fully prepared, and every step had been a race against time. A single mistake could have cost Mansfield his life.


    Now, hearing that he had sessfully woken up, the nerve that had been stretched taut for so long finally ckened.


    An overwhelming wave of relief and residual fear washed over her, leaving her feeling weak. Her body swayed slightly.


    Pushed back against the pillows, Eleanor felt too dizzy to even argue. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again.


    Her delicate eyshes fluttered weakly like a butterfly''s wings. Her face was drained of color, butter lips were flushed from how hard she was breathing.


    They parted slightly as she tried to catch her breath.


    Eleanor''s vulnerable expression and


    her red lips were like a rose blooming in the snow, a silent temptation that pulled at the


    deepest desires within him.


    A powerful, unexpected impulse swept through him—he wanted to kiss her.


    The thought was so swift and intense that his breathing instantly grew heavier. His throat went tight, the words sticking on the way out.


    But he knew he couldn''t.


    Right now, Eleanor was ecstatic over another man''s recovery. She was longing for another man.


    Eleanor blinked, oblivious to his


    thoughts. She slowly sat up again and ran a hand through her messy hair realizing it was tangled, and probably greasy, after three


    sleepless days.


    She began tob through it with her fingers in frustration, trying to make herself look a little more presentable.


    tried to fix her hair, as if she was very concerned about her appearance.


    That realization was like a tiny thorn pricking his newly calmed heart.


    *Is she getting ready to see her man?*