"Alright, if you don''t want to talk about it, I won''t ask." Joel changed the subject. "It''s gettingte. Let me give you a ride home. I have to run an errand near your ce anyway."


    Eleanor knew the errand was just an excuse; his concern was real.


    "Joel, I can drive."


    "You passed out at the hospital today, you''ve been up night after night, and it''s already pushing ten. You expect me to feelfortable letting you go home alone?" Joel''s protective instincts were clear.


    "Okay, thank you." Eleanor epted his kindness.


    As they walked to the parking lot, the early summer night air was cool and refreshing. A bright moon hung overhead, casting their shadows long on the pavement.


    Inside the car, Joel started the engine and drove smoothly out of theboratory campus.


    Eleanor really did feel lighter; everything that had been weighing on her, work, family, even her tangled love life, seemed to ease off at once.


    She could finally go home and get a good night''s sleep.


    Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. She picked it up and saw it was fromn.


    [Still busy? Are you home yet?]


    Eleanor stared at the message without moving. Joel asked curiously, "Is that from Mr. Goodwin?"


    "He took Evelyn to a hot springs resort," Eleanor replied softly.


    "Eleanor, after the Neural Interface Project isplete, have you thought about taking a break? You haven''t had a proper rest in two years," Joel asked her.


    Eleanor thought for a moment. "As long as the work proceeds smoothly, I won''t be too tired."


    Joel smiled helplessly. "I should have known you wouldn''t want to rest."


    At that moment, another message notification chimed. It wasn again. [Evelyn wants to video chat. Is now a good time?]


    Before Eleanor could respond, a video call came through. Knowing her daughter''s impatience, she immediately epted. Sure enough, her daughter''s face filled the screen as she eximed, "Mommy, I just finished at the hot springs! They had these tiny fish that tickled my feet!"


    Looking at her daughter''s rosy cheeks, Eleanor''s eyes softened. "Is that so? Did you have fun?"


    "So much fun! It''s great here." As Evelyn''s camera wobbled, she noticed the car in the background. "Mommy, are you driving?"


    "No, Mommy''s not driving. I''m in Mr. Kingsley''s car," Eleanor replied.


    "Oh, okay! Mommy, you shoulde with us to the hot springs next time! I want to go with you."


    "Of course. When Mommy''s not so busy, I''ll take you," Eleanor promised.


    Just then, a man''s voice came through from the other end. "Still out thiste?"


    It wasn''s question.


    Anyone perceptive could detect the displeasure in his tone, including the now- enlightened Joel.


    Joel immediately nced at Eleanor, who was replying, "Yes, I''m on my way home." The screen shifted, showing Evelyn nestled in her father''s arms, the camera aimed at his firm jawline. "The wrap-up work isn''t urgent. Don''t work thiste again."


    "Mommy, can I say hi to Mr. Kingsley?" Evelyn asked.


    Eleanor turned the phone toward Joel. They were at a red light, and Joel smiled at the camera. "Good evening, Evelyn!"


    "Mr. Kingsley, thank you for taking my mom home," Evelyn said politely. However, the camera panned up, revealingn''s grim expression. He said to Joel Dr Kingsley, thank you for the trouble at thiste hour."


    Joel maintained a polite smile. "No trouble at all. It''s my pleasure."


    Evelyn obediently said goodbye, and the call was disconnected.


    As Joel pressed the elerator, he couldn''t help but ask Eleanor, "Was Mr. Goodwin jealous?"


    Eleanor turned to him and retorted, "Why would he be jealous?"


    Joel was taken aback. That was true. They were divorced;n no longer had the right to be jealous.


    Still, he had clearly sensed the displeasure inn''s voice. He was bothered by the fact that Joel was driving Eleanor home sote.


    However, Joel was very clear about his rtionship with Eleanor: they were colleagues, good friends, and confidants for life.


    He wouldn''t cross that line, and he wouldn''t overstep his bounds.


    After dropping Eleanor off at the entrance to her residentialplex, Joel waited


    until she was inside before turning the car around and leaving.


    On the drive home, Joel''s mind was anything but calm.


    Withn''s money and pull, if he''d


    really wanted to, going through Eleanor''s messages would''ve been


    the easiest thing in the world. Although his chats with Eleanor were purely about medical matters, the frequency of their


    Butn had never confronted


    Eleanor or caused trouble for him


    He had chosen to endure it silently. But given his personality, how would


    he have processed and dealt with those emotions?