Eleanor followed Mansfield through a long hallway to his study. Inside the spacious room, a full wall of disy cases immediately caught her eye, filled with neatly arranged trophies, medals, and certificates of honor.


    "Did you earn all of these?" Eleanor asked, stunned.


    Mansfield smiled faintly. "Most of them. But some were my dad''s from when he was young."


    Eleanor stopped in front of a particrly striking medal, examining it closely. It was a Medal of Valor.


    Mansfield calmly exined, "I received that five years ago during a border mission." He let out a reflectiveugh. After all, he had nearly not made it back that time. It was his teammates who hadn''t given up on him.


    Just like this time, he was willing to risk his life to bring his team member back, never abandoning, never giving up.


    Eleanor''s heart tightened. To earn such an honor, the mission must have been incredibly difficult.


    She continued looking and saw several other simr medals. Finally, Eleanor came to a photo wall. The first thing she saw was a picture of Mansfield in his early twenties, lying in a hospital bed covered in bandages, yet still smiling warmly for the camera with his team.


    "That''s a picture of me at twenty," Mansfield said. Back then, he had a more boyish air, like a bright, sunny young man.


    Eleanor studied the photos for a few minutes, a mix of emotions welling up inside her. She felt a pang of sympathy for what Mansfield had been through, but also a deep admiration for his resilience. Behind these honors was the courage he had shown, time and again, in brushing with death.


    Eleanor also noticed the massive bookshelf in the study, filled with books. It was clear Mansfield was the kind of man who never stopped learning. His excellence wasn''t confined to the military; it came from how hard he pushed himself to keep growing.


    love, living for our ideals," Mansfield


    "It''s great that we''ve both found careers remarked with a sigh. But his path had been set for him long ago. Sometimes he wondered what his life would be like if he had chosen to be an ordinary person.


    But once he started down this road, he had to see it through to the end.


    Suddenly, Eleanor understood why Mansfield had brought her to his study he was showing her, in his own way, that they were ultimately on two different paths.


    Eleanor also understood that Mansfield had his own journey to walk. Some connections weren''t meant to be forced. To be able to understand and support each other was already a rare gift.


    Mansfield seemed to remember something. He walked over to a disy case of models, took out the smallest tank, and said, "Could you give this to Evelyn for me? I promised herst time that I''d get her a little tank."


    Eleanor looked at the exquisitely crafted miniature tank model, nodded, and smiled. "Of course."


    After a little while longer, Mansfield said to Eleanor, "We should be getting back."


    Otherwise, someone might start to worry.


    and Mansfield


    When Eleanor a


    returned to the dining room, the


    atmosphere was still lively Garth Ellington was chatting with the


    younger generation about technology and the future, listening intently to their thoughts.


    Ian Goodwin was sitting beside him, though he wasn''t part of the conversation. It was impossible to tell how many sses of wine he''d had, but his handsome face was slightly flushed.


    When he saw Eleanor return, his gaze shot up, deep andplex, with what looked like a hint of resentment.


    Eleanor frowned at him. He rarely drank enough to get red in the face. Under the lights, he was clearly a bit drunk.


    As soon as she sat back down, Callie whispered to her, "Eleanor, what''s wrong with Mr. Goodwin? He was drinking a lot by himself while you two were gone."


    Eleanor had a good idea of what was going on. She looked up and sawn looking back at her. Their eyes met, and his gaze held an emotion she couldn''t decipher.


    Just then, Garth stood up and announced, "Tea has been prepared in the tea room. Let''s all move over there for a few cups!"


    Everyone rose and headed to the tea room. Asn was about to stand up, Mansfield suddenly pped a hand on his shoulder and sat down next to him. "Mr. Goodwin, could we talk for a moment?"


    Once the main group had left, Mansfield poured a cup of tea forn and said with a solemn


    expression, "Mr. Goodwin, I owe my awakening to yourpany''s Neural


    interface Project technology and the timely delivery of the chip. I will never forget this life-saving


    grace for the rest of my life."


    Mansfield''s expression grew even more grateful. "Mr. Goodwin, what you did was a lot more than just ''the right thing to do.'' If it weren''t for your tremendous help, I might never have opened my eyes again."


    He paused, his voice deepening. "—was because Eleanor came to me for help."


    Mansfield was slightly taken aback, then he understood. "I see."


    "She put aside her pride to beg me to save you." Ian''s fingertips gently traced the


    rim of the cup. "It''s clear you''re very important to her."


    The hidden meaning in his words made Mansfield''s expression turn serious. Then, he looked atn Then


    sincerely and said, "Mr. Goodwi


    there''s something I feel I must confess to you. κου


    Eleanor and have decided to go back to being friends."