When Vanessa returned to her seat, a server approached and informed her that Walden Wells had gone to a private lounge to rest and that she should join him shortly.


    Vanessa''s gaze lingered onn in the crowd. Adjusting her expression, she picked up a ss of wine and walked toward him.


    "Ian, long time no see," Vanessa said, forcing a natural smile, her voice soft and alluring.


    Vanessa spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd and smiled. She could tell from their expressions that they were among those who had once misunderstood her rtionship withn.


    n, don''t be so cold. We go way back, after all," Vanessa said, shamelessly pressing on.


    Those standing nearby were a little taken aback byn''s reaction. They all knew Miss Shannon and Mr. Goodwin had a history, but it was clear Mr. Goodwin had no interest in reminiscing.


    "Is there something you need, Miss Shannon?"n finally responded, his eyes narrowed, his tone still frigid.


    Vanessa''s smile faltered. "Nothing, really. I just wanted to say hello. I''m so happy to see you and Eleanor getting along so well. I was just chatting with her, and she mentioned that you two are very good partners now."


    She intentionally emphasized the word "partners," her eyes fixed onn, searching for any flicker of a reaction on his wless face.


    Behind his gold-rimmed sses,n''s expression was unreadable, but a clear warning shed in his eyes.


    "Stay away from her,"n said, his voice low butced with apelling chill. Vanessa''s smile froze on her lips. "I guess I overstepped," she said, forcing augh. She turned and walked away. She had confirmed just how muchn cared about Eleanor, and the twisted satisfaction inside her intensified.


    Eleanor used to be the one blinded by love. Now it wasn''s turn. How fitting.


    Partners. That meant they only had professional interactions. No kissing, no hugging, no intimacy. Ifn thought he was going to rekindle their old me, he was dreaming.


    After Vanessa left,n''s gaze drifted involuntarily toward Eleanor, his eyes darkening.


    She was talking to someone from the medical field, her eyes focused, her expression earnest. He knew it. She had agreed toe to the banquet for the sake of her career.


    The realization brought a pang of bitterness. He swirled the wine in his ss. He knew that to get close to Eleanor again, he had to respect the boundaries she had set He had to proceed step by step in a way could ept.


    He couldn''t rush it.


    she


    Watching Eleanor exchange contact information with the other person,n sighed softly. At least her research was making progress. That was a win for the night.


    Just then, a young man from abroad, holding a wine ss, approached Eleanor. Unlike the middle-aged academics she had been speaking with, this man was tall, with sharp features and a distinguished air.


    He walked straight up to Eleanor with a charming smile and struck up a conversation.


    The man was clearly interested in Eleanor, his admiration for her unconcealed. Eleanor, for her part, remainedposed, a polite smile on her face.


    Though he knew it was just a normal professional exchange,n despised the way the man was looking at Eleanor. That look of obvious interest and inquiry clearly held another meaning.


    At that moment, one of the guild


    directors noticed the change inn''s


    aura, Following his intense stare


    toward Eleanor, the director


    chuckled. "Mr. Goodwin, it seems Dr. Sutton is quite popr."


    The director smiled, but he couldn''t help but notice that the tense atmosphere aroundn had grown even heavier.


    Because the handsome young man was now exchanging contact information with Eleanor.