"Ellie, you''re here!" Joel stood up with a smile and came over to greet her.


    "Wow, Dr. Sutton''s here!" the members of Joel''s team eximed, pleased to see her.


    Eleanor smiled and waved a hand. "Please, don''t call me that. Just use my first name."


    The team members who hadn''t met her before came over to introduce themselves one by one. Eleanor greeted each of them, and the atmosphere was light and cheerful. They were all friends and colleagues, and the conversation buzzed with excitement about the project''s sess, punctuated by frequentughter.


    Just then, a male colleague looked around curiously and noticed one team member was missing-Faye.


    He quickly sent her a text. [Faye, howe you''re not at the dinner tonight?] [There''s a dinner tonight? Howe I didn''t know?] Faye texted back.


    [You didn''t get the email?] the colleague asked, surprised. [It''s to celebrate the sess of our project.]


    Faye was at her family''s house. Staring at the message, she bit her lip. How could she be the only one left out of such a big celebration?


    Just then, another message came through. [Joel''s team and Dr. Sutton''s team are all here.]


    Faye''s expression darkened instantly. Eleanor was there? Was that why she wasn''t invited? Was it Joel''s idea, or did the ordere from someone else?


    Faye took a deep breath, but still feeling wronged, she dialed Joel''s number.


    Joel, who was in the middle of a lively conversation, saw her name on his screen, picked up his phone, and stepped out of the restaurant.


    "Hello, Faye," he answered.


    "Joel, I heard you guys are having a dinner. Was I forgotten? I didn''t know anything about it," Faye asked, her voice light and casual.


    Joel''s tone was calm, with a hint of apology. "Faye, this dinner was arranged by Mr. Goodwin. It was also his decision not to invite you I''m not sure about the specific reasons. I''ll make sure you''re included in the next team event."


    Sitting in her grandmother''s living room, Faye''s fingers tightened on her phone, turning white at the knuckles. "So it was Mr. Goodwin''s decision?"


    "Why? Why was I excluded? I was part of this project too! I poured my heart and soul into it!" Faye''s voice rose with indignation.


    Joel was silent for a few seconds before replying calmly, "Faye, I understand how you feel. There are some things you should understand."


    Faye snorted. "I get it. It''s because Eleanor''s there, right? He excluded me because she can''t stand the sight of me. I''m not wrong, am I?"


    "I have to go," Joel said, and then he hung up.


    Faye sat on the sofa, regretting that she had ever made the call. Not knowing would have been better. Now, it felt like a p in the face. It was one thing for Eleanor to dislike her, but was she now so despised byn as well?


    She remembered the time she''d gone ton for help with her father''spany, even telling everyone they were practically family. The cold look on his face then made it clear:


    in his eyes, she was owpletely


    repulsive.


    To be loathed by a man liken brought a wave of intense humiliation and shame


    that made her face burn.


    She felt a sense of utter mortification.


    Son had gone to all this trouble just to ensure Eleanor had a rxing and pleasant evening.


    Back at the restaurant, the atmosphere remained electric. Everyone ordered freely without even looking at the menu, splurging on expensive dishes and drinks they would normally never consider.


    Eleanor was swept up in the lively, carefree mood, and her appetite grew. She abstained from alcohol but was happy to see Joel enjoying a few drinks.


    She leaned back in her chair, a rxed, contented smile on her face as she listened to her colleagues teasing andughing.


    Everyone was having such a good time that they didn''t notice the tall, imposing figure that had appeared at the restaurant''s entrance. It wasn, with Gavin following close behind.