His intense gaze fixed on her over the rim of his ss, and his eyes seemed to hold something more than just the haze of alcohol.


    Next, people started toasting Joel. As the team lead and a key contributor, he was a natural target. Joel clearly wasn''t good at refusing, smiling as he epted drink after drink. He wasn''t much of a drinker to begin with, and the alcohol went straight to his face. Before long, he was visibly flushed.


    When another person approached to offer a toast, Eleanor, knowing Joel''s tolerance was nothing liken''s, spoke up with a smile. "Let''s give Joel a break, shall we?"


    Joel hadn''t even processed her words, but across the table, the man''s fingers tightened around his wine ss.


    An observant colleague next to him refilled his ss.


    He tilted his head back and drained the ss in one go, the movement carrying a hint of barely concealed agitation. The liquor burned a path down his throat, but it did little to quell the intense jealousy surging within him.


    From a few seats away, Gavin keenly sensed the shift in mood. He got up and leaned in close ton. "Mr. Goodwin, you''ve had a lot to drink tonight. Should I take you home to rest?"


    Gavin had no choice but to return to his seat.


    Eleanor also noticed the change in the man across from her. The people who had been about to toast Joel quietly backed away. Joel, feeling a bit dizzy, was sipping water. Eleanor nced atn and found him leaning back in his chair, his eyes half- closed, his brow furrowed in difort. Under the lights, his pale skin was flushed with a drunken haze. He had clearly had too much.


    She frowned slightly and silently averted her gaze.


    Whenn opened his eyes, he caught her looking away from him. He narrowed his eyes.


    She could smile so naturally at Joel, show her concern so directly, but for him, she wouldn''t even offer a simple word offort?


    Despite the storm brewing inside him, he showed no trace of it on his face. He didn''t want to leave. He couldn''t bear to. So he just sat there, stewing in his silence.


    Just then, Joel stood up, stumbling slightly.


    Eleanor was closest to him and had been keeping an eye on him. She quickly stood and steadied him with her arm. "Joel, what''s wrong?"


    "I''m just going to the restroom," Joel said, a little embarrassed.


    "Callie, could you help Joel?" Eleanor called out.


    Callie and another male colleague immediately came over and helped Joel toward the restroom.


    This entire scene unfolded before the eyes of the man across the table, and his frustration seemed to intensify.


    Eleanor watched Joel leave, letting out a small sigh of relief. When she looked up, her eyes met a pair of deep, intense ones.


    she looked his way, the gloom on his face seemed to vanish, reced by a smile that could almost be


    daste He raised his


    full wine ss, gesturing to her from


    across the table, his movements as elégant as ever.


    Just asn was about to bring the ss to his lips, Eleanor finally spoke.


    "Don''t drink any more."


    His hand froze, as if someone had hit a pause button. He looked up, a clear flicker of astonishment in hisz eyes. Her words hit him cleanly, and something in his chest loosened, surprise turning. impossibly, into hope. His eyes lit up with surprise and delight


    Was she... worried about him?


    Just like she was worried about Joel?


    No, to his ears, it sounded more like she was reining him in.


    She didn''t see the smile take hold, the guardedness in him giving way as if atch had quietly clicked open.


    Gavin, who was busy eating, also noticed the exchange and couldn''t help but smile to himself. It seemed Mr. Goodwin was having a good night after all. It had to be Miss Sutton. A single word of concern from her was all it took to cure his foul mood.


    "Alright. I''ll listen to you," camen''s deep, gentle voice.