Smith answered quickly. "Hello, El."


    "Professor, I have a question for you," Eleanor said, suppressing her emotions and speaking politely.


    "Go ahead."


    "I''d like to ask about the data you gave me when I was researching leukemia. Was that from your own research?" Eleanor asked.


    "Uh, well—" Smith paused, not answering immediately, as if considering how to respond.


    Eleanor already had her answer. She pressed him directly. "Was the data you gave me from my father''s early research?"


    "Ah! El, how did you know?" Smith asked, surprised.


    Eleanor took a deep breath. "I have one of my dad''s old notebooks, and I noticed that many of the theories in it are simr to the materials you gave me. I wanted to ask, what was the initial research project at theb whenn funded it? Wasn''t it blood disorders?"


    Smith on the other end thought for a few seconds before answering, "When Mr. Goodwin established the blood researchb, the goal wasn''t actually blood disorders. The earliest project was the leukemia research led by your father. When I joined, my job was to assist him. The research on blood disorders began a yearter."


    "Then do you know why my father was so invested in the leukemia project?" Eleanor asked curiously.


    Sensing something, Smith chuckled. "You''ll probably have to ask Mr. Goodwin about that. I''m not too clear on the specifics. The project was considered confidential back then."


    Eleanor frowned. Why was her father''s leukemia research a confidential project? Was there something hidden behind it?


    Seeing that Smith was unwilling to talk further, she gave up on pressing the issue. "Thank you, Professor," she said gratefully.


    "You''re wee, El. Come by theb when you have time."


    "Okay, I will when I''m free," Eleanor replied with a smile.


    Herst research project waspletely finished. Gina''s recovery was at ny percent, proving the drug she developed was highly effective and could potentially offer aplete cure for the blood disorder in the future.


    Even if her daughter were to develop the condition, they now had enough medication stored for her use.


    Hanging up the phone, Eleanor pressed her fingers to her temples, feeling overwhelmed.


    Ifn''s original intention for establishing theb wasn''t for his mother''s blood disorder, then what was it for?


    For the profits that leukemia research could bring?


    She couldn''t help but think of the filen refused to let her see. Could that hold the final answer?


    What wasn hiding?


    Although she desperately wanted to go downstairs and confront him right now, she remembered his firm refusalst time. It seemed there was a secret in there he had to protect.


    In the study on the twenty-seventh floor,n was reviewing emails on his iPad, a stylus held between his long, elegant fingers. He signed! his name at the bottom of a document.


    He nced at his watch. It was time to pick up his daughter.


    ет


    At the school gate,n held his daughter''s hand and happened to see Xavier arriving to pick up Vivian. The two girls immediately joined hands and spun in a circles


    "How have you been?"n asked Xavier.


    Xavier nodded. "Not bad. You?"


    ve


    Just then, Xavier''s phone rang. It was his mother, rushing him to bring his granddaughter home for dinner. He said ton, "My mom''s calling. I have to go." "Alright,"n nodded.


    The two men led their little girls to their cars and drove back to theplex.