That was the first time she had ever seenn.


    She had looked up and seen the most handsome young man she had everid eyes


    on.


    In that moment, her heart had skipped a beat. His appearance hadpletely stolen her innocent heart.


    Later, when she saw him again in her father''s office, she learned that the patient her father had been busy treating for the past six months wasn''s father.


    After that, she continued studying in the hospital''s library corner. One day,n showed up with a book and sat down next to her. Sometimes, they would just sit there in silence for an entire afternoon.


    That year, Eleanor Sutton''s studies progressed slowly. She fell behind on the work her father assigned her and even earned a scolding from him.


    Eleanor knew it was becausen was distracting her. On those afternoons in the library corner when he was there, she couldn''t focus on anything at all.


    That summer, her heart was in a constant state of flutter. The wayn looked at her, the way she met his gaze-they didn''t need words. A single nce was enough to make Eleanor''s heart pound for hours.


    So, after he fell into aa, Eleanor, already deeply in love with him, was willing to give up her studies just to wake him up.


    Eleanor sat on a bench on the campus abroad, the evening breeze toying with her hair. Memories yed out in her mind like a movie, frame by frame, filled with both beautiful moments and indelible pain.


    But thinking about it now, the sharp ache in her heart seemed to have faded, leaving only a faint sense of wistfulness.


    Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Joy Thatcher. [Are you in Montir yet? Have you adjusted to the time difference?]


    Eleanor replied, [I''m here. Just taking a walk on the Montir University campus. The conference starts tomorrow.]


    [Well, enjoy the academic exchange. And while you''re at it, see if you can find a cute guy to hit on,] Joy teased.


    Eleanor chuckled and typed back, [Alright, will do!]


    ***


    The next day, the conference began.


    Nearly thirty people were in


    attendance, all titans from the world''s leading hospitals Eleanor was one of the youngest faces in the room and one of the few female


    researchers.


    When it was her turn to speak, she clearly and rigorously presented her theories, supported by solid experimental data, and detailed her achievements in brainputer interfaces. The scrutinizing gazes in the audience soon turned into expressions of intense interest and curiosity.


    When she finished, the room erupted in enthusiastic apuse. On that first day alone, Eleanor exchanged contact information with over a dozen researchers for futuremunication.


    The following three days were filled with tense and intense discussions, one brainstorming session after another. Eleanor benefited greatly, absorbing a wealth of advice and experience.


    On the evening of the fourth day, the organizers hosted a small dinner party. Eleanor was invited and happened to have brought a formal dress. Raising a ss with like-minded people was a truly happy asion.


    Here, she didn''t have to be anyone''s wife. She was no longer just a wife defined by her husband. She was a woman who stood on her own, brilliant and independent.


    At nine p.m., Eleanor returned to her hotel, and her phone immediately buzzed with an iing video call.


    It was fromn.


    Eleanor guessed it was really her daughter calling. She answered, but it wasn''s face that appeared on the screen. He was in his study. He seemed taken aback to see Eleanor in a dress with light makeup her long hair down.


    "Did you go to a dinner party?" he asked.


    "Yes, the organizers hosted one," Eleanor nodded, then asked, "Where''s Evelyn?"


    "She''s at Goodwin Manor. She''s sleeping over there tonight." Ian''s gaze locked onto hers. "How are things going? Are you tired?"