In several clips,n would sit in her father''sb chair, watching him work, before eventually leaving without a word.


    From the camera''s perspective, it seemed as if her father, the father-inw, was being cold and dismissive, treating his son-inw with ack of respect. Butn had never once mentioned any of this to her.


    Eleanor took a deep breath, tilting her head up to try and hold back the tears welling


    in her eyes.


    Just then, she thought she saw a familiar figure.


    Her eyes were swollen from crying and still blurry with tears, but she could see him clearly.


    Standing on the sunset-drenchedwn was a tall, familiar silhouette. He was walking toward her from the other side of the green.


    It wasn.


    His suit jacket was slung over his arm, and he wore a dark shirt. He looked travel- worn, but his posture was steady, his steps firm and determined as he approached her.


    Eleanor stood frozen, simply watching him draw closer. The wind whipped her hair across her face, making her look even paler.


    She hadn''t expected him to arrive so quickly, to appear right here.


    He raised a hand as if to brush them away for her, but then let it fall back to his side. "I''m here," he said, his voice deep.


    Eleanor opened her mouth to speak, but her throat suddenly felt tight. She turned her face away and wiped at the corner of her eye. "Let''s find a ce to—"


    Ian stepped forward and took her by the wrist. "The car is at the campus entrance."


    On the summer evening, her fingers were cold in his grasp. Ian led her away without another word.


    Eleanor didn''t pull away. She let him lead her toward the main gate.


    Once they were in the car, Eleanor spoke first. "Back to the hotel, please."


    They were silent for the entire ride.n nced at her from time to time, monitoring her emotional state. His own brow was etched with a fatigue that spoke of a long flight, but Kis eyes were exceptionally clean Dand alert.


    Back in the hotel room, Lanny saw them to the door and left.


    Eleanor walked to the desk, opened herptop, and unlocked the document again. She turned to look at the man on the sofa, her voice hoarse. "Can you exin why my father was working himself to death in yourb?"


    Eleanor''s breath hitched. "Why?" she asked instinctively.


    It felt like an invisible hand had


    seized Eleanor''s heart and squeezed. She stared atn in shock. The fingers she had ced on the desk curled into a tight fist, her knuckles turning white. "So, my father spent thest two years of his life desperately trying to find a cure?"


    "Yes. After your mother died, your father never stopped his research. But back then, resources were limited, and he still had to raise you. He could only work on it in his spare time,"n said gravely.


    In themplight, Eleanor''s face was


    so pale it was nearly translucent.


    She finally understood why her


    father had always rushed to theb after work, why her entire childhood was spent by his side there. It wasn''t his primary job, he was using theb to conduct this research on the side.


    All this time, her father had been doing this for her. Fresh tears streamed down


    Eleanor''s face. She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle a sob.