Eleanor''s brow furrowed slightly. The unspoken invitation behindn''s words was crystal clear to both of them.


    Eleanor met his gaze calmly and just as calmly refused. "No, thank you."


    It was a crisp rejection.


    The look of anticipation onn''s face faltered. The elevator light clearly illuminated the awkwardness on his handsome features. He lowered his gaze for a couple of seconds before looking up with a slight smile. "Sorry, that was too forward of me."


    With that, he said warmly, "Well, get some rest. Good night."


    "Good night," Eleanor replied.


    Their gazes unexpectedly locked again.


    His gaze was as deep as the ocean, churning with an emotional current she had no desire to explore.


    Eleanor held his gaze for two seconds before turning her head away.


    That evening, Eleanor dropped her bag and the gift before heading off to shower. When she came downstairs, Joslyn was tidying up and asked her, "Is this your gift, ma''am?"


    Eleanor finally remembered the gift fromn. She walked over, picked it up, and opened it. It was clearly jewelry. Sure enough, it was a sapphire bracelet.


    Eleanor loved blue things. It seemed he still remembered.


    Eleanor took it upstairs and ced it in her ss disy case with her other jewelry. She rarely had a use for such things, only wearing them for important asions.


    Just as Eleanor was about to get into bed, her phone chimed with a message. She saw it was fromn.


    [Do you like the gift?]


    [I do, thank you,] Eleanor replied casually.


    [Good, I''m d you like it,]n wrote back.


    [Going to sleep now. You get some rest too,] Eleanor replied, reaching for the book on her nightstand, intending to read a few pages.


    Her phone chimed again. Eleanor nced at it and saw another message fromn. [I can''t sleep!]


    Eleanor frowned. Was he still troubled by the factory incident abroad?


    [Do you need a sleeping pill to help?]


    [Do you have any?]


    [Yes, I can have Joslyn bring some down for you.]


    [Never mind, Joslyn is probably already asleep. Let''s not disturb her,]n texted, followed by, [I''lle up and get it.]


    Eleanor thought he was going to refuse! She hadn''t expected him to offer toe up himself.


    [Okay,e on up,] she replied.


    Eleanor got out of bed, opened her nightstand drawer, and took out a blister pack of sleeping pills to give him. This way, if he needed them in the future, he wouldn''t have to as again.


    Eleanor went downstairs and saw that Joslyn had indeed gone to her room to rest.


    Unsure ifn hade up yet, Eleanor opened the door to wait for him.


    Just then, the elevator chimed, and the doors opened.


    Steady footsteps echoed in the hallway. Eleanor looked over and saw he had already showered. He was wearing a set of dark gray loungewear, stray locks of hair falling messily over his forehead.


    Hecked his usual sharp, decisive intensity, reced by a sense of domestic ease exhaustion.


    and


    "Here," Eleanor said, handing it to him.


    "One tablet at a time, but it''s best not to rely on them long-term," Eleanor advised.


    Eleanor was still in her nightgown


    and subconsciously crossed heret


    arms over her chest. You should g?t some sleep," she said before closing the door.


    ???


    After going downstairs,n did indeed take one pill. He hadn''t slept well for days and needed to recover his strength.


    But after taking it and lying down, he found the effect wasn''t very strong. Or rather, his body was exhausted, but his mind was unusually clear.