Seeing Eleanor cry, Joel quickly tried tofort her. "It''s okay-really, it''s okay."


    "Don''t talk. Save your strength," Eleanor said, forcing her tears back andposing herself.


    Nearby, Gwenda was already on the phone with the police.


    Faye sat limply on the floor, looking at the man she had admired for three years, who was now covered in blood because of her. The world spun around her, and she felt as if the fork had pierced her own heart, the pain making it impossible to breathe.


    "Joel—Joel, I''m so sorry, I''m so sorry—" She instinctively tried to crawl toward him, but Gwenda blocked her path with an outstretched arm. "You have the nerve to call his name? You have no right to get near him again."


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to—I really didn''t want to hurt you-" Faye covered her face, sobbing as immense regret washed over her.


    At that moment, security guards arrived, having been alerted to the situation. They immediately restrained the limp form of Faye on the floor. At the same time, the sound of an ambnce siren could be heard, and soon, paramedics arrived with a stretcher.


    The medical team quickly moved Joel onto the stretcher. Eleanor and Gwenda hurried after them, riding in the ambnce as it sped to the nearest hospital.


    Joel was taken directly into the operating room. Seeing him covered in blood, Eleanor''s tears finally broke free again.


    Gwenda''s eyes were also red. "Joel will be alright."


    Outside the operating room, Eleanor and Gwenda waited. Time seemed to drag on. Twenty minutester, a figure rushed toward them—it wasn.


    When he first saw the bloodstain on Eleanor''s sleeve and her pale face, his breath hitched. He immediately gripped her shoulders, looking her over. "Are you hurt? Where?"


    Eleanor shook her head. "It''s not my blood. It''s Joel''s."


    "Mr. Goodwin, Faye tried to stab Eleanor, and Dr. Ford jumped in to block it for her," Gwenda quickly exined from the side.


    "I''ve already had Faye detained. She will pay for what she''s done," Ian said, his voiceced with fury.


    Just then, the doors to the operating room opened, and a doctor emerged. "The patient''s life isn''t in danger. He lost a lot of blood and will need to rest and recover."


    The three of them outside breathed a sigh of relief. When Joel was wheeled out, he was still deeply asleep, the anesthesia not having worn off yet.


    He was moved to a private suite. Eleanor stayed by his bedside, her heart heavy with sorrow and pain as she looked at the man who had been injured for her sake.


    "I want to wait for him to wake up. Could you stay with Evelyn tonight?" Eleanor lifted her head, her expression pleading.


    "You don''t have to. Gwenda and I can stay here," Eleanor replied.


    His tone left no room for argument.


    Eleanor''s gaze returned to Joel''s face. Without his sses, his handsome features were marred by a bloodless pallor.


    She reached out and touched his hand; it was cool. The air conditioning was too cold. She gently pulled the nket higher up his chest.


    For a moment, the room was


    exceptionally quiet. Eleanor''s eyes remained fixed on J??f''s 1


    face


    seemingly forgetting the other


    person in the room with her.


    The scent of antiseptic hung in the air, punctuated by the faint, rhythmic beeping of the monitor. Eleanor stared at Joel for a long time her eyes filled with worry, guilt and intense self-reproach.


    heavy sense of unease coiled around his heart like a vise.


    The way Eleanor looked at Joel wasn''t the look one would give a mere colleague or friend. It seemed to hold something more than just friendship.


    He knew Joel had always had feelings for Eleanor, and he knew this was not the time for jealousy, but he couldn''t control certain emotions.


    But he wouldn''t express them. He could only continue to hide them in his chest and let them fester.


    Eleanor took it. "Thanks."


    "Don''t worry,"n said in a low,forting voice. "He''ll be okay."