Eleanor stood there, her feelings a little moreplicated. She knew he meant well, but-


    "Eleanor, I brought some fruit for Joel. Is he awake?" Gwenda''s voice cut in.


    "He''s awake. Go on in," Eleanor said with a nod.


    Back in the hospital room, Joel was sitting up against the headboard. Seeing them enter, he asked Eleanor, "Did Mr. Goodwin leave?"


    "He had something to take care of at hispany," Eleanor replied casually, her tone shifting to concern. "Does your wound still hurt?"


    "The anesthesia is still working, so no," Joel said, shaking his head.


    Gwenda was furious. "Faye went too far this time. Does this count as attempted murder? If it wasn''t for Joel, Eleanor would have "


    Gwenda stopped abruptly as she saw Joel looking at her.


    Joel''s gaze turned cold as well. "Faye''s actions were premeditated."


    The usually gentle man was filled with nothing but anger at the mention of Faye.


    Gwenda pulled up a chair and sat down, her tone indignant. "I heard she was fired this morning. Is she ming Eleanor for that? Does she really think Eleanor got her fired?"


    Her words made Joel and Eleanor exchange a look. In that instant, they both understood the motive behind Faye''s crazed attack.


    She was retaliating against Eleanor.


    Joel suddenly sighed with self-reproach. "When Faye came looking for me, if I had handled it better, maybe today wouldn''t have happened."


    Eleanorforted him softly, "Joel, this isn''t your fault. My issues with Faye go back three years. She''s seen me as an enemy for a long time."


    Gwenda chimed in, "When we first joined theb, Faye really looked down on Eleanor. She thought she got in through connections and said a lot of nasty things about her behind her back."


    Gwenda bit her lip, regretting her own involvement back then. She nced at Eleanor. "Eleanor, I''m sorry. I used to—"


    "Gwenda, let''s not talk about the past," Eleanor interrupted. She didn''t want to dwell on Faye; she just wanted Joel to recover.


    Joel hadn''t expected Faye to do something so insane. He said to Eleanor, "I''ll make sure the police file a case. She''s going to face the fu extent of thew for this."


    "You should focus on getting better first," Eleanor said, hoping he would rest.


    Gwenda added, "Joel, just focus on your recovery. Faye is definitely in custody by now. Besides, with Eleanor and Mr. Goodwin here, everything will be handled."


    Joel had lost a fair amount of blood and was starting to feel drowsy again. He looked at Eleanor. "I''m going to get some sleep."


    Eleanor nodded. After Joel was asleep, it was time for Gwenda to leave.


    "Eleanor, I''lle backter to take over."


    "Don''t worry about it. I''ll stay the night," Eleanor told her.


    Gwenda knew Joel would want Eleanor by his side more than anyone. She nodded. "Okay, I''ll be back first thing in the morning."


    After Gwenda left, the room fell silent. Eleanor sat in the chair by the bed, watching


    Joel sleep, and her own thoughts began to settle.


    So much had happened in one day: Faye''s frenzied attack, Joel''s selfless


    protection, andn''s meticulous arrangements.


    No matter what, helping Joel


    recover was the most important


    thing. He was like a brother to her, a


    dear friend. After his selfless act on


    top of their years of friendship and his help with her career, she felt she had to see him through to a full


    recovery.


    As the sky outside darkened, Eleanor rubbed her neck. Suddenly, her eyes fell on


    the empty ss on the table.