"There''s nothing I can''t say." Ian''s gaze darkened slightly. "The reason isn''tplicated."


    Eleanor shifted her gaze back to him.


    Ian leaned forward slightly so they were at eye level. His deep eyes locked onto hers as he spoke, enunciating every word. "It was because of you."


    Eleanor froze. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around her teacup. She hadn''t expected him to be so blunt about the reason.


    But Eleanor couldn''t see how she was responsible for it.


    He paused for a moment before looking down, his voice raspy and low. "I thought... you were going to be Mrs. Ellington."


    Eleanor''s breathing hitched slightly.


    "That night, when I brought you to him, he was covered in blood, and your eyes were filled with nothing but concern. I actually caught myself wondering... if I had been the one to take that knife for you, would I have gotten that same concern from you?"n looked up. "Would you have stayed by my side, just like you stayed by his?"


    Eleanor had genuinely been so terrified by the sight of Mansfield''s injuries that night that her mind had gonepletely nk. Her only real memory of that night was Mansfield covered in blood. As a result her mergory ofn''s actions was almost nonexistent. All she remembered was him stepping out of his vehicle, carrying her into the car, and shutting the door.


    Eleanor''s throat felt dry, but she still managed to calmly advise him, "It''s best if things like that never happen again. You should really take better care of yourself."


    Hearing this somewhat childish, unreasonable logic, Eleanor choked on her words. She frowned and said, "Getting hurt isn''t exactly a badge of honor."


    of self-deprecating amusement in his eyes. "Do you think I sound stupid?"


    Eleanor decided it was time to clear the air. She answered honestly, "To tell you the truth, I was absolutely terrified that night. My mind waspletely nk Aside from Mansfield''s injuries, I didn''t notice anything else."


    Naturally, she hadn''t noticedn''s emotions or reactions either.


    "But I am still incredibly grateful that you came to save me that night. If you hadn''t arrived in time, with Mansfield already injured... I don''t want to know what would have happened." Even thinking back on it now, Eleanor broke out in a cold sweat.


    But she never expected thatn''s hair had turned white for her that very night.


    Eleanor didn''t know how to respond to that, but she still yed along. "Alright. I''ll ask around for some good remedies for you."


    "That''s what Dr. Sutton saidst time, too. It seems you really don''t care about my affairs." A gentle smile spread acrossn''s eyes. Even though his words sounded like aint, his mood was clearly fantastic.