The crosswalk light turned green. Eleanor looked up and started forward, so exhausted she didn't even notice lan following close behind her.

From his car at the red light, Mansfield watched until she disappeared into the crowd. A few impatient honks sounded from behind him, but the car directly in his lane remained silent. The driver had seen his government plates and wisely kept his hand off the horn.

A moment later, the army-green SUV shot away like an arrow released from a bow.

Then, a black Bentley pulled up from behind, and Xavier's assistant drove off in a different direction.

"Mr. Vaughn, the hotel is booked at the "

"Just get me a room at the hotel across from the hospital," Xavier cut him off.

The assistant paused for a second before understanding. "Right away, sir. I'll see if they have a suite available."

"A standard room is fine," came the reply from the back seat.

"Yes, sir," the assistant quickly agreed.

Eleanor stepped into the hotel lobby as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She touched her forehead and was shocked to find it burning up.

She pressed the elevator's up button. When the doors slid open, she stumbled inside and leaned against the cool metal wall, her eyes closed, willing herself to get to her room quickly.

Just as the doors were about to close, they opened again, and a tall figure stepped inside.

Eleanor's eyes snapped open, her brow furrowing in annoyance.

*Why did he follow me?*

As the elevator began to ascend, a dizzy spell hit her, the world tilting violently. The long hours in the lab, combined with exhaustion, low blood sugar, and a mounting fever, finally took their toll. Her vision went black.

In her last moment of consciousness, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist as she collapsed into his arms.

lan hadn't expected her to simply pass out. He immediately scooped her up into his arms.

He felt the heat radiating from her body and leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers.

She was burning up. Damn it, she had a fever.

"Eleanor?" lan's deep voice was laced with urgency.

When she didn't respond, he pulled out his phone and dialed Gavin. "Meet me at the elevator. Eleanor collapsed."

"On my way."

lan carried her back down to the lobby where Gavin was waiting with the car. He settled her into the back seat and ordered, "To the hospital."

Gavin didn't hesitate, stomping on the gas. Just then, the gloomy sky opened up, and a heavy rain began to fall While waiting at a red light, Gavin glanced back to see fan holding Eleanor as gently as if she were a child.

"Mr. Goodwin, what happened to Miss Sutton?" Newest update provıded by FindN0vel.net

"She has a fever. She's unconscious," lan said, his gaze fixed on Eleanor's face

as his large hand cupped her cheek.

At the hospital, Gavin arranged for a VIP room. lan carried Eleanor in and placed

her on the gurney before a doctor came to examine her.

After lan explained the situation, the

doctor concluded that Eleanor's exhaustion had weakened her immune system, leading to a high lever. They would start by bringing the fever down before running more tests.

lan nodded. As a nurse came in to start an IV, Eleanor remained unresponsive,

but lan's jaw tightened as he watched the needle pierce the delicate skin on the back of her hand.

Once the nurse left, the only sound

in the quiet room was their breathing, lan noticed Eleanor's hair was a mess. He instinctively reached out to smooth it, his hand freezing mid-air for a moment. It had been so long since they'd shared such an intimate gesture?

Letting his hand fall, his fingers gently brushed her forehead as he tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear.

He looked at the woman completely lost to the world on the bed. If he hadn't

followed her, she would have collapsed alone with no one to even take her to the hospital.