Three days later, Eleanor was preparing to leave for Kingston for the award ceremony. Since the trip would take two days, she had to contact lan to arrange for their daughter's care.

lan hadn't been at the lab for the past two days, so she had to call him.

"My flight to Kingston is at ten tomorrow morning. I need you to look after Evelyn for two days," Eleanor said over the phone.

"Okay, I'll take good care of Evelyn," lan agreed readily.

Since he had agreed, Eleanor had nothing more to say and hung up.

Early Friday morning, Eleanor took Evelyn to school. Evelyn knew her mom was going to receive an award and was very proud, promising maturely to be good and wait for her to come home.

After dropping off her daughter, Eleanor took a taxi to the airport. The National Academy of Sciences ceremony was at two in the afternoon, so she would make it just in time.

Upon arriving at the airport, Eleanor immediately got in line to check in and drop off her suitcase. Time was tight, and she heard the boarding announcement as soon as she reached the departure lounge.

Ever since encountering turbulence on her last flight, Eleanor had developed a bit of a fear of flying, but she tried to remain optimistic.

Eleanor sat in a first-class window seat and checked her phone. Passengers were boarding one by one. Just as the cabin door was about to close, a figure stepped inside. Eleanor glanced up casually and froze for a few seconds.

lan walked in calmly, a suit jacket draped over one arm, his phone in his hand, looking utterly at ease.

He naturally made his way to the seat next to Eleanor and sat down. She frowned. "Didn't you promise you would look after Evelyn?"

lan turned to look at her. "My return flight is at two. I'll be back in time to pick Evelyn up from school."

Eleanor was momentarily speechless and turned to look out the window.

lan's gaze rested on her beautiful, delicate profile, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Soon, the plane began to taxi. Eleanor unconsciously gripped the armrest, her knuckles turning white. Ian noticed her tension and said softly, "Relax."

Eleanor didn't respond, simply closing her eyes and feeling the weightlessness as the plane left the ground. She only relaxed a little after the plane had leveled off.

The flight was smooth for the first

half hour, but an hour in, they hit some strong spring convective weather. The plane suddenly plunged into a dark cloud and began to shake The fight attendant's voice came over the intercom, reminding everyone to fasten their seatbelts as they were passing through unstable

air.

Eleanor's face instantly went pale. A few screams came from the passengers behind them.

"It's okay, it's just normal turbulence," lan tried to reassure her, but he saw the sheer terror in her eyes.

She suddenly grabbed his arm. "If-if something happens to the plane," Eleanor's voice trembled, "what will happen to Evelyn?"

Just as lan was about to speak, the plane jolted violently again. This time, the oxygen masks deployed, and chaos erupted in the cabin, lan grabbed a mask and put it on her. As He

did, Eleanor gripped his hand tightly, her eyes shining with a fierce, determined light. She gasped, "lan, we have to promise each other something."

"Go on," lan said, confused by her sudden seriousness.

"From now on, we can never take the same flight again." Eleanor's voice was shaky under the mask, but every word was clear and firm. "No matter what happens to one of us, at least the other will still be there for Evelyn."

Because their daughter might need blood from a direct relative in the future.

lan's heart sank. He understood

what she was worried about. He

reached over, flipped up the armrest between them, and pulled her into his arms. Eleanor was about to push him away when deep voice

sounded by her ear, Okay promise you."

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Eleanor froze. Just then, the plane broke through the turbulent clouds and began

to stabilize. She pushed lan's arms away and leaned back against her seat, trying to catch her breath.