During dinner, Eleanor had little appetite and ate sparingly. When she put down her utensils after eating only half her meal, the man across from her noticed. A flicker of gloom crossed his eyes, and he also set his utensils down, seemingly finished as well.

"Mr. Goodwin, there's still more food. Please have some more," Joslyn offered.

"No, thank you. I'm full," Ian said with a wave of his hand. Just then, Evelyn also put down her spoon, a grain of rice on the corner of her mouth, and announced, "Daddy, I'm done."

lan took a napkin and wiped her little mouth. "Do you want Daddy to play with you for a bit longer?"

"Yes!" Evelyn nodded eagerly.

Eleanor stood up. "I'm going to the study."

Joslyn noticed Eleanor had eaten very little as well. Could it be that Mr. Goodwin's presence had affected her appetite?

That wasn't the reason for Eleanor. She insisted on eating only a small portion for dinner because staying slightly hungry helped keep her mind sharp.

Eleanor was typing at her computer when there was a knock on the door. She looked up and said, "Come in."

lan pushed the door open and entered, without Evelyn by his side.

"Before I leave, there's something I want to talk to you about," Ian said as he walked in.

Eleanor stopped her work and looked up at him. "Go ahead."

lan looked into her clear eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. It felt like a long time since she had looked at him so calmly.

"Drew, the owner of the chemical plant, is getting out of prison soon. You need to be extra careful when you go out. I'll personally handle picking up and dropping off Evelyn."

Eleanor nodded. "Lanny already told me."

"I've received some information. Drew made some connections in prison who might try to harm you," lan said, his expression turning serious.

Eleanor's heart sank. The research report she had submitted to the court was the most critical piece of ce against Drew's chemical plant. It was understandable that he would hold a grudge against her.

But as a researcher, she had a duty and responsibility to complete her work.

A flicker of gratitude appeared in Eleanor's eyes. "I'll be careful."

"Lanny's team will protect you 24/7, but you also need to stay vigilant. Try to avoid going to secluded places alone."

"Thank you," Eleanor said softly, then added, "You too. Be safe."

lan's breath caught in his throat. Looking at the woman under the light, a thousand words seemed to get stuck in his throat as a tide of emotions washed over him.

Was she... concerned about him?

His Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke, his voice raspy. "I'll be fine. The primary target is you."

Eleanor averted her gaze back to the screen. "I need to get back to work."

lan snapped out of his thoughts, a mix of feelings swirling inside him. Noticing the empty glass beside Eleanor, he suddenly offered, "Let me get you some water."

Eleanor was taken aback, and before she could refuse, lan had already picked up her glass and walked out of the study.

For a moment, her mind drifted. She used to be the one doing these little things for him.

Soon, lan returned with a glass of water and placed it on her desk. "I'm leaving now. Get some rest."

"Thank you," Eleanor said softly.

lan stood by the desk, his gaze fixed on her focused profile. He seemed to want to

say something, but in the end, he turned and left in silence.

Hearing the door close, Eleanor's

fingers paused on the keyboard. t wasn't that she hadn't noticed the change in lan; it was just that some wounds, had already been inflicted and would need time to heal.

She could understand his dilemma, being blackmailed by Vanessa Shannon with her life. She

understood the responsibilities and obligations he carried. If their.

ve

positions were reversed, if her own parents needed a life-saving blood transfusion and the donor demanded she do something against her conscience, Eleanor knew she would have compromised too.

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