Joslyn was getting Evelyn ready for her bath. Eleanor walked downstairs and saw lan by the sofa, picking up his suit jacket, ready to leave.

Eleanor came down the stairs. "Thank you for looking after Evelyn."

lan looked at her quietly, his tone low and serious. "Eleanor, from now on, I'll take care of Evelyn. I need you to focus completely on your work."

Eleanor was taken aback, sensing something unusual in his words. She stopped a few feet away from him and looked him straight in the eye. "Tell me the truth. Is this project related to someone very important?"

lan met her gaze, silent for a moment as if weighing his options. Finally, with an invisible weight, he answered, "Yes."

"Who?" Eleanor's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

"The former vice president," lan answered in a low voice, then added a warning. "Don't tell anyone."

Eleanor was shocked. The former vice president's sudden incident had been followed by a complete lack of news. So he was still alive? Did he need the Neural Interface Project to be awakened? Was this the person Dean Maxwell had avoided talking about? Was this why Garth was personally overseeing the project?

If that were true, the stakes and urgency of this project would be beyond anything she'd imagined.

lan took a step toward her. His figure stood tall and straight under the light, yet it seemed to carry a heavy tension, as if bearing an enormous weight.

He said gravely, "This technology might be the only hope right now. Therefore, it cannot have any setbacks. We must achieve a breakthrough as soon as possible."

Eleanor looked up at him, sensing the pressure he was under. Although he was just a businessman, he had been drawn into this complex situation and was shouldering the burden.

"Eleanor, I need you to understand that this is no longer just a scientific challenge. It's a mission that cannot fail," lan said, his eyes filled with an unprecedented gravity.

Eleanor took a deep breath. Her questions were answered, and she knew who they needed to save weight on her shoulders felt beavier.

Sho

nodded. "Alright, I'll give it my

all." sŵnovel

lan gave her a deep, complex look, as if there were other unspoken emotions, but

he eventually turned and walked to the entryway.

Eleanor heard the door close and

took another deep breath. That night, after her daughter was asleep. Eleanor returned to her study and worked until the early hours of the morning.

The next morning, lan arrived on time to take their daughter to school, and Eleanor went to the lab as scheduled.

Ryan, Maxwell's doctoral student, was already there. After some introductions and discussion, they dove into their research.

Over at the civilian lab, Joel was reviewing the last report when someone knocked and entered. It was Faye, and she didn't look well.

"Faye? Is something wrong?" Joel asked, looking up.

Faye looked at Joel's handsome face, a lump forming in her throat. She took a deep breath. "Joel,

something has come up my

family. Can textend my leave?-

The crisis at Yeaton Holdings had already been all over the news, so Joel was aware of it. "I'll give you another three days," he replied.

Faye breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes were filled with pain and resentment as she looked at Joel.

"If that's all, please close the door on your way out." Joel looked back down at his report, not sparing her another glance.

Faye fought back tears, gave him one last look, and turned to leave.

Faye knew that only Eleanor was ever worthy of Joel's attention. He wouldn't even spare a second glance for any other woman.