"Mr. Goodwin, we're out of pepper. I'm just going to run to the supermarket outside. Would you mind keeping an eye on Ma'am for a moment?" After saying this, Joslyn placed her gift on a cabinet and, with a knowing look, headed for the door and quickly left.

Eleanor frowned. Joslyn was clearly making an excuse to leave. Suddenly feeling awkward, she closed her laptop.

lan sat down on the sofa across from her, his eyes still fixed on her bandaged arm. "Does the wound still hurt?"

"Not anymore," Eleanor replied, looking down.

"The conference went very well. It was incredibly productive," lan said, his gaze steady on her. "So, you don't need to worry about future funding."

Eleanor turned to look out the window. "I see," she answered softly.

lan lowered his gaze, his voice deep and resolute. "I know I've lost the right to explain myself to you, but there are still some things I need to say."

Eleanor turned back to face him. Curious as to what he could possibly want to explain, she listened patiently.

"The reason I didn't want you to know Vanessa back then was because I had seen her at her most unhinged. She would do anything to get what she wanted. You were so naive at the time, and I was afraid-afraid you would get hurt."

Eleanor listened in silence, then let out a self-deprecating laugh. "So you'd rather I remain a fool."

A sharp pain flashed in lan's eyes. "I'm sorry. I thought I could handle everything, but in the end, you were the one who got hurt the most."

Eleanor looked away. Ian had always been arrogant, always in control. In the past, she had been the good girl, content to hide behind him, build their little family, and live her life. She had been happy.

"At the time, my mother's condition was unstable. I had the doctor working on a permanent cure. The plan was to solve the root problem and geard of Vanessa for good, dần looked up, a bitter expression in his eyes. "But then you suddenly asked for a divorce-"

Eleanor's brow furrowed as she looked at him. "And I shouldn't have?" she retorted.

lan's gaze deepened. "I agreed to the divorce not because I wanted to give up on you, but to give you space. I believed I could solve all the problems within five years."

"So you selfishly forced me to sign that unfair five-year agreement?" Eleanor glared at him, anger rising in her voice.

lan's throat tightened, but there was no panic in his eyes, only a calm acknowledgment. "Yes. I selfishly wanted to save our marriage."

Eleanor thought of Frazier's advice; he had said the same thing back then.

Now, hearing lan admit it himself, she felt surprisingly calm.

"For the past three years, I've been pushing the treatment plan forward. I never imagined that you would be the one to solve the problem for me. I am incredibly grateful for

vel·

everything you've done for the Goodwin family. You are our

benefactor." lan looked up, the

sunlight streaming in from the window illuminating the bloodshot veins in his eyes. It was clear he hadn't rested well on his trip.

Eleanor remembered the

investigation into his use of

company stock options to raise money. It was obvious he had been pouring funds into Smith's lab, and Smith had used every available

resource to find a solution Eleanor had just been lucky enough to provide the final push that led to the breakthrough.

Suddenly, Eleanor's gaze sharpened. "Alright. If you truly see me as a benefactor, or

if you want to reconcile our past, then give me the password to that secret file in the lab in exchange."