"Mr. Goodwin, your wife Eleanor has joined my research team. She has a right to be informed," Joel's voice came through, calm and measured.

lan's steps faltered, his gaze sharpening. "Dr. Kingsley, I've invested half a billion dollars in your research—not so you can bring personal connections into the lab, or let just anyone in."

"Mr. Goodwin, your wife is far from unqualified. I hope you'll—"

"Oh? So Mr. Kingsley knows my wife better than I do?" lan let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Mr. Goodwin, if you'd take a little time to understand your wife, you might see her in a different light."

"I don't need you to tell me how to care for my wife. I want you to deny her access to this project," lan replied icily.

"I'm afraid that's not my decision to make. Dr. Lyman was the one who invited her to join the team," Joel answered from the other end.

lan's eyes narrowed. Of course he knew his late father-in-law, Elliot, had been close friends with Dr. Lyman. That's why Eleanor had been allowed to join-the old friendship was the deciding factor.

"Mr. Goodwin, your wife Eleanor is an exceptional individual. She—"

"Mr. Kingsley, focus on your work. Don't get too involved with other men's wives. It could ruin your reputation." Ian threw out his warning and ended the call.

Eleanor sat in the conference room for a long moment, trying to steady herself.

lan's attitude had made it clear: her wishes meant nothing here. Whatever was left of their marriage—if anything—had vanished.

As she stepped out, Gavin approached.

"Mrs. Goodwin, would you like to wait for Mr. Goodwin to finish his meeting?" Gavin asked carefully.

"That won't be necessary," Eleanor replied, gathering her bag and heading toward the elevators.

There was no point in humiliating herself by pleading with lan. Better to check the lab tomorrow, see if there were other suitable donors. Maybe then Joel could reason with lan-he'd listen to him before he'd ever listen to her.

Eleanor went straight home, her thoughts swirling. She never expected her mother to be the donor. Why hadn't her father ever mentioned it?

And what exactly had lan done to convince her father to hand over the rights to use her mother's cells?

Only now did Eleanor realize how disastrous her impulsive marriage to lan had been.

Later, after picking her daughter up from school, she found Gavin at the house. He'd come to pack lan's bags-he was leaving on a business trip for a week.

Eleanor forced herself to stay calm. Was lan really going to such lengths to avoid her?

The next morning, after dropping her daughter off at school, Eleanor headed straight to the lab. Joel immediately noticed how pale she was, her eyes rimmed red with exhaustion. His voice was gentle. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Joel. But do we really have to use my mother's bone marrow for the research?" Eleanor asked.

"We can run a test-see if your mother's stem cells are a match for Vanessa's. If they're not compatible, you'll have a valid reason to persuade lan to consider another donor," Joel suggested.

Eleanor nodded. It was the only way to convince lan to back down.

"Last night, lan called me. He said "

"What did he say?" Eleanor pressed, frowning.

Joel sighed. "He seems to think you lack research experience. But I believe, one

day, he'll realize what you're truly capable of."

A bitter smile flickered across Eleanor's lips. "So lan wants me out of the lab, doesn't he?"