Eleanor nodded softly and walked over. "Let me take her."

lan gently shook his head. "I've got her." He stood up carefully, carrying their daughter toward the master bedroom.

Eleanor followed, watching as he gently placed Evelyn on the bed. The moment he did, Evelyn started rubbing her eyes and kicking her little legs, showing a hint of fussiness. Ian knelt down and gently stroked her head, letting her feel the warmth of her father's presence.

Only after Evelyn had fallen back into a deep sleep did lan carefully pull the covers over her.

Once their daughter was settled, lan turned to Eleanor. "Get some rest."

Eleanor walked him downstairs. At the door, lan turned to face her. In the dim light, his gaze was intense. "Waking him up... how confident are you?"

Eleanor paused, thinking for a few seconds before answering honestly. "The neural interface technology is theoretically viable, but there are still many uncertainties in its practical application. However—" She looked up, her eyes firm. "I will never give up."

lan nodded and said softly, "If you need anything, just let me know."

"You've already helped so much," Eleanor said, referring to the equipment.

lan looked at her tired face with concern. "Get some rest." With that, he opened the door and left.

Eleanor stood at the door for a while, staring at it as complex emotions washed over her. She had asked York Windsor that afternoon and learned what acquiring that latest model of monitoring equipment really meant. It wasn't just about money. Ian had leveraged the most important commercial bargaining chip of his biotech company, signing at least a five-year exclusive partnership agreement with Drexford, a top-tier medical device company.

This agreement tied a portion of Goodwin Biotech's research direction to the other company for the next five years. The associated business risks and concessions. were far beyond what money could measure.

Eleanor sighed. She had once hated him for his coldness and distance, but now, he was using the most tangible means possible to support her in saving another person.

Did he really want nothing in return? Or was he doing all this for Mansfield because Garth could help him in his career? After all, he had made a huge business sacrifice for Mansfield's sake.

She could never figure him out before, and she still couldn't read him now.

Returning to the bedroom, Eleanor sat by her daughter's bed, watching her peaceful, sleeping face, and drifted into thought for a while.

For the next three days, Eleanor threw herself into her research, sometimes even skipping meals.

Immersed in her work, she had an epiphany about a truth she had overlooked.

Her life was destined to be spent in a lab. Countless projects awaited her in the future. The rhythm of a life in research meant she could never give a partner the companionship they deserved, not like an ordinary couple.

This realization brought Eleanor a sense of relief. Her feelings for Mansfield weren't romantic She admired his abilities and

grateful he had saved her but as for

spending a lifetime together—

Eleanor walked to the window. In the distance, the city lights blazed. She whispered

to herself, "I'm sorry, Mansfield."

She had to be honest with herself. She didn't want to make the same mistake again. She couldn't give Mansfield the pure, passionate love he deserved.

Just as Eleanor was lost in her thoughts, her phone vibrated. She picked it up and read the message. [Eleanor, there's been a breakthrough in the neural signal test. Get over here, quick.]