lan sat in the hallway for twenty minutes. He saw Dr. MacLeod enter with a nurse and some equipment, likely to run some tests. A little later, he saw Eleanor emerge from Mansfield's room.

Though her face was still tinged with fatigue, her color had returned. Clearly, Mansfield's recovery had thrilled her.

Watching someone you care about come back from the edge is better than any treatment in the world.

Eleanor saw lan still sitting in the corridor and frowned slightly. Why hadn't he left?

As she approached, lan stood up and spoke first. "How is he?"

"He's recovering well, better than expected," Eleanor answered calmly.

lan looked at her, silent for a few seconds, then as if suddenly remembering something, he said, "I'm planning on taking my mom and Evelyn to a hot spring resort for a few days. The environment there is peaceful, good for relaxing. Evelyn could use a break too."

Eleanor was a bit surprised. "When did you decide this?"

She hadn't heard anything about it from her daughter.

lan glanced toward Mansfield's room. "I mentioned it to my mom about a week ago. You just finished a huge project, and Mansfield is awake now. You'll probably be busy with wrap-up work."

The implication was clear: even if she wasn't working, taking care of Mansfield would keep her busy enough.

Before Eleanor could respond, lan's gaze fell on her. "Do you want to... come with us? Or... would you rather spend more time with him?"

Eleanor thought about it seriously. She really couldn't get away. Wrapping up the project was important, and she didn't have the energy for a trip anyway. She shook her head. "You guys go ahead. I can't get away." Then she added, "I'm fine with Evelyn going with you. It'll be good for her to get out and have some fun."

Her answer was exactly what lan had expected. A flicker of disappointment, almost imperceptible, crossed his eyes.

She chose to stay. Was it for work, or to be by Mansfield's side every moment?

He figured it was the latter. They had only just started their relationship when Mansfield was deployed Now, that he was finally awake, it was natural for the young couple to want to be close.

lan's mind drifted to the vacations he and Eleanor used to take, before their daughter was born. Eleanor had loved their time alone together.

she

Even when he was won bis lap

would insist on curling up in bis lap like a clingy kitten.

The memory made his heart ache. Though the Eleanor of today was more reserved, her core nature was still gentle and thoughtful.

"Alright," lan nodded, his face unreadable. "We'll be gone for about a week. Take care of yourself. Eat on time, and don't get so busy that you neglect everything else."

Eleanor was taken aback. When had lan learned to be so caring? That wasn't like him at all.

"Thank you for your concern," she said, maintaining her polite distance.

"Are you heading home? I can give you a ride," lan asked.

"No, I'm staying here for a while. I need to meet up with Ryan," she said, clearly not wanting to go with him.

lan's eyes darkened, as if the last glimmer of light had been swallowed by an endless void.

She didn't want to go with him. She wanted to stay here. The reason was painfully obvious He stared at her, making her feer uneasy. Just then, her phone rang. She glane

the screen and stepped aside t answer it. "Hello, Ryan."

at

"He's awake, and his condition is better than expected," Eleanor said, her voice filled with excitement.

The pair of eyes behind her remained fixed on her. The faint possibility he had harbored, the hope he hadn't dared to voice, was now, at this very moment, coming to a definitive end.