"Alright, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask." Joel changed the subject. "It's getting late. Let me give you a ride home. I have to run an errand near your place anyway."

Eleanor knew the errand was just an excuse; his concern was real.

"Joel, I can drive."

"You passed out at the hospital today, you've been up night after night, and it's already pushing ten. You expect me to feel comfortable letting you go home alone?" Joel's protective instincts were clear.

"Okay, thank you." Eleanor accepted his kindness.

As they walked to the parking lot, the early summer night air was cool and refreshing. A bright moon hung overhead, casting their shadows long on the pavement.

Inside the car, Joel started the engine and drove smoothly out of the laboratory campus.

Eleanor really did feel lighter; everything that had been weighing on her, work, family, even her tangled love life, seemed to ease off at once.

She could finally go home and get a good night's sleep.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. She picked it up and saw it was from lan.

[Still busy? Are you home yet?]

Eleanor stared at the message without moving. Joel asked curiously, "Is that from Mr. Goodwin?"

"He took Evelyn to a hot springs resort," Eleanor replied softly.

"Eleanor, after the Neural Interface Project is complete, have you thought about taking a break? You haven't had a proper rest in two years," Joel asked her.

Eleanor thought for a moment. "As long as the work proceeds smoothly, I won't be too tired."

Joel smiled helplessly. "I should have known you wouldn't want to rest."

At that moment, another message notification chimed. It was lan again. [Evelyn wants to video chat. Is now a good time?]

Before Eleanor could respond, a video call came through. Knowing her daughter's impatience, she immediately accepted. Sure enough, her daughter's face filled the screen as she exclaimed, "Mommy, I just finished at the hot springs! They had these tiny fish that tickled my feet!"

Looking at her daughter's rosy cheeks, Eleanor's eyes softened. "Is that so? Did you have fun?"

"So much fun! It's great here." As Evelyn's camera wobbled, she noticed the car in the background. "Mommy, are you driving?"

"No, Mommy's not driving. I'm in Mr. Kingsley's car," Eleanor replied.

"Oh, okay! Mommy, you should come with us to the hot springs next time! I want to go with you."

"Of course. When Mommy's not so busy, I'll take you," Eleanor promised.

Just then, a man's voice came through from the other end. "Still out this late?"

It was lan's question.

Anyone perceptive could detect the displeasure in his tone, including the now- enlightened Joel.

Joel immediately glanced at Eleanor, who was replying, "Yes, I'm on my way home." The screen shifted, showing Evelyn nestled in her father's arms, the camera aimed at his firm jawline. "The wrap-up work isn't urgent. Don't work this late again."

"Mommy, can I say hi to Mr. Kingsley?" Evelyn asked.

Eleanor turned the phone toward Joel. They were at a red light, and Joel smiled at the camera. "Good evening, Evelyn!"

"Mr. Kingsley, thank you for taking my mom home," Evelyn said politely. However, the camera panned up, revealing lan's grim expression. He said to Joel Dr Kingsley, thank you for the trouble at this late hour."

Joel maintained a polite smile. "No trouble at all. It's my pleasure."

lan's voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, came from the other end. "Well, since someone's taking you home, I won't worry. Evelyn, say goodbye to Mommy."

Evelyn obediently said goodbye, and the call was disconnected.

As Joel pressed the accelerator, he couldn't help but ask Eleanor, "Was Mr. Goodwin jealous?"

Eleanor turned to him and retorted, "Why would he be jealous?"

Joel was taken aback. That was true. They were divorced; lan no longer had the right to be jealous.

Still, he had clearly sensed the displeasure in lan's voice. He was bothered by the fact that Joel was driving Eleanor home so late.

However, Joel was very clear about his relationship with Eleanor: they were colleagues, good friends, and confidants for life.

He wouldn't cross that line, and he wouldn't overstep his bounds.

After dropping Eleanor off at the entrance to her residential complex, Joel waited

until she was inside before turning the car around and leaving.

On the drive home, Joel's mind was anything but calm.

lan's tone, heavy with veiled displeasure, was like a thread that suddenly connected many overlooked details in Joel's mind.

With lan's money and pull, if he'd

really wanted to, going through Eleanor's messages would've been

the easiest thing in the world. Although his chats with Eleanor were purely about medical matters, the frequency of their

communication, sometimes late at night, would have looked like they were crossing a line to any husband.

But lan had never confronted

Eleanor or caused trouble for him

He had chosen to endure it silently. But given his personality, how would

he have processed and dealt with those emotions?