When Vanessa returned to her seat, a server approached and informed her that Walden Wells had gone to a private lounge to rest and that she should join him shortly.

Vanessa's gaze lingered on lan in the crowd. Adjusting her expression, she picked up a glass of wine and walked toward him.

"Ian, long time no see," Vanessa said, forcing a natural smile, her voice soft and alluring.

lan was speaking with several business titans. Hearing her voice, he gave her a cold, sideways glance, not even bothering to look at her directly.

Vanessa spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd and smiled. She could tell from their expressions that they were among those who had once misunderstood her relationship with lan.

"lan, don't be so cold. We go way back, after all," Vanessa said, shamelessly pressing on.

Those standing nearby were a little taken aback by lan's reaction. They all knew Miss Shannon and Mr. Goodwin had a history, but it was clear Mr. Goodwin had no interest in reminiscing.

"Is there something you need, Miss Shannon?" lan finally responded, his eyes narrowed, his tone still frigid.

Vanessa's smile faltered. "Nothing, really. I just wanted to say hello. I'm so happy to see you and Eleanor getting along so well. I was just chatting with her, and she mentioned that you two are very good partners now."

She intentionally emphasized the word "partners," her eyes fixed on lan, searching for any flicker of a reaction on his flawless face.

Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, lan's expression was unreadable, but a clear warning flashed in his eyes.

"Stay away from her," lan said, his voice low but laced with a compelling chill. Vanessa's smile froze on her lips. "I guess I overstepped," she said, forcing a laugh. She turned and walked away. She had confirmed just how much lan cared about Eleanor, and the twisted satisfaction inside her intensified.

Eleanor used to be the one blinded by love. Now it was lan's turn. How fitting.

Partners. That meant they only had professional interactions. No kissing, no hugging, no intimacy. If lan thought he was going to rekindle their old flame, he was dreaming.

After Vanessa left, lan's gaze drifted involuntarily toward Eleanor, his eyes darkening.

She was talking to someone from the medical field, her eyes focused, her expression earnest. He knew it. She had agreed to come to the banquet for the sake of her career.

The realization brought a pang of bitterness. He swirled the wine in his glass. He knew that to get close to Eleanor again, he had to respect the boundaries she had set He had to proceed step by step in a way could accept.

He couldn't rush it.

she

Watching Eleanor exchange contact information with the other person, lan sighed softly. At least her research was making progress. That was a win for the night.

Just then, a young man from abroad, holding a wine glass, approached Eleanor. Unlike the middle-aged academics she had been speaking with, this man was tall, with sharp features and a distinguished air.

He walked straight up to Eleanor with a charming smile and struck up a conversation.

lan's hand tightened on his glass, almost instinctively. His sharp gaze locked onto the pair.

The man was clearly interested in Eleanor, his admiration for her unconcealed. Eleanor, for her part, remained composed, a polite smile on her face.

Though he knew it was just a normal professional exchange, lan despised the way the man was looking at Eleanor. That look of obvious interest and inquiry clearly held another meaning.

At that moment, one of the guild

directors noticed the change in lan's

aura, Following his intense stare

toward Eleanor, the director

chuckled. "Mr. Goodwin, it seems Dr. Sutton is quite popular."

lan pulled his gaze back, his expression calm. "It's just academic networking."

The director smiled, but he couldn't help but notice that the tense atmosphere around lan had grown even heavier.

Because the handsome young man was now exchanging contact information with Eleanor.