Eleanor expertly steered the conversation back to work. "Look into the exact pricing for that machine. Let's see if we can actually swing it."

Hundreds of millions of dollars was a staggering budget request.

Even with lan's massive twenty-billion-dollar endowment padding their accounts, that kind of cash drop was no joke. The investment was supposed to sustain the lab's daily operations and fund long-term trials. Liquidating that much capital all at once for a single piece of hardware would severely strain their runway.

"Eleanor, this machine is the holy grail for our current bottleneck," Callie pressed. "Do you want me to bypass the board and pitch it directly to Mr. Goodwin?"

"No, hold off on that," Eleanor interrupted quickly. "He's drowning in his own workload right now. I don't want to drag him into the lab's operational headaches." Callie nodded in understanding. "Got it. I'll start working the back channels for a quote."

Deep down, Eleanor knew the truth: she already owed lan an unfathomable debt. She couldn't stomach the thought of adding to the tab.

Because of that, the machine was a massive source of anxiety. She knew she was going to buy it eventually—it was too important not to.

The only question was whose money she was going to use to do it.

Today was Evelyn's first day at her new school, and Eleanor found her mind

constantly drifting, wondering how her daughter was adjusting.

Thankfully, the homeroom teacher was actively dropping photos into the parents' group chat. Spotting Evelyn laughing and running with the other kids brought a wave of immense relief to Eleanor's chest.

After her afternoon meetings wrapped up, Eleanor shot lan a text: "I can leave early. Let's go pick up Evelyn together."

She refused to miss her daughter's first school pickup.

"Perfect. I'll wait for you at the house," lan replied instantly.

Eleanor clocked out early at three-thirty.

By four o'clock, lan's sleek SUV rolled into their shared garage. Eleanor grabbed her phone and walked straight over. The tinted window slid down smoothly, revealing lan lounging behind the wheel, looking effortlessly handsome.

"Tired? Do you want me to drive your car instead?" she asked.

lan flashed a devastating smirk. "Not tired at all. Get in."

Eleanor pulled open the passenger door and slid into the leather seat. Ian checked

his watch. "We're a bit early, but we can park and wait near the gates."

"Sounds good to me," Eleanor agreed.

As he navigated out of the

neighborhood, lan casually dropped a bomb. "Do you have time to swing by Meridian Dynamics tomorrow? They want to discuss a strategic partnership with your lab."

Eleanor stared at him in shock. "Did you orchestrate this?"

"Yeah, it was my call," Ian admitted without an ounce of hesitation. "Your research

holds monumental value. I'm highly invested in what you're building."

Eleanor's pulse fluttered wildly. Meridian Dynamics was an absolute titan in the biotech sector. Countless researchers would kill for a sit-down with them. A strategic partnership wouldn't just mean a tidal wave of funding and elite resources, it would be the ultimate validationof her life's work. It would catapult her lab-and her personal reputation-into the stratosphere.

She also knew that while her brilliance earned her a seat at the table, lan's personal devotion to her was the bulldozer that had cleared the path.

When she didn't answer right away, lan grew slightly anxious. He suddenly pulled

the SUV over to the side of the road and shifted in his seat, turning his intense gaze fully onto her.

"Eleanor, I know what you're worried

about. But science is pure. This investment is about pushing the boundaries of medieme. It's about curing the sick and saving lives." That's always been your ultimate goal, hasn't it?"

Eleanor looked into his eyes, completely at a loss for words.

He was absolutely right. She couldn't argue with his logic.

lan's lips curved into a soft, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I know exactly how to

keep our personal lives strictly separate from business."

Eleanor's brow furrowed.

"Could they really separate the two anymore?"