Eleanor felt a gentle warmth bloom in her chest. "Alright, Professor Langley."

The next morning, Eleanor's phone rang early. It was a call to confirm her attendance at the conference. Moments later, Gina stopped by, volunteering to take care of Evelyn for the day.

"I know you've got the annual conference. Leave her with me-you can rest assured she'll be fine," Gina said kindly.

Eleanor thought to herself, lan was out of town on business, and Vanessa was sure to be with him.

"Thank you, Aunt Gina. I appreciate it," Eleanor replied with a grateful smile.

Evelyn climbed happily into the Goodwin family's car, chattering excitedly with the driver. With her daughter in good hands, Eleanor returned to double-check her speech. She would be representing the entire Ashford Medical University lab this time-there was no room for error.

Meanwhile, in a nearby café just off the Ashford campus, Faye clutched her coffee mug, looking thoroughly disgruntled.

Gwenda tried to comfort her. "Faye, don't be upset. Eleanor was chosen by Dr. Lyman himself to represent the team."

"Why is it always her?" Faye grumbled, unable to hide her frustration. "My research results lately haven't been insignificant. Why couldn't it have been me?"

Gwenda knew better than to argue. Deep down, she had to admit-Eleanor's achievements really did outshine everyone else's.

"At least we still get to attend the conference tonight, right?" Gwenda offered, hoping to cheer her up.

Just then, Faye's phone buzzed with a call from Vanessa. She answered quickly, "Hello?"

"You're going to the medical conference tonight, right?"

"I am."

"Good. I'll see you there."

"You're coming too?"

"Yeah, lan's taking me."

After the call, Gwenda leaned in with a grin. "So, when are your sister and Mr. Goodwin finally getting married?”

"Should be soon," Faye replied, sounding half-exasperated, half-proud.

Gwenda looked at her with envy. Once lan became her brother-in-law, the best lab resources would surely fall right into Faye's lap. And as for Eleanor-

Even if lan still felt some lingering affection for his ex, Vanessa would never sit by and let Eleanor grow stronger, would she? There was no way Vanessa would be generous enough to let her husband's former wife have first pick of the Goodwin Institute's best resources.

By five in the evening, traffic around the International Convention Center was at a standstill. Eleanor found herself crawling forward in a long procession of cars.

Her phone chimed with a new message.

She glanced at it:

"I'm back."

It was from Mansfield Ellington.

A soft laugh escaped her lips as she typed a reply.

"How long is your leave?"

"Two weeks. Where are you?"

"I'm at the conference center tonight for a presentation."

"I'll come by now. Will I make it in time?"

"Traffic's terrible out here."

"No problem. There's a helipad on the roof."

Eleanor blinked in surprise. "Are you actually coming?"

"Yes."

His reply was as direct and efficient as you'd expect from a career officer-short,

to the point, with an air of unwavering resolve.

For a moment, Eleanor just stared at her screen, unsure how to respond.

At last, the traffic inched forward, the jam easing as the road split and she was able to slip into the underground parking at the convention center.

The International Convention Center was ablaze with light. At the registration desk, Eleanor collected her guest badge. No sooner had she turned around than a stir rippled through the crowd behind her.

lan strode into the lobby in a charcoal-gray suit, Vanessa at his side in an elegant evening gown. Vanessa, standing among the cluster of VIPs, caught sight of Eleanor and flashed her a knowing, ambiguous smile.

lan was deep in conversation with an older gentleman. Eleanor recognized him as Principal Maxwell from Kingston Military Medical University.

Eleanor thought about going over to greet them, but the crowd was thick tonight, and she decided not to intrude.

At last, the guests began filing into the main hall. Eleanor noticed name cards marking the first three rows and was wondering where to sit when a keen-eyed young woman spotted her.

"Miss Sutton, it really is you!" The student, who was working the event on behalf of Ashford Medical University, practically beamed.

"Yes, it's me," Eleanor said with a smile.

"Your seat is here, second row, sixth from the left," the young woman pointed out.

Eleanor nodded her thanks and made her way over. As she sat, she glanced up just as lan entered with Principal Maxwell. Ian's deep gaze met hers for a moment.

Eleanor lowered her eyes, avoiding his.

But then lan, following Principal Maxwell, walked right up to the seat directly in front of her. Eleanor frowned in annoyance of all the places to sit, they had to be in line with each other.

Principal Maxwell spotted her at last. Eleanor stood quickly, not wanting to be rude. "Principal Maxwell."

"Miss Sutton, we meet again! lan has told me about your research-impressive work!"

Eleanor offered a modest smile. "You flatter me, Principal Maxwell."

After a brief exchange, lan turned to her. "How's Evelyn been lately?"

Eleanor ignored him, pretending she hadn't heard.

lan's brows knit together for a moment, but he turned back to face the stage, his expression unreadable.

There were still about ten minutes to go before the conference began when Mansfield Ellington strode in, dressed in full military dress uniform. The epaulettes

on his shoulders gleamed beneath the lights, drawing every eye in the room.

It was rare to see someone in uniform at an event like this-let alone someone so strikingly handsome and composed.

Every woman in the hall seemed to sit up a little straighter.

Vanessa, seated in the sixth row, caught sight of him and froze. Wasn't that the

same man she'd seen at Mrs. Ellington's dinner party? Who was he?

lan, too, looked up and saw Mansfield. He glanced over at Eleanor, just in time to see her stand and meet Mansfield's gaze with a smile.

He looked away, his face impassive.

The room was crowded, but Mansfield's eyes found Eleanor instantly. Unconcerned by the attention, he smiled and walked right toward her.

Eleanor stepped out into the aisle to greet him, and the two of them stood off to the side, chatting quietly.

Vanessa stared, her breath catching. How did Eleanor know a man like that?

But just as quickly, Vanessa's lips curled in a cold, mocking smile. So much for Eleanor's icy reserve-put a remarkable man in front of her, and her true colors showed. Just like when she'd gone after lan all those years ago, stopping at nothing to get what she wanted.

"Mr. Ellington, why don't you find yourself a seat?" Eleanor suggested politely. Mansfield regarded her with a half-smile. "Alright.”

"If you need to leave early, you—”

He cut her off, still smiling. "I'll wait for you to finish."