Eleanor's eyes sharpened, but she quickly understood. This was lan's attempt at a truce, a manipulative gesture to get her to participate in Smith's experiment and save his mother.

"I will no longer interfere with your freedom to remarry," lan stated, his gaze fixed on her. "Who you choose to be with is your right."

But the clause had never been a threat to her. Even watching him nullify it now stirred nothing inside her. It was just a meaningless piece of paper.

She tossed the document onto the table. "Ian, I don't have time for these games. Just tell me who the donor is."

Her dismissive reaction seemed to surprise him for a second, but he quickly regained his usual stoic composure. He was silent for a moment, as if gathering his strength for a final, difficult admission. Finally, he met her gaze, his own expression unreadable.

"It's Vanessa."

The name struck Eleanor like a physical blow. The air rushed from her lungs, and for a moment, every expression on her face froze, her mind struggling to process the information.

lan's throat worked as he repeated, his voice clear and steady, "You heard me correctly. She has been donating stem cells to my mother for the past ten years.'

Eleanor was utterly stunned, momentarily incapable of thought. Vanessa? She was the donor Gina had been depending on for a decade?

"Ten years ago," lan continued, "my mother was first diagnosed with this rare blood disease. It was a medical puzzle. It took me a full year, with her on the brink of death, to find Vanessa. She was the first person in the world who was a successful match."

Eleanor turned her head to stare out the window, her fingers unconsciously curling into fists, her nails digging into her palms. So, lan's mother, his sister, and her own daughter's futures all depended on Vanessa?

The irony suddenly hit her-what a sick joke fate had played. Here she was, enjoying the lifestyle lan gave her, while literally keeping his mother alive with her blood.

lan watched her silent reaction, his expression darkening. "Eleanor, it's not what you think "

A cold laugh escaped her lips. "I didn't come here to rehash the past."

"But there are things I need you to understand," Ian insisted.

"Enough," Eleanor snapped, cutting him off. "I don't want to hear about your history with Vanessa, your transactions, or any of your sordid affairs. I'm not interested."

She turned back to him, her gaze sharp and piercing. "Right now, I only care about one thing: finding the

most effective treatment for the

genetic risk Evelyn faces." Sheenet?

a deep breath. "I spoke with Dr. Smith. The infusions are losing their effectiveness for your mother, so we need a new plan. It would be best if Vanessa agrees to cooperate with the new experimental therapy. Whatever her conditions are, you need to meet them."

lan's chest rose and fell sharply, as if something had seized his heart. He looked

at Eleanor, his gaze intense. "Her condition... is to be Mrs. Goodwin."

He held her gaze, watching for any flicker of emotion on her face.

Eleanor remained impassive. "Her terms are reasonable. For you, it's a small price to pay to save your mother and your sister. A very good deal, I'd say."

"Eleanor!" lan's voice finally broke, a raw edge of frustration cutting through his composure. He stared at her. "You just mentioned Serena-"

Eleanor had already considered this. To find a cure for her daughter, Serena was the ideal test subject; Gina was too weak. It was a selfish thought, but a necessary one She met his eyes. "Your sister may already be symptomatic."

lan shot to his feet, his face a mask of shock. "Impossible. She had a full physical

last year."

"This disease can manifest

suddenly, tan. Serena's lifestyle is

incredibly unhealthy, which could

easily accelerate the genetic,

mutation. You need to get her tested

immediately."

Eleanor stood and picked up her bag. "Get Vanessa to agree to the experiment. Soon."