Eleanor quickly turned her face away, wiping at the tears in her eyes as she tried to regain her composure.

lan's gaze was heavy as he watched her, his deep eyes unreadable. Staring at the stubborn line of her profile, he asked in a rough voice, "Did something happen to Mansfield?"

She didn't answer.

lan pushed himself off the wall and walked toward her, pulling a handkerchief from his suit pocket. "Here, use this."

Eleanor ignored it and walked toward her front door.

The man's hand froze in mid-air before he slowly withdrew it. He watched her slender, defiant figure, his face shadowed and unreadable in the dim light of the hallway, his features tense.

When Eleanor opened the door, Evelyn ran to her with a joyful cry. "Mommy!"

Then, she saw lan standing behind her, and her eyes lit up. "Daddy, you're here too!" She darted past Eleanor and threw herself into lan's arms.

"Did you miss me?" lan asked, hugging her close.

"Yes!"

Just then, Princess trotted over, tail wagging enthusiastically. Ian reached down to scratch her head. At that moment, Eleanor's phone rang again. She glanced at

the screen and quickly walked out to the balcony to answer it.

It was Garth. "Hello, Mr. Ellington," she said, her voice urgent.

"Eleanor, we just received an update. Mansfield's team was just lost. They're all safe and sound."

The tight knot of tension in Eleanor's chest instantly loosened. "That's wonderful news. Thank you for letting me know, sir."

"That boy," Garth grumbled with a laugh, clearly relieved. "Always making us worry."

"I'm sure he'll return safely," Eleanor said.

"He'd better," Garth replied. "I won't keep you."

After hanging up, Eleanor let out a long sigh, the weight on her heart lifting. But the knowledge that Mansfield was on a dangerous mission overseas still left a lingering worry for her friend.

When she walked back inside, she

saw lan sitting on the sofa. He watched her come out from the balcony a completely different person from moments before s she put her phone away, an O unconscious smile played on her lips. But when her eyes met his, the smile vanished. "Let's talk in my study."

FindNovel.net

lan turned to his daughter. "Mommy and I have to talk about work. I'll come down

to play with you in a little while, okay?"

"Okay! I'll wait for you!" Evelyn replied obediently.

Eleanor went into the study with lan following behind. She sat down at her desk, a relaxed air about her now.

"I sent you an email," lan said, pulling up a chair. "Dr. Smith has proposed three experimental protocols. The risks and data are all there. Take a look, and we'll choose one to begin."

Eleanor opened the email, her demeanor shifting back to

professional and composed, though

the faint redness around her eyes was still visible in the lamplight. She focused on the protocols, completely unfazed by the man's intense gaze. After she finished. reading, she spoke. "I choose the first protocol. In the long run, it has the highest probability of a complete cure and the least long-term impact on the subject."

lan nodded, his expression showing his agreement. "I'll have Dr. Smith draw up

the detailed experimental plan based on this."

She looked up at him. "Has Vanessa agreed to undergo the experiment?"

His gaze darkened slightly as he gave a small nod. "She will."

Eleanor nodded in a strictly professional manner. "Good. Once the plan is confirmed, we'll need to conduct a preliminary physical examination. We need more detailed data from her."

"I know," Ilan said, his

steady and

eadable.

Eleanor turned her attention back to the computer, lost in thought.

lan didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. He sat in silence for a moment, his eyes fixed on the lingering redness at the corners of her eyes. "Mansfield he's okay?" he asked, his voice deepening.

Without looking up, Eleanor gave a noncommittal hum, clearly unwilling to discuss

it further.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a series of messages, one after another, as if someone was urgently trying to reach her. Her eyes darted to the phone, and she picked it up.

The sender was Mansfield.

"My dad told me you knew I was out of the country. Eleanor, I'm sorry. I left in

such a hurry I forgot to say anything."

"Forgive me for leaving without a word."

"Please don't be mad, okay?"