"The donor wishes to remain anonymous," lan replied calmly, dismissing his mother's request.

"Brother, we won't bother him. Can't we just thank him?" Serena asked, equally curious to know who their benefactor was.

lan looked from his mother to his sister. This was precisely why he hadn't wanted to tell them—to prevent them from forming any unnecessary attachments or feeling indebted to Vanessa.

"The most important thing right now is the treatment. Let's not disturb anyone," he said, shutting down his sister's suggestion.

Though still filled with gratitude, Gina nodded in acceptance, burying the debt in her heart. Then, her thoughts turned to Eleanor, and her eyes filled with shame. "This must be so difficult for Eleanor."

Serena bit her lip. A large part of why she had been able to come to terms with her own diagnosis was the strength she drew from Eleanor. Eleanor's reputation as a medical genius gave her hope for a cure. But she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. She had hurt Eleanor too many times in the past; now, she didn't even have the courage to face her and say thank you.

Just then, lan's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and said to his sister, "Stay with Mom. I need to take this."

As lan stepped out, Serena took her mother's hand. "Mom, don't overthink it. Brother has everything under control."

Tears streamed down Gina's face as her emotions surged. "I had no idea lan was carrying this burden alone for ten years="

"Mom, he did it so you wouldn't worry. How can you rest if you keep getting upset like this?"

Gina looked at her daughter, momentarily stunned. She had become so sensible, so considerate. A faint, relieved smile touched her lips. "You're right. I'll listen to you both. I won't dwell on it."

"You're going to get better, Mom," Serena said, dabbing her mother's tears with a tissue. She didn't dare tell her mother about her own diagnosis; her brother had forbidden it. Although the donor had initially been uncooperative, it seemed her brother had negotiated a deal, and the experiment was back on track. With Eleanor and Dr. Smith in the lab, she had to believe they would find a cure. In the hallway.

lan's voice was low and firm. "The crisis at Yeaton Holdings is mostly resolved. ensure the subsequent cash flow is secured, By next wee at the latest, the stock price will stabilize, and your company's market value will likely double."

On the other end of the line, Roland Yeaton let out a breath of relief mixed with

utter delight. "lan, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I—"

"Don't thank me," lan cut in coldly. "Thank your daughter." He then hung up.

In his office, Roland stared at the

disconnected call. He took a long, hard drag from the cigar resting beside him, his frustration palpable. After exhaling a cloud of smoke, he sighed with resignation. The shares he had given up were now in eldest daughter Vanessa's name so it wasn't a total loss. But dealing with a man like lan was suffocating. The young man was ruthless.

Still, lan had promised that the value of the shares he'd relinquished would be more than recovered. He would just have to consider the

thirte

teen percent stake dowry. Once his daughter married into the Goodwin family, the returns would be far greater than this.

With that thought, Roland picked up his phone and called Vanessa.

"Hello, Dad."

"Vanessa, I've saved you a seat at the shareholder meeting next week. I'd like you

to be there," Roland said gently.

"I don't think I can make it, Dad."

Roland chuckled. "Come on, can't you do your old man a favor?"

"Dad, you know I don't understand any of this. Ilan can handle it for me."

"I just got off the phone with him."