Chapter 1171
After hanging up, Eleanor’s car pulled into the laboratory’s parking lot. She got out and immediately dialed lan’s number.
As the second-largest shareholder of the Vesper Joy Hotel, she was confident he wouldn’t refuse an opportunity for Ellington to catch a ride.
“Hello!” A deep, gentle male voice came from the other end.
“Mr. Goodwin, could I ask you for a favor?” Eleanor asked, her tone polite and formal.
A low, exasperated chuckle came through the line. “Have we really become such strangers p>
Eleanor ignored his question and went straight to her request. “For Ellington’s upcoming trip to Sun Valley, would it be possible for him to fly on your private jet p>
“Of course,” lan agreed without hesitation.
“Thank you.” Eleanor was about to end the call.
“Wait,” he said suddenly, stopping her.
Eleanor frowned. What else could he want?
“The Sun Valley Conference is completely cut off from the outside world. Even if I bring my phone, it will be confiscated. So, if you need anything over the next three days, call Gavin. He’ll get in touch with me as soon as the conference is over p>
lan’s voice was low and slow, as if he were hinting at something more.
Eleanor stopped in her tracks, her fingers tightening around her phone. After a few seconds of silence, she replied calmly, “OK p>
There were no questions, no complaints, not even a flicker of emotion.
“Eleanor—” lan’s hesitant voice came through the phone.
“If there’s nothing else, Mr. Goodwin, I’ll hang up,” Eleanor said, her voice polite yet distant.
It was as if she were speaking to a regular business partner.
A faint sigh came from the other end. “Take care of yourself p>
Eleanor ended the call and stood there, stunned for a few seconds.
So, was lan trying to tell her that the twelve unanswered calls from three years ago were because he was at the conference in Sun Valley?
Though it had been a while, Eleanor still remembered the airport scene from the day before it all happened. The media had published photos of Vanessa and lan at the airport, and Vanessa’s celebration party was that same evening. Paired with the gift, Vanessa later flaunted online Eleanor had naturally assumed he was celebrating with her.
During the first four years of their marriage, their relationship had been as calm and happy as any other couple’s. tan would regularly update her on his business dealings, but he hadn’t that day. Then their daughter suddenly came down with a high fever during a viral outbreak in the country. Within just three days, a simple cold had turned into severe pneumonia.
By that time, she already knew about Vanessa. The year their daughter turned two was the same year Dr. Smith confirmed that Gina Quinn’s blood disorder was hereditary. The reason lan had been taking their daughter abroad so frequently was for genetic testing.
But one thing was certain: Vanessa’s love for lan bordered on obsession. Although Eleanor hadn’t read the contract lan presented that day in detail, she had skimmed the additional clauses.
Vanessa had demanded he spend half the year with her in Drexford, provide gifts on specified dates, and support her career advancement.
Their daughter’s admiration for Vanessa was partly due to her young age a two-year-old lacks & judgment. Plus, Vanessa had made a pointof getting close to Gina and Serena Goodwin, becoming a frequent guest at the Goodwin family home. Of course, these were
just external factors.
Vanessa’s real motive was to earn lan’s favor by making Evelyn depend on her—
which was exactly why she had so deliberately worked to win the girl’s affection.