Chapter 156
Eleanor spent her weekends at home while lan headed out to Goodwin Manor to visit their daughter; she decided to stay behind.
Monday morning, Eleanor dropped her daughter off and went straight to the exam hall at Ashford Medical University. Her major was internal medicine, but this round of exams covered eight core subjects. Over the next three days, she sat through them all.
When the last exam ended, Joel joined her for lunch in the cafeteria. He’d expected her to be a bundle of nerves, maybe even too anxious to eat, but to his surprise, Eleanor looked calm and composed, eating heartily.
“Three days of back-to-back exams and you’re not even tired?” Joel joked, raising an eyebrow.
Eleanor rubbed her neck. “Not really tired-just a bit of a sore neck and my hand’s starting to cramp,” she admitted. Then she turned to him, “I’ll need to borrow the lab for a few days. There’s an innovative research project I have to finish p>
“Oh? Is that part of the exams too p>
“It’s for my thesis research. I’d like to wrap it up as soon as possible,” she said with a small smile.
Joel stared at her for a moment, then grinned. “Well, I can’t wait to see what you come up with this time p>
Eleanor shook her head. If it weren’t for her desire to join Simone’s team soon, she wouldn’t bother showing off her academic achievements. But at this point, she couldn’t afford to hide her light anymore. She needed to stand out.
That week, Evelyn’s summer break started. Eleanor promised herself that once her research was done, she’d devote her time to her daughter.
Attorney Jeffries, who’d arranged to meet her, had to delay his return to the country due to an unexpected issue. Eleanor didn’t mind waiting.
In the laboratory restroom, Eleanor had just stepped into a stall when she heard footsteps-two lab assistants had come in.
“I heard Eleanor finished her exams, but no grades have been posted yet. Think the university’s embarrassed to announce her results?” one whispered.
“Yeah, and she’s taken over another lab now. Who knows what she’s working on in there,” the other replied.
“Well, that’s what happens when your father’s a big shot. Who at Ashford Medical would dare cross her p>
“Everyone knows she stole her dad’s research for that miracle drug. She’s got some nerve going after awards, doesn’t she p>
“Of course. It’s all in the family-they’re not about to sue her p>
In her stall, Eleanor clenched her fists. Who was spreading these lies about her?
“If I had a father like hers, I could be famous in medicine too-just sit back and collect the glory p>
“Let’s just hope she never ends up on the operating table, or takes a shift in the clinic. She’s all show, no substance p>
The assistants left. Eleanor washed her hands and stepped out, only to run into Faye and Gwenda.
Gwenda greeted her with forced cheer. “Eleanor, have your results come out? How did you do p>
Eleanor’s voice was cool. “No idea p>
Gwenda blinked in surprise. “Didn’t go well? That’s okay, skipping a year is tough. Just take it in stride p>
Faye smirked. “As expected. Not sure there’s anything to be consoled about p>
Eleanor brushed past them without another word.
Behind her, Gwenda muttered, “What’s she so proud of p>
Faye snorted. “Who cares? She’s about to leave medicine anyway. Soon we won’t have to see her at all p>
“What if she doesn’t quit?” Gwenda wondered. Would Eleanor really walk away from everything she’d achieved?
“If she stays, she’ll just be a laughingstock wherever she goes,” Faye sneered.
“But her father’s a renowned scholar p>
“Which makes it even worse. Her father’s a respected academic, and she’s just a fraud-she’ll drag his reputation down with her p>
Gwenda thought about how Eleanor had just treated her. Honestly, she hoped Eleanor would quit. After all, she’d spread quite a few rumors herself and didn’t want any trouble.
A week passed, and Eleanor’s results still hadn’t been released-not even she knew how she’d done.
But there was one person who already had the answer: Dr. Lyman. He was invested in Eleanor’s performance and had called ahead to get her results early.