Chapter 733
“Enough.” Xavier’s expression darkened in an instant. “You don’t get to judge what kind of person Eleanor is p>
Serena flinched as if struck, tears stinging her eyes, threatening to spill over.
Xavier sighed heavily and pressed his fingers to his brow, weariness etched across his face. “Go home p>
Serena took a step back, biting her lip as she turned and left the office.
Back in her car, she slumped over the steering wheel, unable to hold back her sobs. She’d always looked out for Xavier, always had his best interests at heart, yet this was the thanks she got-how could she not feel wronged?
Watching Xavier get toyed with by Eleanor hurt her, made her heart ache, but now she just felt utterly powerless.
After Serena had left his office, Xavier found himself unable to focus on work. His mind kept circling back to the same question.
Was Eleanor really seeing Mansfield?
He sat in silence for a moment before finally picking up his phone and dialing lan’s number.
“lan,” he said when the call connected. “Do you have a minute? I need to talk p>
“Sure, go ahead,” lan replied.
“Serena stopped by just now. She mentioned something about Eleanor-said you ran into her at the Military Medical University with Major General Ellington p>
lan didn’t bother denying it. “Yeah, I saw them together p>
Xavier’s grip on the phone tightened. “So, the two of them p>
“This trip to Kingston was for a conference. The Secretary of State hosted a dinner for us to discuss the future of medical development. Mansfield was there on behalf of his family to welcome us,” lan explained plainly.
A brief silence fell between them.
lan broke it first. “Mansfield’s a good guy. Comes from a great family, carries himself well, treats Eleanor with real respect p>
Xavier couldn’t deny it. If he hadn’t spent time with Mansfield himself, he might have assumed that with a background like his, Mansfield would be arrogant or aloof. But their last encounter had shown Xavier otherwise.
Mansfield was impressive-sharp, principled, and gracious. In every way, he was the kind of man anyone would admire.
Xavier took a deep breath, his voice a little tight. “If Eleanor and Mansfield ended up together, would you be happy for her p>
There was a pause on the other end. Then lan’s answer came, clear and firm. “If she found someone better, I’d wish her well p>
“Do you really mean that?” Xavier pressed.
He heard the flick of a lighter, imagined lan lighting a cigarette. “Xavier, how long have we known each other p>
“Twenty-three years,” Xavier answered without missing a beat.
“Then you know me.” Ian’s voice turned rough, low. “I don’t do things I’ll regret.” Xavier fell silent, then sighed. “Let’s grab a drink sometime p>
“Sure.” lan hung up.
Xavier set his phone down and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the city lights. Suddenly, he found himself craving a cigarette. He turned and called his assistant’s extension.
“Hello, Mr. Vaughn?” came the assistant’s voice.
“Bring me a pack of cigarettes p>
“Cigarettes?” The surprise was obvious in the assistant’s tone.
“That’s right. Cigarettes p>
“Understood. Right away p>
At the end of the workday, Eleanor’s phone rang-it was Professor Simone Langley.
“Eleanor, did you see the email yet? Goodwin Pharma’s foundation is launching next month p>
Eleanor frowned, opening her laptop. Sure enough, there was an email about the new foundation from Goodwin Pharma Group.
“Professor Langley, you’re the perfect choice to give the keynote,” Eleanor tried to deflect.
Simone laughed. “The invitation asks you to speak at the launch-on breakthroughs in leukemia research and the future of Al in medicine. Those achievements are yours, Eleanor. How could I take credit? This speech should be yours p>