Chapter 898
“Should I go talk to Miss Sutton?” Smith offered, thinking she might be more receptive to him.
“No,” lan said coolly. “Let her cool down p>
Smith surmised that Eleanor’s mother’s sample must have a purpose far more critical than he knew. Otherwise, with his own mother’s condition worsening and his sister already symptomatic, lan would never withhold it. He immediately launched into a presentation of the previous night’s experiments on Vanessa’s blood sample.
Eleanor was out on the lab’s balcony, letting the cool breeze clear her head. She couldn’t understand any of it, and the unanswered questions felt like a suffocating weight on her chest. But she quickly regained her composure. For now, they would have to leave her mother’s sample as a last resort. Focusing the research on Vanessa’s blood was still the correct course of action.
Dr. Smith was in the middle of a detailed explanation to lan when the door opened. Eleanor walked in, a cup of coffee in her hand, her expression serene. She sat down, all traces of her earlier anger gone, her composure as calm as still water.
Smith slid a copy of the data report toward her. “Miss Sutton, I was just updating Mr. Goodwin on our progress. Please, join us p>
“Go on, Doctor,” she said, nodding.
Smith picked up where he had left off.
lan’s eyes were ostensibly fixed on the data Smith was presenting, but his peripheral vision kept drifting to Eleanor. She showed no trace of her earlier emotion, and when Smith directed a question her way, her answers were logical, clear, and quick-witted. She treated the man across the table as if he were a stranger, completely irrelevant.
As Smith was explaining one point, Eleanor interjected. “If my mother’s sample is a match with Vanessa’s, I suggest we include my blood in the genetic comparison sequence. Theoretically, I could also be a successful match p>
Dr. Smith was stunned; he hadn’t considered that possibility. “Miss Sutton’s proposal is an excellent p>
“No,” lan cut him off sharply, his eyes locked on Eleanor, as if he had been anticipating this very suggestion.
Eleanor met his gaze, her own eyes cool and emotionless. “It’s my body. I have the right to decide whether or not to participate in the screening p>
lan’s jaw clenched, his chest rising and falling with a tightly controlled breath. His voice, however, remained hard. “There’s no why. I said no, and that’s final. The focus of the experiment should be on the existing donor. I don’t want to introduce unnecessary variables and risks p>
The reason sounded weak and contrived, but Smith could see the truth: Ian didn’t
want Eleanor to be a donor. He seemed to be afraid of something.
“Dr. Sutton, Mr. Goodwin has a point p>
Shanith mediated. “Miss
s sample shows verval
stability and neutralization rates, Let’s focus on that for now.
Eleanor nodded once. “Fine p>
But lan could see the stubbornness beneath her calm exterior. He knew she would go through with the test anyway.
“This is no longer up for discussion,” Ian said, rapping his fingers on the table in irritation. “The experimental plan will proceed as scheduled p>
Eleanor stood up, took her coffee, and left. Smith looked awkwardly at lan. “Well, I’ll head back to the lab, then p>
“Doctor,” lan said as he was about to leave, “if Eleanor insists on running the comparison, send me a copy of the results He grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his chair and strode out of the room.