Chapter 91
When Joslyn saw her come home, she greeted her with concern. “Ma’am, are you feeling any better p>
“Much better, Joslyn. Could you make me some plain pasta and bring it upstairs p>
“Of course p>
Eleanor took a long shower, dried her hair, and changed into a set of soft cotton pajamas. She sat at the upstairs dining nook, quietly eating her pasta.
At nine o’clock that evening, lan came home. Joslyn stepped forward to announce, “Sir, Madam’s back p>
lan paused in the middle of loosening his tie. “When did she get home p>
“Around five this afternoon. She just finished dinner, and I believe she’s already asleep p>
lan headed upstairs and walked straight to Eleanor’s bedroom. He pushed the door open and entered.
The room was dim, and Eleanor was fast asleep.
He approached the bed, gently pressing his large hand to her forehead-no sign of a fever.
lan returned to his own room, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked toward the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, he emerged in a gray pajama set, picked up his phone, and went back to Eleanor’s room.
He lifted the covers and slipped into bed. Eleanor was sleeping so soundly, she didn’t even notice someone joining her. Ian carefully cradled her head onto his arm, his tall frame curling protectively around her, fitting himself to her sleeping posture.
At three in the morning, Eleanor was woken by thirst. Suddenly, she realized her head was resting on someone’s arm. She turned, and in the darkness, her forehead bumped into a man’s hard jaw. The faint scent of cedar drifted in the air.
Eleanor instantly realized lan was in her bed. Startled, she sat bolt upright and quickly turned on the bedside lamp. Sure enough, lan lay beside her.
At that moment, he woke as well.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice hoarse, his handsome face clouded with sleep.
A flicker of disgust flashed in Eleanor’s eyes as she got out of bed, unwilling to look at him.
lan’s gaze followed her. His sharp features now carried a colder, more forbidding edge.
A moment later, Eleanor opened her bedroom door and shut it firmly behind her. Only then did she return to bed and manage to fall asleep again.
The next morning, Eleanor came downstairs for breakfast. Ian was already there. His expression, usually calm, now seemed distant and frosty when he looked at her.
Eleanor asked Joslyn to bring her breakfast to the upstairs sitting room-she had no desire to face lan.
After a while, she heard the sound of lan’s car disappearing through the front gate. As she was eating, her phone rang—a number she didn’t recognize. She answered, “Hello p>
“Ms. Sutton, is Evelyn at home p>
Eleanor froze. “Vivian? She’s not here—she’s at her grandmother’s p>
“Oh! I just wanted to say goodbye. I’m leaving the country to stay with my grandparents p>
“You’re leaving the country p>
“Yeah. My uncle’s sick and can’t look after me anymore, so I need to stay with my grandparents for a while p>
Eleanor’s heart skipped a beat. What? Xavier is sick? Could he have caught the virus in her hospital room that day?
A wave of guilt washed over her. It was her fault-she must have gotten him infected.
After hanging up with Vivian, Eleanor bit her lip, hesitated, and finally called Xavier.
“Hello!” Xavier’s voice was raspy.
Eleanor could tell immediately-he’d caught the virus too. “Mr. Vaughn, are you alright p>
“No need to worry. I’m fine, just a minor cold,” Xavier replied.
“It must have been me—I must have passed it to you that day. I’m so sorry,” Eleanor apologized.
“I’ve been in contact with plenty of people lately-it’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself,” he reassured her.
“I heard Vivian’s going abroad p>
“Her grandparents missed her, so she’ll be staying with them for a while,” Xavier said.
Eleanor felt awkward. She and Xavier weren’t even friends-showing too much concern just made things uncomfortable.
“Take care of yourself. Goodbye,” she said quickly.
“Goodbye,” Xavier replied, his voice low.
After she hung up, Eleanor called her mother-in-law, Gina.
“Weren’t you infected with the virus? Are you all better now?” Gina asked.
“I’m completely fine. I’ve been isolated for a few days, there’s no problem,” Eleanor replied.
Still, Gina sounded worried. “Why not isolate for another week? Evelyn’s so little. If she gets infected, it’ll be a real headache. Don’t take any chances p>
Eleanor wanted to insist on bringing her daughter home, but she couldn’t help worrying about Evelyn’s weak immune system. If she was still carrying the virus, even a few extra days of isolation would be safer.
“Alright. Then I’ll trouble you to take care of her a bit longer p>
“She’s my granddaughter-don’t mention it,” Gina replied, then hung up.
Eleanor felt a hollow ache in her chest. She went up to the third-floor study, deciding to work on some project proposals.
She had just started writing when Joel called.
“Hello, Joel,” she answered.
“Ellie, great news!” Joel sounded excited. “I just got a call from the National Academy of Sciences-you’ve been selected for the Medical Science and Technology Award. The ceremony is next month p>