Chapter 1176

Eleanor never expected an experiment to land her in the hospital before it even began. Her wounds were stitched, half her arm was tightly bandaged, and she was now in a more comfortable hospital gown.

Lying in bed, the pain and blood loss left her feeling exhausted.

lan sat in a chair by her bedside, his expression complex as he watched her pale face.

"Don't tell Evelyn," Eleanor said to him.

lan nodded. "I won't." Then, in a low voice, he asked, "This isn't the first time you've been scratched by a monkey, is it?"

Eleanor was taken aback. How did he know she had been scratched before?

A flash of self-reproach crossed lan's eyes. "I'll make sure Ryan and the others are more careful next time."

Eleanor didn't want to dwell on it and decided to get some sleep. She looked at the man in the chair. "You should go. The nurses will look after me here."

lan simply adjusted his posture, his voice calm. "You rest. I won't disturb you."

"You don't have to-" Eleanor insisted.

Beneath his thick lashes, his eyes flickered with a restrained emotion. Finally, he stood up and left the room.

Eleanor finally closed her eyes in peace and fell asleep shortly after.

Outside in the hallway, Gavin approached lan to confirm the flight departure time for the next day.

lan stood by the window, gazing into the distance. "Cancel my trip," he said flatly.

Gavin was stunned for a few seconds, unable to process the words. He knew exactly what lan stood to gain from the Sun Valley trip. It was crucial for finalizing a partnership with the tech giant Montclair and for developing an energy project—both vital for maintaining Goodwin & Co.'s cash flow.

"Mr. Goodwin, this "

"I said, cancel it," lan's tone left no room for argument.

"Is it because you need to stay and take care of Miss Sutton?" Gavin asked with a frown. It was rare for him to question his boss's personal matters, but this time, Gavin felt compelled to remind him of the immense losses canceling the conference would entail.

"Don't cancel the flight. Just send Ellington," lan said in a low voice.

"Understood."Gavin knew he had no right to persuade him, even though he desperately wanted to. He was well aware of the importance of The Sun Valley Conference to Goodwin & Co., and even more so of how much effort his boss had put into these projects.

Fifteen minutes later, a figure quietly settled back into the chair by

Eleanor's bed. He rested his

forehead on his hand, not looking at his phone, but simply watching the sleeping woman.

Under the effect of the medication, Eleanor slept soundly, completely unaware that

the man who had left had returned to stay by her side.

Outside, the evening sun cast long shadows. The man in the chair remained motionless, the play of light and shadow on his face accentuating his deep-set, handsome features.

At 7:30 p.m., a sharp pain from her wound woke Eleanor. As she opened her eyes in the dim hospital room, the tall figure sitting in the chair made her pause.

"Why are you still here?" Eleanor's voice was hoarse from sleep.

lan immediately stood up and poured her a glass of warm water. "How are you feeling? Does the wound still hurt?"

Eleanor hesitated for a moment, her throat dry. She accepted the glass. "It's okay." She glanced at the time—it was almost eight o'clock. "You should go back," she urged. "Evelyn will be sleeping with you tonight."

Besides, he had to leave for the Sun Valley conference tomorrow.

"Serena is at your place taking care of her. I'll head back in a bit," lan nodded. "What would you like to eat?"

Eleanor noticed the phone for ordering food nearby. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I can order for myself."