No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 96

"I'm working. Don't bother me unless it's urgent." Eleanor's tone was icier than before as she hung up.

She really was swamped—two hours spent cultivating live samples, and now she had to monitor every bit of data with laser focus.

Tossing her phone aside, Eleanor dove back into her research. She didn't stop until deep into the night, when Joel finally came to call it quits. Only then did she finish the round of tests and hand the data over to him.

"Just as we expected," she said.

"Methylmercury is a small molecule. It travels through the bloodstream into the brain, eating away at neural cells. Over time, it breaches the blood-brain barrier, which is what causes the symptoms we're seeing."

Joel hadn't expected her to crack another problem in such a short time. He noticed the exhaustion in her bloodshot eyes and said quietly, "You need to get some rest."

Eleanor nodded. "You should get some sleep too."

Stepping out of the lab into the cool night air, her phone buzzed again. This time, Ian's name flashed on the screen.

She picked up. "Hello?"

"When are you coming home?" Ian's voice was unreadable.

"I'm staying in the student dorm tonight." Eleanor answered and hung up.

He didn't call again. Eleanor showered and went straight to bed.

***

The next day, Eleanor got a call from Magdalen, inviting her home for dinner. The warmth in her heart was instant; her mother-in-law had been keeping her away for everyone's safety, and Eleanor missed her daughter desperately.

"Of course, Grandma. I'll be there for dinner," she promised.

After work, Eleanor left the lab at five, stopped by a market for some fruit and a little present for her daughter, and arrived at Goodwin Manor right on time at six-thirty.

"Mama! Mama!" Evelyn's excited voice rang out as she came running from the living room. Eleanor's eyes stung with tears as she scooped her daughter into her arms. "Did you miss me?"

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