Smith nodded and dismissed his assistant.
Eleanor remembered Ian saying he had something important to discuss with her that morning, and she had been waiting to hear what it was.
"You said you had something to talk to me about. What is it?" Eleanor asked first.
Ian's gaze fell on Eleanor's face, his expression grave and his tone serious. "If you and Mansfield are considering having children, you absolutely must do genetic screening."
Eleanor was stunned. "Why?"
"Just listen to me. Don't conceive naturally. Always take—precautions," Ian said, turning his face away, though his voice held an unquestionable authority. "It's for the good of you and your children."
Eleanor frowned. "Are you hiding something else from me?"
Ian lowered his eyes. "I'm saying this for your own good. I don't want a repeat of what happened with Evelyn."
If Eleanor weren't in the medical field, she might not have given it a second thought. But with her background, Ian's words made her keenly aware that he was hiding something.
"What else are you hiding from me? Can you just tell me everything at once?" Eleanor asked, staring at him.
Ian looked up, his gaze meeting hers with a flicker of tenderness. "Please, just listen to me this one last time."
Then he added, "For the sake of your second child, don't take any risks."
As Eleanor frowned, still pondering his words, the man opposite her swallowed, his voice growing hoarse. "If, if you and him—"
He paused, as if the mere thought of it was unbearable. "Remember to take precautions."
With that, Ian stood up and left, as if he couldn't bear to stay another second.
Eleanor frowned, watching the conference room door swing back from the force of his push. She hadn't expected Ian to bring up such a private topic.
But her attention was still fixed on his warning. Why would he suddenly bring this up?
The genetic risk Evelyn carried came from the Goodwin family line; it had nothing to do with her family.
So why was he warning her?
Eleanor was taken aback, her feelings complicated. She wasn't sure herself if Ian's white hair had anything to do with her.
The man had always been incredibly resilient. Looking back at his life, he had shouldered immense pressure. It couldn't be that her leaving was what caused this.
"No, it must be from too much stress."
"Some people are speculating he has a serious illness. You don't think that's true, do you? I may not like him, but he's Evelyn's father. I still hope he stays healthy," Joy continued.
Eleanor paused for a few seconds. Joy's words were a stark reminder. He wasn't just her daughter's father; he was also the key to her future safety. It was necessary to remind him to get a check-up.
Eleanor picked up her phone, found Ian's number, and dialed.
"I'm on my way back to the office. What's up?" Ian's voice came through.
"Could you find a day to get a full physical?" Eleanor suggested seriously.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, followed by Ian's slightly annoyed tone. "What? You think there's something wrong with me?" Then he added, "I'm perfectly fine. I don't need a check-up."

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