No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 137

"He gave me a month to find a matching bone marrow sample, Joel. Can you help me?" Eleanor's voice was tinged with urgency as she turned to Joel, hoping to leverage his overseas connections.

Joel nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I'll reach out to everyone I know."

Later that afternoon, they gathered for a meeting. Dr. Lyman chaired it himself, introducing Simone as the new lead for the project.

"I want to rebuild the team from scratch," Simone announced coolly, her gaze sweeping over the group.

Eleanor's breath caught in her throat.

"For now, I'll confirm Joel, Faye, and Horace," Simone continued. "The rest of you will need to go through an evaluation before I make any decisions."

Faye's lips curled in a faint, satisfied smile. She shot Eleanor a sidelong glance—Eleanor had been cut, just as she'd expected.

"This project is fully funded by Goodwin & Co.," Simone explained. "I intend to be very selective. Only those with at least an undergraduate degree are eligible to participate in the assessment." As she spoke, Simone's eyes lingered pointedly on Eleanor.

It was clear to everyone in the room—Eleanor was the least qualified, still only in her sophomore year. For Simone, she didn't even meet the basic requirements to be considered.

When the meeting ended, Eleanor sought out Dr. Lyman and pleaded for a chance to join the research.

Dr. Lyman looked apologetic. "Eleanor, my hands are tied. Ian brought Simone in, and this project is independent of the university's own research. I have no authority here."

He sighed, shaking his head. "Ellie, if you want in, you're better off talking to your husband. Ian would probably make an exception for you."

Eleanor gave a bitter, silent laugh. Wasn't kicking her out exactly what Ian wanted?

When Eleanor approached Jude Vaughn with her request, his eyes nearly popped out. "Eleanor, are you sure? The graduation exam requires full credits, and you'll need a ninety or above in every single class."

Eleanor nodded. "I'm sure."

"Don't overdo it. You're still so young—don't burn yourself out. Even if Dr. Langley didn't let you in this time, there will be more chances down the road."

"Thank you, Jude. I have to do this." Eleanor's voice was firm as she turned to leave.

Behind her, Jude shook his head in disbelief. He knew how talented Eleanor was, but could she really pull this off?

If she finished her degree early, maybe—just maybe—Simone would finally consider her for the project. Eleanor had always preferred relying on herself over seeking favors.