Dr. Eleanor Reed is a brilliant neuroscientist who has spent her career studying the neural pathways of empathy. Her research has led her to develop a groundbreaking technology-the Empathy Detector-that can distinguish between genuine and performative empathy. But when her work is stolen and a colleague is murdered, Ellie realizes that she has stumbled onto something far more dangerous than she ever imagined. She soon finds herself caught in a web of conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of power. The Rational Order, a secret society that has been operating for decades, is systematically suppressing empathy in leaders across the globe. They believe that emotions are a weakness that must be eliminated to create a more efficient and rational society. Ellie's research threatens their plans, and they will stop at nothing to silence her. With the help of a resistance movement, Ellie must use her knowledge of empathy to expose The Rational Order and their plans for mass conversion. But as she gets closer to the truth, she realizes that the conspiracy is far more complex than she ever imagined. And the cost of stopping it may be greater than she can bear.