After her assistant left, Vesta felt a growing weight settle over her.


    Technology was the lifeblood of thepany.


    With Axiom Flux Technologies zing a trail ahead of them, if Neural Nexus Tech


    wanted even a foothold in the autonomous vehicle market, they''d have to achieve


    another technological breakthrough—something even more significant than


    before.


    But breakthroughs like that were nearly impossible to force.


    So far, she''d already poured six or seven hundred million dors into Neural


    Nexus Tech.


    But now, with Axiom Flux Technologies stirring up the waters, the future of Neural


    Nexus Tech looked more uncertain than ever. If she kept investing, and Neural


    Nexus Tech failed to deliver a breakthrough that truly made waves, it would be like


    tossing a billion—maybe even two billion—straight down the drain.


    And yet, the idea of giving up here made her stomach twist with frustration.


    Should she press forward, or cut her losses?


    Her thoughts wandered to Thorne.


    But even someone as brilliant as him couldn''t guarantee thepany would


    achieve the kind of breakthrough they needed, could he? Even if she asked, he''d


    never be able to give her a truly definitive answer.


    Vesta sat there for a long while, lost in thought, until her assistant knocked and


    entered again, snapping her back to reality. She realized it was already midday.


    "Mr. Hawkins, shall I arrange lunch for you?" her assistant asked.


    Vesta nced at her phone, saying nothing.


    She was sure Thorne understood the blow Axiom Flux Technologies had dealt to


    Neural Nexus Tech even more clearly than she did. Given how well she knew him,


    he''d probably already guessed how Mr. ck, Mr. Falconer, and the others were


    feeling about Neural Nexus Tech right now.


    She needed him now more than ever.


    Yet, since she''d had dinner with Mr. ck yesterday, Thorne hadn''t reached out to


    her once.


    She remembered how, at the press conference yesterday, Thorne''s attention had


    beenpletely fixed on Charlene onstage—as if he''d forgotten Vesta even


    existed. The memory twisted in her chest, sharp and ufortable.


    Maybe, just like her, he still hadn''t recovered from the impact Charlene made at


    that press conference.


    Charlene had been working nonstop all day. It was after five when her phone


    finally rang.


    It was Jasmine Henderson calling.


    She nced at the screen, hesitated, and answered, "Hey, Minnie. What''s up?"


    "Mom, school''s almost out for summer! There''s a parents'' meeting tomorrow. Will


    youe with me? Please?"


    Charlene paused. She couldn''t remember thest time she''d dealt with something


    like this.


    "Summer break already?" she asked.


    "Yep!" Jasmine chirped.


    Charlene gathered herself and asked, "Is your dad busy?"


    After the Axiom Flux Technologies


    work. Thorne probably didn''t have


    time for Jasmine''s parents'' meeting


    either.


    "Dad''s free," Jasmine said, pouting a little. "But I want you toe, Mom. Just


    this once? Please? Can youe by tomorrow morning?"


    Charlene relented. "Alright. I''ll be there."


    Jasmine squealed in delight. "Yay!"


    "I''ve got work to finish, honey. We''ll talk more tomorrow, okay?"


    "Okay! See you tomorrow, Mom!"


    The next morning.


    Charlene drove over to Jasmine''s school. As soon as Jasmine spotted her, she


    ran straight into her arms. "Mom!"


    Charlene hugged her, ruffling her hair, then took her hand and walked with her


    into the building.


    Sally''s mom and Ms. Payne, Jasmine''s teacher, both looked surprised to see


    Charlene there in person.


    After thest family event, it had always been Thorne showing up for school


    activities—she''d barely been involved at all.


    "Hello, Mrs. Henderson," Ms. Payne greeted her warmly. "It''s been a while."


    "It has," Charlene replied, exchanging pleasantries.


    Ms. Payne gave her a rundown of


    how Jasmine had been doing at


    schooltely. From their


    conversation, Charlene could tell


    Jasmine was genuinely happy at


    home and in ss. Thorne really


    was paying close attention to her.


    During the meeting, Jasmine tugged


    on Charlene''s hand and whispered,


    "Mom, we haven''t gone out for lunch


    together in ages. Can we go


    somewhere after this? Just the two


    of us?"


    Charlene smiled. "Of course."


    But as they left the school together, hand in hand, Charlene spotted Thorne


    getting out of his car at the curb.


    Jasmine lit up at the sight of him—not surprised at all. "Daddy, you came!"


    Thorne met Charlene''s eyes before answering, his tone gentle. "Yeah, I''m here."