The news about Axiom Flux Technologies had already reached the Ross family.


    Charlene''s recent sess made both Vernon and Helena genuinely happy for


    her.


    To celebrate, the family decided to take her out for lunch that Saturday.


    As Vernon''s car approached the restaurant and was about to enter the parking


    garage, another car nearly sideswiped them. The other driver had clearly


    misjudged their speed-it was obviously their fault-but Vernon, ever the


    gentleman who believed in keeping the peace, decided not to make a fuss.


    Technically, Vernon had the right of way; his car was ahead, and he should have


    entered first. But the other driver tried to cut him off. Vernon frowned, rolled down


    his window, and prepared to reason with them.


    It seemed the other party also wanted to make their case; their window came


    down at the same time.


    But as soon as Vernon saw who was sitting inside, his expression turned icy.


    Henley hadn''t expected to see Vernon and Helena either. Whatever words she''d


    had ready died in her throat.


    Maureen, sitting in the passenger seat, and Katie Hawkins in the back, along with


    Georgina Spencer in the following car, all recognized Vernon as well.


    None of them could quite believe the coincidence.


    Vernon turned his gaze away and, before Henley could react, drove his car


    smoothly into the garage.


    The outing had started off on a cheerful note, but Helena''s face hardened the


    moment she spotted Henley and the others.


    Charlene slipped her arm through Helena''s, gently patting her hand in


    reassurance.


    Thinking of her daughter''s recovery and Charlene''s own remarkable progress,


    Helena felt a wave offort. She realized it was time to look forward and not let


    the past dictate her mood. Gradually, her spirits lifted.


    After parking, the Ross family-six in total-were the first to head into the


    restaurant.


    Thanks to Helena''s new outlook, their group''s good mood went mostly


    undisturbed.


    But the same couldn''t be said for the Hawkins and Spencer families.


    As they watched the Ross family disappear inside, Katie, Georgina, Vesta, and


    the others couldn''t hide their sour expressions.


    They, too, had heard all about Axiom Flux Technologies.


    Even though Thorne''s support had given Neural Nexus Tech a new and promising


    direction, their recent investments had already gone up in smoke.


    Worse, having a direction was one thing; the actual future of Neural Nexus was


    still a huge question mark.


    On top of that, Georgina and Katie were both deeply unsettled.


    At the Axiom Flux Technologies press conference, Charlene had publicly taken


    credit for the breakthrough, and Mr. Ashcroft himself had confirmed that all the


    technology developed in cooperation with PrimeStar was entirely Charlene''s


    achievement.


    If that was true, then Charlene''s value had skyrocketed overnight-she could


    easily be worth billions.


    But how was that possible?


    Could Charlene really be so talented on her own?


    Was it really true that Stewart hadn''t contributed? Was it not secretly his work


    after all?


    Yet Charlene had publicly imed all the credit...


    With these thoughts swirling, the Hawkins and Spencer families couldn''t shake


    their mounting frustration.


    Vesta felt it most keenly.


    She balled her fists and said quietly, "Let''s just go inside."


    Snapped out of their thoughts, Katie and the others finally followed her into the


    restaurant.


    Over an hourter, after their meal, as Vesta and her group were leaving, they


    overheard voices near the elevator:


    "Our Stewart''s single now, you know. If you hear of any nice girls, do let us know."


    "Oh, don''t worry! After all these


    years, you don''t need to remind


    me''d never pass up a chance to


    introduce Stewart to a good match."


    Vesta looked up and realized it was Stewart''s mother speaking.


    But Darleen didn''t notice them as she stepped into the elevator.


    Maureen and Georgina recognized Darleen right away.


    Georgina seemed to catch on to something and let out a knowing smile.


    Vesta paused, and suddenly she understood what her grandmother found so


    amusing.


    If all the technological


    breakthroughs announced at the


    Axiom Jux Technologies press


    conference were truly Charlene''s


    work, then yes, Charlene would


    indeed be worth billions.


    More than that, if she was really that gifted, her future potential would be limitless.


    She could very well develop even more groundbreaking technologies in the years


    toe.


    In other words, if Charlene was as capable as she imed, she was a walking


    gold mine.


    With those credentials and that kind of talent, even the most selective families


    wouldn''t care that she''d been married before.


    Given all this, why would Darleen


    pretend there was nothing between


    Charlene and Stewart, still pestering


    friends to find Stewart a new


    girlfriend?


    It was obvious-Charlene''s so-called "breakthroughs" were far from the whole


    story.