?Chapter 457:


    A quiet stillness settled over the room.


    Wilson straightened the stack of documents on his desk, while Rachel remained standing beside him, maintaining a quiet, respectful posture, not daring to take a seat.


    A few momentster, Wilson’s assistant entered with two cups of coffee.


    He set one cup in its usual ce on Wilson’s desk and handed the other to Rachel. “Miss Marsh, please enjoy.”


    “Thank you,” Rachel said politely.


    “You may go now,” Wilson said to his assistant.


    “Understood.”


    The assistant left, carefully shutting the door behind him but leaving a slight gap.


    Yet, Wilson remained silent.


    A quiet tension crept into Rachel’s chest, making her heartbeat quicken. She couldn’t help but marvel at how one could achieve such authority while remaining soposed.


    His demeanor was nothing short of deliberate and controlled. Rachel kept her hands wrapped around the cup, but she made no move to take a sip.


    Time seemed to stretch endlessly until Wilson finally broke the silence. “Miss Marsh, if you wait any longer, your coffee will turn cold.”


    At the sound of his voice, Rachel steadied herself, pushing aside the unease.


    She took a quiet sniff, then brought the cup to her lips and sipped slowly.


    In that moment, she felt grateful for the countless business “battles” she had witnessed alongside Brian, as they now gave her an edge. Without those experiences, she would have beenpletely overwhelmed by Wilson’s imposing presence.


    Wilson took a sip of his coffee, then ced the cup down effortlessly. His deep voice carried a quiet authority. “Miss Marsh, I assume you’re not just here for Natalia—you’re also here because of Brian, aren’t you?”


    ?????????????? ????????????: ?????????ν???????????????


    Rachel’s eyes slightly widened in surprise.


    She hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive, let alone so direct about it.


    His uracy caught herpletely off guard.


    Wilson took another sip of his coffee and continued, “Brian—he’s your ex, isn’t he? The two of you were together for almost five years, am I right?”


    Wilson’s words were blunt and correct.


    Rachel felt as if a crushing weight had mmed into her chest, knocking the breath out of her.


    She couldn’t deny it. Wilson’s ability to read people was far sharper than she had imagined.


    Her lips quivered slightly, but she forced herself to stayposed. “You already knew?”


    “Of course. The moment Natalia expressed her wish to acknowledge you as her sister, I had you investigated. Your background, character, and professional history—everything is wless. That’s why I didn’t interfere with her decision.”


    Wilson spoke with quiet confidence. His words dispelled the lingering doubts that had been gnawing at Rachel.


    There was even a faint trace of approval in his gaze.


    .


    .


    .