She''s fingers curled unconsciously.


    She knew exactly what project they were talking about.


    After Timothy''s new solid-state battery technology broke into the international market, it took off fast.


    Two years ago, when Timothy set his sights on bringing his batteries home, heunched a nationwidework of automated charging stations for electric cars- essentially eliminating the need for drivers to worry about battery life.


    People who bought electric vehicles could now opt for models without batteries and simply rent one from the shared stations. If this caught on, domestic battery makers would face a massive disruption.


    The Zimmerman Group, being the country''s earliest electric vehicle manufacturer, had its own battery division.


    The moment they caught wind of Timothy''s ns, they acted overnight. Every service center under their name was swiftly refitted with this new charging station infrastructure. As soon aspatible batteries arrived, they''d be up and running.


    For Timothy, just breaking into the domestic market, rolling out enough stations nationwide meant scouting locations, building facilities—nothing that could be aplished in a day or two.


    Meanwhile, otherpanies were offering batteries not quite as advanced as Timothy''s, but good enough. If the Zimmerman Group partnered with one of them and captured the market first, Timothy''s own project would be dead in the water.


    Vince''s move back then was obvious: he wanted to force Timothy into licensing his battery tech to the Zimmerman Group, hoping to save their own struggling battery business.


    That''s just how business worked.


    It made sense, really. If Vince didn''t take drastic action and let Timothy expand unchecked, Zimmerman''s batteries would quickly lose market share, and that blow would ripple right through their entire electric vehicle division.


    If Timothy refused to cooperate, he''d fall far behind the Zimmerman Group in rolling out stations.


    Timothy had always been ambitious; if the returns didn''t meet his expectations, he simply wasn''t interested in ying the game.


    At this point, teaming up with Vince was the only way for Timothy to truly maximize his profits.


    This project was a direct threat to gas stations. Everyone in the room knew how enormous the future market could be.


    Vince understood that Timothy''s product was superior, and he knew Timothy could go it alone if he wanted. Vince was just trying to carve out a share for himself, pushing Timothy into a corner.


    Of course, Timothy despised anyone trying to strong-arm him into a deal— cooperation was never going to happen.


    And now, out of nowhere, Vince was suddenly offering the project back to Timothy. God only knew what his motive was.


    She couldn''t help worrying things might turn ugly between them.


    She spoke up, voice low and steady. "Vince, we''ve known each other since we were kids. In a city like Riverside, you can''t avoid running into each other. When you wanted the project, you fought for it; now you don''t, you just hand it over? What do you take Timothy for?"


    Jessica''s hands balled into tight fists.


    These people had all grown up together.


    She had no idea what this whole charging station business was about, but it was clear She understood every detail.


    No matter that she had married Timothy-she would never truly be one of them, never belong to their world.


    It struck her, painfully, just how out of her depth she was.


    Vince gave a casual smile. "Miss Howard, are you defending Timothy as his dear aunt?"


    "Why shouldn''t I?"


    She''s eyes and voice were unwavering, her whole demeanor radiating


    protectiveness toward Timothy.


    Kane shot Timothy a warning look. "Timothy, yes or no-are you taking the project


    or not? You have to say something."