After finishing their meal, M and Miranda chatted for a while before heading out.


    As they left, they could still hear faintughtering from the private room across the hall, with Adrian''s childlike giggles most prominent.


    Miranda caught the sound and nced cautiously at M, relieved to see her friend''s face calm and unperturbed. Still, her inner worry was far from alleviated.


    Her friend was dealing with more than just a rocky marriage.


    Miranda had seen the group head upstairs earlier, including M''s son, who seemed unusually attached to that Giselle.


    No wonder M had decided to give up custody when she first talked about divorce. Miranda hadn''t pressed for details then, even though she''d had her suspicions. In the seven years since her friend''s marriage, M often brought her son over to y, and they''d even discussed making Miranda his godmother.


    But over the past year or so, M stopped bringing him around. Whenever asked, she simply said he was busy with school. Now, it seemed clear that the bond between M and her son had weakened.


    However, if M chose not to talk about it, Miranda respected her silence. Matters involving children were indeed sensitive.


    When M married Lysander, Miranda had her doubts. He never mingled with M''s circle, showingplete disregard for her friends.


    When Miranda started dating someone, she always made sure to introduce him to her closest friends over dinner. Yet, Lysander remained a stranger to M''s social world.


    In the seven years of their marriage, Miranda-M''s closest friend in Kingsford— had never met Lysander in a private setting.


    That part, at least, she could somewhat understand. Marriage was between the couple. Besides, Lysander was the head of Montgomery Holdings, a formidable figure who had ousted his own father from thepany within seven years of taking over. He was known for his ruthless and decisive business moves, particrly in the field of Al.


    Miranda had been shocked when M managed to win over such a distant and formidable character during their university days. Though she had her reservations, she hoped that Lysander''s indifference to their circle was just his way and that he treated M well.


    But reality had painted a different picture. M waspletely shut out from Lysander''s world.


    Thinking back to the recent public confrontation and the people sitting in that private room, including her friend''s son, Miranda''s mind buzzed with disbelief.


    What a mess.


    ...


    After parting ways downstairs, Miranda made sure to remind M to eat properly before they said goodbye. M returned to Lillian''s Studio, where she workedte into the night, eventually falling asleep there.


    Meanwhile, at the Montgomery mansion, the lights were out, and neither Lysander nor Adrian returned home that evening.


    The next day, M had barely started her day when she received a call from HR.


    They mentioned a few senior programmers avable for interviews over the weekend and asked if M could spare some time.


    She agreed, eager to find a recement so she could focus more on her passion for art and design.


    After reviewing the resumes, she decided on one candidate whose location was conveniently close to her studio, arranging for a Saturday afternoon interview at a nearby café. It would be a good opportunity to grab lunch as well, given how inconvenient meals were around the studio.


    M headed to the café around noon, had her meal, and then waited for the interview to begin.