Lysander cast a cold nce in Nathaniel''s direction.


    Nathaniel shrugged and turned to Giselle with a grin. "Hey, Giselle," he said yfully, "haven''t you dug up anything else juicy? You''ve been studying in Feloria all these years, surely you''vee across this guy in the business circles there?"


    Giselle''s eyes twinkled with amusement.


    "This person''s mentor is even more renowned," she replied. "Alex Tyrell is a member of the Feloria Academy of Sciences and a godfather of investment. His big datapany has ties to the Feloria Intelligence Agency, and everyone around him is under government protection. We could only find surface-level information: ''Forest Team'' is a group of our people who went abroad for further studies, and I''ve heard they''re bringing their team back home soon."


    Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke.


    "Plus, my professor in Pennsylvania does business with Tyrell. He''s agreed to arrange a meeting for me once they''re back. There''s a lot of potential for coboration."


    Nathaniel whistled appreciatively. "Giselle, you''ve really got some skills! Let me know when you meet them; I''d love to see what all the fuss is about. Must be quite the character if they''re this hard to pin down!"


    "Well, Lysander trusts me with Falcon Technologies, our joint venture. I have to give it my all and not let him down," Giselle said softly, her eyes filled with affection. Her delicate hand lightly rested on Lysander''s, which held a ss of wine. "Don''t drink too much, it''s rough on your stomach. We have things to do once we get home tonight."


    "Alright, as you say," Lysander replied, his sharp features softening for a moment as he set down the ss gently.


    "Some PDA, huh? Do it somewhere else, you lovebirds!" The group started teasing them good-naturedly.


    Giselle blushed, leaning into Lysander, her fair cheeks hidden against his neck. Suddenly, the door swung open.


    M stood at the entrance, quietly observing Lysander at the center of attention, his face uncharacteristically warm and friendly, with Giselle practically melded to his side.


    She chuckled bitterly.


    Knowing she wasing, yet he still brought Giselle along it was just like him to get under her skin.


    An awkward silence filled the room.


    With Ryan absent today, the ce was filled with people adept at reading the room. Though their faces betrayed no emotion, their eyes darted about, filled with anticipation for the drama. Their looks at M were tinged with mockery and disdain, all eager to see how things would unfold.


    M recognized everyone there-Lysander''s childhood friends and Giselle''s close acquaintances. Though they weren''t as overtly hostile as Ryan, they had their share of subtle jabs at her due to her strained rtionship with Lysander, whose dislike for her was well-known.


    She hadn''t expected to find them all here.


    Sensing the change in the atmosphere, Giselle, still draped over Lysander, turned her head. Seeing M, she raised her eyebrows slightly, her hand tightening on Lysander''s shoulder and deliberately moving in a possessive circle.


    Lysander didn''t pull away, his deep-set eyes fixed on M at the door, a faint, enigmatic smile ying on his lips.


    Giselle, emboldened by this, ignored M and turned to Leonard, who was also standing at the doorway. "Leonard, what are you doing? Can''t you see we''re busy? Get rid of the unwee guest!"


    But Leonard ignored her, his gaze shifting to Lysander.


    Giselle didn''t have the authority to order him around.