?Chapter 158:


    As Cecelia scrolled through the files her friend had dug up, a sly, vindictive satisfaction unfurled in her chest, burning away the day’s umted irritation.


    People actually think Ste was impressive? What a joke. She was just discarded leftovers pretending to shine.


    So when Ste and Sandra came back to the table, Cecelia didn’t bother hiding her glee. She arched an eyebrow and shed a smileced with malice. “Sylvia, you really are something else. Barely dumped by your ex-husband, and here you are—cozying up to William, jumping onto every project like it’s your personaleback tour. Living the dream, huh?”


    Her words hung in the air, heavy and cutting. The table went dead quiet. The others exchanged stunned nces—they’d had no idea Sylvia had been married, let alone divorced.


    Cecelia leaned into the silence like it was her stage cue. She pressed a hand to her mouth in mock dismay. “Oh no… did I say too much?” she gasped, her voice syrupy-sweet. “Silly me. I wasn’t thinking.” The sly smile she shed Ste was pure triumph—smug, gleaming, andpletely insincere.


    Ste could tell from Cecelia’s smirk that she’d figured out her past, so she didn’t bother to deny it. She raised an eyebrow, her expression calm. “Yes, I was married. And divorced. I don’t see anything shameful about that. If a rtionship doesn’t work out, walking away is better than dragging both people down. It’s 2025—surely, you’re not still clinging to old-school stigmas, are you, Ms. Brown?”


    She paused and then added casually, “As for Mr. Briggs—we’ve worked on a project together. We’re simply more familiar with each other than most.” Her tone was even, unbothered by Cecelia’s obvious attempt to provoke her.


    Sandra, sitting nearby, immediately looped her arm through Ste’s. “Seriously, Sylvia—being divorced isn’t some kind of curse. Anyone who judges you for that needs to grow up.”


    Ste gave her a warm smile, appreciating the support. Across the table, both Elbert and Jamir lifted their sses silently in a show of quiet solidarity.


    Cecelia tried to make Ste look bad but ended up being the fool putting on a solo show. Her eyes narrowed, cold and bitter. She was convinced Ste was just a gold-digger riding someone else’s coattails. She would make sure to expose her for everyone to see her for what she really was.


    L?t?st chαpt?rs in g??lnovels.??????


    The conversation continued as they ate. Sandra couldn’t stop talking about the research. “Elbert,” she said between bites, “I heard this project’s a big deal—like, careerunching. Is it true that if we do well, we couldnd jobs with top-tierpanies in Choria?”


    Elbert nodded, confirming that this project indeed offered significant personal development opportunities. Otherwise, Allen wouldn’t have been so worked up.


    He leaned in slightly. “Rumor is, if we finish the project sessfully, evenpanies in the global top fifty would be within reach.”


    Everyone at the table paused.


    “Wait—seriously?” Sandra’s eyes went wide.


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