s


    At first, he had simply chalked it up to luck. Quinn just happened to secure those projects at the <b>right </b>time,


    But… <i>what </i><i>if </i><i>it </i>wasn’t <i>luck </i><i>at </i><i>all</i><i>? </i><i>What </i><i>if </i><i>everything </i><i>had </i><i>been </i><i>because </i><i>of </i><i>her</i><i>? </i>


    A cold sweat broke out along his spine, a creeping chill settling over him like a shadow that refused to lift.


    “Rising star in the tech world? What a joke,” Han said with a sharp sneer. “Trent, you should be down on your knees thanking Quinn. She stood by you for three years. But clearly, her judgment’s a little questionable, wasting herself on someone like you. The worst part? You, the one who gained the most, have no clue. You actually believe it was all your own doing.”


    Each sentencended like a p, every word a calcted insult.


    And yet, Trent couldn’t bring himself to fight back. He had no argument.


    Han turned to Hugh, his expression indifferent. “Looks like we won’t be having that drink after all. I’m going back.”


    “Yes, of course,” Hugh replied quickly, his smile stiff. At that moment, all he could hope <b>was </b>that the Stonehurst family hadn’t offended Han.


    Just as Han reached the door, he paused and looked back at Trent. “Oh, and one more thing. The fourrgestw firms will not be taking your mother and sister’s case. You can count on that.”


    Trent’s pupils contracted sharply.


    <i>Could </i><i>it </i><i>be</i><i>… </i><i>the </i><i>reason </i>I <i>haven’t </i><i>been </i><i>able </i><i>to </i><i>find </i><i>legal </i><i>support </i><i>is </i><i>because </i><i>of </i><i>Mr. </i><i>Ingram</i><i>? </i><i>But </i><i>why</i><i>? </i><i>Is </i><i>he </i><i>doing </i><i>this </i>for <i>Quinn</i><i>? </i><i>Out </i><i>of </i><i>sympathy</i><i>? </i><i>Out </i><i>of </i><i>anger</i><i>? </i><i>Or </i><i>something </i><i>else </i><i>entirely</i><i>? </i><i>Mr. </i><i>Ingram </i><i>seems </i>to know <i>an </i><i>awful </i><i>lot </i><i>about </i><i>Quinn</i><i>–</i><i>her </i><i>military </i><i>background</i><i>, </i><i>her </i><i>research</i><i>, </i><i>her </i><i>expertise </i><i>with </i><i>drone </i><i>systems</i>… <i>And </i><i>yet</i><i>, </i>I, <i>her </i><i>husband</i><i>, </i>knew <b><i>none </i></b><i>of </i><i>it</i>.


    Suddenly, a memory surfaced in Trent’s mind, something a project manager had once said after abruptly terminating a partnership. “Mr. Grafton, you really don’t understand your wife at all.”


    Only now did those words finally hit home.


    After Han left, the others quickly found polite excuses to take their leave. The once–bustling private room emptied in a matter of minutes.


    inn


    Hugh lingered briefly, casting a displeased nce at his niece and Trent. His voice was low,ced with meaning. “You know, Mr. Ingram was in the military. And from what he just said… it sounds lik served too. Maybe the two of them share a past.”


    Sidonie’s eyes widened. “You’re suggesting Mr. Ingram and Quinn might actually know each other? And they might be… close?”


    Hugh said, “The Ingram heir isn’t the kind of man who stands up for just anyone. If I were you, I’d keep my distance from him from now on.”


    Trent’s face drained of color.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    The once–lively private room was now quiet, leaving only Trent, Sidonic, and Yorick behind.


    3623


    **5 Free <b>Coine </b>


    Still rubbing his sore chest, Yorick muttered bitterly, “That Quinn’s really something, huh? Even <b>managed- </b>to get another man to defend her like that. They’ve gotta be pretty close. Probably more than just close in bed, if you ask me.”


    “Yorick!” Trent snapped. “She’s my wife. Watch your mouth.”


    Yorick froze for a beat, then scowled. “What’s with you all of a sudden? I’ve talked about Quinn before, and you never said a word! Don’t tell me you actually believe that crap Han was spewing, that yourpany only made it because of her? If Quinn’s really that brilliant, I’ll cat dirt.”


    As always, Yorick’s disdain for Quinn was tant.


    But Trent and Sidonie exchanged a look. Neither of them spoke, but it <b>was </b>clear that they didn’t share Yorick’s disbelief. Because they both understood one thing Han had made painfully clear: A man like him wouldn’t lie. Especially not about someone like Quinn.


    Trent exhaled, voice t. “Enough. I’ll call a cab. Go get your injuries looked at.”


    After the three of them left the club, Trent watched as Yorick drove off. Only once the car disappeared down the road did he turn to Sidonie, his expression weary and bitter. “I’ve really let you down, haven’t I?”


    “Not at all,” Sidonie replied smoothly. “But I do find it strange–Quinn’s already married to you<i>, </i><i>yet </i>she deliberately hid her military achievements. If she’s truly an expert in drone technology, shouldn’t she have some patents? If it were me, I’d definitely use those patents to help grow yourpany.”


    Trent froze. Patents? If Quinn really did have proprietary research… If those technologies could be integrated into Grafton Technologies…


    His eyes lit up with sudden realization.


    Sidonie, watching him carefully, continued in a gentle tone. “As for the legal situation, I’ll keep thinking of options for you. Even if the four major firms refuse, there are still otherwyers out there. Don’t worry. I’ll do everything I can to help.”


    Trent looked at her with genuine gratitude. “Thank you, Sidonie.”


    “All I want is for you to be okay,” she said softly.


    After all, he was the man she had chosen. If he thrived, then so would she..


    Quinn packed thest of her belongings from the mansion, neatly arranging them in the trunk


    er car


    After three years of marriage, it was startling how little she truly owned.


    Laura pulled up to the driveway and got out to help. “Honestly, I thought you’d ask Han to help you


    move.”


    “There’s no need to bother him for this,” Quinn replied calmly. He did offer to help.


    <b>2/2 </b>