<b>2/2 </b>
Chapter 301 Crossing Paths
Chapter 301 Crossing Paths
Quinn arrived arm in arm with Laura for the city’s high–profile investment summit.
“Is something weighing on you, Laura? You look like the whole project is teetering on your shoulders. Are you scared we won’tnd the contract?” Quinn asked.
Laura opened her lips, then hesitated, as if the words snagged on a hidden barb. The gentle hum of <b>nearby </b>conversations receded, reced by the restless beat of her own pulse while memories of a one–<b>year </b>promise wed their way to the surface.
<i>Weston </i>Windore… <i>after </i><i>all </i><i>these </i><i>years</i>, <i>I </i><i>never </i><i>thought </i><i>I’d </i><i>still </i><i>be </i><i>entangled </i><i>with </i><i>you</i>. A faint crease etched itself between her brows, the weight of that unfinished chapter stirring a storm beneath her poised exterior<i>. </i>
“So what is it?” Quinn pressed, curiosity dancing in her tone while she drummed an absent rhythm on the tabletop.
“It’s a long story. We’ll talkter,” Laura replied, forcing a small, practiced smile as she gathered the loose strands of herposure and reached for her handbag–already plotting an escape before the <b>past </b>could demand its due.
Just then, a murmur rolled through the crowd like wind over wheat.
Quinn followed the shifting gazes and saw Julius entering beneath a swarm of reporters.
His iron–gray suit clung to a frame carved by discipline, and the chill in his eyes suggested the front gates of winter. For a heartbeat, she was transported to the past, watching him from afar, unreachable, immacte.
It felt as though the universe had spun its wheel only to set them back at square one.
“Quinnie, Julius Whitethorn just nced over here.” Laura’s whisper barely stirred the air.
Quinn froze, her spine locking as those fox–shaped eyes caught hers. Julius was looking straight at her.
<i>say</i>? With so many cameras, one misstep and they would dominate <i>Would </i>he <ie </i>to <i>me</i>? <i>What </i><i>would </i><i>he </i>every headline again. Attention was thest thing she needed right now.
treat, but Julius turned away and continued down the aisle. It She reached for Laura’s sleeve, ready to was as if that single nce had been a wayward ident, nothing more.
Laura murmured, “He just pretended/not to know you. Is it truly over between you two?”
“Looks like he finally came to his senses,” Quinn said, lowering her eyes.
A faint ache tugged behind her ribs, betraying her calm fa?ade.
Reason told her the feeling must be buried, yet emotion refused to obey a timetable. Time, she <b>hoped</b><b>, </b>would y physician: one day their lives would stretch like twin horizons, forever parallel<b>, </b><b>never </b><b>touching</b><b>. </b>
“Let’s focus on the project,” Quinn said to Laura.
Before they could advance, a voice rose behind them, bright and familiar. “Quinnie!”
Chapter 301 Crossing Paths
Quinn pivoted at the sound of her name. The crystal lights overhead scattered diamonds <b>across </b>her hair as her gazended on Trent. The moment their eyes met, her brow tightened, the <b>space </b>between <b>them </b>thick with unfinished history.
“Trent Grafton, I already told you–you lost the right to bark my name like that.” Her voice was <b>low</b><b>, </b>each syble sharpened by contempt, like ss pressed against skin.
“Fine, if you hate hearing it that way, I’ll try another approach next time. Trent attempted a smile <b>that </b>never reached his eyes. “How have you been these past weeks?”
“Whatever state I’m in is none of your concern.” Quinn’s words cracked like ice. “We’re divorced, <b>Trent</b><b>. </b><b>Do </b>us both a favor and stop pretending you suddenly care.”
During their three–year marriage, he had never once asked about her well–being. Now that the papers were signed, he yed the concerned ex–husband. The irony tasted bitter, like cheap champagne <b>at </b>a failed celebration.
“I do care, Quinn. I know I made too many mistakes back then, but Sidonie Stonehurst twisted <i>the </i>truth and convinced me she was the one who saved my life. You married me when I had nothing because you loved me. Tell me–can’t we start over and fix what was broken?”
“I didn’t realize your skin had grown this thick. There is absolutely no chance–ever.”
“Why not? Julius Whitethorn already dumped you. I know you moved out of his ce and are crashing with Laura Wentworth. He walked into the hall earlier and didn’t even nce your <i>way</i><i>. </i>Quinn, he has abandoned you!”
Her eyes narrowed. “Have you been spying on me?“.
“I’m just concerned,” Trent insisted, “Your parents may be honored heroes, but you remain an ordinary woman. The gap between you and a titan like Julius <b>is </b>enormous. To him, you were never more than a
you vice president with passing distraction. You and I fit. During our three years together, thepany flourished. If we remarry
-no Sidonie this time–I’ll treat you well. I’ll sign over half the shares and make real authority.”
–
Though his words sounded like pleading, his voice still carried the hauteur of a man who assumed the world owed him gratitude.
“I’m not interested.” She seized Laura’s hand and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Panic sharpened his voice as he blocked their path. “Quinn, I’ve spelled it out. Julius has thrown you aside. Do you really think anyone else wants a woman who’s been married before? I’m the best option you’ll ever have.”
“Ha!” Quinnughed, the sound edged with fury. “Marriage isn’t mandatory, and you are nowhere near my best option. Let’s drop the pretense. You don’t want to fix anything–<i>you </i>want freebor to haul your crumblingpany out of trouble while you keep the title and the leather chair.”
<b>Mon</b>, <b>11 </b><b>Aug </b>06