Her words had precisely targeted his dissatisfaction withn. This could be an opportunity—a chance to stir up trouble with the Goodwin & Co. board. If he could get the shareholders to collectively opposen''s uing decisions, it would disrupt his ns. It was a viable way to hindern''s future progress.


    Walden reached out and patted Vanessa''s shoulder. "Vanessa, you''ve made a good point. I''ll be keeping an eye on this."


    Vanessa lowered her head, a triumphant glint shing in her eyes. She knew Walden would go and create trouble forn and Eleanor on her behalf.


    When that happened, withn facing doubt and pressure from his board and shareholders, would he continue to protect Eleanor''s research, or would he appease the board to consolidate his own authority within thepany?


    ***


    A littleter, Walden Wells went out again on business. Vanessa sat on the sofa, scrolling through the news. Suddenly, in the finance section, she saw an announcement about the sessful union of The Holt Group and the Quigley Group, with the wedding scheduled to take ce in three days.


    Vanessa''s mood soured even further. Henry and Selma Quigley were getting married. The thought of her rival, Selma, made her grit her teeth.


    It had been a long time since anyone had treated her with such disdain, yet Selma Quigley, empowered by Henry, had humiliated her time and time again.


    Vanessa picked up her phone and opened her chat with Henry. She scrolled frantically upwards, finally reaching their conversations from two years ago. Henry had sent her a photo of himself wearing a baseball cap, posing with a world-ss baseball champion, grinning brightly under the sun.


    His side of the chat was filled with messages he had initiated.


    [Vanessa, are you up? I got the autograph for you.]


    [Next time, I''ll take you to get a photo with him.]


    [I found a new French restaurant near your campus. I hear the desserts are amazing. Are you free this weekend? I''d love to take you.]


    [That brand of bag you said you liked, I had someone buy it for you. I''m thinking, should I bring it to you in person or mail it?]


    Vanessa''s side of the chat showed her request to attend the tech conference.


    Henry had replied with some surprise, [You want to go to the tech conference? There''s nothing fun there!]


    [I just want to go. Please? Take me so I can see what it''s like!] Vanessa had pleaded, knowingn was one of the invited guests.


    That time, she had gotten her wish. Henry had taken her, and she had sat right next ton. She took a photo and posted it online, smiling sweetly with a handsome shot ofn''s profile in the frame.


    Vanessa scrofted further down. When she asionallyined about being tired or in a bad mood Henry wouldfort her, finding ways to cheer her up, suggesting getaways, or even changing bis flight schedule just to deliver a gift to her.


    Back then, Henry had been like a loyal, giant puppy, always orbiting around her. Even knowing she lovedn, he had let her manipte and order him around.


    While he couldn''t matchn''s mature stability and business acumen at the time, she had definitely relied on him for emotional support and material convenience.


    In contrast, her replies had always been brief, often dismissive and careless. Sometimes she would take a long time to respond, but Henry never got angry, always remaining as enthusiastic as ever.


    In Henry''s eyes, she had been a noble, pure goddess, a precious treasure.


    She wouldin to him about hown didn''t understand her, how he was too busy to spend time with her, how cold he was. And Henry would offer warm encouragement, silently stepping in to give her the affectionn wouldn''t.


    Ha.


    Looking back at these chat logs, Vanessa felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She might have never truly hadn, but Henry had once beenpletely hers-a possession she could control and use as si pleased.