《My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret》


 The Sprawling 1

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 1: A Birthday Betrayal, A Final Stand</h1>


    ra Vance stepped out of the car, her heart racing with anticipation. After three weeks apart from her family, she had flown to Andoria on her birthday, hoping to surprise Damien and Cora. The sprawling Thorne estate loomed before her, its grand fa?ade a stark reminder of the wealth and power of the family she had married into.


    ¡°Wee home, Mrs. Thorne,¡± the housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, greeted her at the door with a warm smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Gable. Where are Damien and Cora?¡± ra asked, removing her light jacket.


    Mrs. Gable¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Mr. Thorne is at the office. He mentioned he would bete today. Cora is in the yroom with her tutor.¡±


    Disappointment settled in ra¡¯s chest, but she pushed it aside. ¡°I¡¯ll go see Cora then.¡±


    Walking through the familiar hallways, ra paused outside the yroom door. Laughter drifted out ¨C her daughter¡¯s voice mixed with the tutor¡¯s. She entered with a bright smile.


    ¡°Cora, sweetheart! Mommy¡¯s here!¡±


    Her six-year-old daughter looked up from her craft project, surprise rather than joy crossing her features. ¡°Mommy? I thought you were in New York.¡±


    ¡°I came to spend my birthday with you and Daddy,¡± ra exined, kneeling beside Cora¡¯s chair.


    Cora¡¯s attention quickly returned to her project ¨C a handmade card decorated with glitter and stickers. ¡°Look what I¡¯m making!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, sweetheart. Is it for Daddy?¡± ra asked, eager to connect.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s for Auntie Vivi. She¡¯s taking me to the zoo tomorrow!¡± Cora eximed, her eyes lighting up.


    ra¡¯s smile froze. Vivienne Dubois ¨C Damien¡¯s not-so-secret mistress and, painfully, ra¡¯s half-sister. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ nice of her.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the best! She always brings me presents and takes me fun ces,¡± Cora continued, unaware of the knife twisting in her mother¡¯s heart.


    ¡°I see,¡± ra managed. ¡°Well, I¡¯m here now. Maybe we can do something special together?¡±


    Cora shrugged. ¡°But I already made ns with Auntie Vivi.¡±


    The tutor, sensing the tension, discreetly excused herself.


    ra took a steadying breath. ¡°Cora, it¡¯s my birthday today. Don¡¯t you want to spend some time with me?¡±


    Cora looked up, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. ¡°Oh. Happy birthday, Mommy.¡± She hesitated, then returned to her card. ¡°Can I finish this first? It¡¯s really important.¡±


    More important than me, ra thought bitterly. She stood, forcing a smile. ¡°Of course, sweetheart. I¡¯ll see you at dinner.¡±


    Retreating to the master bedroom, ra unpacked her suitcase with methodical movements, fighting back tears. She had hoped this trip would be different ¨C that maybe, just maybe, her husband and daughter would remember her birthday, would want to celebrate with her.


    Her phone buzzed with a message from Damien: ¡°Workingte. Don¡¯t wait for dinner.¡±


    No acknowledgment of her arrival. No mention of her birthday. Just another dismissal.


    Hourster, ra sat alone at the dinner table, picking at her food as Cora chatted excitedly about her day with the tutor and her ns with ¡°Auntie Vivi.¡±


    ¡°Daddy said he mighte to the zoo too, if he finishes his meetings,¡± Cora announced.


    ra¡¯s fork ttered against her te. ¡°Did he? That would be nice.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh! We¡¯re going to have ice cream after, and Auntie Vivi said I could stay upte to watch the new princess movie!¡±


    ra nodded, her throat tight. ¡°That sounds wonderful, darling.¡±


    After putting Cora to bed, ra waited in the living room. The grandfather clock ticked away the minutes, then hours. At midnight, the front door finally opened.


    Damien entered, his tall frame silhouetted against the doorway, surprise registering on his face when he saw her.


    ¡°You¡¯re still awake,¡± he stated, loosening his tie.


    ¡°It¡¯s my birthday,¡± ra said softly.


    His expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Is it? I apologize for forgetting. Happy birthday, ra.¡±


    Seven years of marriage, and he couldn¡¯t remember the date. Seven years of loving him, and he couldn¡¯t muster even a hint of warmth.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied, her voice hollow.


    ¡°I have an early meeting tomorrow. Goodnight.¡± He turned toward the guest bedroom he had been upying for months.


    ¡°Damien,¡± she called after him. ¡°I was hoping we could have lunch together tomorrow. Since you missed dinner tonight.¡±


    He paused. ¡°I¡¯ll check my schedule.¡±


    The next morning, ra woke early, determined to salvage something from this trip. She chose her outfit carefully ¨C a blue dress Damien had oncemented on years ago ¨C and styled her hair with extra care.


    Passing by Cora¡¯s room, she overheard her daughter talking on the phone.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you, Auntie Vivi! I wish you could be my mommy instead.¡±


    ra froze, her hand on the doorknob. The words pierced through her like physical pain.


    ¡°My real mommy is here, but she¡¯s always sad. Daddy doesn¡¯t smile when she¡¯s around. I like it better when it¡¯s just us with you.¡±


    Backing away silently, ra retreated to her room, the cruel words echoing in her mind. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring nkly at the wall as tears streamed down her face.


    At noon, sheposed herself enough to check if Damien would keep their lunch date. His assistant answered.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Thorne. Mr. Thorne had a change of ns. He left the office an hour ago.¡±


    ra thanked her and hung up. On impulse, she drove to Damien¡¯s favorite restaurant. As she approached the entrance, she saw them through the window ¨C Damien, Vivienne, and Cora,ughing together at a corner table. The perfect family portrait, with no space for her.


    Something hardened inside ra. Seven years of hoping, waiting, trying. Seven years of watching her husband love another woman ¨C her own half-sister. Seven years of losing her daughter¡¯s affection to that same woman.


    Enough.


    She drove back to the estate with newfound rity. In the home office, she drafted a divorce agreement ¨C fair, generous even. She had no interest in Damien¡¯s money or properties. She wanted only what was rightfully hers, including shared custody of Cora.


    When she finished, she sealed the document in an envelope and left it on Damien¡¯s desk with his name written in her elegant handwriting.


    ¡°Mrs. Gable,¡± she called, finding the housekeeper in the kitchen. ¡°Please ensure Mr. Thorne receives this when he returns.¡±


    Mrs. Gable¡¯s eyes widened slightly at ra¡¯s calm demeanor. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Thorne. Will you be here for dinner?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± ra replied, her voice steadier than it had been in years. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. Please have my luggage brought to the car.¡±


    Outside, the driver waited by the sleek ck car. ¡°Where to, Mrs. Thorne?¡±


    ra looked back at the mansion onest time, at the gilded cage she had willingly entered seven years ago.


    ¡°To the airport,¡± she said firmly.


    It was time to reim her life.

 The Sprawling 2

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 2: A Quiet Farewell, A Resolute Dawn</h1>


    Damien Thorne pulled into the driveway of his estate, the sleek ck caring to a smooth stop. Beside him, Cora bounced in her seat, still bubbling with excitement from their day out.


    ¡°That was the best day ever, Daddy!¡± she eximed, unbuckling her seatbelt with practiced ease.


    Damien smiled at his daughter. ¡°I¡¯m d you enjoyed it, princess.¡±


    As they entered the grand foyer, Mrs. Gable approached them, her expression unreadable. ¡°Wee home, Mr. Thorne, Miss Cora.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Gable,¡± Damien nodded, handing her his coat. ¡°Any calls?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne was here earlier today,¡± she replied, her tone carefully neutral.


    Cora¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Mommy was here? Did she leave already?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss Cora. She left for the airport about two hours ago.¡±


    Damien frowned slightly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware she was nning to visit.¡±


    ¡°She said it was a surprise,¡± Mrs. Gable exined. ¡°She seemed quite upset when she left.¡±


    Cora shrugged, already losing interest. ¡°Good. I didn¡¯t want her to ruin our ns with Auntie Vivi tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Cora,¡± Damien admonished gently, though without much conviction. He turned back to Mrs. Gable. ¡°Did she say why she was upset?¡±


    ¡°No, sir.¡± Mrs. Gable hesitated before adding, ¡°But she left this for you.¡± She handed him a cream-colored envelope with his name written in ra¡¯s elegant handwriting.


    Damien took it, turning it over in his hands with mild curiosity. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Gable.¡±


    ¡°Daddy, can I watch my movie now?¡± Cora asked, tugging at his sleeve.


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll be in my office if you need me.¡±


    Damien walked to his study, envelope in hand. He ced it on his desk, intending to read it after checking his emails. ra was probably just upset about him forgetting her birthday. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time she had written him a letter expressing her disappointment.


    Before he could open it, his phone rang. Vivienne¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    ¡°Vivienne,¡± he answered, a smile warming his voice.


    ¡°I was just calling to say how much I enjoyed today,¡± her sultry voice came through. ¡°And to confirm our ns for tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Cora can¡¯t stop talking about the zoo.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait. And what about tonight?¡± she asked suggestively.


    Damien nced at the envelope, then pushed it aside. ¡°I can be there in an hour.¡±


    ¡°Perfect. Don¡¯t keep me waiting too long.¡±


    After the call, Damien gathered what he needed for the night. The envelopey forgotten on his desk as he left, his mind already upied with thoughts of Vivienne.


    ¡ª


    Morning sunlight filtered through the blinds of ra¡¯s apartment in the city. She had purchased it years ago as an investment property, never thinking she would one day use it as her escape.


    The space was sparsely furnished but elegant, much like ra herself. She had spent the night methodically unpacking the essentials she had brought from New York ¨C clothes, toiletries, a few cherished books.


    Sitting at her dining table with a cup of tea, she opened herptop and logged into her bank ount. With steady hands, she transferred just over three million dors from her personal ount to a new one she had created yesterday.


    It was money Damien had given her over the years ¨C ¡°spending money,¡± he had called it. Money she had barely touched, preferring to earn her own sry as head of his secretarial team.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about the money,¡± she whispered to herself, closing herptop with finality.


    Her phone vibrated with an iing call. For a heartbeat, she wondered if it might be Damien, finally noticing her absence. But the screen showed Chloe¡¯s name instead.


    ¡°Hey,¡± ra answered, her voice steadier than she expected.


    ¡°You did it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Chloe asked without preamble. ¡°You finally left him.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°God, it¡¯s about time!¡± Chloe¡¯s relief was palpable through the phone. ¡°Where are you now? Do you need anything?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at my apartment in the city. I¡¯m fine, Chloe.¡± ra¡¯s gaze drifted to the unpacked boxes. ¡°Better than fine, actually.¡±


    ¡°Have you heard from him yet?¡±


    ¡°No. I doubt he¡¯s even noticed I¡¯m gone.¡± The truth of that statement didn¡¯t hurt as much as she thought it would.


    ¡°What about Cora?¡±


    ra¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°I usually call her every night when I¡¯m away. I didn¡¯t callst night.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And nothing. No missed calls. No messages asking where I am.¡± ra took a steadying breath. ¡°It¡¯s clearer than ever that I¡¯m not needed in that house.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re doing the right thing, El. It¡¯s time you put yourself first for once.¡±


    After ending the call, ra showered and dressed with care. She chose a simple navy blue dress that she hadn¡¯t worn in years ¨C something professional but distinctly not part of her ¡°Mrs. Thorne¡± wardrobe.


    She had one more tie to sever.


    ¡ª


    Thorne Industries upied the top floors of a gleaming skyscraper in the heart of the financial district. ra had worked there for the past five years, rising to head of the secretarial team through genuine talent and dedication, despite the whispers about nepotism.


    She bypassed the executive elevators she usually took with Damien, instead joining other employees in the main lift. A few gave her curious nces ¨C Mrs. Thorne rarely came in without her husband, and never dressed so¡­ ordinarily.


    Marcus Cole, the Human Resources Director, looked up in surprise when she knocked on his door.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne! I wasn¡¯t expecting you today.¡±


    ¡°Please, call me ra,¡± she said, taking a seat across from him. ¡°I won¡¯t be Mrs. Thorne much longer.¡±


    Marcus blinked, clearly caught off guard. ¡°I¡­ see.¡±


    She ced a sealed envelope on his desk. ¡°My resignation, effective immediately. I¡¯ve already prepared detailed handover notes for my team.¡±


    ¡°This is quite sudden,¡± Marcus said, picking up the envelope cautiously, as if it might burn him. ¡°Does Mr. Thorne know about this?¡±


    ¡°He will soon enough.¡± ra¡¯s smile was small but resolute. ¡°I¡¯ve umted quite a bit of vacation time. I¡¯d like to use that instead of working through a notice period, if that¡¯s eptable.¡±


    Marcus nodded slowly, still processing. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s perfectly withinpany policy.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ve already cleared out my desk.¡± She stood, extending her hand. ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure working with you, Marcus.¡±


    He took her hand, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. ¡°Likewise, Mrs¡­ ra. If you don¡¯t mind my asking, what do you n to do now?¡±


    For the first time in years, ra smiled without restraint. ¡°I¡¯m going back to where I belong.¡±


    As she left his office, ra felt a weight lifting from her shoulders. Seven years of trying to be the perfect wife to a man who didn¡¯t want her. Seven years of dimming her own light to amodate his indifference.


    No more.


    Her phone vibrated in her purse. She checked the screen ¨C Julian Croft, her old college friend and business partner, the man she had abandoned her dreams for when she married Damien.


    ¡°Perfect timing,¡± she murmured, answering the call as she stepped into the elevator. ¡°Julian? Yes, it¡¯s done. I¡¯ming home.¡±


    The elevator doors closed on ra Vance ¨C not Thorne ¨C standing tall, her face set with quiet determination as she descended away from the empire her husband had built, toward the life she had once forsaken.

 The Sprawling 3

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 3: Shifting Tides, Unforeseen Returns</h1>


    Marcus Cole stared at the resignation letter long after ra had departed. He had witnessed the cold dynamic between Damien Thorne and his wife for years. The countless times she had waited patiently outside his office door. The way her face would light up with hope at just a moment of his acknowledgment. The inevitable disappointment when that moment never came.


    He slipped the envelope into Damien¡¯s inbox, knowing full well it might sit there for days before being noticed. Damien Thorne rarely checked items that didn¡¯te with urgent gs from his assistants.


    Marcus remembered when ra first joined Thorne Industries. Despite being the CEO¡¯s wife, she had started at an entry-level position, refusing special treatment. Her intelligence and dedication had quickly propelled her up the ranks to head of the secretarial team.


    All of it, Marcus knew, had been for Damien¡¯s attention. Attention that never materialized.


    His inte buzzed. ¡°Mr. Cole, Mr. Thorne is requesting the quarterly projections.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring them right in,¡± Marcus replied, gathering the requested documents.


    When he entered Damien¡¯s office, the CEO barely looked up from hisputer.


    ¡°Just leave them there,¡± Damien said, gesturing vaguely to the corner of his desk.


    Marcus ced the folder down, noticing the unopened cream-colored envelope still sitting where Mrs. Gable had left it yesterday. Beside it was ra¡¯s resignation letter, also unopened.


    ¡°Will Mrs. Thorne be joining you for the charity g next week?¡± Marcus asked, testing the waters.


    Damien¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°I assume so. Why?¡±


    ¡°No reason,¡± Marcus replied. ¡°The event coordinator was asking about final headcounts.¡±


    Damien nodded dismissively, already refocused on his screen. Marcus left quietly, deciding against mentioning ra¡¯s resignation. The man would discover it soon enough.


    ¡ª


    ra ced a potted peace lily on her kitchen counter, adjusting it until she was satisfied with its position. Sunlight streamed through the windows of her apartment, illuminating the space she was gradually making her own.


    Her phone chimed with a text from Chloe: ¡°Lunch tomorrow? Need all the details!¡±


    ra smiled, typing back a quick confirmation. She set her phone down and surveyed the groceries she¡¯d just purchased. For the first time in years, she had bought only what she liked, without considering Damien¡¯s preferences or Cora¡¯s picky habits.


    The thought of Cora sent a pang through her heart. Three days had passed since she¡¯d left the Thorne mansion, and she hadn¡¯t received a single call from her daughter. Not even to ask where she was.


    She pushed the painful thought aside and began putting away her groceries. The refrigerator looked pathetically empty with just her items, but there was something liberating about it too. This space was entirely hers.


    After finishing, ra settled on her couch and picked up her phone again. She scrolled through her contacts until she found the number she needed.


    ¡°Hello, Sandra? It¡¯s ra Vance,¡± she said when the call connected. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a while¡­ I was wondering if you could reserve a ticket for me for the TechFuture Exhibition next week? I¡¯m nning to attend this year.¡±


    She listened to the response, a small smile forming on her lips. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I¡¯ming back to YodaVision. Julian and I have discussed it¡­ No, I¡¯m not with Thorne Industries anymore.¡±


    The conversation continued as ra confirmed details about the exhibition. When she hung up, she felt a surge of excitement. The tech world had been her passion before marriage, before she¡¯d set aside her dreams to be Damien¡¯s perfect wife.


    The rest of her day passed in a blur of productivity. She organized her home office, contacted old colleagues, and reviewed thetest developments in artificial intelligence that she had missed during her years away.


    That evening, she realized she hadn¡¯t checked her personal email all day. She opened her inbox to find it disappointingly empty of any messages from Damien or Cora. Not even to ask where she was or why she hadn¡¯te home.


    ra closed herptop with a sigh. It shouldn¡¯t surprise her, but somehow theplete silence still stung. Had she really meant so little to them that her absence didn¡¯t even warrant a question?


    ¡ª


    In Andoria, Cora¡¯s face crumpled as Vivienne zipped her suitcase closed.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you stay longer?¡± Cora pleaded, trailing after Vivienne as she moved around the luxurious hotel suite.


    ¡°I have to get back, sweetie,¡± Vivienne replied, checking her reflection in the mirror. ¡°I have important meetings that can¡¯t wait.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want you to go!¡± Cora¡¯s voice rose to a wail. ¡°It¡¯s not fair!¡±


    Damien entered from the adjoining room, his expression softening at the sight of his distraught daughter. ¡°Cora, we¡¯ve talked about this. Vivienne has responsibilities back home.¡±


    ¡°Then I want to go home too!¡± Cora stomped her foot. ¡°I hate it here without Vivi!¡±


    Vivienne knelt down, brushing Cora¡¯s hair back. ¡°I¡¯ll see you again soon, I promise. And you still have your daddy here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the same!¡± Tears streamed down Cora¡¯s face. ¡°I want to go home now!¡±


    Damien exchanged a nce with Vivienne before lifting Cora into his arms. ¡°Actually,¡± he said calmly, ¡°we¡¯re going back next week.¡±


    Cora¡¯s sobs quieted. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Damien confirmed. ¡°I¡¯ve already made arrangements to wrap up business here early.¡±


    ¡°Will you be at our house when we get back?¡± Cora asked Vivienne eagerly.


    Vivienne smiled, her perfectly manicured hand resting briefly on Damien¡¯s arm. ¡°I might just be.¡±


    Damien¡¯s phone vibrated in his pocket. He shifted Cora to his other arm and checked the screen. It was Marcus Cole. He declined the call, making a mental note to check in with himter.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s get Vivienne to the airport,¡± he said, setting Cora down. ¡°And if you¡¯re good, we can get ice cream afterward.¡±


    As they left the suite, Damien¡¯s thoughts turned briefly to the work awaiting him back home. Not once did he wonder about ra. Not once did he consider what he might find upon his return.


    The elevator doors closed on the three of them ¨C Vivienne elegant andposed, Cora still sniffling but calmer, and Damien unaware of the seismic shift that awaited him back home.


    In her apartment across the ocean, ra continued her quiet revolution, preparing for a future she was finally brave enough to im for herself. A future that would soon collide with the past she thought she had left behind.

 The Sprawling 4

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 4: A Familiar Face, A Future Feared</h1>


    Cora clutched her phone tightly, her thumb hovering over her mother¡¯s contact. She had already ended the call once, and now guilt gnawed at her. Dad and Vivienne were chatting in the next room, their voices a low murmur through the hotel wall.


    She flopped back on the bed with a sigh. Mom would definitely ask questions. And if Cora mentioned Vivienne wasing back with them, Mom would get that tight look on her face¡ªthe one where her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    Her phone buzzed suddenly. Mom calling back.


    Panic red in Cora¡¯s chest. She silenced the phone and shoved it under her pillow. The screen glowed briefly before going dark.


    ¡°Cora? Are you packed?¡± Her father¡¯s voice called from the doorway.


    She sat up quickly. ¡°Almost done, Dad.¡±


    Damien stepped into the room, his tall figure casting a shadow across the carpet. ¡°Good. Vivienne¡¯s driver will be here soon.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to get home,¡± Cora said, excitement bubbling up again. ¡°And Vivi¡¯s really going to visit us there?¡±


    Her father¡¯s face softened slightly. ¡°Yes, she¡¯ll be staying at the house for a while.¡±


    ¡°Mom won¡¯t like that,¡± Cora mumbled before she could stop herself.


    A flicker of irritation crossed Damien¡¯s face. ¡°Your mother doesn¡¯t dictate who visits our home.¡±


    Something about his tone made Cora look down. She knew things weren¡¯t good between her parents. They barely talked anymore, and when they did, the air felt cold and heavy.


    ¡°Have you spoken to your mother today?¡± Damien asked, his voice neutral.


    Cora shook her head quickly. ¡°No. She¡¯s probably busy with work stuff.¡±


    He nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer. ¡°Finish packing. We leave for the airport in thirty minutes.¡±


    When he left, Cora pulled out her phone again. Three missed calls from Mom. She bit her lip, then turned the phone offpletely.


    ¡ª


    ra stared at her silent phone, anxiety building with each unanswered call. It wasn¡¯t like Cora to call and hang up. What if something was wrong?


    She paced her apartment, debating whether to call Damien. Their agreement had been minimal contact except regarding Cora, but surely this qualified.


    Before she could decide, her phone rang. Hope surged until she saw Mrs. Gable¡¯s name on the screen.


    ¡°Hello, Mrs. Gable,¡± she answered quickly. ¡°Have you heard from Cora? She called me but hung up, and now she¡¯s not answering.¡±


    ¡°Miss Cora is fine, ma¡¯am,¡± Mrs. Gable assured her. ¡°I just spoke with her. They¡¯re preparing to leave for the airport.¡±


    Relief flooded through ra. ¡°Thank you. Did she say why she called me?¡±


    ¡°No, ma¡¯am. But children are fickle with their attentions,¡± Mrs. Gable said kindly. ¡°Will you be needing anything from the house today?¡±


    ra shook her head, then remembered she was on the phone. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m all settled in the apartment now.¡±


    After hanging up, she walked to her window. The city sprawled below, busy and indifferent to her worries. She¡¯d made the right choice leaving, she reminded herself. But moments like these¡ªwhen the distance between her and Cora felt vast¡ªmade her doubt.


    Her doorbell rang, startling her from her thoughts.


    Her neighbor, ra Hayes, stood in the hallway holding a te of cookies. ¡°Thought you might like something homemade,¡± she said with a warm smile.


    ra epted the te gratefully. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you.¡±


    ra waved dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I remember how it was starting over on my own after my divorce. Sometimes a friendly face makes all the difference.¡±


    They chatted for a few minutes before ra excused herself. ra ced the cookies on her counter, oddly touched by the simple gesture. It had been ages since someone had done something nice for her without an agenda.


    ¡ª


    Later that afternoon, ra¡¯s phone chimed with an email notification. Crestwood College was celebrating its centennial next week. Her alma mater. The ce where she¡¯d first fallen in love with artificial intelligence¡ªand where she¡¯d met Julian.


    On impulse, she decided to visit the campus. Perhaps walking those familiar paths would help quiet the restlessness inside her.


    The university hadn¡¯t changed much. Ivy still clung to the old brick buildings. Students lounged on the grass, absorbed in their devices or conversations. ra felt a pang of nostalgia as she passed theputer science building where she¡¯d spent countless hours coding and theorizing.


    ¡°ra? ra Vance?¡±


    She turned at the sound of her name. A tall man with dark-rimmed sses was staring at her in disbelief.


    ¡°Julian,¡± she breathed, recognizing him instantly despite the years.


    Julian Croft¡¯s face broke into a wide grin. ¡°I thought that was you! What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Just reminiscing,¡± she said, suddenly self-conscious. ¡°The alumni email about the centennial made me nostalgic.¡±


    ¡°Well, this is perfect timing. I¡¯ve been meaning to reach out to you.¡± His eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Have time for coffee? The old caf¨¦ is still there.¡±


    Twenty minutester, they sat at a corner table in the campus caf¨¦, steaming mugs between them. Julian hadn¡¯t changed much¡ªstill animated when he talked, hands gesturing to emphasize his points.


    ¡°So, YodaVision has expanded into predictive healthcare AI,¡± he exined. ¡°The algorithms we started developing in grad school? They¡¯re the foundation for systems now being tested in hospitals across the country.¡±


    Pride swelled in ra¡¯s chest. ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Julian. You¡¯ve aplished so much.¡±


    ¡°We started it together,¡± he reminded her. ¡°Your theoretical framework was revolutionary. I¡¯ve just been building on it.¡± He paused, studying her face. ¡°Why did you leave, ra? You were the visionary between us.¡±


    The question hung in the air. ra traced the rim of her mug with her finger. ¡°Marriage. Life. Choices that seemed right at the time.¡±


    ¡°And now?¡±


    She looked up at him. ¡°Now I¡¯m getting divorced.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± she said quickly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long timeing.¡±


    A silence fell between them,fortable despite the years apart.


    ¡°What will you do now?¡± Julian finally asked.


    ra shrugged. ¡°Start over, I suppose. Though where, I¡¯m not sure. The tech world moves so fast. I¡¯ve been out of it for six years.¡±


    Julian leaned forward, his eyes intense. ¡°Come back to YodaVision.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The suggestion caught her off guard.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious. We need you. Thepany needs you. We¡¯ve grown, but we¡¯ve never found someone with your vision.¡±


    ra shook her head. ¡°Julian, I wouldn¡¯t even know where to begin. The field has advanced so much¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll catch up,¡± he interrupted. ¡°You were always the quickest learner I knew.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± ra protested. ¡°I¡¯ve been working as a secretary, for God¡¯s sake. My skills are rusty at best, obsolete at worst.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯ll refresh them,¡± Julian countered. ¡°Look, we have a project right now that could benefit enormously from your perspective. It¡¯s a perfect re-entry point.¡±


    ra felt a flutter of something she hadn¡¯t experienced in years¡ªexcitement mingled with fear. The idea of returning to AI work was both thrilling and terrifying.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said honestly. ¡°What if I can¡¯t do it anymore? What if I¡¯ve lost whatever talent I had?¡±


    Julian reached across the table, covering her hand with his. ¡°You haven¡¯t. Talent like yours doesn¡¯t disappear.¡±


    ¡°Six years is a long time,¡± she insisted. ¡°The industry has changedpletely.¡±


    ¡°But the fundamentals haven¡¯t. And neither has your mind.¡± Julian squeezed her hand before withdrawing. ¡°Juste tour theb. Meet the team. No pressure, just see what we¡¯re working on.¡±


    ra hesitated, memories of herst days at YodaVision flooding back. She¡¯d left to focus on her marriage to Damien, believing it was the right choice. What a fool she¡¯d been.


    ¡°What position would I even fill?¡± she asked, her voice small.


    ¡°Head of Research and Development,¡± Julian replied without hesitation. ¡°The role has been waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± ra stared at him. ¡°You¡¯ve kept a C-suite position open for six years?¡±


    ¡°Not officially open,¡± he admitted. ¡°But no one¡¯s been right for it. Not the way you would be.¡±


    The confidence in his voice made something shift inside her. Could she really do this? Return to the field she¡¯d abandoned, take leadership of cutting-edge research? The thought was simultaneously exhrating and terrifying.


    Julian watched her, patient but eager. ¡°Say yes, ra. Come back where you belong.¡±


    She opened her mouth, but fear froze the words in her throat. The enormity of what he was offering¡ªa chance to reim her former passion, her expertise¡ªcollided with the crushing self-doubt that had grown during her years with Damien.


    ¡°But I¡­ I¡­¡± Her voice trailed off, revealing the depth of her uncertainty. Could she really step back into that world after so long away? Or would she fail spectacrly, confirming what a part of her had feared all along¡ªthat she had sacrificed her brilliance for a marriage that had never truly existed?

 The Sprawling 5

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 5: Resolve Forged Anew</h1>


    ra sat frozen across from Julian, his offer hanging between them. Once, she would have jumped at this opportunity without hesitation. Now, doubt clouded her mind like a thick fog.


    ¡°ra?¡± Julian leaned forward. ¡°Talk to me.¡±


    She took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, Julian. I gave up everything for my marriage. What if I can¡¯t get it back?¡±


    ¡°The ra I knew wouldn¡¯t ask that question.¡± His eyes held hers steadily. ¡°She¡¯d roll up her sleeves and prove everyone wrong.¡±


    A flicker of the old fire stirred in her chest. ¡°That ra disappeared years ago.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that.¡± Julian tapped the table between them. ¡°The work you did on neuralwork applications was revolutionary. That brilliance doesn¡¯t just vanish.¡±


    ra stared into her coffee cup. For years, she¡¯d suppressed her ambitions to be the perfect wife and mother. A wife Damien barely noticed. A mother Cora increasingly pushed away.


    ¡°What would I even bring to the table now?¡± she asked quietly.


    Julian pulled out his tablet and showed her thepany¡¯stest projects. ¡°We¡¯ve expanded, but we¡¯re struggling with the intuitive interface algorithms you were developing before you left.¡±


    As he exined their challenges, ra found herself instinctively analyzing the problems. Her mind raced with potential solutions, connections forming like they used to years ago.


    ¡°You could approach it from a different angle,¡± she said without thinking. ¡°If you restructured the decision trees to incorporate emotional intelligence patterns¡­¡±


    Julian grinned. ¡°See? Still brilliant.¡±


    Warmth spread through her chest¡ªnot from embarrassment, but recognition. This was who she used to be. Who she could be again.


    ¡°When would you need me to start?¡± The words surprised even her.


    Julian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Is that a yes?¡±


    She straightened her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s a maybe. I need to think about logistics.¡±


    ¡°Take the weekend,¡± Julian said quickly. ¡°But I want you in theb on Monday. Just to look around, meet everyone. No pressure.¡±


    ra nodded slowly. ¡°I can do that.¡±


    As they said goodbye outside the caf¨¦, Julian hugged her. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, ra. The real you.¡±


    His words echoed in her mind as she walked across campus. The real her. Had she been living as someone else these past years?


    Her phone buzzed. A text from Eleanor Thorne: ¡°Family dinner this Sunday. Mandatory attendance.¡±


    ra sighed. Eleanor¡¯s ¡°mandatory¡± family dinners were bing more frequent since ra moved out. An obvious attempt to force her and Damien together.


    Before she could respond, another message appeared¡ªthis one from Sabrina Thorne, Damien¡¯s sister.


    ¡°Are you at Crestwood? Leo¡¯s friend thought he saw you.¡±


    ra frowned. Leo was Sabrina¡¯s son who attended Crestwood. How typical of Sabrina to keep tabs on her.


    ¡°Yes, visiting my alma mater,¡± she replied simply.


    Three dots appeared immediately. ¡°Meet me at the alumni center. I¡¯m here for amittee meeting.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a request. ra considered ignoring it, but decided against creating unnecessary tension. With renewed confidence from her conversation with Julian, she headed toward the alumni center.


    Sabrina stood outside, impably dressed in a tailored suit, tapping her designer heel impatiently. When she spotted ra, her eyebrows rose.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked without preamble.


    ra kept her voice even. ¡°Hello to you too, Sabrina.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have work? Or are you still taking that ¡®break¡¯ from Thorne Industries?¡± Sabrina made air quotes around the word ¡°break.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m exploring other opportunities,¡± ra replied.


    Sabrina snorted. ¡°Like what? You¡¯ve been Damien¡¯s secretary for years.¡±


    ¡°I was head of the secretarial department,¡± ra corrected. ¡°And before that, I was in artificial intelligence research.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Sabrina clearly didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re here, you can do me a favor. Leo¡¯s beenining about cafeteria food. Could you make him those dumplings he likes? I¡¯ll have him stop by the house tomorrow.¡±


    The old ra would have agreed immediately. But Julian¡¯s words rang in her ears: ¡°The real you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I have ns tomorrow.¡±


    Sabrina blinked, clearly surprised by the refusal. ¡°What ns?¡±


    ¡°Personal ones.¡± ra shifted her purse strap. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve moved out temporarily, as you know.¡±


    ¡°Temporarily,¡± Sabrina echoed with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling it?¡±


    Before ra could respond, two elegantly dressed women approached Sabrina.


    ¡°There you are!¡± one of them called. ¡°We¡¯re about to discuss the donor wall.¡±


    ¡°Coming,¡± Sabrina replied, then gestured vaguely toward ra. ¡°This is¡­ a friend. ra.¡±


    A friend. Not sister-inw. Not even by her full name. Just ¡°a friend.¡±


    The slight was calcted, designed to diminish her. Six months ago, it would have worked. Today, it merely reinforced her decision.


    ¡°Nice meeting you,¡± ra said pleasantly to the women. ¡°I need to get going. I have a business meeting to prepare for.¡±


    She walked away before Sabrina could respond, her stride purposeful. With each step, her resolve strengthened. She pulled out her phone and dialed Julian.


    ¡°It¡¯s ra,¡± she said when he answered. ¡°I¡¯ll take the job. No need to wait until Monday.¡±


    Julian¡¯s whoop of joy made her smile. ¡°That¡¯s the best news I¡¯ve had all year! I¡¯ll email you the paperwork tonight.¡±


    As she ended the call, a weight lifted from her shoulders. For the first time in years, she was making a decision solely for herself. Not for Damien, not for the Thorne family reputation. For ra Vance.


    ¡ª


    Two weekster, Damien Thorne pulled into the driveway of his mansion, Cora chattering excitedly in the passenger seat.


    ¡°And then Vivienne said we could go riding again next weekend!¡± Cora bounced in her seat. ¡°Do you think Mom will want toe too?¡±


    Damien tensed slightly at the mention of ra. ¡°Your mother isn¡¯t much for horseback riding.¡±


    ¡°She could watch,¡± Cora insisted. ¡°I want to show her how good I am now.¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond as they entered the house. Mr. Finch, the butler, greeted them in the foyer.


    ¡°Wee home, sir. Miss Cora,¡± he said formally. ¡°How was your trip?¡±


    ¡°The best!¡± Cora dered. ¡°Where¡¯s Mom? I want to tell her everything!¡±


    Mr. Finch hesitated. ¡°Mrs. Thorne isn¡¯t here at present.¡±


    Damien frowned. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne left on a business trip shortly after you departed,¡± Mr. Finch exined. ¡°She called to check on Miss Cora several times.¡±


    ¡°A business trip?¡± Damien repeated. ¡°What business trip?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not privy to the details, sir,¡± Mr. Finch said carefully. ¡°But she mentioned it wouldst approximately two weeks.¡±


    ¡°Two weeks?¡± Damien raised an eyebrow. ra had never taken a business trip in their entire marriage. Her work at Thorne Industries certainly didn¡¯t require travel.


    ¡°When will she be back?¡± Cora asked, disappointment evident in her voice.


    ¡°I believe tomorrow or the day after, Miss.¡± Mr. Finch turned to Damien. ¡°Would you like me to try reaching her?¡±


    Damien considered this. Two weeks was an unusually long absence for ra, who typically revolved her schedule around Cora¡¯s needs. Still, he supposed she was entitled to whatever this was¡ªperhaps some retreat rted to the temporary separation she¡¯d requested.


    ¡°No need,¡± he said dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be in touch when she returns.¡±


    ¡°But Dad,¡± Cora protested. ¡°I want to tell her about the horses now.¡±


    ¡°You can tell her when she gets back,¡± Damien replied, already checking his phone for emails. ¡°Go unpack your things.¡±


    As Cora reluctantly headed upstairs, Mr. Finch cleared his throat.


    ¡°Sir, if I may¡­ Mrs. Thorne seemed different before she left.¡±


    Damien looked up sharply. ¡°Different how?¡±


    ¡°More¡­¡± Mr. Finch seemed to search for the right word. ¡°Determined.¡±


    ¡°Determined,¡± Damien repeated tly.


    ¡°Yes, sir. And she took quite a few of her personal belongings.¡±


    Damien processed this information silently. Their separation had been ra¡¯s idea¡ªa ¡°temporary arrangement¡± to give them both space. He had agreed easily enough, seeing no reason to object. Their marriage had been one of convenience from the start.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said simply, turning toward his study. ¡°Have Mrs. Powell prepare dinner for six. Vivienne will be joining us.¡±


    ¡°Very good, sir,¡± Mr. Finch replied.


    As Damien walked away, he felt a fleeting twinge of something unusual¡ªnot quite concern, but a vague difort with the situation. ra had always been predictable, dependable. This sudden two-week absence without detailed exnation was out of character.


    He dismissed the thought almost immediately. If ra needed space, so be it. It changed nothing about his ns or priorities.


    Still, as he settled behind his desk, Damien found himself staring at her empty chair across the hall in the small office she sometimes used at home. For the briefest moment, he wondered exactly what kind of ¡°business¡± had taken her away for so long.


    Then his phone rang with an important call, and the thought vanished entirely.

 The Sprawling 6

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 6: The CEO¡¯s Icy Dismissal</h1>


    ra straightened her blouse as she walked through the main entrance of Thorne Industries. The familiar scent of polish and expensive wood greeted her, but something felt different. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t the building that had changed, but her.


    She nodded at the security guard who recognized her immediately. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Thorne.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Louis,¡± she replied, her voice steady.


    The elevator doors opened with a soft chime. As she stepped inside, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirrored wall. Gone was the desperate woman who used to fret about pleasing her husband. In her ce stood someone moreposed, more certain.


    When the doors opened again on the executive floor, ra nearly collided with Marcus Cole, Damien¡¯s secretary.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne!¡± Marcus¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you today.¡±


    ¡°I still work here, Marcus,¡± she reminded him gently.


    Marcus shifted awkwardly. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s just that Mr. Thorne returned this morning with Miss Cora. I assumed you¡¯d be taking time off.¡±


    Her heart skipped. ¡°Damien is back?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They arrived earlier than scheduled.¡± Marcus checked his watch. ¡°He¡¯s in his office now.¡±


    ra nodded, processing this information. She hadn¡¯t expected to see Damien today. She thought she¡¯d have more time to prepare.


    ¡°Thank you for letting me know,¡± she said, moving toward her office.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± Marcus called after her, ¡°Mr. Thorne has scheduled several important meetings today. He specifically requested you not disturb him.¡±


    Of course he did. Even before she¡¯d filed for divorce, Damien had treated her as an inconvenience rather than a wife.


    ¡°I have no intention of disturbing him, Marcus.¡±


    As she settled into her office, ra found herself remembering how she used to spend hours perfecting Damien¡¯s coffee. She had learned his exact preference: dark roast, brewed at precisely 205 degrees, with just a hint of cream. No sugar. She¡¯d practiced until she could make it wlessly every time.


    All that effort for a man who barely acknowledged her existence.


    The morning passed quickly as she focused on her work. Around eleven, amotion in the hallway caught her attention. She heard Cora¡¯s excited voice and peered out her office door.


    There stood her daughter, holding Damien¡¯s hand and chattering animatedly. She wore a new dress ra hadn¡¯t seen before, probably purchased during their trip. Beside them stood Vivienne Dubois, looking effortlessly elegant in a tailored white suit.


    ¡°And then Vivienne taught me how to post in English style!¡± Cora was saying. ¡°Dad says I¡¯m a natural, just like her!¡±


    Damien¡¯s lips curved into a rare smile ¨C the kind he never directed at ra. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re both extraordinary.¡±


    Vivienneughed, the sound light and musical. ¡°She¡¯s definitely your daughter, Damien. Thatpetitive spirit is all you.¡±


    The casual intimacy between them made ra¡¯s chest tighten. This was the family unit she had never been part of ¨C Damien, Cora, and Vivienne.


    Cora suddenly spotted her. ¡°Mom!¡±


    ra put on her brightest smile. ¡°Hi, sweetheart!¡±


    She stepped forward to embrace her daughter, but Cora gave her only a brief hug before turning back to Vivienne.


    ¡°Vivienne bought me these shoes in Mn! Aren¡¯t they pretty?¡±


    ¡°Very pretty,¡± ra agreed, trying to hide her disappointment.


    Damien finally acknowledged her presence with a curt nod. ¡°ra.¡±


    ¡°Damien,¡± she replied, her voice matching his coolness. ¡°How was your trip?¡±


    ¡°Productive.¡± His eyes moved past her as if she were barely worth his attention.


    Once, that dismissal would have crushed her. Now it merely reinforced her decision to end their marriage.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± Marcus interrupted, appearing suddenly beside them. ¡°Those reports you requested are ready.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Marcus.¡± She turned back to Cora. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at hometer, sweetheart. We can catch up then.¡±


    Cora nodded distractedly, already tugging on Vivienne¡¯s hand. ¡°Can we show Dad that thing we practiced?¡±


    ¡°Of course, darling,¡± Vivienne replied, shooting ra a triumphant nce.


    ra returned to her office, closing the door quietly behind her. She took a moment to breathe deeply, steadying herself.


    An hourter, Marcus knocked on her door. ¡°Mrs. Thorne, Mr. Thorne is requesting coffee in his office.¡±


    ra looked up from herputer. ¡°Why are you telling me this? That¡¯s not my job anymore.¡±


    Marcus shifted ufortably. ¡°He specifically asked for you to bring it.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± She should refuse. She had every right to. But causing a scene would only make things worse. ¡°Fine.¡±


    In the break room, she prepared Damien¡¯s coffee exactly as she always had. The familiar routine felt absurd now. When had she be so pathetically eager to please a man who showed her nothing but indifference?


    As she approached Damien¡¯s office, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. She was about to knock when she heard Vivienne¡¯sughter from inside.


    ¡°You¡¯re insatiable,¡± Vivienne purred.


    ¡°Only for you,¡± came Damien¡¯s husky reply.


    ra froze. Through the narrow opening, she could see Vivienne perched on Damien¡¯sp, her arms wound around his neck. As ra watched, Vivienne pressed her lips to Damien¡¯s in a deep, passionate kiss.


    The coffee cup trembled in ra¡¯s hand. She should walk away. She knew she should walk away. But her feet remained rooted to the spot.


    Vivienne pulled back slightly from the kiss, still unaware of ra¡¯s presence. ¡°When are you going to tell her?¡±


    ¡°Soon,¡± Damien replied, his hand caressing Vivienne¡¯s hip. ¡°After the merger is finalized.¡±


    The door creaked as ra shifted her weight, and both heads snapped toward her. Damien¡¯s expression transformed from desire to cold fury in an instant.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he demanded.


    Hot coffee sloshed over the rim of the cup, scalding ra¡¯s hand. She barely felt it.


    ¡°Marcus said you wanted coffee,¡± she managed to say, her voice remarkably steady despite the humiliation burning through her.


    Vivienne slid gracefully from Damien¡¯sp, smoothing her skirt with a satisfied smirk. ¡°I believe that¡¯s my cue to leave. I¡¯ll see you tonight, darling.¡±


    She brushed past ra, her expensive perfume lingering in the air.


    ¡°Put the coffee down and close the door,¡± Damien ordered once Vivienne had gone.


    ra set the cup on his desk, noticing toote that her hand was trembling, leaving drops of coffee on his polished mahogany surface.


    ¡°I don¡¯t recall asking you to spy on me,¡± Damien said, his voice dangerously quiet.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Mr. Thorne?¡± Ethan Stone, another secretary, appeared in the doorway. His eyes flicked between them, assessing the situation. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne was just leaving,¡± Damien replied coldly.


    Ethan¡¯s lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. ¡°I see. Should I remind Mrs. Thorne that executive offices require a knock before entry? This isn¡¯t the first time she¡¯s¡­ interrupted inappropriately.¡±


    The implication was clear: ra had deliberately walked in on them. As if she enjoyed being humiliated.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Damien said. ¡°But if it happens again, Mrs. Thorne will no longer be wee in this building. Is that clear?¡±


    ra looked down at her hand, now red and beginning to blister from the coffee burn. ¡°Perfectly clear.¡±


    She left without another word, dignity intact but heart pounding. In the hallway, she overheard two junior executives talking.


    ¡°Did you see Dr. Dubois earlier? Absolute goddess.¡±


    ¡°I heard she¡¯s practically running the European expansion already. Thorne can¡¯t function without her.¡±


    ¡°Can you me him? Beauty and brains¡ªthe whole package.¡±


    ra quickened her pace, heading for the women¡¯s restroom to cool her burned hand. Just as she rounded the corner, she nearly collided with a group of people.


    At the center stood Vivienne, surrounded by fawning senior managers. When they saw ra, their expressions hardened.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going!¡± snapped Richard Porter, head of finance. ¡°Be careful not to bump into Ms. Dubois. Have you got no manners?¡±

 The Sprawling 7

    <h1 ss="dib mb0 fw700 fs24 lh1.5">Chapter 7: Birthday Whispers, Hidden Heartbreak</h1>


    ra¡¯s eyes met Vivienne¡¯s cool gaze. Her half-sister¡¯s perfect smile never faltered as the executives surrounding her continued their praise.


    ¡°Your presentation on the European market was outstanding, Dr. Dubois,¡± gushed Sandra Phillips, the marketing director. ¡°The board was absolutely impressed.¡±


    Vivienne tossed her hair over her shoulder. ¡°Thank you. It was merely a summary of my research at Oxford.¡±


    The groupughed appreciatively, as if she¡¯d said something incredibly witty. No one acknowledged ra¡¯s presence. She might as well have been invisible.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± ra murmured, slipping past them.


    She felt Vivienne¡¯s eyes follow her retreat, the weight of that stare like a knife between her shoulder des. Seven years of marriage to Damien, and she was treated like an intruder, while Viviennemanded respect after mere months.


    At her desk, ra¡¯s phone buzzed. A text from Chloe: ¡°Emergency! Need you at Bellini¡¯s now! Code red!!¡±


    ra frowned. Code red was their signal for serious boyfriend trouble. She grabbed her purse and headed for the elevator.


    Twenty minutester, she pulled up to Bellini¡¯s, an upscale Italian restaurant downtown. As she approached the entrance, something caught her eye through therge ss windows. Her step faltered.


    Inside, at a table near the window, sat Cora. Her daughter was supposed to be in Andoria with Damien, yet here she was, chattering excitedly to Vivienne.


    ra ducked behind a decorative pir. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Why were they back early? Why hadn¡¯t anyone told her?


    Through the ss, she could see Cora¡¯s animated face. The child was practically bouncing in her seat as she handed something to Vivienne. A small, wrapped box.


    ra inched closer, positioning herself where she could see but wouldn¡¯t be noticed. Cora was beaming with pride as Vivienne opened the gift.


    ¡°Look what I made for you!¡± Cora¡¯s voice was faintly audible through the ss. ¡°Dad helped me polish the shells!¡±


    Vivienne lifted a delicate shell ne from the box, her face lighting up with what appeared to be genuine delight. ¡°Oh, Coco, it¡¯s beautiful!¡±


    ¡°We collected the shells at the beach in Andoria,¡± Cora exined proudly. ¡°Dad said we had toe back early for your birthday!¡±


    Each word felt like a physical blow. They had cut their trip short for Vivienne¡¯s birthday. Not for ra¡¯s two weeks ago, which Damien and Cora had both forgotten entirely.


    ¡°Is that why we rushed back?¡± asked a woman ra recognized as Vivienne¡¯s friend, Charlotte. ¡°For your birthday?¡±


    Vivienne smiled, fastening the ne around her neck. ¡°Damien said he couldn¡¯t miss it.¡±


    Charlotteughed. ¡°Speaking of which, where is your dashing man?¡±


    ¡°Parking the car,¡± Vivienne replied. ¡°He should be here any¡ª¡±


    ¡°Happy birthday, beautiful.¡±


    Damien appeared, looking more rxed than ra had seen him in years. He bent down to kiss Vivienne¡¯s cheek before taking the seat beside her.


    ¡°Dad!¡± Cora eximed. ¡°Vivienne loves my ne!¡±


    ¡°Of course she does,¡± Damien replied, his hand resting possessively on Vivienne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You made it with love.¡±


    ra¡¯s vision blurred. She blinked rapidly, refusing to cry here, in public, like some pathetic, jilted wife.


    ¡°So, did you like your other present?¡± Charlotte asked Vivienne with a suggestive smile.


    Vivienne¡¯s lips curled into a secretive smile. ¡°Very much.¡±


    ¡°I already gave Vivienne my gift,¡± Damien said simply.


    ¡°Oh, I bet you did,¡± Charlotteughed, raising her eyebrows. ¡°Something private, no doubt.¡±


    The table erupted inughter. Even Cora giggled, though she clearly didn¡¯t understand the innuendo.


    ra stepped back from the window, feeling sick. Her phone buzzed again: Chloe calling.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Chloe demanded when she answered. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting at the bar!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here? At Bellini¡¯s?¡± ra whispered, scanning the restaurant interior.


    ¡°Yes! Third stool from the left. I can see you outside! What are you doing lurking by the pir?¡±


    ra spotted her friend waving from the bar. ¡°Stay there. I¡¯lle to you.¡±


    She circled around to the side entrance, keeping her head down. Thest thing she needed was for Damien or Cora to see her.


    Chloe¡¯s concerned face greeted her at the bar. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± ra said, her voice barely audible. ¡°Damien, Cora, and Vivienne.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What? Show me.¡±


    Before ra could stop her, Chloe was peering around the corner toward their table. ¡°That bitch,¡± she hissed. ¡°And your daughter is there too? What the hell?¡±


    ¡°They came back early for Vivienne¡¯s birthday,¡± ra exined, the words tasting bitter. ¡°Cora made her a ne. With seashells they collected together.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face softened with understanding. ¡°Oh, El.¡±


    ¡°They were supposed to be in Andoria for another week,¡± ra continued, herposure cracking. ¡°They didn¡¯t even call to tell me they were back. And two weeks ago, on my birthday¡ª¡±


    ¡°They forgotpletely,¡± Chloe finished, squeezing her hand. ¡°I remember.¡±


    The bartender approached. ¡°Can I get youdies something to drink?¡±


    ¡°Two martinis,¡± Chloe replied immediately. ¡°Extra olives.¡±


    When he moved away, ra shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t stay, Chloe. I can¡¯t be here, watching them y happy family.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave right after our drinks,¡± Chloe promised. ¡°You look like you need it.¡±


    The martinis arrived quickly. ra took arge sip, weing the burn in her throat.


    ¡°How can she be sofortable with him?¡± she whispered. ¡°She¡¯s my sister. Half-sister, but still. Doesn¡¯t that mean anything to her?¡±


    Chloe scoffed. ¡°Vivienne only cares about Vivienne. Always has.¡±


    ¡°And Cora adores her,¡± ra added, her voice breaking. ¡°My own daughter.¡±


    ¡°Kids are easily impressed by shiny new toys,¡± Chloe said firmly. ¡°Vivienne is just a novelty to her. And Damien¡ª¡±


    ¡°Is Damien,¡± ra finished. ¡°Cold, distant, and impossible to please unless you¡¯re Vivienne Dubois.¡±


    She drained her martini, the alcohol warming her chest but doing little to ease the ache in her heart.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, standing abruptly. ¡°I need to get out of here.¡±


    They paid quickly and headed for the elevators that would take them to the parking garage. As the doors began to close, a hand shot out to stop them.


    Lucas Sterling, Damien¡¯s closest friend and CFO of Thorne Industries, stepped inside. His eyes widened slightly in recognition.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± he said, his gaze darting between her and Chloe. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    ra¡¯s throat tightened. Lucas had been at the table with Damien and Vivienne. If he was heading back, he¡¯d tell them she was here.


    ¡°Mr. Sterling,¡± she managed to reply, her voice surprisingly steady. ¡°Just having lunch with my friend.¡±


    Lucas nodded slowly, his eyes calcting. The elevator began its descent, the silence stretching ufortably.


    ¡°Cora looks well,¡± ra said finally, unable to bear the quiet. ¡°I didn¡¯t know they were back from Andoria.¡±


    Lucas studied her face. ¡°They arrived this morning.¡±


    Another silence fell. The elevator seemed to move in slow motion.


    ¡°It¡¯s Vivienne¡¯s birthday,¡± Lucas added, watching her reaction closely. ¡°The party is tonight at the penthouse.¡±


    The penthouse. Her home with Damien. Where she still technically lived, though she¡¯d been staying at her grandmother¡¯s estate more oftentely.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, struggling to keep her voice neutral. ¡°Thank you for letting me know.¡±


    The elevator doors opened at the parking level. Lucas held them for ra and Chloe to exit first.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± he called after her. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held something that might have been pity. ¡°Damien and Vivienne are heading back to the office after lunch. They¡¯re nning to pick up Cora around four.¡±


    A warning. A courtesy. ra wasn¡¯t sure which, but she nodded gratefully.


    As they walked to their cars, Chloe linked her arm through ra¡¯s. ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    ra stared straight ahead, her mind suddenly, terrifyingly clear. ¡°I¡¯m going to call mywyer.¡±


    ¡°To finalize the divorce?¡± Chloe asked.


    ¡°No,¡± ra replied, a new determination hardening her voice. ¡°To make sure I get everything I deserve.¡±

 The Sprawling 8

    8 A Bitter Truth, A New Resolve


    ra Vance pulled away from the restaurant, watching Chloe wave goodbye in ber rearview mirror. The encounter with Lucas Sterling in the elevator had left her feeding exposed. The way he¡¯d looked at her¨Cwith that hint of pity¨Cmade her stomach turn.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t even recognize me, she muttered to herself. The realization stung more


    than it should have<i>. </i>


    Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat. A text from Chloe<i>: </i>¡°Call me when you get home. We need to talk more about this.¡±


    ra sighed. There was so much to unpack, so many decisions to make. The divorce papers were already drawn up, waiting to be served, Yet part of her still hesitated, still wondered if there was anything left to salvage,


    An hourter, ra opened the door to her apartment. While technically she still lived at the penthouse with Damien, she¡¯d been staying at this smaller ce more frequently. It felt more like home than anywhere she¡¯d lived in the past seven years,


    ¡°Make yourselffortable,¡± she told Chloe, gesturing toward the couch. ¡°I¡¯ll make us


    some tea¡±


    ¡°Forget the tea,¡± Chloe replied, following her into the kitchen. ¡°I need details. What exactly did you mean when you said you called yourwyer<i>?</i>¡±


    ra busied herself filling the kettle. ¡°I meant exactly what I said:


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ve made my decision.¡± ra turned to face her friend. ¡°I asked Damien for a divorce three days ago¡±


    Chloe¡¯s jaw dropped, ¡°You WHAT? And you¡¯re just telling me NOW?¡±


    ¡°I needed time to process it myself first,¡± ra exined, keeping her voice steady,


    ¡°Process what? That you finally grew a backbone after seven years of him treating you like you don¡¯t exist?¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes were wide with shock.


    03:38


    <


    8 A Bitter Truth, A New Resolve


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t an easy decision.¡±


    ¡°The hell it wasn¡¯t! It should have been the easiest decision of your life!¡± Chloe threw her hands up. ¡°That man has been emotionally absent since day one. He married you because his grandfather pressured him, and he¡¯s spent every day since making it clear you were never what he wanted.¡±


    The kettle whistled, giving ra a moment topose herself. She poured the hot water over the tea bags, her hands trembling slightly.


    ¡°I know how it looks,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°Do you? Because from where I¡¯m standing, it looks like you wasted seven years loving a man who couldn¡¯t be bothered to remember your birthday, while he¡¯s out there celebrating your half¨Csister¡¯s like she¡¯s royalty.¡±


    ra handed Chloe a mug. ¡°You don¡¯t have to remind me.¡±


    ¡°Apparently I do! Because-¡± Chloe¡¯s phone chimed with a notification, cutting her off. She nced down at the screen, and her expression darkened. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Wordlessly, Chloe handed over her phone. It was open to Lucas Sterling¡¯s Instagram page. The most recent post featured several photos of Damien and Vivienne at lunch, looking intimate. One showed Damien handing Vivienne a small jewelry box. Another captured Vivienne beaming at a gift card. The caption read: ¡°When the boss cuts his vacation short to celebrate a special birthday. #PowerCouple #BirthdayGirl¡±


    ra stared at the images, her chest tightening. There were several more photos showing Damien with his arm around Vivienne, whispering in her ear, both of themughing. Cora appeared in a few shots, happily sandwiched between them like they were her parents.


    ¡°El, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Chloe said softly. ¡°That insensitive jerk posted these knowing you¡¯d


    see them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± ra replied mechanically, handing the phone back. ¡°This is exactly why I


    asked for the divorce.¡±


    03:38


    4


    <


    8 A Bitter Truth, A New Resolve


    ¡°He could have at least waited until they were official before unting his mistress all


    over social media.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not his mistress anymore,¡± ra said, her voice hollow. ¡°She¡¯s his partner. The woman he loves. The mother figure he wants for Cora.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression softened. ¡°You¡¯ve put up with so much, El. I know how much you


    loved him.¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± ra agreed. ¡°Maybe I still do, in some broken way. But I¡¯m done letting that love destroy me.¡±


    ¡°What was the final straw?¡± Chloe asked gently.


    ra took a sip of her tea. ¡°There wasn¡¯t one specific moment. It was¡­ everything. The forgotten birthday. Coming home to an empty house because they were vacationing with Vivienne. Watching my own daughter make a seashell ne for another woman with such care when she can barely look at me anymore.¡±


    She paused, her throat tightening.


    ¡°It was looking in the mirror and not recognizing myself. I used to be ambitious. Confident. When Julian and I founded YodaVision, everyone said we were geniuses. I had patents in AI technology before I was twenty¨Cfive. And then¡­¡±


    ¡°And then Damien Thorne happened,¡± Chloe finished.


    ra nodded. ¡°I gave up everything to be the perfect wife, to support his career, to raise Cora. And what did I get in return? A man who looks through me like I¡¯m made of ss.¡±


    ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°Now I take back my life.¡± ra¡¯s voice grew stronger. ¡°Julian¡¯s been calling for years, asking me to return to YodaVision. They¡¯re on the brink of a major breakthrough in AI integration. He wants me to lead the project.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to do it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I start next month.¡±


    03:38


    <


    8 A Bitter Truth, A New Resolve


    A smile spread across Chloe¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡±


    The rest of the morning passed with ra exining her divorce strategy, the settlement she hoped to achieve, and her ns for the future. By the time Chloe left, ra felt lighter than she had in months.


    At workter that day, ra kept her head down, focusing on the quarterly reports. She hadn¡¯t seen Damien yet, though she knew he was in the building. Part of her hoped to avoid him entirely.


    That hope was dashed around noon when the elevator doors opened and Damien stepped out, his imposing figuremanding attention as always. He walked past her desk without acknowledgment, then paused and backtracked.


    ¡°ra.¡±


    She looked up, keeping her expression neutral. ¡°Damien.¡±


    ¡°I need the Henderson file before the three o¡¯clock meeting,¡± he said without preamble.


    ¡°It¡¯s already on your desk. I put it there this morning.¡±


    He nodded curtly. ¡°And the quarterly projections?¡±


    ¡°Those too.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± He hesitated briefly. ¡°Cora is back from Andoria. She¡¯ll be staying at the penthouse tonight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± ra replied evenly. ¡°I saw the Instagram posts.¡±


    Something shed in Damien¡¯s eyes¨Csurprise, perhaps, or irritation. ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Will there be anything else?¡± she asked, painfully professional.


    ¡°No.¡± He turned to leave, then added, ¡°The divorce papers are with my attorney. We should have a response for you by next week.¡±


    With that, he walked away, leaving ra to absorb the coldness of his words. No


    apology for forgetting her birthday. No exnation for cutting the vacation short. Just


    business as usual.


    03:38


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    8 A Bitter Truth, A New Resolve


    ???


    Her phone buzzed with a message from her grandmother, ra Bellweather.


    ¡°Dinner tonight, my dear? I¡¯ve made your favorite pot roast.¡±


    The simple kindness brought tears to ra¡¯s eyes. She quickly typed back: ¡°I¡¯d love that. Thank you, Grandma.¡±


    At least someone in this world still cared about what she wanted.


    The rest of the workday dragged on. By five o¡¯clock, ra was gathering her things, ready to head to her grandmother¡¯s for dinner, when Ethan Stone, Damien¡¯s secretary, approached her desk.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne, Mr. Thorne asked me to deliver this file to you. He said it¡¯s urgent and needs your attention before tomorrow morning.¡± He held out a thick folder.


    ra looked at the file, then at her watch. For seven years, she¡¯d have taken it without question, workingte into the night if necessary. Not anymore.


    ¡°I¡¯m not doing this now,¡± she said, looking Ethan directly in the eyes. ¡°I¡¯m done with work for the day.¡±


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    03:38

 The Sprawling 9

    9 The Tycoon¡¯s Forgotten Wife


    ra Vance stood firm as Ethan Stone¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    ¡°But Mrs. Thorne, Mr. Thorne specifically said-¡±


    ¡°I heard what you said,¡± ra cut him off, her voice calm but resolute. ¡°And I¡¯m telling you that I¡¯m leaving for the day. The file will be here tomorrow morning.¡±


    Ethan clutched the folder tighter, his knuckles turning white. ¡°He won¡¯t be pleased.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not my concern anymore.¡± ra picked up her purse and walked past him.


    She felt lighter with each step toward the elevator. For years, she¡¯d jumped at Damien¡¯s everymand, sacrificing evenings, weekends, even holidays to meet his


    unreasonable demands. Not tonight.


    As the elevator doors closed, she caught a glimpse of Ethan hurrying toward Damien¡¯s office, no doubt to report her insubordination. Let him. She had more important things to worry about.


    In his corner office, Damien Thorne frowned as Ethan exined the situation.


    ¡°She refused to take the file, sir. Said she was done for the day.¡±


    Damien¡¯s fingers drummed against the polished surface of his desk. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. She just¡­ left.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± His voice was cold, detached. ¡°Perhaps Mrs. Thorne has forgotten her responsibilities to thispany.¡±


    ¡°Should I call her? Insist that she return?¡±


    Damien waved a dismissive hand. ¡°No need. If she¡¯s no longer invested in her position here, we¡¯ll simply terminate it.¡±


    Ethan shifted ufortably. ¡°Terminate her position? But she¡¯s been with thepany for-¡±


    ¡°Seven years, yes. And apparently those seven years mean nothing to her now.¡± Damien


    03:39


    9 The Tycoon¡¯s Forgotten Wife


    turned his attention back to hisputer screen. ¡°That will be all, Ethan.¡±


    Alone in his office, Damien loosened his tie and leaned back in his chair. The action


    was so unlike ra ¨C defiant, dismissive. The woman he¡¯d married had been eager to


    please, meticulous in her duties. This new attitude¡­ he found it unsettling.


    His phone buzzed with a message from Vivienne: ¡°Dinner at 8? I¡¯ve reserved our table


    at Laurent¡¯s.¡±


    He texted back a quick confirmation before gathering his things. Whatever was going on with ra, it could wait until tomorrow.


    Meanwhile, ra pulled into the driveway of her grandmother¡¯s modest Victorian home. The familiar sight of the well¨Ctended garden and warm, glowing windows brought a genuine smile to her face for the first time that day.


    ra Bellweather opened the door before ra could knock, her wrinkled face lighting up with joy.


    ¡°<i>My </i>darling girl!¡± She embraced ra tightly. ¡°Let me look at you.¡±


    ra studied her granddaughter¡¯s face, her wise eyes seeing too much. ¡°You¡¯ve made a decision, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ra nodded, following her grandmother into the cozy living room where her uncle


    Victor sat in his usual armchair.


    ¡°ra!¡± Victor stood to hug her. ¡°This is a pleasant surprise.¡±


    ¡°I invited her for dinner,¡± ra exined. ¡°And from the look on her face, I¡¯d say she has news to share.¡±


    They settled in the dining room, where the rich aroma of pot roast filled the air. For a while, they spoke <b>of </b>simple things ¨C the garden, the weather, local gossip. It wasn¡¯t until they were finishing their meal that Victor¡¯s expression grew troubled.


    ¡°I hate to bring up business at dinner,¡± he began hesitantly, ¡°but the situation at Vance Technologies is bing critical.¡±


    ra shot him a warning look, but he continued.


    03:39


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    9 The Tycoon¡¯s Forgotten Wife


    ¡°Thest quarter was brutal. If we don¡¯t secure additional funding soon¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not worry ra with this,¡± ra interrupted. ¡°She has enough on her te.¡±


    ra set down her fork. ¡°No, Grandma, I want to know. How bad is it, Uncle Victor?¡±


    Victor ran a hand through his thinning hair. ¡°We need at least five million to stay afloat through the next quarter. The bank won¡¯t extend our line of credit again.¡±


    ¡°Have you approached investors?¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s wary after the failed productunchst year. Our reputation took a hit.¡±


    ra nodded thoughtfully. She¡¯d been so consumed with her own problems that she hadn¡¯t paid enough attention to her family¡¯s strugglingpany ¨C the verypany her father had built from nothing.


    After a moment of calction, she made her decision. ¡°I can help.¡±


    ¡°ra, no,¡± ra protested. ¡°We¡¯re not asking you for money.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re not. But I want to do this.¡± She turned to Victor. ¡°I can transfer seven million to thepany ount tomorrow.¡±


    Victor stared at her in shock. ¡°Seven million? ra, where would you even get that kind of money?¡±


    She smiled faintly. ¡°Did you forget I co¨Cfounded YodaVision before I married Damien? Julian has been sending me my share of the profits all these years. I¡¯ve barely touched


    it.¡±


    ra reached across the table to squeeze her hand. ¡°You¡¯ve been saving all this time?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t need it. Damien provided everything.¡± A shadow crossed her face. ¡°But that¡¯s changing now. And I want to help. Thatpany was my father¡¯s legacy.¡±


    Victor¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears. ¡°This would save us, ra. But are you


    sure<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Absolutely. And there¡¯s more. I¡¯m returning to YodaVision next month. If things go well with our new AI integration project, I might be able to create a partnership that would benefit Vance Technologies too.¡±


    03:30


    <


    9 The Tycoon¡¯s Forgotten Wife


    For the first time in months, ra felt a sense of purpose, of agency. She wasn¡¯t just Damien Thorne¡¯s overlooked wife ¨C she was ra Vance, brilliant AI specialist and businesswoman in her own right.


    Later that evening, Damien returned to the penthouse after his dinner with Vivienne. The apartment was quiet, the living room dark except for a smallmp. He checked his watch ¨C just past ten.


    Cora¡¯s room was his first stop. His daughtery sleeping, her dark curls spilling across the pillow, her favorite stuffed rabbit clutched tightly in one arm. He leaned down to kiss her forehead gently.


    ¡°Goodnight, princess,¡± he whispered.


    Continuing down the hallway, he paused outside the master bedroom. He expected to find ra there, perhaps already asleep or reading one of her novels. For some reason, the confrontation with her today still nagged at him.


    He turned the doorknob and flipped on the light.


    The room was empty. The bed was made, untouched. ra¡¯s side of the closet looked sparse ¨C not entirely empty, but many of her usual items were missing.


    Damien stood in the doorway, a strange uneasiness settling in his chest. Where was


    she?


    He pulled out his phone, hesitating before dialing her number. After several rings, it went to voicemail.


    ¡°This is ra. Please leave a message.¡±


    He disconnected without speaking. Seven years of marriage, and he suddenly realized he had no idea where his wife might be at ten o¡¯clock on a Wednesday night.


    For the first time since receiving her divorce papers, a troubling thought urred to Damien Thorne ¨C perhaps ra was truly serious about leaving him.


    ¨C


    He walked to the window, looking out at the glittering city below. Somewhere out there, his wife was building a life that no longer included him. The realization should have brought relief ¨C wasn¡¯t this what he¡¯d wanted all along? Freedom from a marriage


    03:39


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    9 The Tycoon¡¯s Forgotten Wife


    he¡¯d been forced into?


    Instead, as he stood alone in the silent bedroom, Damien felt something unexpected ¨C curiosity about the woman who had shared his name for seven years, yet remained


    somehow unknown to him.


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    03:39

 The Sprawling 10

    10 An Eavesdropped Favor, A Daughter¡¯s Hurt


    Damien Thorne stood in the doorway of his daughter¡¯s bedroom, watching her y with her toys. The divorce papers ra had served him sat heavily on his desk, unsigned.


    ¡°Cora,¡± he called softly. ¡°Come here, princess.¡±


    The five¨Cyear¨Cold looked up from her dolls, her dark curls bouncing as she jumped to her feet. ¡°Yes, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re starting at Westbrook Academy tomorrow.¡± Damien knelt to her level. ¡°Are you excited?¡±


    Cora nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Will Mommy be there?¡±


    Damien¡¯s jaw tightened slightly. ¡°No. I¡¯ll be dropping you off.¡±


    ¡°Where is Mommy? She didn¡¯te homest night.¡± Cora¡¯s eyes were wide with innocent curiosity.


    ¡°She¡¯s staying at Great¨CGrandma ra¡¯s house for a while,¡± he exined, the lieing easily. He had no idea where ra was staying, but ra¡¯s seemed the most logical guess.


    Cora¡¯s bottom lip pushed out in a pout. ¡°But why?¡±


    Before Damien could answer, his phone rang. He checked the screen and sighed. ¡°I


    need to take this. Go back to ying.¡±


    He stepped into the hallway. ¡°Hello, Grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Damien, darling.¡± Eleanor Thorne¡¯smanding voice filled his ear. ¡°I¡¯m hosting dinner tomorrow at Thorne Manor. I expect you, ra, and little Cora to attend.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother, now isn¡¯t a good time¡ª¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. Six o¡¯clock sharp. Don¡¯t bete.¡± She hung up before he could protest.


    Damien cursed under his breath. He¡¯d have to contact ra. They hadn¡¯t spoken since


    03:39


    <b>< </b>


    10 An Eavesdropped Favor, A Daughter¡¯s Hurt


    she¡¯d left the penthouse days ago.


    He dialed her number, surprised when she answered on the second ring.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Her voice was cool, professional.


    ¡°My grandmother is insisting we have dinner at Thorne Manor tomorrow night. All


    three of us.¡±


    There was a pause. ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Can you be here by five?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No.¡± Her response was immediate. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you there.¡±


    Damien frowned. ¡°What about Cora? Don¡¯t you want to see her before¡ª¡±


    ¡°I have meetings all day.¡± ra¡¯s tone left no room for argument. ¡°I¡¯ll see you both at


    dinner.¡±


    The call disconnected, leaving Damien staring at his phone in confusion. The ra he knew would have dropped everything to spend time with Cora. This distant, detached woman was someone he didn¡¯t recognize.


    Back in the bedroom, Cora was arranging her dolls in a circle. She looked up as Damien


    entered.


    ¡°Daddy, when is Aunt Viviing over again?¡±


    ¡°Soon, princess.¡± He sat on the edge of her bed. ¡°She has that big race this weekend,


    remember?¡±


    Cora¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Can we go watch her?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Damien smiled at her enthusiasm.


    ¡°Will Mommye too?¡± Cora asked hopefully.


    Damien hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m not sure your mother would enjoy that.¡±


    Cora climbed onto hisp, her small face suddenly serious. ¡°Daddy, you can¡¯t tell Mommy about Aunt Vivi¡¯s race.¡±


    03:39


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    10 An Eavesdropped Favor, A Daughter¡¯s Hurt


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because every time we talk about Aunt Vivi, Mommy gets that sad face.¡± Cora


    demonstrated by pulling her features into an exaggerated frown. ¡°I don¡¯t like when Mommy has that face.¡±


    Something ufortable twisted in Damien¡¯s chest. Had his daughter really noticed such things? ¡°I won¡¯t tell her,¡± he promised.


    ¡°Pinky swear?¡± Cora held out her tiny finger.


    ¡°Pinky swear.¡± He linked his finger with hers.


    Satisfied, Cora returned to her dolls, leaving Damien with the unsettling realization that his five¨Cyear¨Cold daughter was learning to keep secrets from her mother to avoid causing her pain.


    The next day, ra checked her watch as she approached the Thorne Industries building. She had thirty minutes before her lunch meeting with ra at the bistro across the street. Enough time to drop off some personal items from her office that she¡¯d forgotten during her hasty departure.


    As she entered the lobby, the receptionist¡¯s eyes widened in recognition. ¡°Mrs. Thorne! We weren¡¯t expecting you today.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be long,¡± ra assured her, heading for the elevator.


    When the doors opened on the executive floor, ra froze. Standing in the hallway outside Damien¡¯s office were two men ¨C Damien himself and a figure ra hadn¡¯t seen in years but would recognize anywhere.


    Her father, Alistair Dubois.


    Instinctively, she stepped back into the elevator alcove, hidden from view but close enough to hear their conversation.


    ¡°I can¡¯t thank you enough for your assistance with the Brussels acquisition,¡± Alistair was saying, his hand sping Damien¡¯s shoulder. ¡°The board was impressed with your influence.¡±


    03:39


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    <


    10 An Eavesdropped Favor, A Daughter¡¯s Hurt


    ¡°It was nothing,¡± Damien replied smoothly. ¡°The partnership benefits both our


    Alistair lowered his voice, but ra could still make out his words. ¡°There¡¯s something


    else I wanted to discuss. About Vivienne.¡±


    ra¡¯s heart constricted at the mention of her half¨Csister¡¯s name.


    ¡°Vivienne is here by herself. Her mother and I worry about her.¡± Alistair¡¯s tone was filled with paternal concern. ¡°Please take good care of her.¡±


    ¡°You have my word,¡± Damien assured him.


    The pain that shot through ra¡¯s chest was physical, stealing her breath. In all the years since her mother¡¯s death, Alistair had never once asked anyone to look after her. Never shown a fraction of the concern he disyed for Vivienne.


    She backed away slowly, abandoning her n to visit her office. With trembling hands, she texted ra to reschedule their lunch, then fled the building before anyone could notice her.


    By the time ra arrived at Thorne Manor that evening, she hadposed herself. Her hair was perfectly styled, her designer dress immacte, her makeup concealing any trace of the tears she¡¯d shed earlier.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne, wee.¡± The butler greeted her at the door. ¡°The family is gathered in the drawing room.¡±


    ra nodded her thanks and made her way through the grand foyer. Before she reached the drawing room, a small figure came running toward her.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Coraunched herself at ra¡¯s legs.


    Despite everything, ra¡¯s heart swelled with love. She knelt down, gathering her daughter into her arms. ¡°Hello, my darling. I¡¯ve missed you.¡±


    Cora allowed the embrace for a moment before squirming free. ¡°Daddy got me a new dress for school tomorrow. Want to see?¡±


    03:39


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    10 An Eavesdropped Favor, A Daughter¡¯s Hurt


    ¡°I¡¯d love to,¡± ra smiled, rising to her feet.


    Cora grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the drawing room. ¡°Great¨CGrandma Eleanor says I look like a proper Thorne in it.¡±


    ra¡¯s smile faltered slightly at the words. Cora had always been more Thorne than Vance in appearance, with her dark hair and sharp features so reminiscent of Damien.


    In the drawing room, Eleanor Thorne sat regally in her favorite armchair, while Damien stood by the firece, drink in hand. Both turned as ra and Cora entered.


    ¡°ra, dear, there you are.¡± Eleanor extended her hand. ¡°We were beginning to worry.¡±


    ¡°I apologize for beingte.¡± ra bent to kiss the elderly woman¡¯s cheek.


    Eleanor held her at arm¡¯s length, studying her face. ¡°You look tired. Is everything alright?¡±


    Before ra could respond, Damien interrupted. ¡°Grandmother, I believe dinner is ready to be served.¡±


    Throughout the meal, ra maintained a polite fa?ade, answering Eleanor¡¯s questions about her work and Cora¡¯s schooling with practiced case. She avoided looking directly at Damien, focusing instead on her daughter, who chattered excitedly about her new


    school.


    ¡°And Aunt Vivi promised to help me with my show¨Cand¨Ctell project,¡± Cora announced


    between bites of dessert.


    ra¡¯s fork ttered against her te. ¡°Show¨Cand¨Ctell?¡±


    ¡°Oops.¡± Cora¡¯s eyes widened as she nced guiltily at Damien. ¡°I forgot we weren¡¯t supposed to tell Mommy.¡±


    An awkward silence descended over the table. Eleanor looked between them with confusion, while Damien¡¯s expression remained carefully neutral.


    ¡°Why weren¡¯t you supposed to tell me?¡± ra asked softly.


    Cora squirmed in her seat. ¡°Because you get sad when we talk about Aunt Vivi.¡±


    The simplicity of her daughter¡¯s words struck ra like a physical blow. She became


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    < 10 An Eavesdropped Favor, A Daughter¡¯s Hurt


    acutely aware of Eleanor¡¯s curious gaze and Damien¡¯s sudden difort.


    ¡°I see.¡± ra ced her napkin beside her te and stood. ¡°Would you excuse me for a moment?¡±


    She walked with measured steps to the nearest bathroom, locked the door, and leaned heavily against the marble counter. In the ornate mirror, her reflection stared back,posed but hollow¨Ceyed.


    Her daughter was keeping secrets from her. About Vivienne. With Damien¡¯s


    encouragement.


    The conversation she¡¯d overheard earlier reyed in her mind: ¡°Please take good care of Vivienne.¡± Her father¡¯s words to her husband burned like acid.


    A soft knock at the door startled her. ¡°ra?¡± It was Damien¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and opened the door. ¡°Perfectly fine.¡±


    Damien stood too close, his familiar cologne making her heart ache despite herself. ¡°About what Cora said-


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ra stepped around him. ¡°I need to speak with you about something more important.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    She met his eyes directly for the first time that evening. ¡°I want joint custody of Cora, but I think it¡¯s best if she primarily stays with you for now.¡±


    Surprise flickered across Damien¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re giving up custody?¡±


    ¡°Not giving up. Sharing.¡± ra kept her voice steady despite the pain crushing her chest. ¡°I¡¯m still figuring out my living situation, and Cora has school starting tomorrow. The stability of staying with you will be better for her.¡±


    ¡°ra-¡±


    ¡°This is what¡¯s best for our daughter.¡± She turned away before he could see the tears threatening to fall. <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯ll </b>have mywyer draft the agreement.¡±


    03:39


    10 An Eavesdropped Favor, A Daughter¡¯s Hurt


    As ra walked back toward the dining room, she felt something shift inside her. Thest fragile thread of hope she¡¯d been clinging to¨Cthat somehow, her family could remain whole¨Csnapped cleanly.


    Her father had Vivienne. Damien had Vivienne. Even Cora was beginning to choose


    Vivienne.


    ra Vance Thorne stood alone.

 The Sprawling 11

    11 A Resigned Heart at Dinner


    ra took a deep breath before stepping back into the dining room. The conversation she¡¯d overheard earlier between Damien and Vivienne¡¯s father kept reying in her


    mind.


    *Please take good care of her,¡± Alistair had said about Vivienne.


    The stark contrast between his paternal concern for her half¨Csister and hisplete disregard for her own well¨Cbeing over the years stung. She had never once heard those words directed toward her.


    Eleanor beamed when ra returned to the table. ¡°There you are, dear. Come sit.


    We¡¯re discussing the charity g next month.¡±


    Victoria Sterling, Damien¡¯s mother, nced up with cold eyes. ¡°Will you be attending, ra? I assumed you¡¯d be too busy with your¡­ new job.¡±


    The emphasis on ¡°new job¡± dripped with disdain. Victoria had never approved of ra working outside the family business, viewing it as somehow beneath the Thorne family image.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± ra replied calmly, reiming her seat.


    Sabrina, Damien¡¯s sister, smirked. ¡°Father would be disappointed to see his preciouspany losing its most dedicated secretary.¡±


    ra maintained herposure. ¡°I¡¯ve already submitted my resignation from Thorne Industries, actually. My recement starts training next week.¡±


    A hush fell over the table. Eleanor¡¯s fork paused halfway to her mouth. Victoria¡¯s eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise.


    ¡°You resigned?¡± Eleanor asked, concern evident in her voice. ¡°But you¡¯ve worked there for years.¡±


    ¡°Seven years,¡± ra confirmed. ¡°It was time for a change.¡±


    Damien, who had just returned to the dining room, frowned. ¡°You never mentioned


    03:40


    11 A Resigned Heart at Dinner


    resigning.¡±


    ¡°I left the letter on your desk yesterday,¡± ra replied without looking at him. ¡°Along with the quarterly reports you requested.¡±


    Before Damien could respond, the door swung open as Ethan Thorne, his younger brother, sauntered in with his usual carefree air.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte. Traffic was murder.¡± He kissed Eleanor¡¯s cheek and nodded to Damien. When he spotted ra, his face lit up. ¡°ra! Haven¡¯t seen you in ages. You look¡­ different.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s lost too much weight,¡± Eleanormented, eyeing ra with grandmotherly concern. ¡°You¡¯re practically disappearing, dear.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been busy,¡± ra said softly.


    Cora tugged at ra¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mommy, look what Great¨CGrandma got me!¡± She proudly disyed a delicate bracelet with small diamond charms.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, sweetheart.¡± ra smiled genuinely for the first time that evening.


    ¡°I got matching ones for you and Aunt Vivi too!¡± Cora continued excitedly. ¡°Great¨CGrandma says it¡¯s a symbol of family.¡±


    ra¡¯s smile froze. She caught Damien watching her, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°How thoughtful,¡± she managed to say, though the words felt like ss in her throat.


    Eleanor, oblivious to the tension, patted Cora¡¯s hand. ¡°Family is everything, little one.


    Remember that.¡±


    The staff began serving the main course, momentarily distracting everyone. ra used the opportunity topose herself, focusing on cutting her food into small, precise pieces she had no appetite for.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s this new job that¡¯s stolen you away from Thorne Industries?¡± Sabrina asked, her tone deceptively light.


    ¡°I¡¯m returning to AI development,¡± ra replied. ¡°My original field before I joined


    Thorne Industries.¡±


    03:40


    <


    11 A Resigned Heart at Dinner


    ¡°With that¡­ friend of yours? The entric one?¡± Victoria asked with thinly veiled disapproval.


    ¡°Julian Croft,¡± ra supplied. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m rejoining YodaVision as Chief Innovation Officer.¡±


    Ethan whistled. ¡°Impressive title.¡±


    ¡°Julian always did have a soft spot for you,¡± Victoriamented, the implication clear


    in her tone.


    ¡°He values my expertise,¡± ra replied evenly. ¡°We founded thepany together in college.¡±


    ¡°And you abandoned it for marriage,¡± Sabrina added with false sympathy.


    ra met her gaze directly. ¡°A decision I¡¯m now rectifying.¡±


    The loaded statement hung in the air. Eleanor nced between ra and Damien with sudden concern, while Victoria¡¯s eyes narrowed suspiciously.


    ¡°What exactly does that mean?¡± Victoria demanded.


    Before ra could respond, Damien cut in smoothly. ¡°It means ra is exploring her professional options. Something we should all support.¡±


    His unexpected defense surprised ra, though she knew it was merely to avoid a scene at his grandmother¡¯s dinner table.


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s really smart,¡± Cora dered proudly. ¡°That¡¯s what Daddy says.¡±


    This simple statement caught ra off guard. She nced at Damien, who was suddenly very interested in his wine ss.


    ¡°Your father is right,¡± Eleanor agreed warmly. ¡°Your mother has always been brilliant.¡±


    The conversation shifted to safer topics as the meal progressed. ra participated minimally, offering polite smiles and brief responses when required. Inside, she felt hollowed out, going through the motions of a family dinner that no longer held meaning for her.


    When dessert was served, Eleanor announced, ¡°We should rearrange the seating. Damien, why don¡¯t you sit beside ra? You¡¯ve barely spoken to your wife all evening.¡±


    03:40


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    <


    11 A Resigned Heart at Dinner


    The familiar matchmaking attempt¨Cone that would have once given ra hope¨Cnow felt like a particrly cruel joke.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma,¡± ra said with a gentle smile, though her eyes remained distant. ¡°This seating arrangement is fine.¡±


    Eleanor looked surprised by the refusal. In the past, ra would have eagerly epted any opportunity to be closer to Damien. Her quiet resistance signaled a shift that wasn¡¯t lost on the sharp¨Ceyed matriarch. .


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Eleanor insisted. ¡°Damien, move next to your wife.¡±


    With obvious reluctance, Damienplied, taking the seat beside ra. She could feel the heat from his body, smell his familiar cologne. Once, his proximity would have made her heart race with hope. Now, it simply reminded her of everything she was losing¡ªhad already lost.


    ¡°When will Aunt Vivi be back from her trip?¡± Cora asked Damien, oblivious to the tension between her parents.


    ¡°Sunday evening,¡± Damien replied. ¡°After her race.¡±


    ¡°Can I stay upte to watch it on TV?¡± Cora pleaded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Damien said, his expression softening as it always did with their daughter.


    ra felt a familiar pang watching them. Damien had never looked at her with such genuine affection.


    ¡°Perhaps ra could watch it with you,¡± Eleanor suggested, still trying to create family moments where none existed.


    ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t like racing,¡± Cora stated matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°She gets that sad face


    when Aunt Vivi races.¡±


    The innocent observation silenced the table again. ra felt Damien shift


    ufortably beside her.


    ¡°I¡¯m just nervous about the dangers,¡± ra said carefully, protecting her daughter from theplicated truth. ¡°But if you want to watch, of course you can.¡±


    03:40


    11 A Resigned Heart at Dinner


    ¡°With Daddy,¡± Cora rified, as if correcting a misunderstanding.


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra agreed softly. ¡°With Daddy.¡±


    *52


    The remainder of dinner passed in a blur of forced conversation and awkward silences. When Eleanor finally suggested they move to the drawing room for coffee, ra seized the opportunity.


    ¡°I should actually be going¡± she said, rising from her seat. ¡°Early meeting tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°But you just got here,¡± Eleanor protested. ¡°Surely you can stay a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡± ra bent to kiss Cora¡¯s cheek. ¡°Be good for Daddy, sweetheart. I¡¯ll see you this weekend.¡±


    Cora hugged her briefly before turning her attention back to her dessert. The casual dismissal hurt, but ra maintained herposure.


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out,¡± Damien offered unexpectedly.


    In the grand foyer, away from prying eyes, ra finally allowed herself to exhale.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to resign,¡± Damien said quietly.


    ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ra met his gaze steadily. ¡°Being your secretary while you divorce me


    would be¡­ untenable.¡±


    ¡°You were never just my secretary.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she agreed. ¡°I was your wife too. But soon I¡¯ll be neither.¡±


    Something flickered across Damien¡¯s face¨Cdifort, perhaps, or maybe just impatience to end the conversation.


    ¡°About what Cora said, regarding Vivienne¡¯s racing-¡±


    ra held up a hand to stop him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Damien. Our daughter is observant, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be keeping secrets from you.¡±


    ¡°There will be many things about our lives that Cora won¡¯t understand,¡± ra said


    03:40)


    670


    <


    11 A Resigned Heart at Dinner


    wearily. ¡°We¡¯ll both need to shield her from certain truths while she¡¯s young.¡±


    Damien studied her face. ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve epted reality.¡± ra reached for the door handle. ¡°Goodnight, Damien.¡±


    As she walked to her car, ra felt the weight of the evening pressing down on her shoulders. Each step took her further from the family dream she¡¯d cherished for seven years¨Cthe dream that Damien had never shared.


    For the first time, she didn¡¯t look back to see if he was watching her leave.

 The Sprawling 12

    12 The Missing Ring, Silent Tensions


    Eleanor Thorne surveyed the dining table with a critical eye. Despite her best efforts, the atmosphere remained heavy with unspoken tension. She frowned as ra quietly pushed food around her te, barely eating.


    ¡°ra, dear, you¡¯ve hardly touched your salmon. Is something wrong with it?¡± Eleanor


    asked.


    ra looked up, her expression carefullyposed. ¡°It¡¯s delicious, Eleanor. I¡¯m just not very hungry tonight.¡±


    ¡°You need to eat more,¡± Eleanor insisted. ¡°You¡¯re getting too thin.¡±


    Damien, seated at the opposite end of the table, didn¡¯t even nce up from his phone. His fingers moved rapidly across the screen,pletely disconnected from the dinner


    conversation.


    Eleanor cleared her throat pointedly. ¡°Damien, no phones at the dinner table. That¡¯s been the rule since you were a boy.¡±


    Damien looked up reluctantly. ¡°Sorry, Grandma. Business emergency.¡± He set the phone down beside his te but kept stealing nces at it.


    Eleanor noticed ra¡¯s left hand as she reached for her water ss. Something was


    missing.


    ¡°ra, where¡¯s your wedding ring?¡± Eleanor asked, her voice sharper than intended.


    The table fell silent. Cora looked up from her te, curious eyes darting between the


    adults.


    ra¡¯s hand froze mid¨Cair. She recovered quickly, lowering her hand to herp.


    ¡°I forgot to put it back on after my shower,¡± she replied smoothly. ¡°It¡¯s on my dresser at


    home.¡±


    Eleanor¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You never take that ring off. I remember you telling me that years ago.¡±


    03:40


    12 The Missing Ring, Silent Tensions


    ra¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to damage it while using the new exfoliating scrub Chloe rmended.¡±


    Damien nced at ra¡¯s hand, his expression unreadable. He said nothing and


    returned to his meal.


    ¡°Well, make sure you put it on when you get home,¡± Eleanor said firmly. ¡°A wedding ring is a symbol ofmitment. It should never leave your finger.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± ra murmured.


    The conversation shifted to safer topics¨CCora¡¯s school projects, Eleanor¡¯s charity work, the uing holiday season. Throughout it all, ra spoke only when directly addressed. Damien remained equally silent, answering in clipped sentences when


    necessary.


    When dessert arrived, Eleanor made her move. ¡°Damien,e sit by your wife. I hardly ever see you two together these days.¡±


    Damien hesitated, but Eleanor¡¯s stern look left no room for argument. With obvious reluctance, he moved to the empty chair beside ra.


    Though their shoulders nearly touched, the space between them might as well have been an ocean. Neither leaned toward the other, neither sought eye contact. They sat like perfect strangers, maintaining careful inches between their bodies.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this nice?¡± Eleanor said with forced cheerfulness. ¡°Almost like your wedding day.


    Remember how beautiful it was, ra?¡±


    ¡°It was lovely,¡± ra agreed automatically.


    ¡°Daddy, can I show Mommy my new doll collection before bedtime?¡± Cora asked, thankfully changing the subject.


    Damien nodded. ¡°Of course, sweetheart.¡±


    After dinner, ra followed Cora upstairs to her bedroom. The little girl chatted excitedly as she showed off her newest toys,ying them out on her bed one by one.


    ¡°And this one¡¯s from Aunt Vivi,¡± Cora said, holding up an expensive¨Clooking doll with real ss eyes. ¡°She brought it back from Parisst month.¡±


    03:40


    12 The Missing Ring, Silent Tensions


    ra smiled despite the familiar pang in her chest. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Aunt Vivi says she¡¯ll take me to Paris someday. Just us girls.¡± Cora hugged the doll to her chest. ¡°And maybe Daddy too.¡±


    ra¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°That sounds fun.¡±


    She watched as Cora carefully arranged her dolls, noticing how her daughter kept ncing at the clock.


    ¡°Are you waiting for something, sweetie?¡± ra asked.


    Cora shook her head too quickly. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost your bedtime. Let¡¯s get you ready.¡±


    As ra helped Cora into her pajamas, she noticed her daughter¡¯s unusual quietness. Cora kept looking at her phone, which lit up several times with iing messages.


    ¡°Who¡¯s texting you sote?¡± ra asked casually.


    Cora snatched the phone away. ¡°Just friends.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a school night. You shouldn¡¯t be texting thiste.¡±


    ¡°Dad lets me,¡± Cora replied defensively.


    ra bit her lip. ¡°Well, when you¡¯re here with me, bedtime means no more phone


    time.¡±


    Cora¡¯s face clouded. ¡°That¡¯s not fair! Aunt Vivi says I¡¯m mature enough to set my own


    screen time.¡±


    The mention of Vivienne again made ra¡¯s chest tighten. She took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m your mother, Cora. Not Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Cora muttered. ¡°Can I have some privacy now? I need to change.¡±


    ¡°You just changed into your pajamas,¡± ra said, confused.


    ¡°I want to put on different ones.¡± Cora stood with her arms crossed. ¡°Please?¡±


    Sensing a losing battle, ra nodded. ¡°Alright. Five minutes, then lights out.¡±


    03:40


    <


    12 The Missing Ring, Silent Tensions


    She stepped into the hallway, waiting outside the door. Through the wood, she heard


    the soft tap of phone buttons, then Cora¡¯s whispered voice, though she couldn¡¯t make


    out the words.


    When ra tried to re¨Center a few minutester, she found the door locked.


    ¡°Cora?¡± she called, knocking gently. ¡°Open the door, please.¡±


    ¡°Just a minute!¡± Cora called back, sounding flustered.


    After several moments, the lock clicked. When ra entered, Cora was already in bed, her phone nowhere in sight.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your phone?¡± ra askea.


    ¡°Charging¡± Cora replied, pointing to her desk where the phoney face¨Cdown.


    ra approached the bed, brushing Cora¡¯s hair from her forehead. ¡°Goodnight, sweetheart. I love you.¡±


    Cora epted her kiss but didn¡¯t return the words, instead turning to face the wall. ¡°Night.¡±


    With a heavy heart, ra left the room, closing the door softly behind her.


    In her own bedroom¨Cthe guest room she now used when staying at the manor¨Cra sat at the vanity, staring at her reflection. She opened her small jewelry case and took out her wedding ring, turning it over in her fingers. The diamond caught the light, throwing tiny rainbows across the wall.


    For seven years, this ring had been her most treasured possession. Now it felt like a


    shackle.


    She returned it to the case and closed the lid firmly.


    The clock on the nightstand showed 11:30 PM. Damien still hadn¡¯te upstairs. ra knew he was avoiding her¨Cavoiding the ufortable silence that always hung between them now.


    Unable to sleep, she slipped into her robe and headed downstairs for some tea. The manor was quiet, most of the lights dimmed for the night. As she approached the main


    03:40


    12 The Missing Ring, Silent Tensions


    staircase, voices drifted up from the darkened foyer below.


    ¡°Are you avoiding going back because ra is there?¡± a female voice asked. It wasn¡¯t Eleanor¡¯s¨Cyounger, sharper. ¡°You don¡¯t want to face her, do you?¡±


    ra froze on thending, her hand gripping the banister. She couldn¡¯t see the speakers, hidden in the shadows of the entranceway below, but she recognized Damien¡¯s silhouette against the frosted ss of the front door.


    ¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± Damien replied, his voice low.


    ¡°It¡¯s notplicated,¡± the woman countered. ¡°You¡¯re hiding down here because you¡¯re a coward.¡±


    ra held her breath, waiting for Damien¡¯s response.


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    03:40

 The Sprawling 13

    13 Eavesdropped Truths and Shifting Loyalties


    ra clutched the banister, her knuckles turning white as she strained to hear the conversation below. The hallway was dark enough to conceal her presence, allowing her to remain unnoticed on thending. 1


    ¡°I¡¯m not hiding, Sabrina,¡± Damien replied, his tone clipped. ¡°Just waiting for her to go to sleep.¡±


    ra recognized the voice now¨CDamien¡¯s sister, Sabrina Thorne. Always outspoken,


    never one to soften her words.


    ¡°Same difference,¡± Sabrina scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re avoiding your wife. Not that I me you. The whole arrangement is awkward.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s temporary,¡± Damien said dismissively.


    ¡°How temporary? You¡¯ve been stringing her along for years.¡± Sabrina¡¯s heels clicked against the marble floor as she paced. ¡°Vivienne mentioned you¡¯re meeting her tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°And ra? What about her job at Thorne Industries?¡±


    There was a pause before Damien answered, his voice lower. ¡°I had Ethan terminate her employmentst week.¡±


    ra¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She¡¯d handed in her resignation letter, believing she had left on her own terms.


    ¡°She thinks she resigned,¡± Damien continued. ¡°Better that way.¡±


    ¡°Always the gentleman,¡± Sabrina remarked sarcastically. ¡°At least you¡¯re finally cutting ties. Vivienne¡¯s perfect for you¨Cbrilliant, aplished, beautiful.¡±


    ¡°She understands me,¡± Damien agreed.


    ra pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling any sound that might escape. So her resignation had been a lie¨Cjust another humiliation orchestrated by Damien.


    03:40


    <


    13 Eavesdropped Truths and Shifting Loyalties


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m heading up,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°Don¡¯t stay down here all night avoiding the


    inevitable.¡±


    Their voices faded as Sabrina headed toward the east wing where the guest rooms were located. ra remained frozen, processing what she¡¯d heard. When she finally moved to retreat, a floorboard creaked beneath her foot.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Damien called sharply.


    ra considered fleeing but straightened her spine instead. She wouldn¡¯t skulk away like a thief. She descended the stairs with measured steps, her face a careful mask.


    ¡°Just me,¡± she said evenly. ¡°I wasing down for tea.¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression gave nothing away as he studied her. ¡°How long were you standing there?¡±


    ¡°Long enough.¡±


    They stood in tense silence, the truth hanging between them.


    ¡°You had me fired,¡± ra stated tly. ¡°You couldn¡¯t even give me the dignity of


    resigning.¡±


    ¡°It was cleaner this way,¡± Damien replied, his tone businesslike. ¡°The terms were still


    the same.¡±


    ¡°The terms, yes. But not the truth.¡± ra¡¯sugh held no humor. ¡°You know what hurts the most? I actually believed I had some control over the situation.¡±


    Before Damien could respond, footsteps approached from the hallway.


    ¡°ra,¡± Ethan Thorne, Damien¡¯s younger brother, looked surprised to see her. ¡°I


    thought I heard voices.¡±


    Unlike Damien, Ethan¡¯s smile was warm. He¡¯d always been kinder, less calcting than


    his older brother.


    ¡°I was just headed to the kitchen,¡± ra exined.


    ¡°Let me join you,¡± Ethan offered. ¡°I was about to make some tea myself.¡±


    03:40


    13 Eavesdropped Truths and Shifting Loyalties


    Damien¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I have work to finish,¡± he said curtly, then headed toward his study without another nce.


    In the kitchen, Ethan prepared two mugs of chamomile tea. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the job,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Damien insisted on handling it personally.¡±


    ¡°Yet he had you do the dirty work,¡± ra observed, wrapping her fingers around the warm mug.


    ¡°He¡¯s not always¡­¡± Ethan trailed off. ¡°I¡¯m just sorry. You were good at your job.¡±


    ra smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you, Ethan. For being honest with me.¡±


    They sat inpanionable silence for a few minutes before ra excused herself. As she climbed the stairs, her heart felt oddly steady. Another illusion shattered, but somehow, it hurt less than expected.


    Back in her room, she closed the door and leaned against it. No tears came. Instead, a strange calm settled over her. She was tired of caring what Damien thought, tired of allowing his actions to dictate her emotions.


    When Damien finally entered their bedroom hourster, ra was sitting in bed, reading. She didn¡¯t look up.


    ¡°You should be asleep,¡± he said, loosening his tie.


    ¡°And you should be honest,¡± she replied evenly, turning a page. ¡°But we can¡¯t always get what we want.¡±


    Damien paused. ¡°You¡¯re angry about the job.¡±


    ¡°I was,¡± ra admitted. ¡°Now I¡¯m just tired.¡±


    She set her book aside and slid under the covers, turning away from his side of the bed. She didn¡¯t offer to help with his cufflinks as she usually did, didn¡¯t ask about his day or remind him about tomorrow¡¯s schedule.


    Damien seemed momentarily thrown by her indifference. He stood by the bed, as if waiting for her to perform her usual wifely duties.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he finally asked¡­


    03:40


    <


    13 Eavesdropped Truths and Shifting Loyalties


    ¡°Nothing that concerns you anymore.¡± ra kept her back to him. ¡°Goodnight,


    Damien.¡±


    The bed dipped as he sat on the edge, but he didn¡¯t lie down. Instead, his phone rang, and he answered immediately.


    ¡°Yes?¡± His voice softened noticeably. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not busy.¡±


    ra remained still, listening to the one¨Csided conversation. The change in Damien¡¯s tone said everything¨Cwhoever was calling had his full attention, his warmth. Vivienne.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there first thing,¡± he promised before ending the call.


    Without another word to ra, Damien headed to the bathroom. When he emerged, he grabbed a pillow and nket.


    ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the study tonight,¡± he announced. ¡°I have early meetings tomorrow.¡±


    ra didn¡¯t respond, pretending to be asleep. Only when the door clicked shut did she open her eyes, staring at the empty space beside her.


    The next morning, ra woke to find Damien¡¯s side of the bed undisturbed. He hadn¡¯t returned during the night. She dressed quickly and went to rouse Cora for school.


    ¡°Time to get up, sweetheart,¡± she called, knocking on Cora¡¯s door.


    A grumpy Cora emerged, hair tangled and eyes narrowed. ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡±


    ¡°He had an early meeting,¡± ra exined. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to school today.¡±


    ¡°But Dad always takes me on Thursdays,¡± Corained. ¡°It¡¯s our tradition.¡±


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t today. Now please get dressed¨Cwe¡¯re running l?te.¡±


    Cora stomped back into her room. When she reappeared, ra noticed she¡¯d changed her outfitpletely. Instead of the neat uniform blouse and skirt ra hadid out, Cora wore a bright camouge shirt with sequins over her uniform skirt.


    ¡°Where did thate from?¡± ra asked, frowning.


    ¡°Aunt Vivi got it for me.¡± Cora lifted her chin defiantly. ¡°She said I should wear it whenever I want to feel brave and strong.¡±


    03:40


    13 Eavesdropped Truths and Shifting Loyalties


    ra recognized the shirt instantly¨CVivienne had posted pictures wearing a simr style on social media just weeks ago. The message wasn¡¯t subtle: Cora was dering her allegiance.


    ¡°That¡¯s not appropriate for school,¡± ra said firmly.


    ¡°Dad lets me wear it,¡± Cora countered. ¡°Aunt Vivi says it makes me look cool.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not Dad, and I¡¯m certainly not Vivienne,¡± ra replied, struggling to keep her voice steady. ¡°Please change back into your proper uniform.¡±

 The Sprawling 14

    14 An Idol¡¯s Message, A Child¡¯s Fury


    ra watched her daughter pace around the kitchen ind. Cora checked her phone


    for the fifth time in three minutes, her small face pinched with anxiety.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t she answering?¡± Cora mumbled, ncing at her screen again.


    ¡°Who?¡± ra asked, cing a bowl of cereal in front of Cora¡¯s chair.


    ¡°Aunt Vivi.¡± Cora¡¯s tone was clipped. ¡°She has her big race today, but she hasn¡¯t answered my good luck text.¡±


    ra noted Cora¡¯s attireesigner jeans with rhinestones down the sides and a bright pink crop top that was far too mature for a child her age. Her daughter had even attempted to style her hair like Vivienne¡¯s signature messy waves. The resemnce made ra¡¯s stomach tighten.


    ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy preparing,¡± ra suggested gently. ¡°Racing requires intense focus.¡±


    Cora scowled. ¡°She always answers me. Always.¡±


    When Cora¡¯s phone remained silent, she mmed it down on the table. ¡°This is your


    fault!¡±


    ¡°My fault?¡± ra blinked in surprise. ¡°How could it possibly¡¯¡±


    knows you¡¯re here this weekend instead of traveling!¡± Cora snapped. ¡°She ably thinks you¡¯ll get mad if she texts me.¡±


    ra took a deep breath. ¡°Cora, that¡¯s not true. Vivienne has never needed my permission tomunicate with you.¡±


    ¡°Whatever.¡± Cora pushed away her cereal bowl. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡±


    ra sat down across from her daughter. ¡°You need breakfast before school.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡± Cora demanded, ignoring the food.


    ¡°He had an early meeting,¡± ra lied smoothly. She wouldn¡¯t tell Cora that Damien had left before dawn to attend Vivienne¡¯s race.


    03:40


    <


    14 An Idol¡¯s Message, A Child¡¯s Fury


    ¡°He promised to watch Aunt Vivi¡¯s race with me tonight,¡± Cora said, perking up slightly. ¡°We¡¯re going to make popcorn and everything.¡±


    ¡°That sounds nice.¡± ra kept her voice neutral despite the sharp ache in her chest. Another family moment she wasn¡¯t included in.


    Cora reluctantly began eating her cereal while continuously checking her phone. ra took the opportunity to observe her daughter more closely. When had Cora be so attached to Vivienne? The transformation had happened so gradually that ra had missed the warning signs.


    ¡°I need to grab my science project from upstairs,¡± Cora announced after finishing half her breakfast. She dashed from the kitchen, leaving her phone on the table.


    The screen lit up with a notification. Despite herself, ra nced at it.


    ¡°Vivienne


    : Sorry for thete reply, princess! Just finished practiceps. I¡¯m going to win this one for you! Can¡¯t wait to celebrate with you tomorrow. Love you


    loads! ﾓv¡±


    The message was followed by a selfie of Vivienne in her racing suit, blowing a kiss to


    the camera.


    ra looked away, her throat tight. The easy affection between Vivienne and Cora was just another reminder of what ra had lost.


    Footsteps thundered down the stairs, and Cora burst back into the kitchen. She grabbed her phone and let out a squeal of delight.


    ¡°Aunt Vivi answered!¡± Her entire demeanor transformed instantly. The sullen girl from moments ago disappeared, reced by a beaming child. ¡°She¡¯s going to win for me! Did you see, Mom? She called me princess!¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± ra said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s very nice.¡±


    ¡°Dad says she¡¯s going to break the circuit record today,¡± Cora continued, suddenly talkative. ¡°He says she¡¯s the best female driver in the country.¡±


    ¡°We should get going or you¡¯ll bete for school,¡± ra said, standing up.


    In the car, Cora tapped happily on her phone, presumably texting Vivienne back. The


    03:41


    <


    14 An Idol¡¯s Message, A Child¡¯s Fury


    silence between mother and daughter stretched until ra attempted conversation.


    ¡°I thought we might go shopping this weekend,¡± she offered. ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much since Ist bought you clothes.¡±


    Cora looked up briefly. ¡°I can¡¯t. Dad¡¯s taking me to Aunt Vivi¡¯s after school today, and I¡¯m staying there all weekend.¡±


    ra¡¯s hands tightened on the steering wheel. ¡°All weekend? But I just got home yesterday.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Cora shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re always working anyway.¡±


    ¡°I cleared my schedule to spend time with you,¡± ra exined, trying to keep her voice level.


    ¡°Well, I already have ns,¡± Cora said dismissively. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m d you¡¯re busy. Now


    Dad won¡¯t make me cancel with Aunt Vivi.¡±


    Each word felt like a small cut. ra focused on driving, swallowing the hurt that


    threatened to overwhelm her.


    They pulled up to the school, joining the line of cars dropping off students. ra spotted a familiar little girl in a pink dress walking hand¨Cin¨Chand with her mother.


    ¡°There¡¯s Lily Hayes, ra said, genuinely pleased to see the child. ¡°Do you remember her? I helped her find her mom at the charity gst month.¡±


    Cora nced at the girl without interest. ¡°The crybaby.¡±


    ¡°She was lost and frightened,¡± ra corrected. ¡°It was a crowded event.¡±


    They exited the car, and ra waved at Lily¡¯s mother, who smiled and approached with her daughter.


    ¡°ra! So nice to see you again,¡± Mrs. Hayes greeted warmly. ¡°Lily still talks about how you rescued her.¡±


    Lily, a shy six¨Cyear¨Cold with blonde pigtails, peeked out from behind her mother. ¡°Hi,


    Mrs. Thorne.¡±


    ra knelt down to Lily¡¯s level. ¡°Hello, Lily. I love your dress. Pink suits you beautifully.¡±


    03:41


    <


    14 An Idol¡¯s Message, A Child¡¯s Fury


    The little girl beamed at thepliment. ¡°Thank you! Mommy says I can wear it


    because I was brave at the dentist yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Very impressive,¡± ra smiled, giving the child¡¯s hand a gentle squeeze.


    A sudden force knocked Lily sideways. The little girl stumbled, nearly falling before her mother caught her.


    Cora stood with her hands on her hips, ring at Lily. ¡°You¡¯re so weak. You look ugly and disgusting in pink!¡±


    ¡°Cora!¡± ra gasped, shocked at her daughter¡¯s behavior. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a stupid baby,¡± Cora spat, her face twisted with anger. ¡°And you don¡¯t need to talk to her. You¡¯re MY mom, not hers!¡±


    Mrs. Hayes pulled her now¨Ccrying daughter close, looking horrified. ¡°I think we should go, Lily.¡±


    ra stood frozen, mortified by her daughter¡¯s outburst. The tenderness she¡¯d shown Lily had triggered something primal and possessive in Cora.


    ¡°Apologize immediately;¡± ra demanded, finding her voice.


    ¡°No!¡± Cora shouted, drawing stares from other parents and children. ¡°You¡¯re always nice to everyone else, but you never have time for me! And now when you¡¯re finally here, you¡¯re making googly eyes at that stupid baby!¡±


    Mrs. Hayes hurried away with Lily, casting a disappointed nce back at ra.


    Cora¡¯s eyes filled with angry tears. ¡°I hate you! I wish Aunt Vivi was my mom instead!¡±


    The words hit ra like a physical blow. She knelt in front of her daughter, grasping her shoulders firmly.


    ¡°Cora Thorne, that behavior ispletely uneptable,¡± she said, keeping her voice low but stern. ¡°We don¡¯t push others. We don¡¯t say cruel things. Ever.¡±


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± Cora twisted away, her face red with rage. ¡°Dad says I should stand up for myself! Aunt Vivi says I should never let anyone take what¡¯s mine!¡±


    In that moment, ra saw beyond her daughter¡¯s anger to the hurt and confusion


    03:41


    <


    14 An Idol¡¯s Message, A Child¡¯s Fury


    beneath. Cora wasn¡¯t just mimicking Vivienne¡¯s style he was internalizing her values, her approach to rtionships. The realization left ra cold with fear.


    ¡°What¡¯s mine¡­¡± ra repeated softly, the implications sinking in. Her daughter viewed affection as apetition, a resource to be hoarded and defended.


    Cora red at her, breathing hard, waiting for ra¡¯s next move. Around them, the school yard had grown quiet, parents and children watching the drama unfold with undisguised curiosity.


    ra straightened, acutely aware of the audience they¡¯d attracted. This wasn¡¯t a conversation for public consumption. But as she looked into her daughter¡¯s defiant eyes, she realized they¡¯d reached ? breaking point that couldn¡¯t be ignored.

 The Sprawling 15

    15 Little Jealousies, Maternal Wisdom


    ra took Cora¡¯s hand firmly in hers. The little girl tried to pull away, but ra held fast.


    ¡°We need to talk privately,¡± she said, steering her daughter away from curious onlookers.


    Cora¡¯s face remained flushed with anger as ra guided her to a bench beneath arge oak tree. The spot offered just enough privacy for their conversation.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Cora demanded, tugging against her mother¡¯s grip.


    ra crouched down to meet her daughter¡¯s eyes. ¡°I want you to listen carefully, Cora. What you did to Lily was wrong.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s stupid and ugly,¡± Cora muttered, looking down at her shoes.


    ¡°No, she isn¡¯t,¡± ra kept her voice gentle but firm. ¡°Lily is a sweet little girl who did nothing wrong¡±


    Cora¡¯s bottom lip trembled. ¡°You like her more than me.¡±


    The usation struck ra¡¯s heart. She hadn¡¯t realized how deeply Cora¡¯s insecurities


    ran.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true, darling. I was simply being kind to her.¡±


    ¡°You called her beautiful,¡± Cora shot back. ¡°You never say that to me anymore.¡±


    ra felt a pang of guilt. Had she been so consumed with her own pain that she¡¯d neglected to affirm her daughter?


    ¡°Cora, you are my daughter. I love you more than anyone in this world.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°Being kind to Lily doesn¡¯t mean I love you any less.¡±


    Tears spilled down Cora¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be her mom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not her mom,¡± ra said softly. ¡°I¡¯m yours. Always yours.¡±


    Cora sniffled. ¡°But you¡¯re never there. And when you are, you¡¯re nice to everyone else.¡±


    03:41


    <


    15 Little Jealousies, Maternal Wisdom


    ra felt her own eyes welling up. She pulled Cora into a hug, relieved when her daughter didn¡¯t resist.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve been away so much,¡± she whispered into Cora¡¯s hair. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t give you permission to be cruel to others.¡±


    After a moment, ra gently pulled back. ¡°Let¡¯s find Lily so you can apologize.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Cora protested immediately. ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡±


    ra remained firm. ¡°When we hurt someone, we make it right. That¡¯s what responsible people do.¡±


    Cora crossed her arms. ¡°Aunt Vivi says never apologize unless you have to.¡±


    Thement made ra¡¯s jaw clench. Vivienne¡¯s influence was evident in every defiant word.


    ¡°Well, in this case, you absolutely have to,¡± ra stated. ¡°Come on.¡±


    They found Lily and her mother near the entrance to the first¨Cgrade hallway. The little girl was no longer crying, but her eyes were red¨Crimmed and wary as she spotted


    Cora.


    Mrs. Hayes gave ra a cool nod. ¡°Mrs. Thorne.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Hayes, I want to apologize for what happened, ra said sincerely. ¡°Cora has something she¡¯d like to say to Lily.¡±


    ra gave her daughter a gentle nudge. Cora stood with her arms still crossed, looking anywhere but at Lily.


    ¡°Cora,¡± ra prompted quietly.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Cora mumbled almost inaudibly.


    ¡°Lily can¡¯t hear you when you speak to your shoes,¡± ra pointed out.


    Cora raised her head slightly. ¡°I said I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± ra pressed.


    03:41


    <


    15 Little Jealousies, Maternal Wisdom


    Cora sighed dramatically. ¡°For pushing you and saying mean things.¡±


    Lily looked unsure, hiding partially behind her mother¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Lily,¡± Mrs. Hayes said gently, ¡°what do we say when someone apologizes?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lily replied in a small voice.


    Mrs. Hayes checked her watch. ¡°We should get going or you¡¯ll bete for Ms. Ashton¡¯s


    ss.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± ra said, ¡°would you mind if I spoke with both girls for just a moment?


    School doesn¡¯t start for another ten minutes.¡±


    Mrs. Hayes hesitated but nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait by the ssroom.¡±


    When they were alone, ra sat on a nearby bench and patted the spaces beside her. Reluctantly, both girls sat down, Lily keeping ra between her and Cora.


    ¡°Cora,¡± ra began, ¡°do you know why your words hurt Lily¡¯s feelings?¡±


    Cora shrugged. ¡°Because I said she was ugly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Words like that are very hurtful.¡± ra turned to include Lily in the conversation. ¡°Lily, do you like wearing pink?¡±


    The little girl nodded, tugging at her dress. ¡°It¡¯s my favorite color.¡±


    ¡°And Cora,¡± ra continued, ¡°what¡¯s your favorite color?¡±


    ¡°ck,¡± Cora answered without hesitation, ¡°like Aunt Vivi wears.¡±


    ra nodded. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. You see, we all like different things. Lily loves pink, and you prefer ck. Neither one is wrong.¡±


    Cora frowned, considering this. ¡°But ck is cooler.¡°¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your opinion,¡± ra exined patiently. ¡°Opinions are personal thoughts, not facts. It¡¯s wonderful that you like ck, but it doesn¡¯t make pink any less special for Lily.¡±


    She watched understanding slowly dawn on Cora¡¯s face.


    03:41


    <


    15 Little Jealousies, Maternal Wisdom


    ¡°When you tell someone they look ugly or disgusting for liking something different, it¡¯s not just unkind¨Cit¡¯s incorrect. Beautyes in many forms.¡±


    Lily was listening intently too, seeming to gain confidence from ra¡¯s words.


    ¡°Also,¡± ra added, looking directly at her daughter, ¡°being mean to someone doesn¡¯t make me love you more. In fact, seeing you be kind makes me prouder than anything


    else.¡±


    Cora¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    ¡°Do you think you could try again with your apology?¡± ra suggested gently. ¡°A real


    one this time.¡±


    Cora bit her lip. After a moment, she turned toward Lily.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I pushed you and said those things,¡± she said, her voice clearer now. ¡°Your dress is¡­ it¡¯s not ugly.¡±


    Coming from Cora, it was practically apliment. ra gave her an encouraging


    smile.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lily replied softly.


    ¡°Would you like to walk to ss together?¡± ra suggested.


    To her surprise, both girls nodded. As they stood up, Cora even moved to Lily¡¯s side rather than staying glued to ra.


    They walked to the first¨Cgrade hallway where Mrs. Hayes was waiting.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± she asked, studying the girls¡® calmer faces.


    ¡°Much better,¡± ra confirmed. ¡°Thank you for your patience.¡±


    Mrs. Hayes smiled tentatively. ¡°Come on, Lily. Let¡¯s find Ms. Ashton.¡±


    ra watched them go, then turned to her own daughter. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you for apologizing properly.¡±


    Cora shrugged, but ra caught the small smile tugging at her lips.


    03:41


    15 Little Jealousies, Maternal Wisdom


    ¡°I still wish you were home more,¡± Cora admitted quietly.


    ¡°I wish that too,¡± ra said honestly. ¡°I¡¯m going to try harder to be present when I am home. But Cora, you need to understand that being unkind to others will never bring


    us closer.¡±


    The school bell rang, signaling that sses would start soon. Children hurried past them into their respective rooms.


    Cora shifted her weight from foot to foot. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it when I said I hate you.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± ra replied, feeling a weight lift from her chest.


    ¡°And I don¡¯t really want Aunt Vivi to be my mom,¡± Cora added in a whisper.


    ra pulled her daughter into another hug, tighter this time. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that, because I wouldn¡¯t trade being your mom for anything in the world.¡±


    When they separated, ra noticed tears threatening to spill from her daughter¡¯s eyes again, but these seemed different from before.


    ¡°Remember what we talked about today,¡± ra said, straightening Cora¡¯s backpack straps. ¡°Being kind doesn¡¯t cost us anything, but it gives others everything¡±


    Cora nodded, suddenly appearing younger and more vulnerable than she had in


    months.


    ¡°Can we¡­ can we maybe do something together when I get back from Aunt Vivi¡¯s?¡± she asked hesitantly.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± ra promised, her heart swelling. ¡°Just you and me.¡±


    The second bell rang, and ra knew they couldn¡¯t dy any longer. She gave Cora a gentle push toward her ssroom.


    ¡°It¡¯s over now,¡± she said softly, crouching down to her daughter¡¯s level. ¡°Head into your ssroom, okay?¡±


    03:41

 The Sprawling 16

    16 A Sessor¡¯s Arrival, A Family Apart


    Morning sunlight streamed through the ssroom windows as Cora tugged at her


    mother¡¯s hand. Her earlier smile had vanished, reced with a contemtive look that seemed too mature for her young face. 1


    ¥¼


    ¡°Mom, can you make my favorite pasta tonight?¡± she asked suddenly.


    ra¡¯s heart swelled. After days of emotional distance, her daughter was finally reaching out. ¡°Of course, sweetheart. I¡¯ll pick up the ingredients on my way home.¡±


    Cora¡¯s eyes brightened momentarily before clouding over. ¡°Wait¨CI forgot. Aunt Vivi¡¯spetition is tonight. Dad said we could watch it together.¡± She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. ¡°Maybe another time?¡±


    The small spark of hope in ra¡¯s chest flickered and died. She forced a smile, determined not to show her disappointment. ¡°That¡¯s fine. The pasta will keep for another day.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Cora said, though her tonecked genuine remorse. ¡°Dad said Aunt Vivi might


    win this time.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± ra replied softly. ¡°You should call me at lunchtime, okay?¡±


    Cora nodded, her attention already drifting toward her friends gathering inside the ssroom. ¡°Sure, Mom.¡± With a quick peck on ra¡¯s cheek, she bounded away,


    confidence restored as she entered her domain.


    ra watched her go, heart heavy as her daughter¡¯s pigtails disappeared into the crowd of children. This was bing their pattern¨Cmoments of connection swiftly sacrificed on the altar of Vivienne¡¯s priorities.


    The drive to Thorne Industries felt longer than usual. ra parked in her designated spot, noting that Damien¡¯s space was empty. Probably with Vivienne, preparing for herpetition, she thought bitterly.


    The corporate lobby bustled with the usual morning activity. Employees nodded respectfully as she passed, though ra detected curiosity in their nces. News of her impending departure from thepany had spread quickly.


    03:41


    16 A Sessor¡¯s Arrival, A Family Apart


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± Marcus Cole, HR Director, approached with a professional smile. Beside him stood a young woman with perfectly styled chestnut hair and a designer suit that screamed ambition. ¡°May I introduce Olivia Monroe? She¡¯ll be shadowing you this week as part of the transition.¡±


    ¡°Please, call me ra,¡± she said, extending her hand. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Olivia.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s handshake was firm, her smile practiced. ¡°The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Thorne. Your reputation precedes you.¡±


    ¡°Olivia graduated top of her ss at Crestwood College, Marcus added. ¡°Shees highly rmended.¡±


    ¡°Impressive,¡± ra replied, studying the younger woman. Beneath Olivia¡¯s polished exterior, ra detected a calcting intelligence that reminded her ufortably of Vivienne. ¡°Let¡¯s head to my office. I¡¯ll walk you through our current projects.¡±


    As they walked, Olivia¡¯s eyes swept the corridor, taking in every detail. ¡°Is Mr. Thorne in today?¡± she asked, her tone deliberately casual.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure of his schedule,¡± ra answered, ignoring the familiar sting. Seven years of marriage, and she still had no idea of her husband¡¯s whereabouts on most days.


    intment shed across Olivia¡¯s face before her professional mask returned. ¡°I


    g to meet him. His work in sustainable energy is revolutionary.¡±


    ached ra¡¯s office¨Csoon to be Olivia¡¯s¨Cand spent the morning reviewing otocols and pending tasks. Olivia proved sharp andpetent, absorbing information quickly and asking insightful questions. By noon, ra had covered most of the essential training.


    ¡°Shall we break for lunch?¡± ra suggested, checking her watch. ¡°Thepany cafeteria is quite good.¡±


    Olivia smiled. ¡°I¡¯d like that. It would give me a chance to observe thepany culture.¡±


    In the cafeteria, they settled at a corner table with their meals. ra pulled out her


    phone to call Cora, as promised.


    Olivia¡¯s perfectly arched eyebrow rose slightly. ¡°Checking in with the little one?¡±


    03:41 C


    <b>< </b>


    16 A Sessor¡¯s Arrival, A Family Apart


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra replied, dialing Cora¡¯s number. ¡°She asked me to call during her lunch period.¡±


    The call connected, but instead of Cora¡¯s voice, ra heard background noise- ttering silverware, adult conversation, and Cora¡¯s distinct giggle.


    ¡°Hello? Cora?¡± ra said, raising her voice slightly.


    ¡°Oh, Mom!¡± Cora finally responded, sounding distracted. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m on video call with Dad and Aunt Vivi. They¡¯re having lunch at that fancy ce with the fountains.¡±


    ra¡¯s stomach knotted. ¡°I thought you were at school.¡±


    ¡°I am! Dad brought his tablet so I could see them,¡± Cora exined. ¡°Aunt Vivi¡¯s telling me about her racing strategy for tonight.¡±


    In the background, ra heard Vivienne¡¯s melodicugh. ¡°Your dad¡¯s ordered my favorite dessert, sweetie. We¡¯ll save you some forter.¡±


    ¡°No fair!¡± Cora protested yfully. ¡°I want chocte souffl¨¦ too!¡±


    Damien¡¯s deep voice joined the conversation. ¡°What would you like for dinner tonight, princess? I¡¯ll have it prepared.¡±


    ¡°Can I have pizza with extra cheese?¡± Cora asked excitedly.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Damien replied, his tone indulgent. ¡°Anything for my girl.¡±


    ra sat frozen, phone pressed to her ear, acutely aware of Olivia watching her with undisguised interest.


    ¡°Mom, I gotta go,¡± Cora said abruptly. ¡°Ms. Wilson says lunch is almost over. See youter!¡±


    The call ended before ra could respond. She slowly lowered her phone, feeling hollow.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Olivia asked, her tone suggesting she had already guessed the


    answer.


    ra straightened her shoulders. ¡°Yes, just family coordination. Now, about the quarterly reports¡ª¡±


    03:41


    16 A Sessor¡¯s Arrival, A Family Apart


    ¡°You know,¡± Olivia interrupted, her voice dropping conspiratorially, ¡°my mother always said that when a man can provide seamlessly, a woman should leverage that rather thanpete with it.¡±


    ra¡¯s fork paused midway to her mouth. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±


    Olivia smiled, all innocence. ¡°Just an observation. Mr. Thorne seems quite capable of managing things in your absence. That must be¡­ reassuring¡±


    The implication hung in the air between them¨Cthat ra was receable not just in her professional role, but in her family as well.


    ¡°The reports,¡± ra continued firmly, refusing to engage, ¡°are due next Friday. You¡¯ll need to coordinate with Finance to ensure all departments have submitted their data.¡±


    Olivia nodded, smoothly transitioning back to professional mode. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve handled simr reporting structures in my previous internship.¡±


    As they finished lunch, ra couldn¡¯t shake the memory of Cora¡¯s excited voice discussing dinner ns with Damien¨Cns that once again excluded her. It was a painful reminder that while she was navigating her exit from one role at Thorne Industries, someone else was already filling her ce at home.


    Back in her office, ra found herself staring at the family photo on her desk¡ªa reminder of happier times, or at least the illusion of them. She wondered if Olivia would ce her own photos here soon, erasing another trace of ra¡¯s presence in the Thorne empire.


    Meanwhile, across town in an exclusive restaurant, Damien ended the call with Cora and turned his attention back to Vivienne,pletely unaware of the quiet devastation left in the wake of his casual dinner arrangements.


    03:41

 The Sprawling 17

    17 A Daughter¡¯s Joy, An Unexpected Errand


    The yground buzzed with activity as children rushed around during recess. Cora Thorne sat with her friends at a pic table, her tablet propped up in front of her.


    ¡°Look what my dad got me!¡± Cora gushed, showing off the sleek device to her envious ssmates.


    Her phone rang, disying her mother¡¯s name and photo. Cora nced at it, then back to her tablet where Vivienne¡¯s smiling face appeared on video chat.


    ¡°Is that your mom calling?¡± Vivienne asked, her perfectly glossed lips curving into a smile.


    Cora nodded, letting the call ring. ¡°She always calls at lunch. I¡¯ll talk to herter.¡±


    ¡°Tell me more about your science project, sweetie,¡± Vivienne prompted, leaning forward in what looked like an expensive restaurant.


    The phone stopped ringing. A text message appeared instead.


    ¡°Dad says I¡¯m going to win first ce,¡± Cora announced proudly to her friends, ignoring the notification. ¡°Aunt Vivi is helping me design it.¡±


    ¡°Your volcano is going to blow everyone else¡¯s away,¡± Vivienne promised with a wink.


    ¡°We¡¯ll work on it this weekend.¡±


    ¡°With the real chemicals you used in college?¡± Cora asked excitedly.


    ¡°Only the safe ones,¡± Vivienneughed. ¡°Your father would kill me otherwise.¡±


    Damien¡¯s deep voice came from off¨Cscreen. ¡°What are you two plotting now?¡±


    His handsome face appeared beside Vivienne¡¯s as he leaned into frame. ¡°Science fair domination,¡± he said with a rare smile. ¡°Nothing less for a Thorne.¡±


    Cora beamed at the praise.


    ra sighed as her call went unanswered. She typed a quick message: ¡°Hope you¡¯re


    03:41


    <


    17 A Daughter¡¯s Joy, An Unexpected Errand


    having a good lunch, sweetheart. Call me when you can. Love you.¡±


    Almost immediately, a voice message came back: ¡°Hi Mom, I¡¯m talking to Dad and Aunt Vivi. They¡¯re taking me to the science museum on Saturday for my project. Gotta go!¡±


    The excitement in her daughter¡¯s voice was unmistakable. ra set her phone down on her desk and turned her attention back to the contract drafts before her.


    Ms. Ashton knocked lightly on her open door. ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Coco¡¯s having lunch with Damien and Vivienne,¡± ra replied, unable to keep the resignation from her voice. ¡°Via video call, anyway.¡±


    The older woman gave her a sympathetic look. ¡°That child doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s missing, choosing anyone over you.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s seven,¡± ra said with a sad smile. ¡°Fancy restaurants and exciting promises win over everyday motherhood.¡±


    ¡°Still hurts though, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Ms. Ashton observed.


    ra didn¡¯t answer. She didn¡¯t need to.


    Hourster, as ra was organizing final documents for the day, her phone rang with an unfamiliar tone. The screen disyed ¡°Victoria Sterling¡± ¨C her mother¨Cinw.


    She answered cautiously. ¡°Hello, Victoria.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°ra.¡± The older woman¡¯s voice was crisp, demanding immediate attention. ¡°I need


    you to run an errand for me.¡±


    Not a request¨Camand. ra checked her watch. ¡°I was just about to leave the


    office-¡±


    ¡°This is important,¡± Victoria cut her off. ¡°Ethan is at the Highpoint Speedway. I need you to go there and bring him back immediately.¡±


    ra blinked in surprise. ¡°Ethan? Why would he be at a racetrack?¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± Victoria hissed, ¡°my youngest son thinks he can moonlight as some daredevil racer without my knowledge. His assistant just called to reschedule his appointments for tomorrow, iming he¡¯s ¡®under the weather.¡® Yet my sources tell me


    03:41


    <


    17 A Daughter¡¯s Joy, An Unexpected Errand


    he¡¯s registered for tonight¡¯s amateur race.¡±


    ra hesitated. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you send someone from your staff?¡±


    ¡°Everyone recognizable is tied up with the Mercer merger,¡± Victoria snapped. ¡°You¡¯re unobtrusive enough. Find him and remind him of his responsibilities.¡±


    Before ra could respond, Victoria continued, ¡°The event starts at six. Don¡¯t fail me, ra.¡±


    The call ended abruptly. ra stared at her phone in disbelief.


    Ms. Ashton appeared in the doorway again. ¡°Was that Victoria Sterling I overheard?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra said, gathering her things with resignation. ¡°Apparently I¡¯m being sent to fetch Ethan from a racetrack.¡±


    ¡°That woman,¡± Ms. Ashton shook her head disapprovingly. ¡°Still treating you like staff even though you¡¯re family.¡±


    ¡°Not for much longer,¡± ra reminded her, thinking of the divorce papers still awaiting Damien¡¯s signature.


    The drive to Highpoint Speedway took almost an hour, the evening traffic moving at an excruciatingly slow pace. By the time ra arrived, the parking lot was packed with cars and motorcycles, forcing her to park quite a distance from the entrance.


    The ticket booth operator looked at her skeptically when she asked about Ethan Thorne. ¡°Competitors are in the restricted area, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m family,¡± ra exined, feeling the weight of the lie even as she said it.


    Eventually, after showing her ID with the Thorne name, she was directed toward the garages behind the track. The contrast between her business attire and the casual atmosphere of the speedway drew curious nces as she navigated through crowds of racing enthusiasts.


    The garage area buzzed with activity¨Cmechanics makingst¨Cminute adjustments, drivers in racing suits checking their vehicles, spectators milling about with drinks and excited conversation. ra feltpletely out of ce in her pencil skirt and blouse.


    03:41 C


    <


    17 A Daughter¡¯s Joy, An Unexpected Errand


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she asked a mechanic wiping his hands on a rag, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Ethan


    Thorne?¡±


    The man jerked his thumb toward a sleek ck sports car. ¡°Lucky number seven. Though he goes by ¡®Phoenix¡® here.¡±


    ra approached the vehicle, where a man in a ck and red racing suit stood with his back to her, helmet tucked under his arm as he spoke with another driver.


    ¡°Ethan?¡± she called hesitantly.


    He turned, and ra was struck by the family resemnce to Damien¨Cthe same strong jaw and piercing eyes, though Ethan¡¯s features were slightly softer, his expression more animated.


    Recognition flickered across his face, quickly followed by shock and then wariness.


    ¡°ra?¡± he asked, ncing around as if expecting someone else. ¡°What are you doing


    here?¡±


    ¡°Your mother sent me,¡± ra exined, feeling awkward under his suspicious gaze.


    ¡°She knows about the racing.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Of course she does. Nothing escapes the great Victoria Sterling.¡± He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. ¡°How did you find me?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy,¡± ra admitted. ¡°But Victoria was very¡­ insistent.¡±


    A woman in racing gear approached, cing a familiar hand on Ethan¡¯s arm. ¡°Everything okay, Phoenix?¡± Her eyes assessed ra with undisguised curiosity.


    ¡°Fine, Mara,¡± Ethan replied tersely. ¡°Just family business.¡±


    The woman nodded and retreated, but not before giving ra another searching look.


    ¡°So you¡¯re what¨Cher messenger now?¡± Ethan asked, turning his attention back to ra. ¡°Come to drag me home by my ear?¡±


    The hostility in his tone caught ra by surprise. She¡¯d met Ethan only a handful of times at family gatherings, where he¡¯d always been polite but distant. This version of him¨Cdefiant and passionate¨Cwas entirely new.


    03:41 C


    <


    17 A Daughter¡¯s Joy, An Unexpected Errand


    ¡°I¡¯m just delivering the message,¡± ra replied carefully. ¡°She wants you toe


    home.¡±


    Ethanughed, a hollow sound. ¡°Home? That mausoleum hasn¡¯t been home in years.¡± He gestured to the bustling garage. ¡°This is where I feel alive.¡±


    A loudspeaker crackled overhead, announcing the first call for drivers. Ethan nced toward the track, then back at ra, conflict evident in his expression.


    ¡°You can tell her you couldn¡¯t find me,¡± he suggested, a hint of desperation in his voice. ¡°Please, ra. This race could qualify me for nationals.¡±


    ra hesitated, struck by the earnestness in his plea. Here was another Thorne, trapped in Victoria¡¯s web of expectations.


    ¡°This means a lot to you,¡± she observed quietly.


    ¡°More than anything.¡± His eyes lit up with genuine passion. ¡°I¡¯ve been training for


    months.¡±


    The loudspeaker sounded again. Ethan nced nervously at his watch.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said hurriedly, ¡°just stay for the race. It¡¯s only thirty minutes. After that¡­ I¡¯ll deal with my mother.¡±


    Before ra could respond, a man in official gear approached. ¡°Phoenix, you¡¯re up in five. Need you at the starting line.¡±


    Ethan looked at ra with pleading eyes. ¡°Please?¡±


    The request hung between them, loaded with more than just the immediate situation. It was a plea from one trapped soul to another, asking for understanding that only someone else under Victoria Sterling¡¯s thumb could provide.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± ra began, uncertain of what to say next. The weight of Victoria¡¯s


    expectations pressed against her conscience, but something in Ethan¡¯s desperate expression made her hesitate.


    ¡°What exactly am I supposed to tell your mother?¡± she asked, already feeling herself giving in.


    03:41 C


    <


    17 A Daughter¡¯s Joy, An Unexpected Errand


    Ethan¡¯s face broke into a grin that transformed his features entirely, making him look younger and more carefree than she¡¯d ever seen a Thorne look before.


    ¡°Tell her whatever you want,¡± he said, already backing toward the track, helmet in hand. ¡°Just give me these thirty minutes.¡±


    Before she could respond, he turned and jogged toward the starting area, leaving ra standing alone amid the noise and excitement, pondering exactly how she had ended up in this position¡ªonce again caught between a Thorne¡¯s desires and Victoria Sterling¡¯smands.


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    03:41

 The Sprawling 18

    18 Trackside Truths and a Rival¡¯s Allure


    ra¡¯s POV


    The grandstand vibrated with the roars of the engines and the crowd¡¯s excitement as ra made her way through a sea of enthusiastic spectators. She scanned the bustling arena, trying to spot Ethan among the racers preparing at the starting line.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Ethan waved enthusiastically from the front row of the spectator section. His earlier racing suit was gone, reced by casual jeans and a t¨Cshirt. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to see anything from back there!¡±


    Confusion crossed ra¡¯s face. ¡°I thought you were racing?¡±


    Ethanughed, shaking his head. ¡°My heat finished twenty minutes ago. I ced third!¡± His eyes gleamed with pride. ¡°The main event is about to start. Vixen¡¯s racing tonight!¡±


    ¡°Vixen?¡± ra asked, settling reluctantly into the seat beside him.


    ¡°Only the best female driver on the amateur circuit,¡± Ethan replied, his voice filled with admiration. ¡°She¡¯s incredible¨Cfearless, precise,pletely untouchable on the track.¡±


    ra checked her watch. ¡°Ethan, your mother sent me to bring you home. We really


    should-¡±


    ¡°Just one more race!¡± Ethan pleaded, his expression so earnest that ra was reminded of Cora when she begged for five more minutes of ytime. ¡°You can¡¯t leave without seeing Vixen race. It¡¯s like watching magic happen.¡±


    A collective hush fell over the crowd before erupting into thunderous apuse. ra


    turned toward the source of themotion.


    A woman in a striking red racing suit strutted toward her vehicle. Her helmet was tucked under her arm<b>, </b>revealing a cascade of dark hair that caught the stadium lights. Her movements were deliberate, confident¨Calmost predatory. She acknowledged the crowd with a casual wave that somehow managed to seem both dismissive and


    appreciative.


    ¡°There she is!¡± Ethan practically bounced in his seat. ¡°Isn¡¯t she amazing? Look at that


    03:41


    <


    18 Trackside Truths and a Rival¡¯s Allure


    swagger!¡±


    ra¡¯s stomach twisted with hunger pangs. She¡¯d skipped dinner to rush to the speedway on Victoria¡¯s orders. ¡°I can barely see her from here.¡±


    ¡°Here,¡± Ethan thrust a pair of binocrs into her hands. ¡°You have to see her up close.¡±


    Sighing, ra raised the binocrs to her eyes and adjusted the focus. The woman¡¯s face came into sharp rity, and ra¡¯s breath caught in her throat.


    Vivienne Dubois.


    Her half¨Csister¡¯s piercing eyes swept the crowd with cool detachment. Her perfectly sculpted features were set in an expression of confident determination. The red racing suit clung to her curves like a second skin, making her look both dangerous and alluring.


    ¡°She¡¯s unbelievable,¡± Ethan continued, oblivious to ra¡¯s shock. ¡°Always so focused, like nothing else in the world matters but the race.¡±


    ra couldn¡¯t pull her gaze away. In all the years she¡¯d known about Vivienne, she¡¯d never seen this side of her rival¨Cthis raw, unapologetic power that radiated from her every movement. It was mesmerizing, even to ra.


    ¡°She¡¯s going for her fifth straight win tonight,¡± Ethan exined enthusiastically. ¡°Nobody¡¯s been able to touch her since she startedpeting six months ago.¡±


    ra lowered the binocrs slightly. ¡°Six months ago¡­¡± she murmured. That aligned perfectly with when Damien had be even more distant.


    On impulse, she panned the binocrs across the VIP section. It didn¡¯t take long to find what she was looking for¨CDamien Thorne, standing tall and imposing in an expertly tailored suit, his eyes fixed on Vivienne¡¯s every move.


    The intensity of his gaze made ra¡¯s chest ache. In seven years of marriage, he had never once looked at her with such raw admiration.


    She adjusted the focus again, taking in more details. Beside Damien stood Cora, bouncing with excitement as she waved a small red g. The entire group of Damien¡¯s friends surrounded them¨Call here to support Vivienne.


    03:41 C


    <b>< </b>


    18 Trackside Truths and a Rival¡¯s Allure


    ¡°Vixen¡¯s going to crush it tonight, Ethan said, nudging ra with his elbow. ¡°The track conditions are perfect for her driving style.¡±


    ra lowered the binocrs, her fingers trembling slightly. ¡°How often does she race


    here?¡±


    ¡°Every other weekend,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°Though the rumor is she¡¯s going pro soon. Too


    talented to stay amateur.¡±


    The announcer¡¯s voice boomed through the speakers, introducing the racers. When Vivienne¡¯s name was called, the crowd erupted. ra watched as Vivienne raised her helmet above her head in acknowledgment, soaking in the adoration like it was her birthright.


    ra nced back toward Damien. His expression had softened into something she had never seen before¨Cpride mixed with something deeper, more intimate. Beside him, Cora jumped up and down, calling out a name that was lost in the roar of the


    crowd.


    ¡°Her performance stats are insane,¡± Ethan continued, pulling ra from her


    observations. ¡°She¡¯s got the fastest reaction time on the circuit. Watch how she takes the first turn¨Cit¡¯s masterful.¡±


    The engines roared to life, drowning out any possibility of conversation. Vivienne slid into her car with practiced grace, her movements fluid and confident. She pulled on her helmet, adjusted her mirrors, and settled into position.


    The starting lights shed, counting down from red to green. The cars shot forward, a


    blur of color and sound.


    Ethan grabbed ra¡¯s arm. ¡°Quick! Use the binocrs! You¡¯ll miss it!¡±


    Almost against her will, ra raised the binocrs again. Vivienne¡¯s car¨Ca sleek red machine as bold as its driver¨Cwas already positioned perfectly for the first turn.


    ¡°Watch this!¡± Ethan shouted over the engines¡® roar.


    As the pack of cars approached the first sharp curve, Vivienne made her move. While others slowed or took the safer outside route, she dove toward the inside line, Her timing was impable, her control absolute. The car drifted through the turn with


    03:41


    <


    18 Trackside Truths and a Rival¡¯s Allure


    mere inches to spare, overtaking twopetitors in one smooth motion.


    The crowd went wild. ra couldn¡¯t help but gasp.


    ¡°Did you see that?¡± Ethan shouted, his face lit with excitement. ¡°That¡¯s why they call her Vixen! Fearless and cunning!¡±


    ra kept the binocrs trained on Vivienne¡¯s car as it elerated out of the turn, already hunting down the nextpetitor. There was something hypnotic about watching her drive¨Cthe perfect bnce of calcted risk and technical skill.


    Panning back to the VIP section, ra found Damien again. His eyes never left Vivienne¡¯s car, his expression a mixture of tension and pride. When she executed another daring pass, his lips curved into a smile that reached his eyes¨Ca genuine reaction that ra had rarely witnessed.


    Cora jumped with excitement, clutching Damien¡¯s hand. They looked like a perfect father¨Cdaughter pair, sharing in the joy of watching someone they both clearly adored.


    The race continued, Vivienne steadily working her way forward through the pack. Each move was more impressive than thest¨Cthreading impossible needles, anticipating herpetitors¡® actions before they made them.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to do it again!¡± Ethan shouted, grabbing ra¡¯s arm in excitement. ¡°Five in


    a row!¡±


    As Vivienne crossed the finish line in first ce, the crowd erupted. ra watched through the binocrs as Vivienne pulled off her helmet, dark hair spilling free. Her face was flushed with victory, eyes bright with adrenaline, lips curved into a knowing smile that seemed to say she¡¯d never doubted the oue for a second.


    The cameras captured her triumphant expression on the giant screens around the track. ra lowered her binocrs slowly, staring at Vivienne¡¯s magnified face.


    In that moment, watching both Vivienne¡¯s undeniable skill and Damien¡¯s transfixed admiration, something shifted inside ra. A piece of understanding slotted into ce -painful but rifying.


    Suddenly, she understood why Damien was infatuated with Vivienne. It made perfect


    sense.


    03:42


    4/64


    <


    18 Trackside Truths and a Rival¡¯s Allure


    This wasn¡¯t just about beauty or charm. Vivienne possessed something far more powerful¨Ca maic confidence, a fearless approach to life that demanded attention. On the track, she was glory personified, taking risks that others wouldn¡¯t dare and making them look effortless.


    ra turned to look at Ethan, who was still cheering wildly. Even Damien¡¯s brother had fallen under Vivienne¡¯s spell without knowing her true identity.


    ¡°Ready to go now?¡± she asked quietly, her.voice nearly lost in the continuing roar of the


    crowd.


    Ethan turned to her, his face flushed with excitement. ¡°Are you kidding? That was incredible! Did you see how she-¡±


    ¡°I saw,¡± ra interrupted gently. ¡°But we should really head back before your mother sends out a search party.¡±


    The mention of Victoria dimmed Ethan¡¯s enthusiasm slightly. He nodded, though his eyes lingered on the track where Vivienne was now epting a trophy, her smile dazzling under the stadium lights.


    As they made their way toward the exit, ra took onest look at the VIP section. Damien was making his way down to the winner¡¯s circle, Cora¡¯s hand firmly in his. They were going to celebrate with Vivienne, as a family.


    The family that ra had once desperately hoped to build with Damien, but never


    could.


    5763

 The Sprawling 19

    19 The Last Call and ley Recognition


    ra¡¯s POVO


    The sound of engines and cheers filled the air as ra watched the race unfold before her. In the VIP section across the track, Damien stood with little Cora perched on his shoulders. His friend Lucas Sterling stood beside them, all threepletely absorbed


    in the race.


    Vivienne¨Cor ¡°Vixen¡± as the crowd called her¨Cwas clearly in the lead. Her red car hugged each curve with precision that even ra had to admire.


    ¡°She¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t she?¡± Ethan said, his eyes fixed on the track.


    ra nodded absently, her attention drawn to her husband and daughter. Even from this distance, she could see the excitement on their faces. Cora bounced on Damien¡¯s shoulders, waving a little red g frantically.


    A family moment. Just not with her.


    ¡°I should call him,¡± ra murmured, almost to herself.


    ¡°What?¡± Ethan asked, leaning closer to hear her over the crowd.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± She pulled her phone from her purse, staring at the screen. Her thumb hovered over Damien¡¯s contact. Onest attempt. Onest try to reach him.


    She pressed call before she could talk herself out of it.


    Through her binocrs, she watched as Damien shifted Cora¡¯s weight on his shoulders. His phone must have vibrated because he reached into his pocket, nced at the screen, and immediately declined the call. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, his


    attention returned to the race¨Cto Vivienne.


    ra lowered her phone slowly. She should have expected this. Why did it still hurt?


    ¡°ra? Are you okay?¡± Ethan asked, finally noticing her silence.


    She put the binocrs down and turned away from the race. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    03:43


    19 The Last Call and Icy Recognition


    The crowd erupted into cheers. Vivienne had just taken another daring turn, increasing her lead. ra didn¡¯t bother to watch. She¡¯d seen enough.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to win again!¡± Ethan shouted excitedly. ¡°That¡¯s five straight victories!¡±


    Within minutes, the race concluded with Vivienne crossing the finish line well ahead of herpetitors. The announcer¡¯s voice boomed through the speakers, dering Vixen the champion once more.


    Ethan groaned beside her. ¡°Damn, now everyone¡¯s going to crowd around her for autographs. I was hoping to get one this time.¡±


    ¡°Does she not usually sign autographs?¡± ra asked, curiosity getting the better of her.


    ¡°Rarely. She usually disappears right after the race,¡± Ethan exined, disappointment evident in his voice. ¡°Only the VIPS get close to her.¡±


    Of course. VIPs like Damien. And Cora.


    ra¡¯s phone rang, pulling her attention from her thoughts. She nced at the screen and saw Victoria Sterling¡¯s name.


    ¡°Hello, Victoria,¡± she answered, stepping slightly away from the crowd noise.


    ¡°Is Ethan with you?¡± Victoria¡¯s voice came through clearly, concern evident. ¡°He¡¯s not answering his phone.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s right here. We¡¯re at the racetrack. I was just about to bring him home.¡±


    Ethan nced over at the mention of his name, grimacing when he realized it was his


    mother.


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Victoria sighed. ¡°Please tell him to call me when you leave. And thank you for finding him, ra.¡±


    ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll be leaving shortly.¡±


    After ending the call, ra turned to Ethan. ¡°Your mother wants you to call her.¡±


    Ethan rolled his eyes but nodded. ¡°I need to use the restroom first. Want to grab a drink with my friends before we head back? They¡¯re by the concession stand.¡±


    03:43


    215


    19 The Last Call and Icy Recognition


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass,¡± ra replied, her social energypletely drained. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±


    After Ethan left, ra made her way to thedies¡® room. The hallways were crowded with race fans discussing Vivienne¡¯s victory, her name on everyone¡¯s lips. Even here, she couldn¡¯t escape her half¨Csister¡¯s shadow.


    The restroom provided a brief respite from the noise andmotion. ra sshed cold water on her face, trying to wash away the sting of Damien¡¯s rejected call. Her reflection stared back at her¨Ctired eyes, forced smile. How long had she looked this way?


    Taking a deep breath, raposed herself and headed back to meet Ethan. The corridor was still packed with people, forcing her to weave her way through the crowd.


    As she rounded a corner, she collided with someoneing from the opposite


    direction.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry-¡± she began, stepping back.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re-¡± The man stopped mid¨Csentence.


    ra looked up and immediately recognized Beck Marshall, one of Damien¡¯s oldest friends and business associates. She¡¯d met him numerous times at Thorne functions


    over the years.


    ¡°Beck,¡± she said, offering a polite smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    Beck¡¯s expression, already indifferent, turned noticeably colder when he recognized her. His eyes narrowed slightly, jaw tightening.


    ¡°ra,¡± he said, his tone t and dismissive.


    Seven years. Seven years of marriage to Damien, and this was how his friends still treated her¨Clike an intruder, an unwee presence in their circle. The contrast between this and how they had immediately embraced Vivienne was stark and painful.


    ¡°Are you here with Damien?¡± she asked, trying to maintain the conversation despite his


    obvious disinterest.


    ¡°Yes.¡± The single word response hung between them, offering no opening for further


    <b>03:43 </b>


    19 The Last Call and Icy Recognition


    discussion.


    Beck nced over her shoulder, clearly looking for an escape route. His bodynguage screamed difort. It was as if standing too close to her might somehow


    contaminate him.


    ¡°I should go,¡± he said, already shifting to move past her. ¡°Damien¡¯s waiting.¡±


    Of course he was. Waiting to celebrate with Vivienne, not looking for his wife.


    ¡°Of course,¡± ra replied, keeping her voice steady. ¡°Please don¡¯t let me keep you.¡±


    Beck nodded curtly and brushed past her without another word, his shoulder nearly clipping hers in his haste to get away.


    ra stood frozen in the middle of the corridor, people flowing around her like water around a stone. The encounter hadsted less than a minute, but it confirmed everything she already knew¡ªshe didn¡¯t belong in Damien¡¯s world. She never had.


    The rejection from Beck stung more than it should have. Not because she cared about


    his opinion, but because it represented how all of Damien¡¯s circle viewed her. An


    outsider. An inconvenience. The unwanted wife.


    ra took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. This was precisely why she had decided to move forward with the divorce. No more pretending. No more hoping for eptance that would nevere.


    She spotted Ethan waiting for her by the exit, checking his watch impatiently. Putting on herposed face¨Cthe one she¡¯d perfected over years of disappointment¨Cshe


    walked toward him.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± she asked, her voice surprisingly steady.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ethan replied, oblivious to her inner turmoil. ¡°Man, that race was something else, wasn¡¯t it? Vixen is just unbeatable!¡±


    As they walked to the parking lot, ra let Ethan¡¯s excited chatter wash over her without really listening. Her mind reyed three moments on loop: Damien declining her call without hesitation, Vivienne crossing the finish line in triumph, and Beck¡¯s ice¨Ccold recognition.


    03:43


    <


    19 The Last Call and Icy Recognition


    Each memory reinforced her decision. It was time to stop hoping that things would


    change. It was time to stop being the woman waiting for a call that would nevere.


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    03:43

 The Sprawling 20

    20 A Cold Encounter, A Warm Reprieve


    ra¡¯s POVO


    Beck Marshall¡¯s dismissive eyes bore into me across the bustling corridor. The cacophony of race fans faded into background noise as his judgmental gaze took me in from head to toe.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see you here,¡± he remarked, his voice dripping with condescension. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like your¡­ scene.¡±


    I stared back, my earlier vulnerability hardening into resolve. Seven years of these subtle digs and dismissals from Damien¡¯s inner circle had worn my patience thin.


    ¡°And what exactly is my ¡®scene, Beck?¡± I kept my voice level, refusing to shrink before


    him.


    He smirked. ¡°You know, quiet charity gs, book clubs. ces where you can talk about your feelings and knit sweaters.¡±


    ¡°How incredibly reductive of you.¡± I stepped closer, no longer willing to back down. ¡°Perhaps you should consider that people are moreplex than the boxes you put


    them in.¡±


    Beck¡¯s eyebrows shot up, clearly not expecting pushback. In the past, I would have smiled politely and retreated from his rudeness. Not anymore.


    ¡°You¡¯ve changed,¡± he observed, crossing his arms. ¡°Gotten bolder.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve simply stopped caring what people like you think of me.¡±


    Beck¡¯s face hardened. ¡°People like me? You mean people who see through your act?¡±


    ¡°What act would that be?¡± I challenged.


    ¡°The innocent, devoted wife routine. We all know youtched onto Damien for his money and status.¡± His voice lowered. ¡°Vivienne never pretended to be something she¡¯s not. That¡¯s why everyone respects her.¡±


    The mention of Vivienne sent a familiar pang through my chest, but I refused to let it


    <b>03:43 </b>


    <


    show<b>. </b>


    20 A Cold Encounter, A Warm Reprieve


    ¡°Your opinion of me was formed long before you knew anything about me,¡± I said coolly. ¡°And frankly, I no longer care to change it.¡±


    Beck scoffed, though something in his expression shifted. I wasn¡¯t ying by the expected rules anymore.


    ¡°Whatever game you¡¯re ying now, it won¡¯t work,¡± he said. ¡°Damien¡¯s with Vivienne tonight, celebrating her win.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± I replied, my voice steady despite the ache his words caused. ¡°I¡¯m not here for Damien. I¡¯m here with Ethan.¡°.


    ¡°Ethan?¡± Beck¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°Yes, Ethan Thorne. Victoria asked me to bring him to the race and take him home afterward.¡± I nced at my watch. ¡°Speaking of which, I should find him. We need to


    leave.¡±


    As I turned to go, Beck caught my arm. ¡°Wait-¡±


    I looked pointedly at his hand until he released me.


    ¡°He¡¯s lucky to have married someone like you,¡± Beck said, his tone mockingly sweet. ¡°So amodating, running errands for his family. A perfect little housewife.¡±


    The old ra would have swallowed the insult silently. The new ra didn¡¯t have to.


    ¡°And you¡¯re lucky to have friends who tolerate your condescension,¡± I replied with a cold smile. ¡°I truly hope that works out for you.¡±


    I walked away without waiting for his response, feeling his stunned gaze on my back. Each step felt like reiming a piece of myself I¡¯d surrendered years ago.


    I found Ethan waiting near the exit, hisnky teenage frame leaning against the wall as he scrolled through his phone.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± I asked, mastering my tone to hide any lingering tension from the encounter with Beck.


    ¡°Yeah. Mom¡¯s blowing up my phone.¡± Ethan rolled his eyes but followed me to the


    03:43


    20 A Cold Encounter, A Warm Reprieve


    parking lot.


    The drive back to the Thorne estate was quiet, with Ethan absorbed in his phone. I weed the silence, using the time to process my confrontation with Beck. There was a time when his opinion would have devastated me ¨C when I desperately sought approval from anyone in Damien¡¯s circle.


    That time was over.


    When we pulled up to the estate, Ethan nced up from his phone. ¡°Thanks for the ride, ra. And for taking me to the race.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± I replied, offering him a genuine smile. Despite everything, I¡¯d always had a soft spot for Damien¡¯s younger cousin.


    Ethan unbuckled his seatbelt but didn¡¯t immediately exit the car. ¡°Are youing in?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Not tonight.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± His stomach growled audibly, and he looked embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m starving again. Mom¡¯s probably already asleep, and I don¡¯t want to wake the staff¡­¡±


    I checked the time ¨C nearly midnight. ¡°Didn¡¯t you eat at the race?¡±


    ¡°Just some chips,¡± he admitted. ¡°I was too caught up watching.¡±


    I hesitated, weighing my options. I should go home, but I was also hungry, having missed dinner myself.


    ¡°There¡¯s a 24¨Chour diner about ten minutes from here,¡± I suggested. ¡°We could grab something quick if you want.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Really? That would be awesome!¡±


    Twenty minutester, we were settled in a booth at Murphy¡¯s Diner, a cozy


    establishment with checkerboard floors and vinyl seats. The ce was nearly empty save for a few night shift workers grabbing coffee.


    ¡°This ce has the best milkshakes,¡± Ethan said enthusiastically as he studied theminated menu.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡±


    03:43 C


    <b>< </b>


    20 A Cold Encounter, A Warm Reprieve


    ¡°Yeah, Damien brought me once after ate flight.¡± His expression turned sheepish. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Mom, though. She¡¯d freak if she knew I was eating greasy diner food at midnight.¡±


    The mention of Damien sent a familiar ache through my chest, but I pushed it aside. ¡°Your secret¡¯s safe with me.¡±


    We ordered


    ¨C


    a cheeseburger and chocte shake for Ethan, a grilled cheese and coffee for me. As we waited for our food, I noticed Ethan studying me curiously.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, suddenly self¨Cconscious.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he said quickly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you seem differenttely.¡±


    I took a sip of my water. ¡°Different how?¡±


    Ethan shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. More¡­ yourself, I guess?¡±


    His unexpected insight caught me off guard. Before I could respond, our food arrived, momentarily distracting us both.


    ¡°This looks amazing,¡± Ethan dered, immediately taking arge bite of his burger.


    I smiled at his enthusiasm and bit into my grilled cheese. Thefort food was exactly what I needed after the emotionally draining evening.


    ¡°Sorry you had to miss dinner because of me,¡± Ethan said between bites.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I wasn¡¯t very hungry earlier anyway.¡±


    Ethan nodded, then surprised me by asking, ¡°Are you okay, ra? Like, really okay?¡±


    The question was so sincere it momentarily disarmed me. When was thest time someone had genuinely asked about my well¨Cbeing?


    ¡°I¡¯m getting there,¡± I answered honestly.


    ¡°Good.¡± Ethan seemed satisfied with my response. ¡°You deserve to be happy.¡±


    His simple statement touched me deeply. ¡°Thank you, Ethan. That means a lot.¡±


    We finished our meal infortable conversation, with Ethan telling me about his


    03:43


    20 A Cold Encounter, A Warm Reprieve


    college ns and asking my opinion on various majors. It struck me that this teenager was showing me more genuine interest than my husband had in years.


    After paying the bill ¨C I insisted, despite Ethan¡¯s protests ¨C we headed back to the car. The night air was cool and refreshing, clearing my head.


    ¡°That was awesome, Ethan said as he buckled his seatbelt. ¡°Thanks, ra.¡±


    ¡°Anytime.¡± And I meant it.


    The drive back to the Thorne estate was peaceful. When I pulled up to the entrance, Ethan turned to me before getting out.


    ¡°You know, you¡¯re pretty cool,¡± he said with the earnest sincerity only a teenager could muster. ¡°I wish I¡¯d gotten to know you better before.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s never toote,¡± I replied with a smile. ¡°Goodnight, Ethan.¡±


    ¡°Night, ra.¡±


    I watched him enter the house safely before driving away, feeling lighter than I had all evening. The interaction had been a balm to my wounded spirit after the confrontation with Beck and the pain of seeing Damien celebrating with Vivienne.


    As I drove home through the quiet streets, Ethan¡¯s words echoed in my mind. I deserved to be happy. For too long, I¡¯d tied my happiness to a man who couldn¡¯t ¨C or wouldn¡¯t ¨C reciprocate my feelings. It was time to find joy independently of Damien


    Thorne.


    The thought was both terrifying and liberating.


    My phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Ethan:


    ¡°Thanks again for tonight. You¡¯re awesome.¡±


    The simple message brought a genuine smile to my face. In a world where I often felt invisible, it was nice to be seen, even if just by a kindhearted teenager.


    Little did I know that back at the Thorne estate, Ethan was thinking about our evening as he prepared for bed. His mind wandered to the sadness he asionally glimpsed behind my smiles, the quiet dignity with which I carried myself despite everything.


    03:43


    <b>< </b>


    20 A Cold Encounter, A Warm Reprieve


    ¡°What a wonderful person,¡± he thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep. ¡°It was just


    a pity that Damien Thorne didn¡¯t feel the same way about her. What a shame.¡±

 The Sprawling 21

    21 An Empty Room, A Hesitant Vow


    Damien¡¯s POV


    The soft click of the door closing behind me echoed in the silence of the hallway. Cora¡¯s small form was finally tucked beneath her covers, her breathing steady with sleep. I rubbed my neck, fatigue settling into my shoulders after the long night at the


    racetrack.


    Mr. Finch appeared at the end of the corridor, his normally stoic face betraying mild surprise at seeing me carrying Cora.


    ¡°Good evening, Mr. Thorne. You¡¯re back ratherte.¡±


    ¡°Vivienne¡¯s victory celebration ran longer than expected,¡± I replied, my voice low to avoid waking Cora. ¡°Is Mrs. Thorne in her room?¡±


    A barely perceptible pause. ¡°Mrs. Thorne hasn¡¯t returned home tonight, sir.¡±


    I checked my watch. Nearly midnight. ¡°At all?¡±


    ¡°No, sir. She left early this morning and hasn¡¯t been back.¡±


    Strange. ra was usually home by now, often in bed reading or working on herptop. While she¡¯d been keeping unusual hourstely, she rarely stayed out thiste without mentioning it.


    ¡°Did she say where she was going?¡± I asked, more out of curiosity than concern.


    ¡°She did not specify, sir.¡±


    I nodded, dismissing the matter from my mind. ra was an adult. She didn¡¯t need to ount for her whereabouts to me, just as I didn¡¯t to her. Our marriage had long ago settled into afortable arrangement of mutual independence.


    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll be in my study if needed.¡±


    I descended the stairs, pausing briefly at therge portrait hanging in the foyer. It was a family photo taken when Cora was three ¨C ra seated with Cora on herp, me standing behind them. All of us smiling. I rarely noticed it anymore, having passed it


    01:09


    17


    21 An Empty Room, A Hesitant Vow


    countless times over the years.


    Tonight, something about ra¡¯s frozen smile caught my attention. It didn¡¯t reach her


    eyes.


    I continued to my study, pushing the observation aside. My phone buzzed with a message from Vivienne.


    ¡°Still riding high on today¡¯s win. Can¡¯t wait to see you tomorrow. V.¡±


    I smiled at the screen before setting the phone down. Pouring myself a scotch, I turned my attention to the stack of reports waiting on my desk. Work was a wee distraction from the peculiar hollow feeling in the too-quiet house.


    The Vance family had always been a mystery to me. ra¡¯s father, Gerald, was allegedly ill, though I¡¯d never witnessed any evidence of this supposed condition. His wife, Miranda, spoke of it often with dramatic sighs and concerned nces, but I suspected it was mostly theatrics. The whole family had a ir for the dramatic ¨C except ra.


    ra was different. Quieter. More reserved. In our early days, before our hasty marriage, I¡¯d found her serenity refreshing. Now, seven yearster, I rarely thought about it at all.


    I worked until my eyes burned with fatigue, eventually making my way to bed. As I passed ra¡¯s room, I noticed the door ajar, the bed still perfectly made. The space was pristine, untouched, as if no one lived there at all.


    Morning arrived with Cora¡¯s excited voice piercing through my dream.


    ¡°Daddy! It¡¯s horseback riding day at school!¡± She bounced on my bed, already dressed in her uniform, her hair still a mess.


    I groaned, reaching for my phone. 6:45 AM. ¡°Who helped you get dressed?¡±


    ¡°I did it myself!¡± Cora proudly twirled, showing off her mismatched socks and unevenly buttoned cardigan.


    I sat up, rubbing sleep from my eyes. ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy? She usually helps you in the mornings.¡±


    01:09


    <


    21 An Empty Room, A Hesitant Vow


    Cora¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°I checked her room. She¡¯s not there.¡±


    I got up, leading Cora to the bathroom to fix her hair. ¡°She didn¡¯te homest night. She must be staying somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡± Cora asked, wincing as I struggled with a tangle in her curls.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted. ¡°Adult reasons, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Can I call her? I need to tell her about horseback riding day!¡±


    I handed Cora my phone, watching as she expertly navigated to ra¡¯s contact and hit the video call button. The phone rang several times before ra answered, slightly breathless.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Her face appeared on screen, flushed and dewy with sweat.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Cora shouted. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ra¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Good morning, sweetheart. I just finished a morning jog¡±


    I noticed unfamiliar surroundings behind her ¨C not her usual jogging path through our neighborhood.


    ¡°Where are you staying?¡± I asked, mildly curious.


    ra¡¯s eyes flickered to me briefly before returning to Cora. ¡°Just somewhere quiet.¡±


    ¡°When are youing home?¡± Cora demanded.


    A slight pause. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, sweetheart. I need some time to myself right now.¡±


    Cora¡¯s lower lip trembled dangerously. ¡°But Mommy, it¡¯s horseback riding day at school! You always take me on horseback riding day!¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Cora, I can take you to school today.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Cora¡¯s voice rose with distress. ¡°Mommy has to take me! She always does!¡±


    I watched ra¡¯s face on the small screen. Something shifted in her expression ¨C a fleeting shadow of reluctance.


    ¡°ra, if you¡¯re busy, I can handle it,¡± I offered.


    01:09


    <


    21 An Empty Room, A Hesitant Vow


    Cora¡¯s eyes welled with tears. ¡°No! I want Mommy!¡± She took the phone from my hand. ¡°Please, Mommy? Pleasee take me to school? I want to tell you about the horse I¡¯m going to ride!¡±


    I watched ra¡¯s resolve crumble in real-time. Her shoulders slumped slightly, her expression softening with resignation.


    ¡°Alright, Coco,¡± she finally said. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in thirty minutes to take you to school.¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡± Cora sniffled.


    ¡°Promise.¡±


    After ending the call, Cora skipped happily downstairs for breakfast, her crisis averted. I headed to the shower, puzzled by ra¡¯s hesitation. She¡¯d never refused Cora before, had always put our daughter¡¯s needs first, often at the expense of her own.


    Something had changed.


    Thirty minutester, I was reviewing emails in the kitchen when I heard the front door open. Mr. Finch¡¯s formal greeting was followed by the sound of ra¡¯s soft voice.


    She appeared in the kitchen doorway, dressed in a tailored navy suit that emphasized her slender figure. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, makeup subtle but perfect. She looked every bit the professional working woman rather than the mother who had just rushed over to take our daughter to school.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she said, her tone pleasant but distant.


    Before I could respond, Coraunched herself at ra¡¯s legs. ¡°Mommy! You came!¡±


    ¡°Of course I did. I promised.¡± ra smoothed Cora¡¯s hair, her touch gentle. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    Cora nodded enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯m going to ride Thunder today! He¡¯s the biggest horse!¡±


    ¡°That sounds exciting.¡± ra checked her watch. ¡°We should get going if we don¡¯t want to bete.¡±


    I stood, suddenly feeling like an intruder in their exchange. ¡°I have an early meeting, so


    01:09


    <


    21 An Empty Room, A Hesitant Vow


    I need to leave now as well. I¡¯ll walk out with you.¡±


    The three of us moved toward the door, an echo of the family we were supposed to be. As Mr. Finch handed Cora her backpack, I noticed ra maintain a careful distance from me.


    ¡°Will you be home tonight?¡± I asked as we reached the driveway.


    ¡°No,¡± ra replied simply. ¡°I have ns.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure why I feltpelled to ask.


    Cora looked between us with confusion. ¡°But Mommy, where are you sleeping?¡±


    ¡°Somewhere quiet,¡± ra repeated her earlier answer, helping Cora into her car seat. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow for your school pickup, okay?¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡± Cora¡¯s voice wavered again.


    ¡°Promise.¡± ra kissed her forehead before closing the car door.


    As I watched ra drive away with our daughter, herposed expression revealed nothing of her thoughts. Yet something about the rigidity in her shoulders spoke volumes. This wasn¡¯t simply a few nights away; it was the beginning of something more significant.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Driving Cora to school, I listened to her excited chatter about horses and her friends. I smiled at appropriate moments, asked questions, and gave all the outward signs of maternal attention. But inwardly, I was wrestling with an ufortable truth.


    I hadn¡¯t wanted toe today.


    The realization chilled me. For years, I¡¯d centered my entire world around Cora and Damien. I¡¯d rearranged meetings, canceled personal ns, sacrificed sleep ¨C all to be the perfect mother and wife. Now, for the first time, I¡¯d felt resentment at having my newfound peace disrupted.


    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re not listening!¡± Cora¡¯s indignant voice broke through my thoughts.


    01:09


    21 An Empty Room, A Hesitant Vow


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. What were you saying?¡±


    ¡°I said Miss Wilson said I might get to ride Thunder without someone holding the


    reins!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± I replied automatically. ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing hard.¡±


    As I pulled up to the school drop-off zone, guilt gnawed at me. What kind of mother resents spending time with her child? What kind of person was I bing?


    ¡°Have a wonderful day, Coco,¡± I said, helping her out of the car. ¡°I love you.¡±


    Cora hugged me tightly. ¡°Love you too, Mommy. Will you be home when I get back from Daddy¡¯s office?¡±


    ¡°No, sweetheart. Not today.¡± I straightened her cardigan, noticing the mismatched buttons. ¡°But I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±


    Her face fell momentarily before brightening again. ¡°Okay! Bye, Mommy!¡±


    I watched her skip toward the school entrance, pigtails bouncing. The sight should have filled me with warmth. Instead, I felt a confusing mix of love and something dangerously close to relief that I was dropping her off rather than picking her up.


    As I drove toward Thorne Industries, I confronted the ufortable truth: I had agreed to take Cora to school not out of desire but out of obligation ¨C a sense of maternal duty that still bound me despite my growing need for independence.


    The realization didn¡¯t make me proud. But it did make me honest.


    I straightened my shoulders as I pulled into my reserved parking space at Thorne Industries. Today was another day of maintaining my professional facade while secretly nning my exit strategy from both thispany and my marriage.


    One day at a time, I reminded myself. One obligation at a time.


    01:09

 The Sprawling 22

    22 The CEO¡¯s Coffee and a Colleague¡¯s Curiosity


    22 The CEO¡¯s Coffee and a Colleague¡¯s Curiosity


    ra Vance sat perfectly still in her chair, fingers moving swiftly across her tablet as she took detailed notes. The morning meeting had been going for nearly an hour, and Mr. Thorne was now addressing the marketing department¡¯s new campaign.


    ¡°These projections are uneptable,¡± Damien¡¯ Thorne said, his deep voice cutting through the tension-filled conference room. He leaned forward, one hand nted firmly on the polished table. ¡°I want the revised numbers on my desk by tomorrow morning.¡±


    The marketing director nodded nervously. ¡°Yes, Mr. Thorne.¡±


    ra observed the exchange without expression, recording every detail while maintaining herposed demeanor. To her right, she noticed Olivia Monroe, a recent hire in themunications department, staring at Damien with undisguised


    admiration.


    ¡°Is there something else you¡¯d like to add, Ms. Monroe?¡± Damien asked suddenly, catching the young woman¡¯s gaze.


    Olivia blushed furiously. ¡°No, Mr. Thorne. I was just¡­ thinking about your approach to the campaign.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Damien raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ brilliant. I mean, very insightful,¡± Olivia stammered, clutching her pen so tightly


    her knuckles turned white.


    Damien gave a curt nod before moving on to the next item on the agenda. ra continued taking notes, her face betraying nothing despite noticing Olivia¡¯s flustered


    reaction.


    When the meeting finally concluded, everyone began gathering their materials. ra organized her notes efficiently, preparing to return to her desk.


    ¡°That was intense,¡± Marcus Cole, head of the legal department, remarked as he passed by ra¡¯s seat. ¡°Do you have those contract points we discussed?¡±


    01:09


    177


    <


    22 The CEO¡¯s Coffee and a Colleague¡¯s Curiosity


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra replied, pulling up a separate document on her tablet. ¡°I¡¯vepiled everything, including the references to the previous agreements.¡±


    Marcus scanned the document and nodded appreciatively. ¡°This is impressively thorough, ra. How do you manage to catch every detail while still taking notes for the general meeting?¡±


    ra offered a small smile. ¡°Practice.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t she?¡± Olivia chimed in, appearing beside them. ¡°I was watching you during the meeting. You didn¡¯t miss a single point Mr. Thorne made.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s part of my job,¡± ra responded simply.


    Marcus excused himself, leaving ra and Olivia alone in the now-emptying conference room. Olivia leaned against the table, her eyes bright with curiosity.


    ¡°How long have you worked for Mr. Thorne?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Almost seven years,¡± ra answered, continuing to organize her materials.


    ¡°That¡¯s a long time,¡± Olivia remarked. ¡°You must know everything about him.¡±


    ra looked up, her expression neutral. ¡°I know what¡¯s necessary for my professional responsibilities.¡±


    Olivia lowered her voice. ¡°He¡¯s so intimidating. But in a good way, you know? So powerful and decisive.¡± Her cheeks flushed again. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever met anyone somanding.¡±


    ra nodded politely but offered noment.


    ¡°Could I possibly get a copy of your meeting notes?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°I was so¡­ distracted that I missed some key points.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± ra replied, sending the file with a few quick taps. ¡°Check your email.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s phone pinged. ¡°Wow, that was fast.¡± She scrolled through the document, eyes widening. ¡°These are incredibly detailed. You even included references to previous meetings and projects.¡±


    ¡°Context helps with implementation,¡± ra exined.


    01:09


    22 The CEO¡¯s Coffee and a Colleague¡¯s Curiosity


    ¡°I heard you studied economics and business administration,¡± Olivia said. ¡°But these notes reference technology trends, legal precedents, and marketing concepts. Did you study all those fields too?¡±


    ra gathered her tablet. ¡°I read widely.¡±


    ¡°What do you rmend for someone who wants to understand more about what we do here? Olivia asked eagerly. ¡°I want to impress Mr. Thorne with my knowledge.¡±


    ra paused, considering the question. ¡°I can send you a reading list if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°That would be amazing!¡±


    Ten minutester, back at her desk, ra emailed a carefully curated list of books, journals, and online resources to Olivia. Her phone rang almost immediately.


    ¡°This list is¡­ extensive,¡± Olivia¡¯s voice sounded overwhelmed. ¡°There must be fifty


    books here.¡±


    ¡°You asked forprehensive understanding,¡± ra replied evenly. ¡°Knowledge isn¡¯t acquired overnight.¡±


    ¡°How many of these have


    you read?¡±


    ¡°All of them,¡± ra said. ¡°Plus supplementary materials.¡±


    There was a brief silence on the line. ¡°I see why Mr. Thorne values you so highly. You¡¯re


    incredible.¡±


    ra thanked her politely before ending the call. She turned her attention to the quarterly report she waspiling, pushing thoughts of Damien Thorne to the periphery of her mind.


    The afternoon sun was casting long shadows across her desk when Marcus approached again.


    ¡°ra, Mr. Thorne has the Montgomery meeting at four. Could you prepare his coffee beforehand? He specifically asked for you to make it.¡±


    ra looked up from her work. ¡°Of course.¡±


    She saved her document and headed toward the executive kitchen. The request wasn¡¯t


    01:09


    317


    22 The CEO¡¯s Coffee and a Colleague¡¯s Curiosity


    unusual-Damien had always been particr about his coffee, especially before important meetings. What was unusual was her own reaction. For years, preparing his coffee had felt like a small victory, a tiny connection between them. Now, it was simply another task.


    As she measured the precisely ground beans, ra reflected on this emotional shift. Her decision to divorce Damien had freed her in unexpected ways. The little things that once seemed meaningful-making his coffee exactly as he liked it, anticipating his needs before he voiced them-now felt like the professional courtesies they truly


    were.


    ¡°Oh, there you are!¡±.


    ra looked up to see Olivia standing in the doorway, slightly out of breath.


    ¡°I overheard Marcus asking you to make Mr. Thorne¡¯s coffee,¡± Olivia said, stepping into the kitchen. ¡°Could you show me how? I¡¯d love to learn.¡±


    ra¡¯s hands stilled over the coffee machine. ¡°Why?¡±


    Olivia¡¯s smile turned slightly sheepish. ¡°Well, I¡¯m hoping to make myself indispensable around here. And if Mr. Thorne specially requests you to make his coffee, it must be important to him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just coffee, Olivia.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s his coffee,¡± Olivia persisted. ¡°Details matter to someone like Mr. Thorne, right? I want to understand everything that¡¯s important to him.¡±


    ra recognized the look in Olivia¡¯s eyes-admiration bordering on infatuation. It was a look she¡¯d once seen in her own reflection, many years ago.


    ¡°Please?¡± Olivia added. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t get in your way. I just want to learn.¡±


    ra considered her for a moment. A year ago, she might have felt threatened or protective, unwilling to share even this small connection to Damien. Now, she found herself nodding.


    ¡°He prefers dark roast beans, freshly ground,¡± ra began, gesturing for Olivia toe closer. ¡°The water temperature needs to be precisely ny-six degrees Celsius.¡±


    01:09


    22 The CEO¡¯s Coffee and a Colleague¡¯s Curiosity


    Olivia watched eagerly as ra demonstrated each step, exining Damien¡¯s preferences in detail-ck coffee, no sugar, served in the navy blue cup with the white interior, never the matching white cup with navy interior.


    ¡°That¡¯s so specific!¡± Olivia eximed. ¡°How did you learn all this?¡±


    ¡°Observation,¡± ra replied simply. ¡°And he told me directly when I got it wrong.¡± ¡°Does he have a preference for who delivers it?¡± Olivia asked, her intention obvious.


    ra measured the coffee into the cup with precision. ¡°No. He only cares that it¡¯s made correctly.¡±


    ¡°So I could take it to him?¡± Olivia¡¯s eyes brightened with hope.


    ra felt a curious sensation-not jealousy or possessiveness, but something closer to pity. She remembered that feeling of wanting to be noticed, of searching for any opportunity to be in Damien¡¯s presence.


    ¡°If you¡¯d like,¡± ra said, carefully transferring the finished coffee to the correct cup. ¡°Really?¡± Olivia¡¯s face lit up with surprise and excitement. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± ra answered truthfully. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind at all.¡±


    Olivia studied her face, seeming to search for any sign of reluctance or territorial behavior. Finding none, she broke into a wide smile.


    ¡°Thank you! This is so kind of you. Most women in your position wouldn¡¯t be so helpful to someone expressing interest in their boss.¡±


    ra¡¯s lips curved in a small, enigmatic smile. ¡°I¡¯m not most women.¡±


    ¡°Can you teach me to make it properly next time?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°So I can do it myself?¡±


    The question hung between them-innocuous on the surface but loaded with meaning. Olivia was asking for more than a coffee tutorial. She was asking for permission to step into a role that ra had upied for years.


    In that moment, ra realized how truly done she was with Damien Thorne. The thought of someone else making his coffee, trying to please him, seeking his approval¡ª none of it bothered her anymore.


    01:09


    22 The CEO¡¯s Coffee and a Colleague¡¯s Curiosity


    ¡°Sure,¡± she responded simply.


    Olivia blinked, clearly surprised by ra¡¯s easy acquiescence. ¡°Really? You¡¯d teach me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra confirmed, handing the perfect cup of coffee to Olivia. ¡°His meeting starts in ten minutes. You should deliver this while it¡¯s still the exact temperature he prefers.¡±


    As Olivia carefully took the cup, bncing it with nervous precision, ra felt a weight lift from her shoulders-one she hadn¡¯t even realized she¡¯d been carrying. Another small thread connecting her to Damien, severed cleanly and without pain.


    ¡°Thank you, ra,¡± Olivia said earnestly. ¡°You¡¯re not what people say you are at all.¡±


    ra raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what do they say I am?¡±


    Olivia flushed. ¡°Oh, you know¡­ cold. Unapproachable. Possessive of your position with Mr. Thorne.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± ra replied, her voice soft but steady. ¡°Well, people often mistake professionalism for coldness.¡±


    ¡°And the rest?¡± Olivia asked hesitantly.


    ra smiled, genuinely this time. ¡°Perhaps they¡¯ve been talking to the wrong person about who I really am.¡±


    Olivia nodded thoughtfully before carefully making her way out of the kitchen, coffee cup held like a precious artifact. ra watched her go, feeling neither regret nor


    concern.


    For the first time in years, she was making choices based solely on her own feelings, not on how they might affect her rtionship with Damien. It was liberating to realize that she truly didn¡¯t care who made his coffee anymore.

 The Sprawling 23

    23 A Daughter¡¯s Heartbreak, A Mother¡¯s Resolve


    23 A Daughter¡¯s Heartbreak, A Mother¡¯s Resolve


    Marcus Cole watched with furrowed brows as ra Vance handed over a thick folder


    to Olivia Monroe. The two women stood by ra¡¯s former desk, now cleared of all personal items.


    ¡°These are all the major files you¡¯ll need,¡± r¨¤ exined, pointing to color-coded tabs. ¡°I¡¯ve highlighted the priority projects in red.¡±


    Olivia epted the folder with a nervous smile. ¡°Thank you for being so helpful with the transition. I wasn¡¯t expecting¡­¡±


    ¡°For me to make it easy?¡± ra finished with a slight smile.


    Marcus couldn¡¯t help himself. He approached them, coffee in hand, curious about this peculiar dynamic.


    ¡°Most people would fight tooth and nail to keep your position,¡± he remarked, studying ra¡¯s calm demeanor. ¡°Yet here you are, practically gifting your recement with your hard-earned knowledge.¡±


    ra met his gaze steadily. ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision, Marcus. There¡¯s no point in making things difficult for everyone else.¡±


    Olivia nced between them. ¡°I¡¯m grateful, regardless. Would you like to have dinner sometime? I¡¯d love to pick your brain about some of these ounts.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯m fully booked these days,¡± ra replied, checking her watch. ¡°I should go. My research awaits.¡±


    Marcus watched her walk away, her shoulders straight, her steps purposeful. He turned to Olivia. ¡°I¡¯ve known ra for years and never seen her like this.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡± Olivia asked.


    ¡°Free,¡± he answered simply.


    ra settled at her desk in her home office, preparing to dive into her AI research


    01:10


    23 A Daughter¡¯s Heartbreak, A Mother¡¯s Resolve


    when her phone rang. Cora¡¯s name shed on the screen. She answered immediately.


    ¡°Hello, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Mom, can youe make dinner tonight?¡± Cora¡¯s voice was demanding yet hopeful. ¡°Mr. Finch made pasta again, and I want your special chicken.¡±


    ra closed her eyes briefly. In the past, she would have dropped everything for such


    a request.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Coco. I can¡¯t tonight. I¡¯m working on something important.¡±


    Silence stretched between them. Then came Cora¡¯s confused voice, ¡°But you always


    ¡°I know, but things are different now. I¡¯ll make it for you next time you visit me.¡±


    ¡°But I want it tonight!¡± Cora¡¯s voice rose. ¡°What¡¯s more important than me?¡±


    The usation stung, but ra remained firm. ¡°Nothing is more important than you, Cora. But I have responsibilities I need to attend to.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just being mean!¡± Cora shouted before the line went dead.


    ra stared at her phone, feeling the weight of her daughter¡¯s disappointment. She almost called back, almost gave in. Instead, she sent a text: ¡°I love you, Coco. We¡¯ll talk


    tomorrow.¡±


    She set the phone aside and turned her attention to herputer screen, but Cora¡¯s wounded voice echoed in her mind. Minutester, her phone pinged with a message


    from Julian Croft.


    ¡°Attending the Northridge Tech Summit tomorrow? Several investors specifically asked if you¡¯ll be there.¡±


    ra hesitated only briefly before replying, ¡°Count me in.¡±


    Cora Thorne threw her phone across her bedroom, tears streaming down her face.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t love me anymore!¡± she wailed, copsing dramatically onto her bed.


    01:10


    23 A Daughter¡¯s Heartbreak, A Mother¡¯s Resolve


    Mr. Finch, the housekeeper, stood in the doorway, rmed by the outburst. ¡°Miss Cora, please calm down. Your mother loves you very much.¡±


    ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t!¡± Cora sobbed. ¡°She used to do anything I asked. Now she says she¡¯s too busy!¡±


    Mr. Finch approached cautiously. ¡°Perhaps she truly has important work tonight. Shall we call her back?¡±


    ¡°No! I hate her!¡± Cora buried her face in her pillow. ¡°I won¡¯t eat until shees and


    makes me dinner!¡±


    Mr. Finch sighed. ¡°Your father won¡¯t be pleased if you skip dinner again.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care! Call Daddy and tell him Mom is being mean to me.¡±


    The housekeeper recognized the growing tantrum and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll call Mr. Thorne. In the meantime, why don¡¯t you wash your face ande downstairs when you¡¯re ready?¡±


    Cora just sobbed harder, clutching her pillow.


    Mr. Finch quietly left the room, concerned about the increasingly frequent emotional outbursts from the child since Mrs. Thorne¡¯s departure. He dialed his employer¡¯s number, bracing himself for the conversation.


    Damien Thorne stood in a crowded ballroom, champagne flute in hand, half-listening to an investor¡¯s animated spiel about emerging markets. His phone vibrated in his pocket. Seeing Mr. Finch¡¯s name, he excused himself and stepped away.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked without preamble.


    ¡°I apologize for disturbing you, sir,¡± Mr. Finch said. ¡°But Miss Cora is quite upset. She asked Mrs. Thorne toe make dinner, but Mrs. Thorne declined. Now Miss Cora refuses to eat anything.¡±


    Damien pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Put her on the phone.¡±


    Momentster, Cora¡¯s tear-filled voice came through. ¡°Daddy, Mom doesn¡¯t love me


    01:10


    23 A Daughter¡¯s Heartbreak, A Mother¡¯s Resolve


    anymore! She won¡¯te when I need her!¡±


    ¡°Cora,¡± Damien¡¯s voice was firm but gentle. ¡°Your mother is busy tonight. That doesn¡¯t mean she doesn¡¯t love you.¡±


    ¡°But she always came before! Always!¡± Cora hupped between sobs.


    Damien considered his next words carefully. ¡°Things are different now. Your mother has her own work, just like I do.¡±


    ¡°Cancel it!¡± Cora demanded. ¡°Tell her to cancel like she used to when you needed her!¡±


    The words hit Damien oddly. Had ra really been canceling her ownmitments whenever he needed something? He pushed the thought aside.


    ¡°Coco,¡± he used her nickname strategically, ¡°if you eat your dinner tonight, we¡¯ll go to that theme park you like this weekend. Just you and me.¡±


    The sobbing paused. ¡°Really? The one with the big roller coasters?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But only if you stop this tantrum and eat your dinner.¡±


    ¡°Can we go on all the rides? Even the scary ones?¡±


    ¡°All of them,¡± Damien promised. ¡°Now, will you eat what Mr. Finch prepared?¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Cora agreed, her mood shifting instantly. ¡°Love you, Daddy!¡±


    ¡°Good girl. I¡¯ll see youter tonight.¡±


    Damien ended the call, frowning slightly. ra had always handled Cora¡¯s emotional needs. Her absence was creatingplications he hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    He returned to the ballroom, where a colleague immediately approached him.


    ¡°Everything all right, Thorne? You looked concerned.¡±


    Damien shrugged casually. ¡°My daughter was throwing a tantrum and refused to eat. I had to pacify her.¡±


    His colleague chuckled. ¡°Kids, right? Thank god for nannies.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Damien replied, though something about the exchange left him unsettled as


    01:10


    23 A Daughter¡¯s Heartbreak, A Mother¡¯s Resolve


    he rejoined the party.


    Back in her office, ra stared at her screen, unable to focus. She could picture Cora¡¯s tear-streaked face, hear her usatory tone. For seven years, she had molded herself around her daughter¡¯s needs and wants, just as she had with Damien¡¯s.


    Her phone pinged with a text from Mr. Finch: ¡°Miss Cora has calmed down. Mr. Thorne spoke with her.¡±


    Relief washed over ra, followed immediately by a pang of guilt. Should she have gone? Made the chicken? Been the mother who dropped everything for her child?


    No. She had to break this pattern. Cora needed to understand that love didn¡¯t mean constant avability or self-sacrifice.


    Her eyes fell on Julian¡¯s message about the tech summit. Tomorrow would be her first major industry appearance since returning to YodaVision. Investors were asking for her specifically. Her work mattered. Her time mattered.


    With renewed resolve, ra turned back to her research notes. She would always love Cora fiercely, but she could no longer be defined solely as Damien¡¯s wife or even as Cora¡¯s mother.


    It was time for everyone-especially herself-to remember she was ra Vance first.


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    01:10


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 The Sprawling 24

    24 An Icy Homing


    24 An Icy Homing


    Cora Thorne sat by the window, her small hands pressed against the ss as she watched the driveway with growing impatience. Her mother had promised to take her to school this morning, but the night had passed without ra¡¯s return.


    ¡°Is Mommying?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with worry.


    Damien Thorne nced up from his tablet. ¡°She¡¯ll be here in the morning to take you to school.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s not here yet,¡± Cora pouted, her lower lip trembling slightly.


    ¡°It¡¯s still night, Coco. Time for bed.¡± Damien¡¯s tone was gentle but firm as he lifted his daughter off the window seat. ¡°Your mother has never broken a promise to you. She¡¯ll be here.¡±


    After tucking Cora in, Damien retreated to his study. Hours ticked by as he worked through a stack of contracts. He checked his watch-nearly midnight. ra still hadn¡¯t returned.


    A frown crossed his face. This was unusual, even given recent developments. Perhaps there were issues with the Vance family? He considered calling but decided against it. Their interactionstely had been minimal at best.


    When morning came, Damien was already dressed for work when he heard the front door open. From his position at the top of the stairs, he watched as ra stepped into the foyer.


    ra Vance stood in the entrance hall of the Thorne residence, feeling oddly disoriented. Despite having lived here for seven years, the mansion no longer felt like home. Its grand marble floors and imposing artworks seemed to belong to another life -one she had left behind.


    ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Thorne,¡± Mr. Finch greeted her, taking her light coat.


    She didn¡¯t correct him about the name. There would be time enough for that


    01:10


    24 An Icy Homing


    adjustmentter.


    ¡°Is Cora awake yet?¡± she asked, ncing at her watch. It was early, but she wanted minimal interaction with the household-especially Damien.


    ¡°Not yet, Mrs. Thorne. Would you like breakfast first? Mrs. Gable has prepared-¡±


    ¡°No thank you,¡± ra interrupted politely. ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten.¡±


    She hesitated at the foot of the grand staircase. ¡°Actually, would you mind asking Mrs. Gable to wake Cora? I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    Mr. Finch looked surprised but nodded. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Thorne.¡±


    As the housekeeper disappeared upstairs, ra remained standing in the foyer, unwilling to make herselffortable. This was just a brief stop to fulfill her promise to Cora-nothing more.


    The sound of footsteps on the marble staircase made her look up. Damien descended, impable in his tailored suit. Their eyes met briefly before ra offered only a curt nod in acknowledgment.


    ¡°ra,¡± he said, his tone neutral.


    ¡°Damien,¡± she replied, equally detached.


    An awkward silence fell between them, broken only when a high-pitched squeal echoed from the top of the stairs.


    ¡°Mom! You came!¡± Cora flew down the steps, nearly tripping in her excitement.


    ra¡¯s face transformed as she knelt to embrace her daughter. ¡°Of course I did. I promised, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Cora pulled back, her face serious. ¡°You didn¡¯te homest night.¡±


    ¡°I stayed at my new ce,¡± ra exined gently. ¡°But I¡¯m here now to take you to school, just like I said.¡±


    ¡°Are you staying for breakfast?¡± Cora tugged on her mother¡¯s hand, pulling her toward the dining room without waiting for an answer.


    01:10


    24 An Icy Homing


    ra allowed herself to be led, acutely aware of Damien following behind them. In the dining room, she sat beside Cora but made no move to serve herself from the spread on the table.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry, Mom?¡± Cora asked, already reaching for a pastry.


    ¡°I already ate, sweetheart. But you enjoy your breakfast while I check if you have everything ready for school.¡±


    As she helped Cora organize her backpack, ra kept her attention solely on her daughter. She could feel Damien¡¯s gaze on her from across the table but deliberately avoided making eye contact.


    ¡°Your science project is due today, right?¡± she asked Cora. ¡°Did you finish all thebels?¡±.


    ¡°Daddy helped mest night,¡± Cora said proudly. ¡°We stayed upte making it perfect.¡±


    ra¡¯s smile remained fixed. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. I¡¯m sure it will be the best in ss.¡±


    The atmosphere in the room was strained despite her efforts to keep things light for Cora¡¯s sake. Mrs. Gable moved silently around them, refilling coffee cups and offering more food.


    ¡°More coffee, Mrs. Thorne?¡± the housekeeper asked.


    ¡°No, thank you.¡± ra¡¯s response was polite but distant.


    Damien lowered his newspaper slightly. ¡°You seem in a hurry this morning¡±


    It was the first directment he¡¯d made to her, and ra met his gaze briefly. ¡°I have meetings at YodaVision after I drop Cora off.¡±


    ¡°YodaVision?¡± Cora perked up. ¡°The robotpany?¡±


    ¡°Artificial intelligence,¡± ra corrected with a small smile. ¡°Not exactly robots, though we do work with them sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Can Ie see? Please?¡± Cora¡¯s eyes widened with excitement.


    ¡°Not today, sweetie. But maybe another time.¡±


    01:10


    24 An Icy Homing


    Damien observed their exchange withoutment, his expression unreadable. When Cora excused herself to fetch something from her room, he set down his newspaperpletely.


    ¡°You didn¡¯te homest night,¡± he stated, echoing their daughter¡¯s earlier observation.


    ra met his gaze steadily. ¡°This isn¡¯t my home anymore, Damien.¡±


    His eyebrows rose fractionally at her bluntness. ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve established my own residence closer to YodaVision¡¯s headquarters,¡± she continued, her voice level. ¡°It¡¯s more practical.¡±


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to mention this arrangement?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I needed your approval.¡± Her tone remained calm, but there was a new firmness to it that hadn¡¯t been there in their previous interactions.


    Before Damien could respond, Cora bounded back into the room, clutching her science project. ¡°Ready, Mom!¡±


    ra stood immediately. ¡°Then let¡¯s get going. We don¡¯t want to bete.¡±


    She helped Cora with her jacket, carefully avoiding physical proximity to Damien as he also rose from the table.


    ¡°Have a good day at school, Coco,¡± he said, bending to kiss their daughter¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Bye, Daddy!¡± Cora hugged him tightly before skipping toward the door.


    ra followed, pausing only briefly at the threshold. ¡°I¡¯ll have her back on Sunday evening as agreed.¡±


    Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked out, her footsteps steady and unhurried.


    Damien stood in the doorway, watching as ra helped Cora into the car. His daughter was chattering animatedly, while ra smiled and nodded. When the car pulled away, he remained there a moment longer, a slight frown creasing his brow.


    Something had changed in ra-something beyond her physical absence from the


    01:10


    24 An Icy Homing


    house. The woman who had left was not the same one who had quietly epted whatever terms he set for their arrangement over the past seven years.


    This ra was cooler, more distant. She had spoken to him only when necessary and had made it clear that her decisions were her own.


    Damien returned to the dining table, his coffee forgotten as he contemted this shift. He had expected their separation to proceed smoothly, with minimal disruption to their established routines.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to feel¡­ unsettled by her indifference.


    Mrs. Gable approached to clear his te. ¡°Will you be needing anything else, Mr. Thorne?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he replied, still distracted by his thoughts. ¡°That will be all.¡±


    As the housekeeper retreated, Damien picked up his newspaper again, but the words blurred before his eyes. He set it down with more force than necessary and reached for his coffee, taking a sip only to discover it had gone cold.


    He pushed back from the table, a frown deepening on his face as he acutely registered ra¡¯s deliberate coldness toward him. This silent acknowledgment marked his recognition of the profound shift in their dynamic, foreshadowing questions he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted answered.


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 The Sprawling 25

    25 A Fever, A Favor, A Final Day


    25 A Fever, A Favor, A Final Day


    Damien¡¯s phone buzzed on the breakfast table. ra¡¯s eyes flickered to the screen, catching the caller ID: ¡°Babe.¡± A familiar pang shot through her chest, but she kept her expression nk. O


    ¡°Hi there. Damien¡¯s voice was soft, gentle-a tone ra barely recognized.


    He stood, moving away from the table. Cora looked up from her cereal, her small face brightening with interest.


    ¡°Is that Vivi?¡± she asked loudly.


    Damien nodded, his brow furrowed with concern. ¡°You have a fever? Since when?¡±


    ra busied herself with her coffee, focusing on the bitter taste rather than the sharp twist in her gut. Seven years of marriage and he¡¯d never once used that voice with her. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Damien said, ending the call. He turned to Cora. ¡°Vivienne isn¡¯t feeling well. I need to check on her.¡±


    ¡°Is she okay?¡± Cora¡¯s voice was thick with worry.


    ¡°Just a fever,¡± Damien replied, already grabbing his jacket. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    He paused briefly by the door. ¡°ra, can you handle preparations for the Henderson meeting this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Her voice was steady, professional.


    Without another word, Damien was gone.


    ra sat still, listening to the front door close, the car engine start. Cora¡¯s spoon clinked against her bowl in the silence.


    ¡°I hope Vivi feels better,¡± Cora mumbled.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure she will,¡± ra replied, gathering her own things. ¡°Your father will take good care of her.¡±


    Later, in the car on the way to school, ra noticed Cora typing on her phone, her


    01:10


    25 A Fever, A Favor, A Final Day


    small fingers moving quickly.


    ¡°Who are you messaging?¡± she asked, keeping her eyes on the road.


    ¡°Vivi,¡± Cora answered simply. ¡°Telling her to get better. And that I love her.¡±


    ra¡¯s hands tightened on the steering wheel. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ kind of you.¡±


    After dropping Cora off, ra drove to Thorne Industries with mechanical precision. The sky was overcast, threatening rain-fitting for her mood.


    In the office, Marcus Cole intercepted her before she reached her desk.


    ¡°Mr. Thorne won¡¯t be in for the morning meetings,¡± he informed her. ¡°Everything¡¯s been pushed to this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± ra replied.


    Marcus hesitated. ¡°Also, we¡¯ve nearlypleted the handover of your duties. Your sessor has been briefed on most processes.¡±


    ¡°That was quick.¡± ra kept her voice neutral despite the heaviness settling in her chest.


    ¡°Mr. Thorne requested the transition be expedited.¡±


    Of course he did. ra nodded and continued to her desk, opening herptop with practiced efficiency. She had work to do, regardless of where Damien was or who he wasforting.


    Still, her mind betrayed her. Was he holding Vivienne now? cing a cool cloth on her forehead? Murmuring soft words offort? The images tormented her, each one a papercut against her heart.


    By lunchtime, the office was buzzing with whispered conversations. ra caught fragments-¡°CEO¡¯s with his girlfriend¡±¡­¡±heard she¡¯s really sick¡±¡­¡±cancelled his entire morning.¡±


    ra ate her lunch alone in the break room, scrolling through emails that blurred before her eyes.


    At precisely 2:30 PM, Damien strode into the conference room for the Henderson


    01:10


    25 A Fever, A Favor, A Final Day


    *51


    meeting. ra noticed immediately that he¡¯d changed his clothes since morning. Fresh shirt, different tie. Her imagination filled in the nks-his previous outfit likely rumpled from lying beside Vivienne, perhaps stained from tending to her.


    ¡°The Henderson files,¡± she said, handing him the folder as he took his seat at the head of the table.


    Their fingers brushed in the exchange. His were warm-warmer than usual. Had Vivienne¡¯s fever transferred to him? Or was it heat from their bodies pressed together?


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Damien replied curtly.


    The meeting proceeded, but ra struggled to focus. Each time Damien spoke, she couldn¡¯t help wondering if his voice had been this business-like when speaking to a feverish Vivienne, or if he¡¯d used that soft tone she¡¯d heard on the phone.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne? Your input?¡± Marcus prompted.


    ra blinked, realizing she¡¯d missed a question. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, could you repeat that?¡±


    Damien¡¯s cold stare cut through her. ¡°Perhaps if you were paying attention rather than daydreaming, we could progress more efficiently.¡±


    The room fell silent. ra straightened her shoulders. ¡°My apologies. Mr. Henderson was asking about the logistics timeline. ording to our projections, we should expect delivery by the third quarter¡­¡±


    She recovered smoothly, but the damage was done. Damien¡¯s disapproval lingered like a cloud over the rest of the meeting.


    When it finally ended, ra gathered her notes with trembling hands. The other executives filed out, but Marcus Cole remained behind.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± he said quietly when they were alone. ¡°I wanted to let you know that the handover is essentiallyplete. Your sessor will start shadowing you tomorrow, but honestly, there¡¯s no need for you toe in.¡±


    ra¡¯s heart skipped. ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Thorne approved this eleration himself,¡± Marcus added, his expression sympathetic. ¡°Your severance package will remain as discussed, regardless of the


    01:10


    25 A Fever, A Favor, A Final Day


    shortened timeline.¡±


    Of course. Damien couldn¡¯t wait to erase her from hispany, just as he had from his life.


    ¡°I understand,¡± she said, her voice hollow. ¡°I¡¯ll clear my desk today, then.¡±


    Marcus nodded awkwardly before leaving her alone in the conference room.


    ra sat motionless for several minutes. Tomorrow would have been herst day at Thorne Industries-a ce she¡¯d worked for nearly seven years. Now, she wouldn¡¯t even have that final day of closure.


    At her desk, she began packing her personal items into a small cardboard box. There wasn¡¯t much-a photo of Cora, a potted sulent, a few pens she preferred. It was pitiful how little of herself she¡¯d allowed to exist in this space.


    She felt Damien¡¯s presence before she saw him. He stood in the doorway of her office, watching her pack.


    ¡°Marcus informed me he spoke with you,¡± he said.


    ra continued cing items in her box. ¡°Yes. Thank you for the elerated timeline. I¡¯m sure my recement will handle everything perfectly.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t personal, ra,¡± Damien stated tly. ¡°It¡¯s business efficiency.¡±


    She looked up then, meeting his eyes directly. ¡°Of course it is. Everything between us has always been about efficiency, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Something flickered across his face-surprise, perhaps, at her directness.


    ¡°Your severance package is being processed,¡± he continued, ignoring herment. ¡°The legal team will contact you regarding final paperwork.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± she replied, her tone carefully neutral. ¡°I¡¯ll be out of your office within the hour.¡±


    Damien nodded stiffly and turned to leave. At the doorway, he paused. ¡°Cora will be expecting you this weekend.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss it,¡± ra said softly,


    01:10


    25 A Fever, A Favor, A Final Day


    When he was gone, she sank into her chair, a sudden exhaustion overwhelming her. Tomorrow would have been herst day-a milestone, an ending she had mentally prepared for. Now, even that small dignity had been stripped away.


    Her phone buzzed with a text from Julian: ¡°Excited for your first official day at YodaVision tomorrow! The team can¡¯t wait.¡±


    ra stared at the message, a small smile forming despite her pain. Perhaps this wasn¡¯t just an ending, but a beginning too-one that didn¡¯t include standing in Vivienne¡¯s shadow or enduring Damien¡¯s cold indifference.


    She ced thest item in her box, stood up, and took one final look around the office that had been her professional home for seven years. Then, with her head held high, she walked out-not as Damien Thorne¡¯s wife or his head secretary, but as ra Vance, a woman finally ready to reim her own story.


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    01:11

 The Sprawling 26

    26 A Stranger¡¯s Desperate Detour


    26 A Stranger¡¯s Desperate Detour


    ra Vance had never thought her day would end with a gun pointed at her temple.


    The rain pounded her car windshield in heavy sheets as she left Northside Pharmacy. Chloe¡¯s fever had worsened through the evening, and ra had volunteered to fetch stronger medication.


    ¡°Just a quick trip,¡± she had told her friend earlier. ¡°I¡¯ll be back before you know it.¡±


    T


    Now, as she slid into the driver¡¯s seat and ced the small paper bag on the passenger seat, all she could think about was getting back to Chloe¡¯s apartment. She was fumbling with her keys when the passenger door yanked open..


    A man slid in beside her. His face was partially hidden by a ck mask, but his eyes were wild, desperate. The metallic scent of blood filled the small space.


    ¡°Drive,¡± he ordered, pointing a gun at her. ¡°Now.¡±


    ra¡¯s hands froze on the steering wheel. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but her mind remained oddly clear.


    ¡°Where to?¡± she asked, her voice steadier than she expected.


    ¡°Silverleaf Wharf. Take Riverside Drive. Don¡¯t try anything stupid.¡±


    ra nodded and started the car. Her fingers trembled slightly as she put the vehicle


    in gear and pulled away from the curb. The pharmacy lights disappeared in her rearview mirror.


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± she asked, ncing at the dark stain spreading across his jacket.


    ¡°Shut up and drive,¡± he snapped.


    The rain intensified, drumming on the roof like impatient fingers. ra kept her eyes on the road, carefully navigating the slick streets. Her mind raced through scenarios, calcting risks, searching for options.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem scared,¡± the man said after several minutes of silence.


    01:11


    ra took a measured breath. ¡°Would it help if I were?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he shifted in his seat, wincing. More of that metallic smell filled the car.


    ¡°There are bandages in that pharmacy bag,¡± she offered quietly. ¡°And antiseptic wipes.¡±


    ¡°I said shut up.¡±


    They drove in silence after that. ra¡¯s thoughts drifted to Chloe, lying feverish in her apartment. Would she worry when ra didn¡¯t return quickly? Would she try calling? The phone in ra¡¯s purse remained silent.


    At a red light, she risked another nce at her captor. Despite his mask, she could tell he was young-maybe early thirties. His breathing wasbored, and sweat beaded on his forehead despite the car¡¯s cool temperature.


    ¡°The light¡¯s green,¡± he growled.


    ra pressed the gas pedal. ¡°We¡¯re about ten minutes from Silverleaf Wharf.¡±


    The man nodded, then suddenly doubled over, groaning.


    ¡°You need medical attention,¡± ra said firmly.


    ¡°What I need is for you to mind your own damn business and drive.¡±


    As they approached the waterfront, the rain eased slightly. Streetlights reflected in puddles, creating inds of yellow light in the darkness. Few people were out in this weather, especially in this industrial area.


    ¡°Pull over there,¡± the man directed, pointing to a shadowy area between two warehouses.


    raplied, bringing the car to a stop. Her hands remained on the wheel, her body tense but her mind strangely calm.


    ¡°This is as far as you go,¡± he said. ¡°Count to one hundred before you move.


    Understand?¡±


    ra nodded.


    01:11


    26 A Stranger¡¯s Desperate Detour


    The man reached for the door handle but paused. Blood had soaked through his jacket now, the dark stain obvious even in the dim light.


    ¡°Take the medicine,¡± ra said suddenly. She reached for the pharmacy bag,


    movements slow and deliberate. ¡°There¡¯s ibuprofen for the pain and antiseptic wipes. It¡¯s not much, but-


    ¡°Why would you help me?¡± he interrupted, his voice rough.


    ra met his eyes. ¡°Because you¡¯re hurt.¡±¡±


    For a moment, something flickered across his face-surprise, perhaps confusion. Then his expression hardened again.


    &


    ¡°Keep it. Your friend needs it more than me.¡±


    He pushed the door open and staggered out into the rain. ra watched as he disappeared between the warehouses, a dark figure swallowed by darker shadows.


    She began counting silently, her heartbeat gradually slowing. When she reached one hundred, she exhaled deeply and leaned her forehead against the steering wheel. The adrenaline was fading, leaving her hands shaky and her thoughts scattered.


    After several minutes, she straightened up and put the car in gear. As she pulled away from the wharf, she noticed a smear of blood on her passenger seat. The metallic smell lingered in the car.


    In an alley two blocks away, the man who had called himself Beck pulled out a burner phone with trembling fingers. He leaned against a brick wall, pressing his other hand against his bleeding side.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he said when the call connected. ¡°I¡¯m clear.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lucas Sterling¡¯s voice was sharp with concern.


    ¡°Minorplication. Nothing I couldn¡¯t handle.¡±


    ¡°Are


    you hurt?¡±


    Beck grimaced, looking down at his blood-soaked shirt. ¡°Just a scratch. I¡¯ll be at the meeting point in thirty.¡±


    01:11


    26 A Stranger¡¯s Desperate Detour


    ¡°Was anyone following you?¡±


    ¡°No. Got lucky with transportation.¡± Beck thought of the woman with the calm eyes and steady voice. ¡°I¡¯m clean.¡±


    ¡°Good. Don¡¯t bete.¡± The line went dead.


    *


    Beck pocketed the phone and pushed himself off the wall, wincing. The woman¡¯s face shed in his mind-herposed demeanor, her unexpected offer of help. He shook his head, dismissing the thought. She was just a stranger caught in the wrong ce. ra arrived back at Chloe¡¯s apartment forty minutes after she¡¯d left. Her friend was sitting up in bed, phone in hand..


    ¡°Finally!¡± Chloe eximed weakly. ¡°I was about to call the police. What took so long?¡± ¡°Traffic was bad with the rain,¡± ra replied, setting the pharmacy bag on the nightstand. She busied herself with opening medicine bottles, avoiding Chloe¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°You¡¯re shaking,¡± Chloe observed, frowning. ¡°And you look pale. Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Just tired,¡± ra said, forcing a smile. ¡°Here, take these. They should bring your fever down.¡±


    Chloe epted the pills and water, but her eyes remained fixed on ra. After swallowing the medication, she sniffed the air.


    ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± she asked.


    ra froze. ¡°What smell?¡±


    ¡°On your jacket. It smells like¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why do I smell blood? El, did you get hurt?¡±


    01:11

 The Sprawling 27

    27 Banquet mour and New Beginnings


    27 Banquet mour and New Beginnings


    The fever broke during the night. By morning, Chloe was feeling well enough to sit up in bed and eat a light breakfast.


    ¡°Much better,¡± she said, finishing her toast. ¡°Whatever was in those pills really worked.¡±


    ra nodded, relief washing over her. She hadn¡¯t mentioned the incident from the previous night, and she had no intention of doing so. Some experiences were better left unshared.


    ¡°So,¡± Chloe said, setting her te aside. ¡°The banquet is tomorrow night, right? Please tell me we¡¯re going shopping today.¡±


    ¡°We are,¡± ra confirmed. ¡°I need something appropriate to wear.¡±


    ¡°You mean something drop-dead gorgeous that will make everyone¡¯s jaws hit the floor,¡± Chloe corrected with a grin. ¡°It¡¯s your first major public appearance since the separation. We need to make a statement.¡±


    ra smiled but felt a flutter of nerves. She wasn¡¯t used to being in the spotlight. During her marriage to Damien, she had rarely attended high-profile events. Victoria Sterling had made sure of that, iming racked the necessary social graces. And Eleanor Thorne, while fond of ra, had never been interested in society gatherings herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking something elegant but unexpected,¡± Chloe continued, already scrolling through her phone. ¡°Not ck-too predictable. Not red-too obvious.¡± She nced up. ¡°Trust me on this. I know exactly where we should go.¡±


    Three hourster, they walked into Enchantment, one of the most exclusive boutiques in the city. The shop was minimalist in design, with only a few carefully selected pieces disyed on mannequins.


    A saleswoman approached them immediately, her practiced smile faltering slightly as she assessed their appearance. ra was dressed simply in dark jeans and a cashmere sweater-elegant but not ostentatious.


    ¡°May I help you?¡± the woman asked, her tone just shy of dismissive.


    01:11


    27 Banquet mour and New Beginnings


    Chloe stepped forward. ¡°My friend needs a gown for tomorrow night¡¯s Tech Innovators banquet. Something spectacr.¡±


    At the mention of the prestigious event, the saleswoman¡¯s demeanor changed. ¡°Of course. Right this way, please.¡±


    They were led to a private viewing room with plush seating. Within minutes, a selection of evening gowns was brought in. ra tried on several-a sleek ck column dress, an emerald green silk thatplemented her eyes, a midnight blue gown with a dramatic train.


    None felt quite right.


    As she emerged from the fitting room in a ruby red dress that Chloe had insisted on, ra caught sight of a mannequin being wheeled past. On it was a light purple chiffon gown that seemed to capture the light, shifting betweenvender and silver depending on how it moved.


    ¡°That one,¡± ra said, pointing. ¡°Could I try that one?¡±


    The shop manager, who had joined them sometime during the process, shook her head regretfully. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, but that piece is not avable. It¡¯s a custom design for another client.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± ra said, trying to hide her disappointment. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    ¡°It certainly is,¡± the manager agreed. ¡°But perhaps this ivory silk would suit you? It¡¯s one of our most exclusive pieces.¡±


    The ivory gown was undeniably elegant-a simple, flowing design with delicate beadwork at the shoulders and waist. When ra tried it on, even Chloe gasped.


    ¡°That¡¯s the one,¡± her friend dered. ¡°You look absolutely stunning.¡±


    ra turned to examine herself in the three-way mirror. The dress fit perfectly, highlighting her slender figure without being too revealing. There was a timeless quality to it, a quiet confidence that resonated with her.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she agreed. ¡°This is it.¡±


    As theypleted the purchase, ra overheard a conversation between two staff


    01:11


    27 Banquet mour and New Beginnings


    members near the stockroom.


    ¡°The purple chiffon and the diamond ne go out for delivery tonight,¡± one was saying. ¡°The entire ensemble is valued at over thirty million.¡±


    ¡°Thirty million?¡± the other whispered. ¡°Who on earth-¡±


    ¡°Shh! You know we¡¯re not supposed to discuss client details.¡±


    ra felt a momentary pang-not of jealousy, but a strange wistfulness. Once, such extravagance had been within her reach, though she¡¯d never exploited it. Now, her life was different. More modest, but also more authentic.


    ¡°Earth to ra,¡± Chloe teased, waving a hand in front of her face. ¡°Ready to go?¡±


    That evening, Chloe insisted on helping ra get ready. She arranged ra¡¯s hair in an elegant updo, with a few loose strands framing her face.


    ¡°Nothing too severe,¡± she exined. ¡°We want you to look approachable but sophisticated.¡±


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m preparing for battle,¡± ra admitted as Chloe applied a lightyer of makeup.


    ¡°In a way, you are,¡± her friend replied. ¡°The business world is a battlefield. But you¡¯ve got the advantage-most of them don¡¯t know how brilliant you really are.¡±


    When Julian arrived to pick her up, his eyes widened appreciatively.


    ¡°You look incredible,¡± he said, his admiration evident. ¡°The ivory was an excellent choice.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra replied, feeling a blush warm her cheeks. She wasn¡¯t used to such open admiration.


    As they settled into the back seat of the car, Julian handed her a small tablet. ¡°I thought you might want to review these profiles before we arrive. Key people who¡¯ll be at the banquet tonight.¡±


    ra scrolled through the information, grateful for the distraction from her nerves. ¡°This is helpful, thank you.¡±


    01:11


    27 Banquet mour and New Beginnings


    ¡°By the way,¡± Julian said casually, ¡°I¡¯ve got good news. Everything¡¯s set for your official return to thepany tomorrow.¡±


    ra looked up from the tablet, her eyes bright with anticipation. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really,¡± he confirmed with a smile. ¡°Your office is ready, and the team is excited to work with you.¡±


    ¡°I can hardly believe it¡¯s happening,¡± she admitted. ¡°After all this time¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s where you belong, ra. Your talent was wasted all these years.¡±


    She nodded, a mix of emotions washing over her-excitement, nervousness, and a deep sense ofing home to herself.


    ¡°Oh, and one more thing,¡± Julian added. ¡°Remember I mentioned that algorithm genius I¡¯ve been trying to recruit? Vivienne Dubois?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I remember.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s starting tomorrow too. I¡¯d like to introduce you both. I think you¡¯ll work well together.¡±


    ra¡¯s fingers tightened slightly on the tablet. ¡°Vivienne Dubois is joining thepany?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Brilliant mind, especially in advanced algorithmic patterns. I¡¯ve been after her for months.¡± Julian nced at her. ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    raposed her expression, willing her heartbeat to slow. ¡°No, no problem at all. I look forward to meeting her.¡±


    As the car continued toward the banquet venue, ra gazed out at the passing city lights. Tomorrow would mark not just her return to the professional world she¡¯d abandoned years ago, but also an unexpected collision with her present


    circumstances.


    Vivienne Dubois. 2


    The irony wasn¡¯t lost on her. After years of avoiding Damien¡¯s mistress in her personal life, she would now be working alongside her. The universe, it seemed, had quite a


    01:11

 The Sprawling 28

    28 The Rival¡¯s Hidden Goal


    28 The Rival¡¯s Hidden Goal


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± ra¡¯s voice was barely audible over the hum of the car engine. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the edge of her seat.


    Julian nced at her, his brow furrowed with concern. ¡°Vivienne Dubois. She interviewedst week while you were handling that situation with Cora. I thought you¡¯d be pleased-she¡¯s highly regarded in the field.¡±


    The inside of the car suddenly felt airless. ra struggled to maintain herposure, memories crashing over her like waves: Damien¡¯s hand resting possessively on Vivienne¡¯s waist atpany functions; Cora¡¯s excited chatter about ¡°Aunt Vivie¡± bringing her presents; the countless nights she¡¯d spent alone while her husband was ¡°workingte¡± with her half-sister.


    ¡°Julian,¡± she said finally, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her, ¡°Vivienne Dubois is my half-sister.¡±


    His expression shifted from confusion to dawning realization. ¡°Your half-sister? But you¡¯ve never mentioned-¡±


    ¡°And she¡¯s also Damien¡¯s mistress.¡± The words tasted bitter on her tongue.


    The car swerved sharply as Julian¡¯s foot mmed on the brake. They lurched forward, then back against their seats. A horn red angrily behind them.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± Julian muttered, pulling the car to the side of the road. He put it in park and turned to face her fully. ¡°Are you serious? The woman I¡¯ve been trying to recruit is your husband¡¯s-¡± He caught himself. ¡°Your ex-husband¡¯s lover?¡±


    ra nodded, a cold anger recing her initial shock. ¡°And there¡¯s no way in hell I want her anywhere near YodaVision.¡±


    Julian ran a hand through his hair, his expression darkening. ¡°Consider it done. I¡¯ll call HR immediately and stop the onboarding process,¡±


    ¡°Just like that? No questions asked?¡± Despite herself, ra felt a rush of gratitude.


    ¡°Just like that,¡± Julian confirmed firmly. ¡°Thispany is as much yours as it is mine,


    01:11


    28 The Rival¡¯s Hidden Goal


    ra. More, actually, considering you created the foundation it¡¯s built on.¡± He paused. ¡°Besides, I may admire her technical skills, but I value loyalty far more.¡±


    The tension in ra¡¯s shoulders eased slightly. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Julian pulled back onto the road, his jaw set in determination. ¡°What I don¡¯t understand is why she would apply to ourpany in the first ce. We¡¯re not exactly Thorne Industries. We don¡¯t have nearly the same resources or market presence.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was wondering,¡± ra said, staring out the window at the passing streetlights. ¡°If it was just to torment me, she couldn¡¯t have known I was returning. I¡¯ve kept that information private.¡±


    ¡°Does she even know you¡¯re one of the founders?¡±


    ¡°I doubt it. Damien never showed interest in my work before the marriage, and afterward¡­¡± ra shrugged, the gesture eloquent in its resignation. ¡°I became just ¡®Mrs. Thorne¡¯ to most people. My name was removed frompany materials when I stepped away.¡±


    Julian tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, thinking. ¡°So she wouldn¡¯t know you¡¯re a major shareholder.¡±


    ¡°No, she wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    They drove in silence for several minutes, each lost in thought. The city lights blurred past, neon signs and skyscrapers fading into the background of their concentration.


    Suddenly, Julian straightened. ¡°Wait a minute. During her interview, she asked specifically about our proprietary technologies.¡±


    ra turned to look at him, a chill running down her spine. ¡°What did she ask about?¡±


    ¡°Several things-our neuralwork architecture, the server infrastructure.¡± Julian¡¯s voice slowed as realization dawned. ¡°But she seemed particrly interested in Cuap.¡±


    ¡°Cuap?¡± ra repeated, her pulse quickening. ¡°My programmingnguage?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She mentioned it by name, actually. Asked about its applications beyond what we¡¯ve publicly disclosed.¡±


    01:11


    28 The Rival¡¯s Hidden Goal


    Cuap was ra¡¯s brainchild, a programmingnguage she¡¯d developed during her university years. Unlike conventionalnguages, it integrated principles from quantumputing, allowing for more intuitive problem-solving across multiple tforms. It was elegant, efficient, and nearly impossible to replicate without understanding the mathematical principles behind it.


    ¡°Julian,¡± ra said slowly, ¡°how would she even know about Cuap? We¡¯ve kept it proprietary. It¡¯s not mentioned in any of our marketing materials.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a damn good question.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes narrowed as he navigated a turn. ¡°The only people who should be familiar with it are either on our development team or¡­¡±


    ¡°Or they have ess to Thorne Industries¡¯ acquisition targets,¡± ra finished for him. The implication hung heavy in the air. If Thorne Industries was interested in acquiring YodaVision-or more specifically, the rights to Cuap-sending Vivienne as a corporate spy would give them inside ess.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t want a job,¡± ra said, cold rity washing over her. ¡°She wants my work.¡±


    Julian snorted derisively. ¡°Well, she¡¯s not getting it. Not on my watch.¡± He cast a sidelong nce at ra. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re ten times the programmer she¡¯ll ever be. I¡¯ve seen her code. It¡¯s technically proficient butcks innovation.¡±


    Despite the situation, ra felt a small smile tug at her lips. Julian¡¯s unwavering confidence in her abilities had been a constant throughout their friendship, even during the years when she¡¯d doubted herself the most.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Julian continued, warming to his subject. ¡°The way you conceptualize problems is unique. You see patterns where others see chaos. That¡¯s why Cuap works so brilliantly-it¡¯s not just elegant code, it¡¯s a different way of thinking.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra said softly. ¡°But ttery won¡¯t distract me from the fact that my half-sister is apparently trying to steal my intellectual property.¡±


    ¡°Not ttery. Truth.¡± Julian¡¯s tone was matter-of-fact. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about Vivienne. I¡¯ll handle it personally.¡±


    They pulled up to a stoplight, and Julian turned to face her again, his expression serious. ¡°ra, you need to understand something. What you created with Cuap isn¡¯t


    01:11


    33/5


    28 The Rival¡¯s Hidden Goal


    just valuable-it¡¯s revolutionary. The applications for Al alone could transform entire industries.¡±


    ra nodded slowly. ¡°I know.¡± After years of downying her aplishments to avoid overshadowing Damien, acknowledging her own worth still felt strange.


    ¡°So does Vivienne, apparently,¡± Julian said grimly. ¡°The question is, what exactly does she-or Damien-n to do with it if they get their hands on it?¡±


    The light turned green, and the car moved forward again. ra stared ahead, trying to piece together this new puzzle. Was this Vivienne¡¯s own initiative, or was Damien involved? Did this have anything to do with the divorce proceedings?


    ¡°There¡¯s something else,¡± Julian said, interrupting her thoughts. ¡°During her interview, Vivienne kept mentioning a project she¡¯s working on. Something called ¡®Phoenix.¡¯ She was asking if Cuap could potentially interface with it.¡±


    ¡°Phoenix?¡± ra frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°Neither had I. But based on her questions, it sounds like some kind of advanced neuralwork.¡± Julian shot her a meaningful look. ¡°The kind that would benefit enormously from Cuap¡¯s adaptive learning protocols.¡±


    A chill ran down ra¡¯s spine. If Vivienne was developing something that sophisticated, ess to Cuap would elerate her progress exponentially.


    ¡°We need to find out what Phoenix is,¡± ra said decisively.


    Julian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have our security team look into it. In the meantime, I think we should move up the timeline for your official return announcement. The sooner everyone knows you¡¯re back, the harder it will be for Vivienne to make any moves against thepany.¡±


    ra stared out at the city streets, her mind racing. After years of enduring Vivienne¡¯s presence in her personal life, watching her charm Damien and win over Cora, this felt like a direct attack on the one area where ra had always maintained her confidence: her intellect.


    ¡°Do you think she knows?¡± ra asked quietly. ¡°About how much of YodaVision is actually my work?¡±


    01:11


    <


    28 The Rival¡¯s Hidden Goal


    Julian considered this. ¡°If she did, she might have approached differently. No, I think she¡¯s underestimating you. She probably assumes you¡¯re just the wife who walked away from her career.¡± A slow smile spread across his face. ¡°And that, ra, is where we have the advantage. Because what Vivienne Dubois doesn¡¯t realize is that she¡¯s not trying to steal from just anyone-she¡¯s trying to steal from the genius who created it all in the first ce.¡±


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    01:11

 The Sprawling 29

    29 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    29 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    The banquet hall buzzed with activity as ra and Julian stepped inside. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the crowd of industry leaders and investors gathered for the annual Tech Innovation G.


    ra smoothed down her deep blue gown, a simple yet elegant piece thatplemented her natural grace. She felt Julian¡¯s reassuring presence beside her as they navigated through clusters of animated conversations. 3


    ¡°ra Vance,¡± a voice called out. ¡°You look stunning tonight.¡±


    She turned to find Joshua Simpson, the event host and CEO of Simpson Technologies, approaching with a wide smile.


    ¡°Joshua, thank you for the invitation,¡± ra said, epting his brief hug.


    ¡°The pleasure is mine. Your return to the tech world has everyone talking.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes gleamed with genuine admiration. ¡°That AI predictive model you presentedst week? Absolute brilliance.¡±


    Julian beamed proudly beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve been telling everyone for years what they were missing without her.¡±


    A waiter passed with champagne, and ra took a flute, grateful for something to upy her hands. The attention still felt foreign after years of standing in Damien¡¯s shadow.


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged your seating near the stage,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Several investors are eager to


    ¡±


    His words were cut short by a sudden hush that swept through the room. The conversations dimmed as heads turned toward the entrance.


    ra followed the collective gaze, her champagne flute freezing halfway to her lips.


    Damien Thorne stood in the doorway,manding attention without effort in his perfectly tailored ck suit. Beck and Lucas Sterling nked him, but they weren¡¯t what caused the room¡¯s reaction.


    01:11


    1/7.


    29 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    It was the woman on Damien¡¯s arm.


    Vivienne Dubois glided into the room like she owned it, draped in a shimmering gold gown that caught every ray of light. The dress hugged her curves before cascading to the floor in an elegant train that seemed to flow like liquid metal with each step she took.


    ra¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She recognized that gown instantly.


    ¡°My God,¡± whispered a woman nearby to herpanion. ¡°Is that the Aurelia gown from Valtieri¡¯s collection?¡±


    ¡°It must be,¡± her friend responded in hushed awe. ¡°I heard only one was made, priced at thirty million dors.¡±


    ¡°Damien Thorne bought it for his girlfriend weeks ago. Custom-ordered, they say.¡±


    The words sliced through ra like knives. Three weeks ago, she had seen that very gown in a private showroom when shopping for tonight¡¯s event. The boutique owner had mentioned it was a one-of-a-kind piece that had already been sold to an undisclosed buyer.


    Now she knew who that buyer was.


    Julian¡¯s hand pressed gently against the small of her back. ¡°ra?¡± he murmured, concerncing his voice.


    She forced herself to breathe, to maintain theposed fa?ade she¡¯d perfected over years of public appearances alongside Damien.


    ¡°That dress,¡± she whispered, keeping her smile fixed in ce. ¡°I saw it three weeks ago.¡±


    Understanding dawned in Julian¡¯s eyes. ¡°He nned to bring her here all along.¡±¡±


    The realization stung. While she¡¯d been rebuilding her life and career, Damien had been nning this grand entrance with Vivienne ¨C a public deration of his


    ¨C


    Vivienne¡¯sughter rang out across the room as she eptedpliments from admirers gathering around her. The diamond earrings at her ears ¨C another gift from Damien, no doubt ¨C caught the light as she tilted her head back.


    01:11


    29 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know they would be here,¡± Joshua said apologetically to ra. ¡°Thorne calledst minute to confirm attendance.¡±


    ra maintained her smile. ¡°It¡¯s a public event, Joshua. Everyone important in tech is here.¡±


    Despite her calm words, her pulse raced ufortably. Damien¡¯s gaze swept the


    room with casual authority, nodding at acquaintances while keeping a possessive hand at Vivienne¡¯s waist.


    Then his eyesnded on ra.


    For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered across his face. Recognition, perhaps. Or surprise that she was there among the tech elite, no longer just his soon-to-be ex-wife but a professional in her own right.


    Vivienne followed his gaze, her perfectly painted lips curving into a smirk when she spotted ra. She leaned closer to Damien, whispering something in his ear that made his attention return to her.


    ¡°We should mingle,¡± Julian suggested, his voice tinged with protective concern. ¡°Edwards from Venture Capital Associates wanted to discuss potential funding.¡±


    ra nodded, grateful for the distraction. Yet as they moved through the crowd, she couldn¡¯t help but notice how people¡¯s gazes darted between her and the golden couple across the room,paring, specting.


    The thirty-million-dor dress was a statement. Not just of wealth or taste, but of Damien¡¯s intentions. He wanted everyone to see who had captured his attention, who warranted such extravagance.


    ¡°You know,¡± Julian said conversationally as they paused at the bar, ¡°that dress is gaudy as hell.¡±


    Despite herself, raughed. ¡°Julian.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious. It screams ¡®look at me¡¯ in the most desperate way.¡± He signaled the bartender. ¡°Your blue gown? That¡¯s ss. The difference between nouveau riche and old money.¡±


    01:12


    29 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    ¡°Vivienne has a PhD and multiple academic achievements,¡± ra reminded him, though she appreciated his loyalty. ¡°She¡¯s hardly desperate.¡±


    ¡°Academically brilliant, socially cunning, morally bankrupt,¡± Julian countered, epting two fresh drinks from the bartender. ¡°The perfect trifecta.¡±


    Before ra could respond, a familiar voice cut through their conversation.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± Lucas Sterling greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Or should I say Ms.


    Vance now?¡±


    ¡°ra is fine,¡± she replied, epting his handshake. Though Lucas was Damien¡¯s friend, he¡¯d always been kind to her.


    ¡°Your presentation atst week¡¯s conference was impressive,¡± Lucas said. ¡°Damien mentioned you¡¯ve always had a brilliant mind for technology.¡±


    ra blinked in surprise. Damien had mentioned her? And positively?


    ¡°Did he now?¡± Julian interjected, his tone skeptical.


    Lucas nodded, seemingly oblivious to the tension. ¡°He follows industry news closely. Speaking of which, I should warn you both-Beck is heading this way, and he¡¯s particrly interested in YodaVision¡¯s proprietarynguage.¡±


    ra¡¯s guard instantly rose. Beck Sterling, Lucas¡¯s brother and Damien¡¯s right-hand man at Thorne Industries, was known for his aggressive acquisition strategies.


    ¡°Thank you for the warning,¡± she said carefully.


    Lucas smiled ruefully. ¡°Just doing what¡¯s right. If you¡¯ll excuse me¡­¡±


    As Lucas moved away, Julian leaned closer. ¡°Interesting that Damien¡¯s discussing your work.¡±


    ¡°Probably just keeping tabs on potentialpetition,¡± ra murmured, though the


    information unsettled her.


    Across the room, Vivienne had positioned herself center stage, surrounded by


    admirersmenting on her dress. Herughter carried across the space, deliberately drawing attention.


    01:12


    20 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    ¡°They¡¯re looking at you, you know,¡± Julian noted, watching the crowd. ¡°Not just at her.¡± ¡°They¡¯re looking at both of us,¡± ra corrected him. ¡°The current girlfriend versus the soon-to-be ex-wife. It¡¯s like a spectator sport to them.¡±


    A sh of concern crossed Julian¡¯s face. ¡°We can leave if this is too ufortable.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± ra said firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t give anyone the satisfaction. Besides, we¡¯re here for business, not drama.¡±


    Despite her resolute words, each glimpse of Damien¡¯s hand on Vivienne¡¯s waist, each burst of Vivienne¡¯sughter, each admiring nce directed at the thirty-million-dor gown felt like a small cut. Individually manageable, collectively wearing.


    When Joshua announced dinner would be served shortly, ra excused herself to freshen up, needing a moment alone to gather her thoughts.


    In the elegant powder room, she stared at her reflection. The woman looking back at her appearedposed, professional, even beautiful in her own right. But inside, a storm of emotions threatened her carefully maintained fa?ade.


    The bathroom door swung open, and ra¡¯s heart sank as Vivienne swept in, golden dress shimmering under the lighting. Their eyes met in the mirror.


    ¡°Hello, sister dear,¡± Vivienne purred, her voice dripping with false warmth. ¡°Lovely to see you here. I didn¡¯t realize you were still invited to these events.¡±


    ra turned to face her directly. ¡°I¡¯m here as a tech executive, not as anyone¡¯s plus one.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s lips curved into a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°How modern. Damien said you¡¯d thrown yourself into worktely. Coping mechanism, I suppose?¡±


    The mention of Damien discussing her stung, but ra refused to show it. ¡°My work has always been important to me. Something you would know if you¡¯d bothered to learn anything about me beyond my marital status.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know plenty,¡± Vivienne replied, running a manicured finger along the marble countertop. ¡°Like how much you admired this dress when you saw it at Valtieri¡¯s showroom. Damien was quite thorough with his gift.¡±


    01:12


    29 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    The deliberate cruelty of the statement took ra¡¯s breath away. Damien had known she¡¯d seen the dress? Had Vivienne told him?


    Before she could respond, Julian¡¯s concerned voice called from outside. ¡°ra? Dinner¡¯s being announced.¡±


    ¡°Coming,¡± she called back, grateful for the interruption.


    Vivienne smirked. ¡°Better run along. Your white knight is calling.¡±


    ra straightened her shoulders and moved toward the door. ¡°Enjoy your evening, Vivienne. And your dress. It suits you perfectly-all sh, no substance.¡±


    She walked out with as much dignity as she could muster, leaving Vivienne staring after her.


    Julian took one look at her face and frowned. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing I can¡¯t handle,¡± ra assured him, though her heart raced ufortably in her chest.


    ¡°You¡¯re white as a sheet,¡± he observed. ¡°Was it her?¡±


    ra nodded slightly, epting his offered arm as they moved toward their table. ¡°She made it clear that Damien knew I¡¯d seen that dress before he bought it for her.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That¡¯s calcted cruelty.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Vivienne,¡± ra replied, forcing a calm she didn¡¯t feel.


    As they approached their table, ra nced across the room to find Damien watching her, his dark eyes intense and unreadable. For just a moment, something like confusion passed across his features before Vivienne reimed his attention, her golden dress catching the light as sheughed at something someone said.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Julian asked quietly, following her gaze.


    ra turned away from the sight of Damien and Vivienne, stering on a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she lied, the words tasting bitter on her tongue as she prepared to endure an evening of watching her husband unt his devotion to another woman-her own


    01:12


    29 A Rival¡¯s Extravagant Debut


    half-sister-in a dress worth more than most people¡¯s homes.


    The night had only just begun.


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    01:12


    717

 The Sprawling 30

    30 A Prodigy¡¯s Unexpected Introduction


    30 A Prodigy¡¯s Unexpected Introduction


    ra took a slow, steadying breath as she stood in the center of the crowded event hall. The encounter with Vivienne in the powder room had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. The calcted malice in her half-sister¡¯s words lingered like a bitter aftertaste.


    ¡°Here,¡± Julian said, pressing a fresh ss of champagne into her hand. ¡°You look like you need this.¡±


    She epted the drink gratefully. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    ¡°Only to someone who knows you well.¡± Julian guided her toward a quieter corner of the room. ¡°Want to talk about what happened?¡±


    ra shook her head. ¡°Not here.¡± She took a sip of champagne, letting the bubbles dissolve on her tongue. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on why we came. The investors, remember?¡±


    Julian studied her face for a moment before nodding. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡±


    ¡°It is.¡± ra straightened her shoulders, smoothing down her blue dress. She refused to let Vivienne and her thirty-million-dor gown derail this evening. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Julian. Really.¡±


    Julian smiled, though concern still shadowed his eyes. ¡°In that case, there¡¯s someone I¡¯d like you to meet.¡±


    He led her across the room, weaving through clusters of tech industry elites engaged in animated conversation. ra kept her gaze deliberately away from the corner where Damien and Vivienne held court.


    ¡°Professor Leonard!¡± Julian called out to a distinguished-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair. ¡°I was hoping to catch you tonight.¡±


    The man turned, his expression brightening. ¡°Mr. Croft! A pleasure to see you again.¡±


    ¡°Professor Bryson Leonard, allow me to introduce ra Vance,¡± Julian said, gesturing toward her. ¡°Co-founder of YodaVision and our chief innovation officer.¡±


    01:12


    30 A Prodigy¡¯s Unexpected Introduction


    Professor Leonard shook her hand with a polite smile. ¡°Ms. Vance, nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, Professor.¡± ra detected the slight hesitation in his greeting ¨C the polite interest of someone making conversation but not expecting much from the interaction.


    Julian leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. ¡°Professor Leonard has been working on anguage programming project that¡¯s hit a wall. Been stuck for months, from what I hear.¡±


    The professor¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. How did you-¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the issue?¡± ra asked, professional curiosity piqued.


    ¡°It¡¯s a semantic processing problem,¡± Professor Leonard exined, his tone academic. ¡°We¡¯re trying to create more naturalnguage recognition patterns, but the current architecture doesn¡¯t support the contextual flexibility we need.¡±


    ra nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Are you working with nested recognition patterns or parallel processing streams?¡±


    Professor Leonard blinked, clearly surprised by her technical question. ¡°Nested patterns, primarily. We found parallel streams created too much noise in the final output.¡±


    Julian cleared his throat dramatically. ¡°Professor Leonard, I don¡¯t believe I mentioned that before co-founding YodaVision, ra was Zachary Newman¡¯s star pupil at MIT.¡±


    The professor¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Zachary Newman? The pioneer of contextualnguage processing?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Julian confirmed, a hint of pride in his voice. ¡°And if I¡¯m not mistaken, wasn¡¯t he your mentor as well, Professor?¡±


    ¡°He was,¡± Professor Leonard admitted, now looking at ra with genuine interest. ¡°You studied under Newman? When?¡±


    ¡°About twelve years ago,¡± ra replied. ¡°I was part of his advancednguage architecture program.¡±


    Julian¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Tell him about LinguaFlex, ra.¡±


    01:12


    Professor Leonard¡¯s jaw dropped slightly. ¡°LinguaFlex? You were part of that team?¡±


    ¡°She wasn¡¯t just part of the team,¡± Julian interjected before ra could respond. ¡°Her team developed it eight years ago. LinguaFlex was primarily ra¡¯s brainchild.¡±


    The professor stared at ra with newfound respect. ¡°You¡¯re that E. Vance? The core developer of the most influential programmingnguage of the decade?¡±


    ra felt a flush of pride rise to her cheeks. It had been years since anyone had recognized her for that work. ¡°Yes, though it was a coborative effort.¡±


    ¡°Newman always said the breakthrough came from you,¡± Professor Leonard said earnestly. ¡°He spoke about your work at conferences for years afterward.¡±


    ra hadn¡¯t known that. After marrying Damien, she¡¯d stepped away from that world entirely, focusing instead on being the perfect Thorne wife. The knowledge that her mentor had continued to credit her work sent a pang of longing through her for the career she¡¯d set aside.


    ¡°Your semantic processing issue,¡± she said, steering the conversation back to safer ground. ¡°Have you considered hybrid architecture? Using nested patterns for primary recognition but implementing parallel streams for contextual verification?¡±


    Professor Leonard¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s brilliant. We never considered separating the functions that way.¡±


    Julian stepped back slightly, giving them space as they fell into a rapid technical discussion. ra felt herselfing alive, her mind racing through possibilities and solutions. This was where she belonged ¨C in the world of innovation and ideas, not ying second fiddle to anyone.


    ¡°The key would be implementing a filtering algorithm at the junction points,¡± she exined, grabbing a cocktail napkin to sketch a quick diagram. ¡°See, if you ce the contextual verifiers here and here, you can preserve processing speed while eliminating cross-talk.¡±


    Professor Leonard studied her sketch with growing excitement. ¡°This could work. This could absolutely work!¡± He looked up at her with genuine admiration. ¡°Where have you been all these years?¡±


    01:12


    30 A Prodigy¡¯s Unexpected Introduction


    The question, innocent as it was, sent a ripple ofplex emotions through ra. Where had she been? Living in a gilded cage, shrinking herself to fit into a role that was never meant for her.


    ¡°Taking a detour,¡± she replied simply. ¡°But I¡¯m back now.¡±


    ¡°And the tech world is better for it,¡± Julian added, rejoining the conversation. Professor Leonard nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Indeed. Ms. Vance, would you consider consulting on our project? Your insight could save us months of trial and error.¡± Before ra could respond, Julian tensed beside her. She followed his gaze across the room and spotted Vivienne making her way toward them, golden dress shimmering with each step.


    Julian¡¯s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. ¡°Professor, if you¡¯ll excuse us for just a moment, I need to quickly discuss something with ra.¡±


    But it was toote. Vivienne had already reached them, her perfectly painted lips curved into a polite smile.


    ¡°Mr. Croft,¡± she greeted Julian, her voice smooth as silk.


    Julian¡¯s normally expressive face went carefully neutral. ¡°Ms. Dubois.¡±


    ra watched the interaction with interest. She¡¯d never seen Julian and Vivienne interact before, but there was unmistakable tension in the air between them. Julian, usually so affable, had be remarkably still, like a prey animal sensing danger. Vivienne turned her attention to Professor Leonard. ¡°Professor, how lovely to see you again. I believe we met at the MIT alumni dinnerst spring?¡±


    ¡°Dr. Dubois, yes, of course,¡± the professor replied, clearly impressed by Vivienne¡¯s academic credentials. ¡°I remember your presentation onparative economic systems was quite illuminating.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile widened. ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± Her gaze slid to ra, then back to Julian. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to say hello.¡±


    The simple statement sounded innocent enough, but ra detected an undercurrent of something else-curiosity, perhaps, or assessment. Vivienne was studying Julian


    01:12


    417


    30 A Prodigy¡¯s Unexpected Introduction


    with the same calcting look she often directed at ra.


    Julian inclined his head slightly. ¡°No interruption at all. Professor Leonard and ra were just discussing a fascinating technical solution to hisnguage programming challenges.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose a fraction. ¡°Is that so?¡± She nced at ra with what might have been surprise. ¡°How interesting.¡±


    Professor Leonard nodded enthusiastically, oblivious to the undercurrents. ¡°Indeed! Ms. Vance has offered some revolutionary insights. Did you know she was the architect behind LinguaFlex?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware,¡± Vivienne replied, her tone carefully neutral. ¡°How aplished.¡±


    The faint note of surprise in Vivienne¡¯s voice confirmed what ra had always suspected-her half-sister had never bothered to learn anything substantial about her beyond her connection to Damien.


    Julian shifted slightly, positioning himself more firmly at ra¡¯s side. ¡°Professor, perhaps you and ra could continue this discussion over lunch next week? I¡¯m sure YodaVision would be interested in a potential coboration.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± Professor Leonard agreed eagerly. ¡°That would be marvelous.¡±


    ra nodded, grateful for Julian¡¯s intervention. ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant contact you to set up a time.¡±


    Vivienne watched this exchange with narrowed eyes before turning her attention fully to Julian. ¡°Mr. Croft, I understand congrattions are in order. Thetest round of funding for YodaVision was quite impressive.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression remained carefully controlled. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Damien mentioned yourpany might be pioneering some interesting new developments in predictive AI,¡± Vivienne continued, her tone casual yet probing.


    Julian¡¯s eyes hardened slightly. ¡°Did he? I wasn¡¯t aware Mr. Thorne followed our work so closely.¡±


    ¡°Oh, he follows everything of value in the tech world,¡± Vivienne replied smoothly.


    01:12


    Unexpected Introduction


    ¡°Especially when it involves¡­ former connections.¡±


    Her gaze flickered briefly to ra, the implication clear. Damien was monitoring YodaVision because of ra¡¯s involvement.


    Julian¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°How attentive of him.¡±


    Across the room, ra spotted Damien in conversation with several investors. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up, his dark eyes meeting hers for a brief, electric moment before returning to his discussion.


    Vivienne noticed the exchange and her smile tightened almost imperceptibly. ¡°Well, I should return to my date. It was lovely catching up, Professor Leonard.¡± She turned to Julian, extending her hand. ¡°Mr. Croft.¡±


    Julian hesitated for the briefest moment before epting the handshake. ra


    watched with fascination as something unspoken passed between them-a history or knowledge she wasn¡¯t privy to.


    ¡°Ms. Dubois,¡± Julian replied formally.


    As Vivienne glided away, Professor Leonard excused himself to greet another colleague, leaving Julian and ra alone.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± ra asked quietly.


    Julian¡¯s expression was uncharacteristically guarded. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You and Vivienne. There¡¯s clearly some history there.¡±


    He shrugged, his casual manner a little too forced. ¡°No history. I just know her type.¡±


    Before ra could press further, they were interrupted by the approach of another guest. The moment passed, but ra filed away Julian¡¯s reaction for future consideration.


    The rest of the evening passed in a blur of introductions and conversations. ra found herself repeatedly exining her background innguage programming as word of her identity as ¡°that E. Vance¡± spread through the techmunity present.


    By the time they prepared to leave, she felt both exhausted and exhrated. For the


    01:12


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    30 A Prodigy¡¯s Unexpected Introduction


    first time in years, people were seeing her-really seeing her-for her mind and contributions, not as an extension of Damien Thorne.


    As Julian helped her with her coat, she caught sight of Vivienne across the lobby, still stunning in her golden gown. Their eyes met briefly before Vivienne turned away, leaning into Damien¡¯s side.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± Julian asked, pulling her attention back.


    ¡°More than ready,¡± ra replied.


    They were nearly at the exit when a familiar voice called out behind them.


    ¡°Mr. Croft.¡±


    They turned to find Vivienne approaching alone, her golden train sweeping elegantly behind her.


    Julian froze momentarily, thenposed himself. ¡°Ms. Dubois?¡±


    Vivienne smiled, the expression not quite reaching her eyes. ¡°I just wanted to say how nice it was to see you again after all this time.¡±


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    31 A Calcted Slight


    ra stiffened as Vivienne approached them, golden dress gleaming under the venue¡¯s lights. The false sweetness in her half-sister¡¯s voice made her skin crawl.


    ¡°I just wanted to say how nice it was to see you again after all this time,¡± Vivienne said to Julian,pletely ignoring ra¡¯s presence.


    Julian¡¯s posture shifted subtly, protective and alert. ¡°Is there something you needed,


    Ms. Dubois?¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile dimmed slightly. ¡°Actually, I wanted to discuss my position at


    Croft Vision.¡± Her gaze darted briefly to ra, then back to Julian. ¡°Perhaps somewhere more private?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss that can¡¯t be said here,¡± Julian replied coolly.


    Vivienne¡¯s perfectly manicured hand tightened around her clutch. ¡°I assumed with yourpany¡¯s recent growth, you¡¯d want to retain talent with my qualifications.¡±


    Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your contract was terminated two weeks ago. The notification was sent to your office.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but surely that was before-¡± Vivienne¡¯s polite facade cracked slightly as she gestured toward ra. ¡°Before certain personal connections became apparent.¡±


    The implication was clear. Vivienne thought ra had influenced Julian to fire her.


    Julian stepped forward, his usually friendly face hardening. ¡°Ms. Dubois, let me be perfectly clear. Your termination had nothing to do with ra. You were released because your work was substandard and your attitude problematic.¡±


    ra fought to keep her expression neutral, though inwardly she was stunned by Julian¡¯s directness. She¡¯d had no idea Vivienne had worked for CroftVision, much less that she¡¯d been fired. (4)


    Vivienne¡¯s smile disappearedpletely. ¡°I see,¡± she said, voice brittle. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡±


    01:13


    31 A Calcted Slight


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly how it is, Julian confirmed without apology.


    Vivienne turned her attention to ra for the first time, eyes cold with contempt. ¡°How convenient that your old friend controls hiring decisions at a growing tech firm.¡± Sheughed softly. ¡°Did you ask him to fire me, or was that his idea?¡±


    ¡°I had no idea you worked there,¡± ra replied honestly. ¡°But Julian doesn¡¯t make business decisions based on personal favors.¡±,


    ¡°Of course not, Vivienne drawled, disbelief evident. ¡°Just like I¡¯m sure your sudden resurrection as some tech genius has nothing to do with your impending divorce from Damien.¡±


    Julian stepped between them. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Your problem is with me, not ra.¡±


    ¡°My problem,¡± Vivienne said, her voice dangerously soft, ¡°is that suddenly everyone¡¯s acting like she¡¯s some brilliant innovator, when for seven years she¡¯s been nothing but Damien¡¯s decorative housewife.¡±


    ra felt the sting of those words, but Julian didn¡¯t miss a beat.


    ¡°ra Vance,¡± he said loudly enough for nearby guests to hear, ¡°co-founded YodaVision with me and developed LinguaFlex, which your own academic work cited three times.¡± He smiled tightly. ¡°I checked.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s cheeks flushed with anger, but herposure held. ¡°How thorough of you.¡±


    ¡°CroftVision doesn¡¯t need employees who can¡¯t recognize true expertise when it¡¯s standing right in front of them,¡± Julian said. He turned slightly. ¡°Come on, ra. Our car should be waiting¡±


    Vivienne¡¯sugh stopped them. ¡°This doesn¡¯t matter, you know. Croft Vision is nothingpared to what the Thorne family controls.¡± Her smile returned, vindictive and sharp. ¡°You¡¯ve made an enemy you can¡¯t afford, Julian.¡±


    Julian appeared supremely unconcerned. ¡°I¡¯ll take my chances.¡±


    He guided ra toward the exit, but a prickling sensation on the back of her neck made her nce across the lobby. There, standing beside a massive floral arrangement, was Damien. His dark gaze fixed on the confrontation, expression


    01:13


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    31 A Calcted Slight


    unreadable. Beside him stood Beck, his head of security, and Lucas Sterling, Vivienne¡¯s cousin.


    None of them moved to intervene, just watched the scene unfold like disinterested observers at a mildly entertaining show.


    Damien¡¯s eyes met hers briefly. No recognition flickered there, no hint that they¡¯d shared seven years of marriage. He might as well have been looking at a stranger. ¡°Don¡¯t let them get to you,¡± Julian murmured as they continued walking.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ra lied, her heart hammering against her ribs.


    They had almost reached the door when a tall man with friendly eyes intercepted them.


    ¡°Ms. Vance? I¡¯m Bryson West, from Archer Technologies.¡± He extended his hand. ¡°I overheard your discussion with Professor Leonard earlier. Your approach to the semantic processing issue was brilliant.¡±


    ra shook his hand, grateful for the distraction. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s just one potential solution.¡±


    ¡°A solution no one else has considered,¡± Bryson replied. ¡°We¡¯ve been struggling with simr issues at Archer. I¡¯d love to discuss your perspective sometime.¡±


    Julian looked pleased. ¡°ra¡¯s schedule is filling up quickly, but I¡¯m sure she could find


    time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant contact you,¡± ra offered, surprised by how natural the words felt. Seven years ago, she¡¯d had assistants coordinating her professional schedule. Now she was reiming that part of herself.


    Bryson nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Perfect. I look forward to it.¡±


    After exchanging business cards, they finally made it outside. The valet brought Julian¡¯s car around, and they climbed in, ra exhaling deeply once the doors closed.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Julian asked as they pulled away from the venue,


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra said, then reconsidered. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t know Vivienne worked for


    01:13


    31 A Calcted Slight


    Croft Vision.¡±


    Julian focused on the road. ¡°She was hired about six months ago as a financial consultant. Her work was mediocre, and she spent more timeworking than actually delivering results.¡±


    ¡°And you fired her before I came back to YodaVision?¡±


    ¡°Two weeks before,¡± Julian confirmed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mention it because it wasn¡¯t relevant.¡±


    ra rubbed her temples. ¡°She thinks I orchestrated it.¡±


    ¡°Let her think what she wants. She¡¯d just find another reason to resent you anyway.¡±


    They drove in silence for a few minutes before ra spoke again. ¡°Did you see Damien watching us?¡±


    Julian¡¯s hands tightened on the steering wheel. ¡°I saw him.¡±


    ¡°He looked right through me,¡± ra said quietly. ¡°Like I was nobody to him.¡±


    Julian nced at her with concern. ¡°That¡¯s his loss, not yours.¡±


    Before ra could respond, her phone buzzed with a text. She expected it to be from Chloe, asking how the event had gone. Instead, it was from an unknown number.


    The message contained just two words: ¡°Watch yourself.¡±.


    ra stared at the screen, a chill running down her spine.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Julian asked, noticing her expression.


    She showed him the message. ¡°Anonymous.¡±


    Julian frowned, ¡°Block the number. It¡¯s probably just someone being petty after tonight¡¯s events.¡±


    The most likely culprit was Vivienne, but something about the timing unsettled ra. She¡¯d seen Lucas Sterling smirking at her as they left, his eyes holding the same contempt Vivienne¡¯s had. Maybe the warning came from him.


    ¡°Julian,¡± she said slowly, ¡°what do you know about Lucas Sterling?¡±


    01:13


    <


    31 A Calcted Slight


    Julian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Vivienne¡¯s cousin. Old money, bad temperament. Why?¡±


    *He was watching us with Damien. The way he looked at me¡­¡± She shivered. ¡°Like this


    wasn¡¯t over.¡±


    Julian sighed. ¡°Sterling Investments has partnered with Thorne Industries on several projects. Lucas probably sees himself as defending family honor or some outdated


    nonsens¨¦.


    ¡°And what about the host tonight? Joshua something?¡±


    ¡°Joshua Baumond. From one of Baumond¡¯s founding families. Why?¡±


    ¡°Just curious about the connections.¡± ra gazed out the window at the passing city lights. ¡°Vivienne seems to have powerful friends.¡±


    Julian was quiet for a moment. ¡°Not as powerful as she thinks.¡± He slowed the car at a red light. ¡°Joshua mentioned something interesting tonight. Did you know Vivienne¡¯s family is from Letville?¡±


    ra turned to him in surprise. ¡°The manufacturing town? I thought she grew up in Baumond.¡±


    ¡°Her father moved their business headquarters here when she was in high school,¡± Julian exined. ¡°But they¡¯re originally from Letville. Dubois Electronics is sessful locally, but nothingpared to thepanies run by families like the Thornes or Sterlings.¡±


    The light changed, and Julian elerated. ¡°Joshua said her father¡¯s been trying to break into Baumond¡¯s elite business circles for years without much sess. Until Vivienne got close to Damien.¡±


    ra processed this new information. ¡°So Vivienne¡¯s not just after Damien for personal


    reasons.¡±


    ¡°I doubt there¡¯s anything personal about it,¡± Julian replied. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, it¡¯s all about status for her.¡±


    The irony wasn¡¯t lost on ra. She¡¯d married Damien because she genuinely loved him, while Vivienne, whom Damien seemed to adore, might only be using him for social


    01:13


    577


    31 A Calcted Slight


    advancement.


    As they pulled up to her apartment building, ra felt a strange mix of vindication and sadness. None of this changed her situation ¨C her marriage was still ending, her daughter still preferred Vivienne ¨C but it offered a new perspective on her half-sister¡¯s motivations.


    ¡°Thank you for tonight,¡± she told Julian as the car stopped. ¡°For everything¡±


    Julian smiled. ¡°You¡¯re the one who impressed everyone with your brilliant mind. I just provided the venue.¡±


    ra returned his smile, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. ¡°Still, having someone in my corner means a lot.


    ¡°Get some rest,¡± Julian said. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s going to be busy. Three investors asked for meetings after talking to you tonight.¡±


    As ra entered her apartment building, phone clutched tightly in her hand with the anonymous message still disyed, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she¡¯d won a small battle tonight but that a muchrger war was just beginning.


    Lucas Sterling¡¯s smirk and Damien¡¯s cold, disinterested gaze haunted her thoughts. Whatever Vivienne¡¯s true motives might be, she clearly had powerful allies ¨C and now ra had publicly challenged her.


    The game was changing, and ra wasn¡¯t sure she was ready for what came next.


    01:14

 The Sprawling 32

    32 A Fevered Call, A Lingering Doubt


    32 A Fevered Call, A Lingering Doubt


    ra¡¯s POVO


    The conversation between Joshua and another guest about Vivienne¡¯s rising social status cut through the banquet hall¡¯s ambient noise with painful rity.


    ¡°Damien Thorne has been introducing her to everyone who matters in Baumond,¡± Joshua remarked, swirling his champagne. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him go to such lengths for anyone before.¡±


    ¡°You think it¡¯s serious then?¡± hispanion asked.


    Joshuaughed. ¡°When a man like Damien Thorne personally calls in favors to build someone¡¯s professionalwork? I¡¯d say that¡¯s about as serious as it gets.¡±


    I pretended not to hear, but Julian¡¯s concerned nce confirmed he¡¯d caught it too. The words settled into my chest like stones, each one heavier than thest.


    ¡°Want to leave?¡± Julian whispered.


    I shook my head. ¡°Not yet. We still need to speak with the Archer Technologies team.¡±


    Julian squeezed my arm gently. ¡°They can wait until Monday.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I insisted, forcing a smile that felt brittle even to me.


    I scanned the room, noticing Damien¡¯s absence. His group had departed earlier, without so much as a nce in my direction. Despite the divorce proceedings, despite everything, hisplete indifference still had the power to wound me.


    Three hourster, after discussions with potential investors and business partners, Julian and I finally left. The night air felt refreshing after the stuffy banquet hall.


    ¡°You were magnificent tonight,¡± Julian said as we walked toward his car. ¡°Professor Leonard couldn¡¯t stop talking about yournguage processing model.¡±


    I was about to respond when my phone rang. The screen disyed Damien¡¯s name. My heart lurched despite myself,


    01:14


    1/5.


    32 A Fevered Call, A Lingering Doubt


    ¡°Should I answer it?¡± I asked Julian, hating the uncertainty in my voice.


    Julian¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°That¡¯s up to you.¡±


    I took a deep breath and answered. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Come home.¡± Damien¡¯s voice was cold, clinical. ¡°Coco has a fever.¡±


    My stomach dropped. ¡°How high?¡±


    ¡°High enough.¡± A pause. ¡°She¡¯s asking for you.¡±


    The call ended before I could respond. No goodbye, no further information.


    ¡°I need to go,¡± I told Julian, panic rising in my throat. ¡°Coco¡¯s sick.¡±


    Julian nodded immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡±


    The journey to the Thorne vi felt agonizingly slow despite Julian¡¯s speed. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. How high was Coco¡¯s fever? Was she getting proper care? Why hadn¡¯t Damien given me more details?


    ¡°She¡¯ll be okay,¡± Julian said, sensing my anxiety. ¡°Kids get fevers all the time.¡±


    I nodded absently, staring out the window at the passing streetlights. ¡°I know. I just-I can¡¯t help worrying.¡±


    When we arrived, I thanked Julian quickly and rushed to the door. Mrs. Gable, our housekeeper, opened it with a worried expression.


    ¡°She¡¯s upstairs,¡± she said immediately. ¡°The fever spiked about an hour ago.¡±


    I took the stairs two at a time, my heels clicking against the marble. Coco¡¯s room was dimly lit, the cartoon-themed night light casting soft shadows across her small form in


    the bed.


    ¡°Coco?¡± I whispered, approaching carefully.


    My daughter¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Her face was flushed, hair damp with sweat against her forehead, ¡°Mommy,¡± she whimpered, reaching for me.


    I gathered her into my arms, feeling the heat radiating from her small body. ¡°I¡¯m here,


    01:14


    <


    32 A Fevered Call, A Lingering Doubt


    baby. I¡¯m here now.¡±


    Mrs. Gable appeared in the doorway. ¡°I gave her the fever reducer about twenty minutes ago. The doctor said to monitor her temperature and call if it goes above 102.¡±


    ¡°Has Damien been in to see her?¡± I asked, stroking Coco¡¯s hair.


    Mrs. Gable hesitated. ¡°Mr. Thorne called to check in. He wanted to know when you


    arrived.¡±


    So he wasn¡¯t home. Despite leaving the banquet hours before me.


    ¡°The kitchen¡¯s prepared some children¡¯s electrolyte drink,¡± Mrs. Gable continued. ¡°Would you like me to bring it up?¡±


    I nodded gratefully. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    When she left, I focused entirely on Coco, wiping her forehead with a cool cloth I found on her bedside table. Her little fingers clutched my dress.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± I promised. ¡°I¡¯m staying right here.¡±


    I helped her sip the drink Mrs. Gable brought, then read from her favorite storybook until her eyelids grew heavy. Just as she was drifting off, she stirred.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy?¡± she asked sleepily.


    The innocent question pierced my heart. ¡°He¡¯s not home right now, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°But I want him too,¡± she said, lower lip trembling.


    I smoothed her hair back. ¡°I know, baby. Maybe he¡¯ll be here when you wake up.¡±


    Coco seemed satisfied with this answer and finally fell into a fitful sleep, still clinging to my hand. I sat beside her, watching her chest rise and fall, checking her temperature periodically. After an hour, the fever began to subside, her skin cooling gradually under my touch.


    Mrs. Gable brought me a change of clothes and a cup of tea. ¡°You should rest too,¡± she suggested kindly.


    01:14


    32 A Fevered Call, A Lingering Doubt


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay with her tonight,¡± I replied. ¡°But thank you.¡±


    When Coco was finally sleeping peacefully, I stepped into the hallway to call Damien. His phone rang several times before going to voicemail. I tried again with the same result.


    A cold realization washed over me. Damien had left the banquet hours before I did. The venue was closer to our home than it was to my apartment. He should have been here long before now.


    Unless he hadn¡¯te home at all.


    The thought seemed to echo in the silent hallway. I checked the time: 11:42 PM. The banquet had ended around eight. Where was he? The answer formed in my mind before I could stop it.


    With Vivienne.


    While our daughtery sick with fever, while I rushed across town terrified for her wellbeing, Damien was likely with Vivienne. The knowledge settled over me like ice water, shocking at first, then numbingly cold.


    I returned to Coco¡¯s room and curled up in the chair beside her bed. My body was physically present, watching over my daughter, but my mind kept reying Joshua¡¯s words from the banquet:


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him go to such lengths for anyone before.¡±


    The contrast was stark and painful. Damien, who couldn¡¯t be bothered toe home to his sick child. Damien, who couldn¡¯t spare a moment from Vivienne to be here.


    Damien, who had called me only because Coco had asked for me, not because he thought I deserved to know our daughter was ill.


    I checked my phone again: no missed calls, no messages. The house remained quiet except for Coco¡¯s soft breathing.


    Mrs. Gable appeared in the doorway once more. ¡°Is there anything else you need, Mrs.


    Thorne?¡±


    I almostughed at the title. Mrs. Thorne. A name that had once filled me with pride


    01:14


    <


    32 A Fevered Call, A Lingering Doubt


    now felt like a cruel joke.


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± I replied softly. ¡°Has Mr. Thorne called again?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Not since earlier.¡±


    When she left, I gazed at Coco¡¯s sleeping face, so innocent, so trusting. She believed her father would be here when she woke up. She believed he cared enough toe


    home.


    I checked the time again: midnight.


    Damien wasn¡¯ting home tonight.


    The realization didn¡¯t hurt as much as it should have. Perhaps I¡¯d finally grown numb to his indifference. Or perhaps this was simply the final confirmation I needed-proof that Damien Thorne had never truly been mine to lose.


    As I sat in the darkness, watching over our daughter alone, I finally allowed myself to acknowledge what I¡¯d been avoiding for years: our marriage had never been real. Not to


    him.


    And if that was true, then what was I still fighting for?


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 The Sprawling 33

    33 A Lingering, Telling Scent


    33 A Lingering, Telling Scent


    ra¡¯s POV


    I watched Coco¡¯s chest rise and fall as she slept, her fever finally breaking in the early hours of the morning. The soft glow of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting shadows across her small face. Her cheeks were no longer flushed with fever, and her breathing had steadied.


    The sound of a car pulling into the driveway broke the morning stillness. I checked my watch: 7:15 AM. Footsteps soon echoed through the hallway, steady and purposeful. Damien¡¯s footsteps. I would recognize them anywhere, even after all this time.


    The bedroom door opened quietly, and he appeared in the doorway. His usually immacte appearance showed signs of a long night-his shirt slightly wrinkled, his jaw shadowed with stubble.


    ¡°How is she?¡± he asked, voice low as he approached the bed.


    ¡°The fever broke around three this morning. She¡¯s been sleeping peacefully since then,¡± I replied, keeping my tone neutral.


    Damien nodded, his eyes fixed on Coco. Without another word, he leaned down and brushed his lips against her forehead, checking her temperature. It was the most tender gesture I¡¯d seen from him in months.


    ¡°Thank you foring,¡± he said, finally looking at me.


    ¡°She¡¯s my daughter,¡± I replied simply. As if I¡¯d need any other reason.


    Coco stirred, her eyes fluttering open. When she saw her father, her face lit up instantly. ¡°Daddy! You came!¡±


    ¡°Of course I came, princess,¡± Damien said, sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Better,¡± she replied, reaching for him,


    He gathered her into his arms, holding her close. That¡¯s when I caught it-the scent.


    01:14


    <


    33 A Lingering, Telling Scent


    Vivienne¡¯s perfume, mingled with Damien¡¯s cologne. The distinctive jasmine and


    sandalwood notes that I¡¯d smelled a hundred times before at charity events and family gatherings, now clinging to my husband¡¯s clothes after a night spent away from home.


    My stomach twisted into a cold, hard knot. So that¡¯s where he¡¯d been all night. With Vivienne, while our daughter burned with fever and called for him. I¡¯d suspected, of course, but the confirmation still stung like alcohol on an open wound.


    I rose from the chair, legs stiff after hours of sitting vigil. ¡°I¡¯ll make some breakfast. Coco needs to eat something light.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Damien said, setting Coco back against her pillows. ¡°You¡¯ve been up all night.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I insisted, needing to escape the room, to escape that scent. ¡°Chicken noodle soup would be good for her. It¡¯s what my grandmother always made when I was sick.¡±


    Without waiting for his response, I walked past him, careful not to brush against his jacket. Once, I would have cherished any contact, any proximity. Now, I couldn¡¯t bear <ol><li></li></ol>


    In the hallway, I paused, taking a deep breath. This was my new reality. The divorce papers were already filed. Soon, we would be nothing more than co-parents to Coco. I needed to ept that.


    Downstairs, Mrs. Gable was already in the kitchen, preparing coffee. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Thorne. How¡¯s the little one?¡±


    ¡°Much better,¡± I replied, washing my hands at the sink. ¡°I¡¯m going to make some soup for her.¡±


    ¡°I can do that,¡± she offered, but I shook my head.


    ¡°I need to keep busy.¡±


    I began gathering ingredients-chicken, carrots, celery, onions. The methodical process of chopping vegetables was oddlyforting. Each precise cut helped ground me, focus me.


    Damien¡¯s jackety draped over one of the kitchen chairs where he must have tossed it


    01:14


    <


    33 A Lingering, Telling Scent


    upon entering. Once, I would have picked it up, hung it properly, perhaps even held it close for a moment to catch his scent. Now, I simply moved it aside to make room for my cutting board, letting it fall carelessly back onto the chair.


    The knife stilled in my hand as voices drifted down from upstairs-Damien¡¯s low murmur in what sounded like a phone call. I couldn¡¯t make out the words, but his tone was reassuring, gentle. A tone he rarely used with me anymore.


    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to take over if you¡¯d like to rest,¡± Mrs. Gable said, watching me with


    concern.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost done,¡± I replied, resuming my chopping with renewed vigor. ¡°This won¡¯t take long¡±


    An hourter, the soup was simmering on the stove, filling the kitchen with a


    As I climbed the stairs, I heard Damien¡¯s voice more clearly. He was still on the phone, standing by the window in Coco¡¯s room.


    ¡°She¡¯s much better now,¡± he was saying. ¡°The fever¡¯s gonepletely¡­ Yes, I¡¯ll let you


    know¡­ I know you were worried too.¡±


    I didn¡¯t need to hear the other side of the conversation to know who it was. Vivienne. Always Vivienne.


    I cleared my throat as I entered, and he turned, ending the call quickly. ¡°Soup¡¯s ready,¡± I announced, setting the tray on Coco¡¯s bedside table.


    ¡°Yay! Mommy¡¯s special soup!¡± Coco eximed, sitting up eagerly.


    I helped her with the first few spoonfuls, making sure it wasn¡¯t too hot. ¡°Careful, sweetie. Take small bites.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got her,¡± Damien said, taking the spoon from my hand. His fingers brushed against mine, and I pulled back as if burned. ¡°You should get some rest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to check her temperature one more time,¡± I replied.


    I ced my hand on Coco¡¯s forehead, It was cool to the touch. Relief washed over me,


    01:14


    <


    33 A Lingering, Telling Scent


    and exhaustion suddenly hit full force, my body finally acknowledging the sleepless night.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll lie down in the guest room for a bit, I conceded.


    Damien nodded, already focused on feeding Coco her soup. The scene was so domestically normal that for a painful moment, I could almost pretend we were still a family. But the lingering scent of Vivienne¡¯s perfume shattered that illusionpletely.


    I checked in on Coco once more before heading to the guest room. She was happily watching cartoons, the bowl of soup half-empty beside her. Damien sat in the chair I¡¯d upied all night, scrolling through his phone.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be in the guest room if you need me,¡± I said from the doorway.


    ¡°Feel better, Mommy!¡± Coco called out, barely looking away from her show.


    I closed the door softly behind me and made my way to the guest room. Before I could reach it, Mrs. Gable approached me in the hallway.


    ¡°I¡¯ve changed the sheets in the guest room,¡± she said. ¡°And Dr. Collins called. He said the fever was likely just a twenty-four-hour bug and probably won¡¯t return.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Gable.¡±


    I paused, considering this information. If it was just a short-lived bug and the fever wasn¡¯ting back, then perhaps I didn¡¯t need to stay overnight. Coco was already improving rapidly, and Damien was home now.


    Home with that lingering, telling scent that made it perfectly clear where his prioritiesy.


    Mrs. Gable studied my face with motherly concern. ¡°You look tired, Mrs. Fleming. Take a seat and rest.¡±


    01:14

 The Sprawling 34

    <


    34 Familiar Rooms, Silent Tensions


    34 Familiar Rooms, Silent Tensions


    ra¡¯s POVO


    Exhaustion weighed on me as I trudged down the hallway towards the living room. My mind buzzed with questions about Damien¡¯s sudden appearance and his silence regarding Julian and Vivienne.


    The living room was dimly lit with just a singlemp illuminating the space. Damien sat on the leather couch, his attention fixed on hisptop screen. The blue light cast harsh shadows across his face, making his features appear even sharper than usual.


    I stood at the threshold, waiting for him to acknowledge my presence. One second passed. Then another. Nothing.


    ¡°Damien?¡± I finally broke the silence.


    He didn¡¯t look up. His fingers continued to move across the keyboard without pause. I might as well have been invisible.


    The familiar sting of being deliberately ignored twisted in my chest. After all these years, it shouldn¡¯t hurt anymore. But it did.


    I turned away, deciding against confrontation. What was the point? We were getting divorced anyway.


    As I headed toward the stairs, a small voice called out from above.


    ¡°Mommy?¡±


    Coco stood at the top of the staircase in her pale pink pajamas, her stuffed rabbit clutched tightly against her chest. Her face looked flushed even in the dim light.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sweetheart?¡± I rushed up the stairs.


    When I reached her, I ced my hand against her forehead. It was warm-too warm.


    ¡°My tummy hurts,¡± she whimpered, leaning into me.


    I scooped her into my arms, surprised by how light she still felt despite growing so


    01:14


    < 34 Familiar Rooms, Silent Tensions


    much in the past year. ¡°Let¡¯s get you back to bed.¡±


    As I carried her to her bedroom, I heard movement downstairs. Damien had finally decided to pay attention.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± His deep voice echoed from the bottom of the staircase.


    ¡°She¡¯s running a fever again,¡± I replied without turning around.


    I tucked Coco back into bed and took her.temperature. 100.3¡ãF-not dangerously high, but concerning nheless.


    ¡°Can I have soup?¡± Coco asked in a small voice. ¡°The chicken noodle one you make?¡±


    My heart melted at her request. ¡°Of course, sweetie. I¡¯ll make it right now.¡±


    When I turned to leave the room, I almost collided with Damien standing in the doorway. He¡¯d moved silently, as always.


    ¡°I¡¯ll sit with her while you make the soup,¡± he said, his voice unusually soft.


    I nodded and slipped past him, careful not to make contact.


    In the kitchen, I gathered ingredients on autopilot: chicken, celery, carrots, onions. The familiar routine wasforting. I diced vegetables with practiced precision, the knife making clean cuts against the wooden board.


    Twenty minutester, the soup was simmering on the stove, filling the kitchen with a warm, homey aroma. As I stirred the pot, I sensed Damien¡¯s presence before I saw him.


    ¡°She¡¯s asking for you,¡± he said, leaning against the kitchen ind. ¡°And the soup.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost ready.¡±


    An ufortable silence stretched between us. There were so many things we needed to discuss-Julian, Vivienne, the divorce-but neither of us seemed willing to broach those subjects.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring up two bowls,¡± I finally said. ¡°She might feel better if we eat with her.¡±


    To my surprise, Damien nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll help you carry them.¡±


    01:14


    <


    34 Familiar Rooms, Silent Tensions


    When we entered Coco¡¯s room with the soup, her face brightened despite her illness. ¡°You¡¯re both eating with me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, princess,¡± Damien replied, setting his bowl on her nightstand.


    soup


    We ate in strained silence, broken only by Coco¡¯s asionalments about the being ¡°the best medicine.¡± The domesticity of the scene was painfully familiar-the three of us together, sharing a meal. It was an echo of what our life was supposed to be.


    After dinner, Coco looked significantly better. The color had returned to her cheeks, and her eyes were brighter.


    ¡°Can you stay with me tonight, Mommy?¡± she asked as I tucked her in. ¡°Like when I was little?¡±


    I stroked her hair gently. ¡°Of course I will.¡±


    Damien collected our empty bowls. ¡°I¡¯ll take these downstairs.¡±


    When he left, I realized I needed to get my pajamas from my suitcase. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, sweetheart. I¡¯m just going to get changed.¡±


    I headed to the guest room where I¡¯d left my luggage, but to my confusion, it wasn¡¯t there. After checking the other guest rooms with no sess, a chilling realization dawned on me. Slowly, I walked toward the master bedroom-our bedroom-and pushed open the door.


    The room was exactly as I remembered it. Clean, pristine, with my side of the bed untouched. My reading sses still sat on the nightstand alongside the novel I¡¯d been reading before I left. My slippers waited by the foot of the bed.


    It was as if I¡¯d never left.


    I walked to the closet and pulled open the door. All my clothes hung neatly in their designated spaces. My jewelry box sat on the dresser, untouched. Even my half-used bottle of perfume remained in its exact spot.


    My heart raced as confusion washed over me. Why had Damien kept everything exactly as it was? Was it for appearances? To avoid exining my absence to Eleanor? Or was there another reason I couldn¡¯t fathom?


    01:14


    <


    34 Familiar Rooms, Silent Tensions


    I quickly gathered my pajamas and toiletries, unwilling to spend another moment in that preserved shrine to our failed marriage. The weight of seven years together pressed down on me, making it difficult to breathe.


    Back in Coco¡¯s room, I found her already half-asleep. I slipped into her adjoining bathroom to change and wash up. The childish decorations-bright fish stickers on the mirror and a princess step stool-were a wee distraction from my troubled thoughts.


    I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the confusion and hurt. As the water cascaded over me, I tried to make sense of Damien¡¯s behavior. His continued silence about Julian and Vivienne. His unexpected attentiveness to Coco tonight. The untouched bedroom.


    None of it made sense.


    Just as I turned off the water, I heard the bathroom door open. I froze, clutching the shower curtain to my body.


    Through the steam-fogged ss, I could make out Damien¡¯s tall silhouette standing in the doorway of Coco¡¯s bathroom.


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 The Sprawling 35

    <


    35 A Child¡¯s Gaze, A Mother¡¯s Heartache


    35 A Child¡¯s Gaze, A Mother¡¯s Heartache


    ra¡¯s POV


    I clutched the shower curtain tighter, my heart pounding against my ribs. ¡°Damien, I¡¯m


    in the shower!¡±


    His silhouette remained motionless for a moment before he spoke. ¡°I brought you fresh towels.¡± His voice was t, devoid of emotion. ¡°Didn¡¯t realize you were in here.¡±


    He ced them on the counter and left without another word, closing the door behind him. I released the breath I¡¯d been holding and stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself. My hands trembled slightly.


    After changing into my pajamas, I tiptoed back into Coco¡¯s room. She was fast asleep, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. I pressed my hand against her forehead -cooler now, thankfully. The medicine was working.


    I slipped under the covers beside her, careful not to wake her. The twin bed wasn¡¯t meant for two people, but I didn¡¯t mind. I¡¯d sleep on the floor if it meant being close to my daughter when she needed me.


    Sleep eluded me as my mind raced with thoughts of the preserved bedroom, Damien¡¯s sudden appearance at my door, and his continued silence about Vivienne. Eventually, exhaustion won, and I drifted off.


    Morning arrived too quickly. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting the room in soft golden hues. Coco stirred beside me, her feverpletely gone.


    ¡°Mommy?¡± she mumbled sleepily.


    ¡°I¡¯m here, sweetheart.¡± I smoothed her hair back from her face. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Better.¡± She yawned, stretching her small arms above her head. ¡°Can I have pancakes?¡±


    I smiled, relieved by her appetite. ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s get you dressed first.¡±


    After helping her into a fresh set of clothes, I headed downstairs to prepare breakfast. The kitchen was empty-no sign of Damien. Perhaps he¡¯d already left for work.


    01:14


    <


    35 A Child¡¯s Gaze, A Mother¡¯s Heartache


    +35


    I found eggs, flour, and milk in their usual ces. Nothing had changed here either. I mixed the batter while Coco set the table, cing three tes down automatically.


    ¡°Is Daddy eating with us?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, sweetie. He might already be at work.¡±


    Just as the words left my mouth, footsteps sounded behind us. Damien entered the kitchen, dressed in a crisp charcoal suit. His hair was still damp from the shower, and the familiar scent of his cologne wafted through the air.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said, his gaze moving between us before settling on Coco. ¡°Feeling better, princess?¡±


    She nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Mommy¡¯s making pancakes!¡±


    I kept my focus on the stove, flipping a perfectly golden pancake onto a te. ¡°There¡¯s coffee in the pot if you want some.¡±


    He poured himself a cup without responding. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words.


    Breakfast passed in much the same way. Coco chatted happily, oblivious to the tension between her parents. I answered her questions and smiled at her stories, while Damien checked his phone between bites.


    After finishing myst pancake, I stood and collected the tes. ¡°I should be going. I


    have a meeting at ten.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s Saturday,¡± Coco protested, grabbing my hand. ¡°Can¡¯t you stay longer?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart.¡± I knelt beside her chair. ¡°I have an important meeting I can¡¯t miss. But I¡¯ll see you soon, okay? Maybe we can go to the park tomorrow.¡±


    Her lower lip trembled slightly. ¡°Promise?¡±


    ¡°Promise,¡± I kissed her forehead and stood up. ¡°Let me clean up first.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Damien said unexpectedly, rising from his chair. ¡°You should get going if you have a meeting.¡±


    I hesitated, surprised by the offer, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    01:14


    <


    35 A Child¡¯s Gaze, A Mother¡¯s Heartache


    I hugged Coco once more, breathing in her sweet scent, before gathering my purse and heading for the door. Damien followed me into the hallway.


    ¡°Thank you for staying with her,¡± he said, his voice low. ¡°She needed you.¡±


    I nodded, unsure how to respond. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter. I¡¯ll always be there when she


    needs me.¡±


    Without waiting for his reply, I walked out, closing the door softly behind me.


    Later that afternoon, my phone rang as I was reviewing some files for YodaVision. It was ra Hayes, my neighbor.


    ¡°ra, I hate to ask, but could you possibly take Lily to kindergarten on Monday? I have an early meeting I can¡¯t reschedule.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I replied without hesitation. ra had helped me numerous times in the past. ¡°What time?¡±


    ¡°Eight would be perfect. Thank you so much!¡±


    Monday morning arrived, and I found myself driving to school with an excited five-year-old beside me. Lily chattered non-stop about her friends and the art project they were working on.


    ¡°Miss Thompson says mine is the best because I used all the colors,¡± she informed me proudly.


    I smiled at her enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    The kindergarten parking lot was packed when we arrived. I circled slowly, looking for a vacant spot, when Lily suddenly pressed her face against the window.


    ¡°Look! It¡¯s Cora!¡± she eximed.


    My eyes followed her pointing finger, and my stomach dropped. There, by the school entrance, stood Damien, Vivienne, and Coco. My daughter was smiling brightly, holding Vivienne¡¯s hand as she talked animatedly about something. Vivienneughed, bending down to Coco¡¯s level and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear¡ªa gesture I had done countless times.


    01:15


    35 A Child¡¯s Gaze, A Mother¡¯s Heartache


    Damien stood beside them, a small smile on his face as he watched their interaction. They looked like¡­a family.


    I gripped the steering wheel tighter, feeling like an outsider looking in on a scene I should have been part of. The pain was immediate and sharp, lodging itself beneath my ribs.


    ¡°Mrs. Vance?¡± Lily¡¯s voice broke through my thoughts. She was looking at me with innocent curiosity. ¡°Is thatdy Cora¡¯s mom too? Does Cora have two mommies?¡±


    The question hit me like a physical blow. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. How could I exin this to a five-year-old when I could barely make sense of it myself?


    ¡°Lily¡­¡± I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper.


    But she had already moved on, distracted by something else. ¡°Oh! There¡¯s a parking spot!¡±


    I mechanically steered the car into the empty space, my eyes still fixed on the trio at the entrance. Coco looked up then and saw me. For a moment, her face lit up with recognition. Then, she simply waved casually before turning back to Vivienne, tugging on her hand to lead her into the school.


    Lily unbuckled her seatbelt. ¡°Come on, Mrs. Vance! We¡¯re going to bete!¡±


    I forced myself to smile. ¡°Right. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    As I walked Lily to her ssroom, the innocent question echoed in my mind: ¡°Does Cora have two mommies?¡±


    In Coco¡¯s eyes, maybe she already did.

 The Sprawling 36

    36 A New Colleague and Office Murmurs


    36 A New Colleague and Office Murmurs


    ra¡¯s POVO


    ¡°Lily, can you promise me something?¡± I crouched down to meet her eyes as we stood just outside her ssroom.


    The five-year-old looked at me curiously, her pink backpack slightly toorge for her small frame. ¡°What, Mrs. Vance?¡±


    ¡°Could you not tell Cora that I brought you to school today?¡± I kept my voice gentle, trying not to betray my unease.


    Lily¡¯s eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. ¡°Why not?¡±


    I tucked a stray curl behind her ear. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ it might make thingsplicated. It¡¯s grown-up stuff.¡±


    She nodded solemnly as if she understood the weight of adultplications. ¡°Okay. I promise.¡±


    I smiled gratefully and stood up. ¡°Thank you, sweetie.¡±


    After watching Lily skip into her ssroom, I made my way to the teacher, Ms. Thompson.


    ¡°Ms. Thompson, I¡¯m dropping Lily Hayes off today. Her mother had an early meeting.¡±


    The teacher nodded, jotting something down on her clipboard. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Thorne-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Vance,¡± I corrected her automatically. ¡°ra Vance.¡±


    Ms. Thompson¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Oh! I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t realize¡­¡±


    I forced a smile, saving her from further awkwardness. ¡°No problem. ra will pick Lily up as usual.¡±


    As I turned to leave, I caught another glimpse of Damien through the ssroom window. He was saying goodbye to Cora, his hand resting lightly on Vivienne¡¯s lower


    01:15


    <


    36 A New Colleague and Office Murmurs


    back. The casual intimacy of the gesture made my stomach clench.


    I quickened my pace, not wanting to risk an encounter. Thest thing I needed was to start my first day at YodaVision with red eyes.


    The drive to the YodaVision building took thirty minutes. I parked in the visitor¡¯s section, checking my appearance onest time in the rearview mirror. My navy zer and pencil skirt were professional without being severe. I¡¯d pulled my hair back into a sleek ponytail, revealing small diamond studs in my ears-a gift from Eleanor years


    ago.


    Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and approached the ss-fronted building. The reception area was modern and minimalist, with thepany¡¯s logo-a stylized eye with binary code-emzoned on the wall.


    ¡°ra!¡±


    Julian¡¯s voice rang out across the lobby. He strode toward me, arms outstretched, his face lit up with a wide smile. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself


    smiling back as he pulled me into a warm embrace.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re finally here,¡± he said, stepping back to look at me. ¡°You look amazing.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I smoothed my zer self-consciously. ¡°It feels strange to be back after all


    this time.¡±


    Julian looped his arm through mine. ¡°Strange in a good way, I hope.¡±


    ¡°In the best way,¡± I assured him.


    We walked toward the elevators, Julian pointing out changes to the building since myst visit. As the elevator doors opened, we stepped inside alongside several other employees who greeted Julian with respectful nods.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s excited to meet you,¡± Julian murmured as the elevator ascended. ¡°Your reputation precedes you,¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Should I be worried?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. You¡¯re practically a legend around here.¡±


    01:15


    <


    36 A New Colleague and Office Murmurs


    The elevator doors opened on the executive floor. As we stepped out, I noticed a man


    in an expensive suit ending a phone call, his expression troubled. He nced up, his eyes widening slightly as theynded on me.


    Julian led me past him with a cursory nod. ¡°Morning, Quentin.¡±


    The man-Quentin-returned the greeting distractedly, his eyes still on me.


    ¡°Who was that?¡± I asked once we were out of earshot.


    ¡°Quentin Yallop. Marketing Director. Brilliant at what he does, but not always someone you want to get too close to. Office politics isn¡¯t his strong suit.¡±


    We continued down the corridor, passing ss-walled offices and open workspaces. I could feel eyes following us, whispers trailing in our wake.


    ¡°So much for a quiet entrance,¡± I muttered.


    Julian chuckled. ¡°Impossible when you¡¯re ra Vance. Besides, everyone¡¯s been wondering who the mystery woman would be to fill the position Vivienne Dubois was eyeing.¡±


    I nearly stumbled. ¡°Vivienne applied here?¡±


    ¡°She did.¡± Julian¡¯s voice turned serious. ¡°I rejected her application personally.¡±


    ¡°Julian¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It was strictly business. Her qualifications were impressive, but not what we needed.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°The fact that I despise her was just a bonus.¡± 2


    I shook my head, half amused, half concerned. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that because


    of me.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t. But I won¡¯t pretend I¡¯m sorry about it either.¡±


    Before I could respond, we reached arge corner office with Julian¡¯s name on the door. He pushed it open, gesturing for me to enter first.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t my office,¡± I said, confused.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s mine. But I thought we¡¯d start here before I show you to yours.¡±


    01:15


    3/5.


    <


    36 A New Colleague and Office Murmurs


    Meanwhile, back in the elevator lobby, Quentin Yallop stared at his phone, still processing the conversation he¡¯d just had.


    ¡°What do you mean Julian rescinded the offer?¡± he had asked, his voice low despite being alone in the hallway.


    Vivienne¡¯s voice had been tight with controlled anger. ¡°He called me yesterday. Said they¡¯d found someone more suitable for the position. After practically promising it to


    me!¡±


    ¡°Did he say why?¡±


    ¡°He gave some nonsense about ¡®better alignment withpany vision, but we both know it¡¯s personal. Julian has never liked me.¡±


    Quentin had nced up then, just in time to see Julian walking past with a beautiful woman on his arm. The woman was elegant, poised, with an air of quiet confidence that drew the eye.


    ¡°I think I might know who got your position,¡± he¡¯d murmured into the phone.


    ¡°Who?¡± Vivienne had demanded.


    But before he could answer, a group of employees had approached, forcing him to end the call with a hasty promise to call backter.


    Now, standing in the elevator lobby, Quentin watched as whispers spread among the staff. The mysterious woman with Julian was causing quite a stir.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± one young employee whispered to another.


    ¡°No idea, but rumor has it she¡¯s a new colleague. Someone important.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous.¡±


    ¡°Julian seemed really happy to see her.¡±


    Quentin narrowed his eyes, wondering what connection this woman had to Julian that would make him reject Vivienne Dubois-a woman with impable credentials and powerful connections through her rtionship with Damien Thorne.


    As if on cue, the elevator doors opened, and Julian emerged once more. This time, he


    01:15


    <


    36 A New Colleague and Office Murmurs


    was apanied not only by the mystery woman but also by thepany¡¯s HR director. They were deep in conversation, moving toward the main conference room.


    As they passed, Quentin got a clearer look at the woman¡¯s face. Recognition dawned, and he felt his jaw go ck.


    It was ra Vance-Damien Thorne¡¯s wife.


    The pieces suddenly fell into ce. Julian had rejected Vivienne in favor of ra. The implications of this decision-and the inevitable fallout-were staggering.


    Quentin watched as the trio disappeared down the hallway, office chatter swirling around them like leaves in a storm. This was going to get very interesting, very quickly.

 The Sprawling 37

    37 An Explosive Wee


    37 An Explosive Wee


    Julian Croft stood at the front of the conference room, surveying the gathered employees with a confident smile. His hand rested lightly on ra¡¯s shoulder as he prepared to make the introduction. O


    ¡°Everyone, I¡¯d like you to meet ra Vance. She¡¯s joining us as our new Head of AI Development,¡± Julian announced, his voice carrying clearly across the room.


    ra smiled politely as curious gazes settled on her. Some faces showed genuine interest, others skepticism, and a few disyed outright hostility.


    ¡°ra was actually one of YodaVision¡¯s original founders,¡± Julian continued. ¡°She¡¯s returning to lead our most ambitious project to date.¡±


    Before Julian could borate further, a sharp voice cut through the murmurs.


    ¡°Did I hear correctly?¡± Quentin Yallop strode into the conference room, his expression thunderous. ¡°Vivienne Dubois was fired for her?¡±


    The room fell silent. All eyes darted between Quentin, Julian, and ra.


    Julian¡¯s smile tightened. ¡°Quentin, this isn¡¯t the appropriate time¡ª¡±


    ¡°When is the appropriate time to discuss nepotism, Julian?¡± Quentin¡¯s voice dripped with disdain. He turned to address the room. ¡°Vivienne Dubois has a doctorate from MIT. She graduated top of her ss at Stanford before that. She¡¯s published in every major tech journal.¡±


    He gestured dismissively toward ra. ¡°And what are your credentials, Ms. Vance? Besides being Julian¡¯s good friend, of course.¡±


    The air in the conference room grew heavy with tension. Several employees shifted ufortably in their seats.


    Julian stepped forward, his patience visibly fraying. ¡°Quentin, that¡¯s enough. ra¡¯s qualifications are exceptional. I won¡¯t have you-¡±


    ¡°I saw you two hugging in the lobby,¡± Quentin interrupted, his voice rising. ¡°Very


    01:15


    < 37 An Explosive Wee


    professional. Tell me, did you even interview anyone else for this position?¡±


    ra remained surprisingly calm, her posture straight as she faced Quentin directly. ¡°Mr. Yallop, I understand your concerns-¡±


    ¡°Do you have a doctorate, Ms. Vance?¡± Quentin demanded, cutting her off.


    A brief hesitation. ¡°I haven¡¯t passed my doctoral examination yet.¡±


    Quentin let out a derisiveugh. ¡°Of course not. You look barely old enough to have finished undergraduate studies. Let me guess-you¡¯re what, twenty-five? Twenty-six?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thirty-two,¡± ra replied evenly.


    ¡°Quentin!¡± Julian¡¯s voice hardened. ¡°That¡¯spletely inappropriate.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate is hiring someone based on their looks or personal connections rather than their qualifications,¡± Quentin shot back. He turned to address the room again. ¡°Is this what YodaVision hase to? Passing over genuine talent like Vivienne Dubois for-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Julian¡¯s voice cracked like a whip. ¡°ra Vance helped create the algorithms that form the backbone of our entire operation. She¡¯s forgotten more about Al development than most people in this industry will ever know.¡±


    Quentin scoffed. ¡°Pretty words for a pretty face. Tell me, Julian, is she warming your bed too? Is that why-¡±


    ¡°Quentin!¡± The HR director finally intervened, her face pale with shock. ¡°This is grounds for immediate disciplinary action.¡±


    Quentin ignored her, his eyes locked on ra. ¡°You won¡¯tst a week here. People like you-trading on connections rather thanpetence-never do.¡±


    ra finally spoke, her voice quiet but steady. ¡°You seem to have a very high opinion of Vivienne Dubois, Mr. Yallop.¡±


    ¡°Because she earned it,¡± he snapped. ¡°Unlike some people, she doesn¡¯t need to rely on personal favors.¡±


    Julian stepped between them, ¡°Quentin, I¡¯m warning you-¡±


    01:15


    <


    37 An Explosive Wee


    ¡°No, I¡¯m warning you,¡± Quentin retorted. ¡°YodaVision deserves better leadership than this.¡± He yanked his employee badge from his jacket pocket and mmed it onto the conference table. ¡°I quit. I refuse to work for apany with such poor judgment.¡±¡±


    Gasps echoed around the room. The HR director moved forward, her hand outstretched. ¡°Quentin, please, let¡¯s discuss this in private-¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss.¡± Quentin straightened his tie and looked directly at Julian. ¡°Your personal feelings have clouded your professional judgment, Julian. Good luck exining to the board why you chose personal loyalty over actual talent.¡±


    With those parting words, Quentin turned and strode toward the door. Julian called after him, ¡°Quentin, don¡¯t do this. Your career-¡±


    ¡°My career will be fine,¡± Quentin replied without turning around. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ll be able to say the same after this mistake bes apparent.¡±


    The door mmed behind him, leaving the conference room in stunned silence. Every pair of eyes turned to ra, who stood rigid beside Julian, her face a careful mask that revealed nothing of the turmoil she must be feeling.


    Julian cleared his throat, attempting to regain control of the situation. ¡°Well¡­ that was unfortunate. But let¡¯s not allow one person¡¯s unprofessional behavior to derail our meeting.¡±


    ra touched Julian¡¯s arm gently. ¡°Perhaps I should say something.¡±


    Julian hesitated, then nodded, stepping back to give her the floor.


    ra faced the room, her gaze steady as she took in the mixture of shocked, curious, and skeptical expressions before her.


    ¡°I understand Mr. Yallop¡¯s concerns,¡± she began, her voice clear and measured. ¡°It¡¯s natural to question a new hire¡¯s qualifications, especially when someone you respected was passed over.¡±


    She paused, allowing her words to sink in.


    ¡°I won¡¯t stand here and list my achievements or try to convince you of my worth. That would only validate the suggestion that I don¡¯t belong here.¡± ra straightened her


    01:15


    <


    37 An Explosive Wee


    shoulders. ¡°Instead, I¡¯ll let my work speak for itself. Judge me by what I aplish, not by rumors or assumptions.¡±


    A few heads nodded around the room. One brave soul even offered a small smile of


    encouragement.


    ¡°I know what it¡¯s like to be underestimated,¡± ra continued. ¡°To have people look at you and see only what they expect to see. I promise you this-I will never


    underestimate any of you. I will listen to your ideas, respect your expertise, and work alongside you, not above you.¡±


    The tension in the room noticeably eased. Several employees exchanged nces, reassessing their initial impressions.


    Julian stepped forward again, relief evident in his expression. ¡°Thank you, ra. Now, if we could return to our agenda-¡±


    But before he could continue, the conference room door burst open again. A young intern stood there, breathless and wide-eyed.


    ¡°Mr. Croft, I¡¯m sorry to interrupt, but¡­ Quentin Yallop is in the lobby, talking to reporters from Tech Insider. He¡¯s making some serious allegations aboutpany hiring practices and¡­ and he mentioned Ms. Vance specifically.¡±


    The momentary calm evaporated. Julian¡¯s face darkened with anger. ¡°What did he=¡±


    ¡°He said¡­¡± The intern swallowed hard, ncing nervously at ra. ¡°He said thepany rejected a highly qualified candidate in favor of ¡®Damien Thorne¡¯s discarded wife.¡±¡±


    The silence that followed was deafening. All eyes turned to ra once more, this time with dawning recognition and barely concealed shock.


    Damien Thorne¡¯s wife. The words hung in the air like a verdict.


    ra¡¯s carefully maintainedposure finally cracked. A flush of color rose to her cheeks as whispers erupted around the room.


    Julian¡¯s hand found her elbow, steadying her. ¡°Let¡¯s continue this meetingter,¡± he said firmly to the room. ¡°You¡¯re all dismissed for now.¡±


    01:15


    <


    37 An Explosive Wee


    As the employees filed out, their curious nces and hushed conversations followed ra like shadows. The professional introduction she had hoped for had just transformed into a spectacle, with her private life now the subject of office gossip and possibly industry news.


    The conference room emptied until only Julian, ra, and the HR director remained.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Julian said quietly. ¡°I never expected-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± ra interrupted, though her trembling hands betrayed her. ¡°I knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy.¡±


    The HR director shook her head grimly. ¡°We¡¯ll need to issue a statement quickly. Damage control.¡±


    Julian nodded, already reaching for his phone. ¡°I¡¯ll handle Quentin and the press. Lisa, can you-¡±


    The woman nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll start drafting something right away.¡±


    As they discussed strategy, ra stood by the window, staring out at the city skyline. Her fresh start had just be infinitely moreplicated. The past she was trying to leave behind had followed her here, announced by Quentin¡¯s vengeful deration.


    Damien Thorne¡¯s discarded wife.


    Even now,


    miles away from him, Damien¡¯s shadow still defined her.

 The Sprawling 38

    38 An Unceremonious Wee


    38 An Unceremonious Wee


    The conference room door mmed shut behind Quentin¡¯s dramatic exit, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.


    Julian ran his hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. ¡°Well, that was certainly¡­ memorable.¡± He turned to address the remaining team members, who sat stiff and ufortable in their chairs.


    ¡°I want to apologize for that unpleasant scene,¡± Julian said firmly. ¡°Quentin¡¯s behavior waspletely unprofessional and doesn¡¯t reflect ourpany values.¡±


    No one responded. The silence stretched ufortably.


    ra stood beside Julian, her faceposed despite the humiliation she¡¯d just endured. Her hands were sped tightly in front of her to hide their slight trembling.


    ¡°Look,¡± Julian continued, his voice taking on a more determined edge, ¡°I understand you all had good working rtionships with Quentin. But I need to be absolutely clear


    ra Vance is exceptionally qualified for this position.¡±


    ¨C


    A woman with short dark hair in the third row finally spoke up. ¡°With all due respect, Julian, we¡¯ve been through this before. Remember Daniel Thomas? Hired because he was someone¡¯s nephew, and his ipetence nearly cost us the Rhinehart contract.¡±


    Several heads nodded in agreement.


    ¡°This ispletely different,¡± Julian insisted. ¡°ra is brilliant. She developed the core algorithms that YodaVision was built on.¡±


    ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t she have a doctorate?¡± someone else called out.


    Julian¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°There are reasons for that which I¡¯m not at liberty to discuss. Some of ra¡¯s best work was for a ssified government project.¡±


    The skeptical expressions around the room made it clear they weren¡¯t convinced.


    A tall man with sses leaned forward. ¡°Julian, we respect you, but this feels like favoritism, Vivienne Dubois had every qualification on paper.¡±


    01:15


    <


    38 An Unceremonious Wee


    ¡°Sometimes paper qualifications don¡¯t tell the whole story,¡± Julian replied. His gaze swept across the room. ¡°I¡¯m asking you all to give ra a chance to prove herself before making judgments.¡±


    More ufortable silence followed.


    Julian turned to a young man sitting in the front row. ¡°Yandel, you were working with Quentin on the neuralwork optimization project, correct?¡±


    Yandel Sanchez nodded reluctantly. ¡°Yes, we were scheduled to present our progress report next week.¡±


    ¡°Good. ra will take over Quentin¡¯s responsibilities on that project,¡± Julian decided. ¡°Can you bring her up to speed on where things stand?¡±


    Yandel¡¯s expression tightened, but he nodded again. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Julian turned to ra. ¡°Is that eptable to you?¡±


    ra nodded calmly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d be happy to step in.¡±


    ¡°Excellent.¡± Julian checked his watch. ¡°I need to deal with the situation downstairs. The rest of you, please return to your tasks. Yandel, if you could spare an hour now to brief ra, I¡¯d appreciate it.¡±


    As Julian headed for the door, the other team members began gathering their things. Their nces toward ra ranged from curious to openly hostile.


    ra took a deep breath and stepped forward. ¡°I know this is an awkward situation. I appreciate your patience as I get settled in. I hope we can work well together, and I wee any guidance you can offer.¡±


    Her polite words were met with stiff nods and mumbled acknowledgments. No one quite met her eyes. A few people stepped deliberately wide around her as they left the conference room.


    Within minutes, only ra and Yandel remained. The young man closed hisptop with a controlled snap.


    ¡°We should go to Quentin¡¯s office,¡± he said, his voice professionally neutral. ¡°All the project files are there,¡±


    01:15


    <


    38 An Unceremonious Wee


    ra nodded. ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    They walked in silence through the corridor. Conversations hushed as they passed, only to resume in whispers once they were beyond earshot.


    Quentin¡¯s office was meticulous ¨C every item precisely ced, the desk surface clear except for a sleekptop and a single notepad.


    ¡°You can use this desk until IT sets up your own space,¡± Yandel said, gesturing to the chair. ¡°Quentin was very¡­ particr about his organization system.¡±


    ra set her purse on the floor beside the desk. ¡°Thank you, Yandel. I appreciate you taking time to help me transition.¡±


    Yandel¡¯s expression remained closed, but he nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll transfer the relevant files to you now.¡±


    As he connected Quentin¡¯sptop to thework, ra studied him. He was younger than most of the other team members, probably in histe twenties. His precise movements and careful maintenance of professional distance told her everything she needed to know ¨C he had respected Quentin and viewed her as an unwee interloper.


    ¡°The project involves optimizing neuralwork responsiveness for real-time applications,¡± Yandel exined, pulling up severalplex diagrams. ¡°We were hitting a wall with thetency issues.¡±


    ra leaned forward, immediately spotting a potential issue in the architecture. ¡°May I?¡± she asked, gesturing toward the keyboard.


    Yandel hesitated, then slid theptop toward her.


    ra quickly navigated through the code, finding the section she suspected was causing problems. ¡°I see the issue. You¡¯re using a traditional sequential processing model, but for this application, you might want to consider a parallel architecture with distributed nodes.¡±


    She typed quickly, changing several lines of code, then ran a simtion. The response time immediately improved by 15%.


    01:15


    38 An Unceremonious Wee


    Yandel¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ actually impressive.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s amon problem,¡± ra said modestly. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered simr issues before.¡±


    For the next forty minutes, they went through the project details. Gradually, Yandel¡¯s responses became less terse, though he maintained his professional distance.


    When they finished, ra looked at him directly. ¡°Thank you for your patience, Yandel. I know this can¡¯t be easy. Quentin was obviously respected here.¡±


    Yandel packed up his tablet, his expression carefully neutral. ¡°Quentin is brilliant. He taught me a lot.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to rece him or diminish his contributions,¡± ra said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m just here to do good work.¡±


    Yandel paused at the door. ¡°Ms. Vance¡­ I don¡¯t know what happened with you and Vivienne Dubois, or why Julian chose you over her. But Quentin was right about one thing ¨C people here will judge you based on results.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± ra replied. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect anything else.¡±


    Yandel nodded, his expression softening slightly. ¡°The team meeting is at nine tomorrow morning. The project files I sent include ourtest progress report. You should review it before then.¡±


    As Yandel left, ra sank into Quentin¡¯s ergonomic chair. The office felt foreign, hostile even ¨C like she was trespassing in someone else¡¯s territory. Which, in a way, she


    was.


    She nced at the photos on Quentin¡¯s desk ¨C one showing him with what appeared to be research colleagues, another with him shaking hands with a well-known tech innovator. Evidence of a career built on hard work and legitimate credentials.


    ra turned to theputer and began reviewing the project files. Theplex algorithms were exactly the kind of challenge she¡¯d been missing during her years away from the field. Despite the hostile reception, a small thrill ran through her as she immersed herself in the work.


    Two hourster, ra had identified three major issues in the neuralwork design


    01:15


    <


    38 An Unceremonious Wee


    and drafted potential solutions for each. She was so absorbed that she didn¡¯t notice.


    Julian standing in the doorway until he cleared his throat.


    ¡°You look right at home,¡± hemented.


    ra looked up, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°I found some interesting problems in their approach.¡±


    ¡°Already?¡± Julian smiled, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°How bad was it after I left?¡±


    ¡°About what you¡¯d expect,¡± ra admitted. ¡°No one threw anything, so I¡¯ll consider that a win.¡±


    Julian sighed, dropping into the visitor¡¯s chair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ra. I should have prepared the team better.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Quentin¡¯s reaction was¡­ unpredictable.¡±


    ¡°I managed to contain the press situation,¡± Julian said. ¡°Our PR team issued a statement that neither confirms nor denies anything about your personal life, simply stating that YodaVision hires based on merit and expertise.¡±


    ra nodded, grateful for his handling of the situation.


    ¡°You know,¡± Julian said quietly, ¡°you don¡¯t have to do this. We could find you another position, maybe in research where you wouldn¡¯t be directly managing a team that¡¯s predisposed to dislike you.¡±


    ra straightened in her chair. ¡°No. I didn¡¯te back to hide in a corner. I¡¯ve spent enough years trying to make myself smaller to amodate other people¡¯sfort.¡±


    Julian smiled, a genuine smile this time. ¡°That¡¯s what I was hoping you¡¯d say.¡±


    As he left, ra turned back to theputer screen, determination settling over her like armor. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, more skepticism, more whispers about Damien Thorne¡¯s discarded wife.


    But for the first time in years, ra felt like herself again ¨C a woman with valuable skills and a sharp mind, ready to prove her worth on her own terms.

 The Sprawling 39

    39 A Vacant Desk and Bitter Coffee


    39 A Vacant Desk and Bitter Coffee


    Quentin paced in his living room, phone pressed to his ear. After three rings, the call connected. O


    ¡°Well, this is a surprise,¡± Vivienne¡¯s voice carried through the line, cool andposed.


    ¡°Did you know?¡± Quentin demanded without preamble.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to be more specific,¡± Vivienne replied, the sound of papers shuffling in the background.


    ¡°About ra Vance joining YodaVision,¡± he snapped. ¡°Julian Croft brought her in as head of the AI division.¡±


    There was a brief pause. ¡°I was aware she left Thorne Industries. I didn¡¯t know where she¡¯dnded.¡±


    Quentin stopped pacing. ¡°You don¡¯t sound surprised.¡±


    ¡°Should I be?¡± Vivienne¡¯s tone remained casual. ¡°She¡¯s always had a knack fornding on her feet.¡±


    ¡°But she took the position that should have been yours,¡± Quentin insisted. ¡°Aren¡¯t you upset?¡±


    Vivienneughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯m too busy preparing for my racingpetition next month to worry about ra¡¯s career choices.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you find it strange? She abandoned her position at Thorne Industries without warning.¡±


    ¡°Not particrly,¡± Vivienne replied. ¡°Though I am surprised she used connections rather than pursuing further education. She only has an undergraduate degree, after all,¡±


    Quentin snorted, ¡°Julian ims she¡¯s some hidden genius.¡±


    ¡°My sister has always been good at making people believe in her,¡± Vivienne said dismissively. ¡°Is there anything else? I have a strategy meeting in five minutes.¡±


    01:16


    <


    39 A Vacant Desk and Bitter Coffee


    ¡°No,¡± Quentin muttered, frustration evident in his voice. ¡°Good luck with your race.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. I don¡¯t need luck, but I appreciate the sentiment.¡±


    After the call ended, Quentin tossed his phone onto the sofa. Vivienne¡¯sck of concern only increased his irritation. Something about this situation felt wrong, and he was determined to figure out what it was.


    At Thorne Industries, Damien Thorne¡¯s imposing figure cast a shadow across his pristine office. He pressed the inte button on his desk.


    ¡°Coffee,¡± he stated simply.


    A few minutester, a knock sounded at his door. Olivia Monroe entered, carrying a mug with careful precision.


    ¡°Your coffee, Mr. Thorne,¡± she said, cing it on his desk with a slight tremor in her hands.


    Damien didn¡¯t acknowledge her, his attention fixed on the financial report before him. Olivia hesitated for a moment before quietly retreating.


    Damien reached for the mug without looking up. His first sip made him pause. He frowned, cing the mug back on his desk with deliberate control.


    He pressed the inte again. ¡°Ms. Monroe.¡±


    Olivia reappeared almost instantly, her expression anxious. ¡°Yes, Mr. Thorne?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t my coffee.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°I followed the instructions exactly as Ms. Vance showed mest week. Two shots of espresso with-¡±


    ¡°Make it again,¡± Damien cut her off, his voice cold.


    Olivia nodded quickly, taking the offending mug away.


    When she returned with a fresh cup, Damien took another sip. His frown deepened.


    01:16


    39 A Vacant Desk and Bitter Coffee


    ¡°This still isn¡¯t right.¡± He fixed her with a sharp stare. ¡°Where¡¯s Ms. Vance today?¡±


    Olivia shifted ufortably. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, sir. I was just assigned to handle coffee this morning.¡±


    your


    ¡°Get Ethan,¡± Damien ordered.


    Minutester, Ethan Stone entered the office, his normally confident demeanor slightly subdued under Damien¡¯s scrutiny.


    ¡°Why is Ms. Monroe bringing me coffee that tastes like dishwater?¡± Damien asked without preamble.


    Ethan cleared his throat. ¡°She¡¯s new to the task, sir. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s just nervous.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t exin why Ms. Vance isn¡¯t handling it,¡± Damien said, his impatience evident. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    A sh of confusion crossed Ethan¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Vance resignedst Thursday, Mr. Thorne. I submitted her exit paperwork to HR that afternoon.¡±


    Damien went still. ¡°Resigned?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Ethan confirmed, looking increasingly ufortable. ¡°She cleared out her desk that same day.¡±


    Damien leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. ¡°And who authorized this


    resignation?¡±


    1


    ¡°I¡­ assumed you had, sir,¡± Ethan said cautiously. ¡°The paperwork came through the proper channels.¡±


    ¡°Did she provide a reason?¡± Damien¡¯s voice was deceptively casual.


    ¡°Personal reasons, ording to the form,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°She didn¡¯t borate.¡±


    Damien¡¯s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. ¡°That will be all, Ethan.¡±


    When the door closed, Damien remained motionless for several long moments. Then he picked up his phone, scrolling to ra¡¯s contact, His thumb hovered over the call button before he changed his mind, setting the phone down.


    01:16


    <


    39 A Vacant Desk and Bitter Coffee


    He turned to hisputer instead, pulling up her personnel file. Seven years as an employee at Thorne Industries, rising to head of the secretarial team. Impable performance reviews. No formalints or disciplinary actions. Nothing to indicate she¡¯d been nning to leave.


    Damien¡¯s gaze lingered on her employee photo. The image showed ra as she always appeared at work ¨Cposed, professional, with that reserved smile that revealed nothing.


    The inte buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. ¡°Mr. Thorne, your 10:30 appointment


    is here.¡±


    ¡°Send them in,¡± he replied automatically.


    As his attention turned to business matters, Damien pushed thoughts of ra¡¯s unexpected departure from his mind. She¡¯d probably just needed a break. Perhaps she was feeling overwhelmed with her responsibilities.


    She would return soon enough. ra always did what was expected of her. 2


    ra sat in Julian¡¯s spacious office, watching as he reviewed her notes on the neuralwork project.


    ¡°This is excellent work,¡± Julian said, looking up with genuine admiration. ¡°You identified issues that Quentin¡¯s team has been struggling with for weeks.¡±


    ¡°The framework needs restructuring,¡± ra exined, pointing to her diagrams. ¡°They¡¯re trying to force a traditional architecture to perform functions it wasn¡¯t designed for.¡±


    Julian nodded. ¡°Can you implement these changes?¡±


    ¡°With Yandel¡¯s help, yes,¡± ra replied. ¡°He knows the existing system better than


    anyone,¡±


    ¡°And how is Yandel treating you?¡± Julian asked, concern evident in his voice.


    ra smiled slightly. ¡°Better than I expected. He¡¯s professional, if not warm. The others are still keeping their distance.¡±


    01:16


    39 A Vacant Desk and Bitter Coffee


    ¡°That will change once they see what you can do,¡± Julian assured her. He hesitated before adding, ¡°Has Damien contacted you?¡±


    ra¡¯s expression closed off. ¡°No. And I don¡¯t expect him to.¡±


    ¡°He must have realized you¡¯ve left by now.¡±


    ¡°Damien never paid attention to myings and goings,¡± ra said, her voice carefully neutral. ¡°He probably hasn¡¯t even noticed.¡±


    Julian studied her face. ¡°You seem different today.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°More confident. Like you¡¯re settling into your own skin again.¡±


    ra considered this. ¡°I feel more like myself than I have in years. It¡¯s strange how quickly it¡¯s happening, actually.¡±


    ¡°Not strange at all,¡± Julian said. ¡°You¡¯re back where you belong, doing work you love.¡±


    A knock at the door interrupted them. Yandel stood in the doorway, his expression slightly less guarded than the day before.


    ¡°The team¡¯s waiting in the conference room,¡± he said. ¡°We should start the presentation soon.¡±


    ra gathered her materials. ¡°Thank you for letting me take the lead on this, Julian.¡±


    Julian smiled encouragingly. ¡°Show them what you can do.¡±


    As ra walked toward the conference room, she felt a strange lightness in her chest. For the first time since she¡¯d decided to divorce Damien, she wasn¡¯t thinking about him or wondering what he was doing.


    Instead, her mind was filled with algorithms and possibilities, problems waiting to be solved. It felt likeing home to herself after a very long absence.


    As evening settled over the city, Damien sat alone in his expansive office. The building had emptied hours ago, leaving him in solitude with his thoughts.


    01:16


    <


    39 A Vacant Desk and Bitter Coffee


    He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small notebook. Inside were detailed


    ¨C


    instructions for his coffee preparation ¨C written in ra¡¯s neat, precise handwriting. She had given it to his previous assistant years ago, but somehow it had found its way into his possession.


    Damien traced the familiar curve of her letters with his finger. Seven years of marriage, and he couldn¡¯t recall ever asking how she took her own coffee.


    He closed the notebook and returned it to the drawer. ra¡¯s resignation was nothing more than a temporary absence. Perhaps a reaction to something minor that had upset her.


    She woulde back to Thorne Industries. She always did what was expected, what was proper. That¡¯s who ra was ¨C reliable, predictable, constant.


    1


    Damien reached for his phone, scrolling to her contact once more. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he ced the phone face down without calling.


    She would return on her own. She always did.

 The Sprawling 40

    < 40 Beyond Expectations, Beneath Scrutiny


    40 Beyond Expectations, Beneath Scrutiny


    ra¡¯s first day at YodaVision was nothing like her years at Thorne Industries. Here, the whispers weren¡¯t about her marriage or her husband. They were about her capabilities, her qualifications-or perceivedck thereof.


    She sat alone during lunch, perfectly content with her solitude. The other employees kept a polite distance, casting curious nces her way. She didn¡¯t mind. She wasn¡¯t here to make friends. She was here to reim her passion, her purpose beyond being Damien Thorne¡¯s wife.


    At her workstation, ra immersed herself in code. Theplex AI neuralwork problem that Julian had assigned her felt like a puzzle waiting to be solved. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, her mind working through algorithms and solutions with a precision that surprised even herself.


    ¡°How¡¯s iting along?¡± Yandel asked, stopping by her deskte in the afternoon.


    ra looked up and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m almost done.¡±


    Yandel¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Done? That¡¯s a ten-day project.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve made some modifications to the approach,¡± she exined, turning her monitor toward him. ¡°See here? The traditional architecture was limiting our processing capabilities. I restructured the framework.¡±


    Yandel leaned closer, his eyes widening as he scanned her work. ¡°This is¡­ remarkable. You¡¯vepletely revolutionized the baseline architecture.¡±


    ¡°I also added self-learning parameters,¡± ra continued, clicking through several screens. ¡°The system can adapt to new data patterns without manual recoding.¡±


    ¡°You did all this in one day?¡± Yandel¡¯s voice held a mixture of disbelief and grudging admiration,


    ra nodded, her confidence growing with each passing moment. ¡°I¡¯d like to present it to the team if that¡¯s okay.¡±


    An hourter, ra stood before the AI division, walking them through her solution.


    01:16


    <


    40 Beyond Expectations, Beneath Scrutiny


    The room was silent, all eyes fixed on her presentation. She could feel their skepticism melting away, reced by genuine interest.


    ¡°The self-learning module is particrly impressive,¡±mented Dr. Chen, one of the senior developers. ¡°Where did you study? MIT? Stanford?¡±


    ¡°Caltech,¡± ra replied. ¡°Undergraduate program.¡±


    A ripple of surprise moved through the room.¡±


    ¡°Just undergraduate?¡± someone asked. ¡°Most of us have PhDs.¡±


    ra¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°I had nned to pursue my doctorate, but personal matters


    intervened.¡±


    Personal matters. Such a simple phrase to describe the years she¡¯d spent trying to make Damien love her. Years she¡¯d wasted, hoping he would see her value.


    ¡°Well, doctorate or not, this is exceptional work,¡± Yandel said, breaking the awkward silence. ¡°I think we can all agree that Julian made the right choice bringing you on


    board.¡±


    The meeting concluded with handshakes and genuine smiles. As people filed out, several colleagues stopped to introduce themselves properly. The ice was breaking, faster than ra had anticipated.


    Julian appeared in the doorway, a satisfied grin on his face. ¡°I heard you made quite an


    impression.¡±


    ¡°Word travels fast,¡± ra said, gathering her notes.


    ¡°In this industry? Absolutely.¡± Julian crossed the room to her. ¡°Ready to call it a day? I¡¯ve made reservations at Altura. We should celebrate your first triumph.¡±


    ¡°Altura?¡± ra hesitated. ¡°That¡¯s rather upscale.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve earned it,¡± Julian insisted. ¡°Besides, their chef just earned a Michelin star. We¡¯d be fools not to try it while we still can get a table.¡±


    Outside, the evening air was crisp with early autumn, Julian¡¯s driver waited by a sleek ck car, As they rode to the restaurant, ra felt a lightness she hadn¡¯t experienced


    01:16


    <


    40 Beyond Expectations, Beneath Scrutiny


    in years. This day-her aplishments, the respect in her colleagues¡¯ eyes-


    belonged to her alone. Not to ra Thorne, wife of Damien, but to ra Vance, brilliant in her own right.


    Altura was housed in a renovated historic building, its elegant facade lit with subtle spotlights. As they approached the entrance, ra¡¯s heel caught on an uneven stone. She stumbled slightly, her bnce faltering.


    Julian¡¯s arm shot out instantly, catching her around the waist. ¡°Careful there,¡± he said, his hand steady against her side.


    The touch was brief, professional, yet as ra regained her footing, she caught sight of a familiar figure in her peripheral vision. Her stomach dropped.


    Damien stood near the restaurant¡¯s entrance, watching her with Lucas Sterling by his side. His face was impassive, but his eyes followed her movements with an intensity that made her skin prickle.


    ra deliberately turned away, pretending she hadn¡¯t noticed him. ¡°Thank you, Julian,¡± she said, her voice carrying slightly. ¡°Shall we head upstairs?¡±


    Julian nodded, offering his arm as they climbed the stone steps. ra took it, her chin lifting slightly. She didn¡¯t nce back, didn¡¯t acknowledge Damien¡¯s presence in any way. But she could feel his gaze boring into her back as they disappeared through the


    restaurant¡¯s doors.


    Inside, the hostess led them to a secluded table by the windows, offering a spectacr view of the city lights below.


    ¡°You saw him, didn¡¯t you?¡± Julian asked after they¡¯d ordered drinks.


    ra¡¯s fingers yed with the edge of her napkin. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And you chose not to say hello.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say,¡± ra replied, her voice carefully neutral. ¡°We¡¯re getting


    divorced. We don¡¯t need to exchange pleasantries.¡±


    Julian studied her face. ¡°It¡¯s strange, seeing you like this. The ra I remember from college would have been devastated by such an encounter.¡±


    01:16


    <


    40 Beyond Expectations, Beneath Scrutiny


    ¡°That ra is gone,¡± she said, looking out at the glittering cityscape. ¡°She disappeared somewhere between year three and year four of my marriage.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I believe that,¡± Julian said softly. ¡°The brilliance you showed today? That fire when you¡¯re solving problems? That¡¯s the same ra I knew at Caltech. She wasn¡¯t gone. She was just¡­ waiting.¡±


    ra¡¯s eyes met his. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right.¡±


    The waiter arrived with their drinks, breaking the moment. As they clinked sses, ra pushed thoughts of Damien from her mind. Tonight was about celebrating her new beginning, not dwelling on her past.


    Downstairs, Damien¡¯s jaw tightened as he watched ra disappear into the restaurant


    with Julian Croft¡¯s hand at the small of her back.


    ¡°Well, that was interesting,¡± Lucas remarked, ncing sidelong at his friend. ¡°Shepletely ignored you.¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression remained unreadable. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why she¡¯s with Croft?¡± Lucas pressed as they followed the hostess


    to their table. ¡°I heard she left Thorne Industries without noticest week.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Damien replied tersely.


    Once seated, Lucas leaned forward. ¡°You don¡¯t find it odd? Your wife quits her job, shows up at a fancy restaurant with another man, and deliberately snubs you in public?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re separated,¡± Damien said tly. ¡°What ra does is no longer my concern.¡±


    ¡°Separated doesn¡¯t mean divorced,¡± Lucas pointed out. ¡°And that looked pretty cozy to me. Croft¡¯s hand on her waist¡­¡±


    ¡°He was preventing her from falling,¡± Damien interrupted, his tone clipped.


    Lucas raised an eyebrow. ¡°If you say so.¡± He paused, studying Damien¡¯s face. ¡°You know what I think? I think she¡¯s trying to make you jealous. ying the ¡®see what you¡¯re


    01:16


    <


    40 Beyond Expectations, Beneath Scrutiny


    missing¡¯ card.¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said abruptly, standing and throwing his napkin on the table.


    ¡°But we just sat down,¡± Lucas objected.


    ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite,¡± Damien stated, already striding toward the exit.


    Lucas hurried after him, a spective gleam in his eyes. ¡°Hit a nerve, did I? Maybe I¡¯m right about her little game.¡±


    Damien stopped at the door, turning to fix Lucas with a cold stare. ¡°ra isn¡¯t ying games. She never has.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Damien repeated, cutting him off.


    As they stepped outside into the cool night air, Lucas watched his friend with growing curiosity. For someone who imed indifference, Damien Thorne seemed remarkably affected by the sight of his estranged wife with another man.

 The Sprawling 41

    41 Thome¡¯s Unspoken Warning


    41 Thorne¡¯s Unspoken Warning


    Julian¡¯s phone rang just as he and ra were reviewing the quarter¡¯s projections. His brow furrowed when he checked the caller ID.


    ¡°I need to take this,¡± he said, stepping away from her desk.


    ra nodded, turning her attention back to the spreadsheets. The numbers were promising. YodaVision had exceeded all growth targets for the first quarter,rgely due to the neuralwork modifications she¡¯d implemented.


    Julian¡¯s voice drifted over from across the room, his tone sharp with concern. ¡°When did this happen? Are you certain?¡±


    ra nced up<b>, </b>noticing the tension in his shoulders. Something was wrong.


    When Julian returned, his face was grim. ¡°We need to talk. Privately¡±


    They moved to his office, and Julian closed the door behind them. He paced for a moment before speaking.


    ¡°That was our contact at the Defense Department. Someone tried to block our security


    clearance renewal.¡±


    ra felt her stomach drop. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Thorne Industries,¡± Julian said tly. ¡°More specifically, their legal team submitted documentation questioning ourpany¡¯s stability and your involvement in particr.¡±


    ¡°Damien,¡± she whispered, the realization hitting her like a physical blow.


    Julian nodded. ¡°It seems your estranged husband didn¡¯t appreciate our little maneuver with Vivienne¡¯s project.¡±


    Three days earlier, Vivienne had presented hertest research to the National Science. Foundation. ra and Julian had attended, and during the Q&A session, Julian had pointed out critical ws in Vivienne¡¯s methodology¨Cws that ra had identified but chose not to voice herself.


    ¡°Did it work?¡± ra asked, her voice steady despite her racing heart. ¡°Did they block


    <b>us</b><b>?</b>¡±


    21:03


    15


    41 Thome¡¯s Unspoken Warning


    ¡°No,¡± Julian replied, a small smile forming. ¡°Our government contacts are stronger than Thorne¡¯s, at least in the defense sector. But it was close.¡±


    ra sank into a chair, processing the implications. ¡°This is only the beginning, isn¡¯t


    it?¡±


    ¡°Probably,¡± Julian admitted, perching on the edge of his desk. ¡°Damien Thorne just showed his hand. He¡¯s willing to target our business to protect Vivienne¡¯s reputation.¡±


    ¡°Or to punish me,¡± ra murmured.


    Julian studied her face. ¡°Are you worried?¡±


    ¡°Not about YodaVision,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re right¨Cour government contracts are solid. But I am concerned about my family.¡±


    ¡°Your grandmother?¡±


    ra nodded. ¡°My grandmother¡¯s health isn¡¯t great. This kind of stress could be dangerous for her.¡±


    ¡°Would he really go after your family?¡± Julian asked, his expression <b>darkening</b>.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± ra replied after a moment. ¡°Eleanor Thorne would never allow it. She adores my grandmother.¡±


    Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re still counting on Thorne family protection while divorcing one of them?¡±


    ¡°Not protection,¡± ra rified. ¡°Just basic decency. Eleanor has always been kind to me and my family.¡±


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± Julian said, not looking


    Convinced. ¡°In the meantime, we


    should be prepared for other tactics. Thorne didn¡¯t get where he is by giving up easily.¡±


    ra¡¯s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, surprised to see the Thorne


    household number on the screen.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Mom?¡± Cora¡¯s small voice came through the speaker.


    ra¡¯s heart clenched. ¡°Hi, sweetheart. Is everything okay?¡±


    21:03


    41 Thome¡¯s Unspoken Warning!


    ¡°When are youing home?¡± Cora asked, her voice wobbling slightly. ¡°It¡¯s been forever.¡±


    ra closed her eyes briefly. It had been nearly two weeks since she¡¯d seen her daughter. ¡°I¡¯ve been very busy with work, Coco.¡±


    ¡°But I miss you,¡± Cora said. ¡°And Hannah¡¯s cooking is awful. She made fish yesterday and it was gross.¡±


    Despite everything, ra smiled. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re calling? For better food?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Cora protested, then hesitated. ¡°Well, maybe. But I miss you too.¡±


    Julian gestured that he was stepping out to give her privacy. ra nodded gratefully.


    ¡°I miss you too, sweetheart. So much.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t youe home?¡± Cora asked, the simple questionnding like a blow.


    ra swallowed hard. How could she exin divorce to a seven¨Cyear¨Cold? ¡°It¡¯splicated, Coco.¡±


    ¡°Dad¡¯s not even here,¡± Cora continued. ¡°He¡¯s on a business trip until tomorrow. So you coulde see me without fighting


    ra¡¯s breath caught. Damien was away. The house would be empty except for Coral


    and the staff.


    ¡°Please, Mom?¡± Cora pleaded. ¡°Just for dinner? Hannah said she¡¯d make spaghetti, but it¡¯s never as good as yours.¡±


    The walls ra had carefully built around her heart began to crumble. This was her daughter, her little girl, asking for something so simple¨Cher mother¡¯s presence, her mother¡¯s cooking.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it, okay?¡± she finally said. ¡°I have some meetings this afternoon, but maybe I could stop byter.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Cora¡¯s voice brightened immediately. ¡°You promise?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try my best,¡± ra said carefully, not wanting to make a promise she couldn¡¯t keep.


    After hanging up, ra sat motionless, staring at the phone in her hand. The divorce papers were filed. The separation was underway. Yet her daughter was still in that


    41 Thorno¡¯s Unspoken Warning:


    house¨Ctheir house¨Cwaiting for her.


    Julian knocked softly before re¨Centering. ¡°Everything all right?¡±


    ¡°That was Cora,¡± ra said. ¡°She wants me toe home for dinner.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression softened. ¡°And will you go?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± ra admitted. ¡°Damien is away, so it would just be Cora and me.¡±


    ¡°You do realize this could be a trap?¡± Julian asked gently. ¡°Damien tried to sabotage ourpany this morning. What if this is another move in whatever game he¡¯s ying?¡±


    ra shook her head. ¡°Cora wouldn¡¯t be part of any scheme. She¡¯s seven.¡±


    ¡°No, but Damien might have nned his business trip¡® specifically to make you feel safeing back.¡±


    The thought hadn¡¯t urred to her, and it sent an unsettling chill down her spine. Would Damien go that far? Use their daughter as bait in some borate trap?


    ¡°I¡¯m legally entitled to see my daughter,¡± ra said firmly. ¡°And I promised in the divorce papers that I would care for her until she turns eighteen.¡±


    Julian sighed. ¡°Just be careful, ra. Damien Thorne is a powerful man who doesn¡¯t like losing. And right now, he¡¯s losing you.¡±


    ¡°He never wanted me in the first ce, ra countered, a familiar pain blooming in <b>her </b>chest.


    ¡°Maybe not<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>Julian conceded. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean he wants someone else to have you either.¡±


    His words lingered in the air between them, heavy with implication. ra remembered the cold fury in Damien¡¯s eyes that night at Altura when he¡¯d seen her with Julian. She¡¯d pretended not to notice him, but she¡¯d felt the weight of his stare like a physical thing.


    Now, with this attempted sabotage, Damien had sent a clear message: cross Vivienne, and there would be consequences.


    But what did that mean for ra¡¯s rtionship with her daughter? Was she supposed to avoid Cora just because Damien might be setting some kind of trap?


    21:00


    41 Thorne¡¯s Unspoken Warning


    No. She refused to let fear of her estranged husband dictate her actions any longer.


    ¡°I think I will go,¡± ra said decisively. ¡°Cora needs me. And I need her¡±


    Julian nodded, though concern still clouded his features. ¡°Just promise me you¡¯ll be vignt. If anything feels off, leave immediately.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± ra assured him, though her mind was already racing ahead to dinner preparations, to Cora¡¯s favorite spaghetti sauce recipe, to the simple joy of cooking in her own kitchen again.


    For a moment¨Cjust a moment¨Cshe allowed herself to imagine what it would be like if things were different. Ifing home to that house didn¡¯t mean facing ghosts of rejection and indifference. If Damien had ever looked at her with even a fraction of the warmth he showed Vivienne.


    But such thoughts were dangerous, leading only to the same heartache she¡¯d endured for seven years.


    No, this visit would be about Cora. Only Cora. Her daughter needed her, and that was reason enough to brave whatever silent warning Damien had tried to send.


    Comment 1


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    21:03

 The Sprawling 42

    42 Pancakes and Quiet Deceptions


    42 Pancakes and Quiet Deceptions.


    ra tucked Cora into bed Thursday night, smoothing back her daughter¡¯s dark curls. She hade straight from the office, still in her formal attire, but Cora didn¡¯t seem to mind.


    ¡°Will you make pancakes tomorrow?¡± Cora asked sleepily, her small fingers clutching her favorite stuffed rabbit.


    ¡°Of course, ra promised, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. ¡°Whatever my Coco wants.¡±


    The next morning, true to her word, ra was in the kitchen early. She whisked the pancake batter with practiced ease, adding a dash of cinnamon¨CCora¡¯s favorite. The familiar routine feltforting after weeks of hotel living and takeout meals.


    1


    Cora bounded into the kitchen, still in her pink pajamas. ¡°You¡¯re really making them!¡±


    ¡°I promised, didn¡¯t I?¡± ra smiled, pouring batter onto the hot griddle.


    She spent Friday making all of Cora¡¯s favorite foods. For lunch, grilled cheese with the crusts cut off. For dinner, chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs with sweet potato. fries. Simple meals that made her daughter¡¯s eyes light up.


    That evening, ra¡¯s phone rang. It was her grandmother, ra Bellweather.


    ¡°ra, dear, I was hoping you might bring Cora over tomorrow. It¡¯s been too long since I¡¯ve <b>seen </b>my great¨Cgranddaughter.¡±


    ra <b>nced </b>at Cora, who was engrossed in a cartoon. ¡°We¡¯d love to, Grandmother.


    Would dinner work?¡±


    ¡°Perfect,¡± ra replied. ¡°And do stay the night. Your old room is always ready.¡±


    Saturday afternoon, ra packed a small overnight bag for herself and Cora. The Vance family home wasn¡¯t far¨Ca thirty¨Cminute drive from the Thorne estate. As they pulled into the long, tree¨Clined driveway, Cora pressed her face against the car window.


    ¡°Is Great¨CGrandma making cookies?<b>¡± </b>she asked hopefully.


    raughed. ¡°Probably. She always does when you visit.¡±


    21:03


    42 Pancakes and Quiet Deceptions


    ra was waiting on the front porch, elegant as always in a cashmere sweater despite her eighty years. Her face lit up when she spotted Cora.


    ¡°There¡¯s my little princess!¡± she eximed as Cora ran up the steps and into her arms.


    ¡°Great¨CGrandma! Did you make cookies?¡±


    ¡°Double chocte chip, just for you,¡± ra confirmed, her eyes twinkling. She looked over Cora¡¯s head at ra. ¡°And how are you, my dear?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Grandmother, ra replied automatically.


    ra¡¯s shrewd gaze suggested she didn¡¯t quite believe it, but she simply said, ¡°Well,e in. Dinner will be ready soon<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The evening passed pleasantly. ra had prepared a feast¨Croast chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with almonds. Cora charmed her great¨Cgrandmother with stories about school and her karate lessons, carefully omitting any mention of Vivienne or the tension at home<b>. </b>


    After dinner, they yed board games in the living room until Cora¡¯s eyelids began to droop. ra carried her upstairs to the guest room they would share and tucked her in, just as she had the night before..


    ¡°Sweet dreams, Coco, she whispered, but Cora was already asleep.


    ra rejoined her grandmother in the living room. ra handed her a ss of wine without asking, and they sat infortable silence for a moment.


    ¡°You seem different, ra observed finally. ¡°More at peace.¡±


    ra took a sip of wine, considering. ¡°I think I am. At least, I¡¯m getting there.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± ra nodded. ¡°You deserve happiness, ra. You always have.¡±


    The next morning, ra woke early. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting at warm glow across the guest room. <b>Cora </b>was still fast asleep, her dark curls spread across the pillow.


    ra slipped out of bed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. She found all the ingredients she needed and began mixing pancake batter, just as she had done on Friday. There was something therapeutic about the simple act of cooking¨Cmeasuring, mixing, creating something


    With her own hands.


    21:03


    2/17


    42 Pancakes and Quiet Deceptions


    She was flipping the first batch when ra appeared, wrapped in a silk robe.


    ¡°You¡¯re up early¡± her grandmothermented, heading straight for the coffee pot.


    ¡°Old habits,¡± ra replied with a small smile. ¡°I wanted to make breakfast before Cora wakes up.¡±


    ra watched her granddaughter expertly flip a pancake. ¡°You never used to enjoy cooking this much. I remember when you could barely boil water.¡±


    ¡°Things change, ra said simply. ¡°I found I like having control over at least one small part of my day.¡±


    ra nodded, understanding more than ra had said. ¡°The coffee¡¯s good. Did you


    make it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I found your favorite beans in the pantry.¡±


    ¡°Another new skill,¡± ra observed. ¡°Damien Thorne¡¯s loss is clearly the culinary world¡¯s gain<b>.¡± </b>


    raughed, the sound surprising even herself. It felt good tough about Damien, rather than cry.


    A small noise caught her attention. Cora had left her tablet on the kitchen counter the night before, and it had just lit up with a notification. ra nced at it out of habit.


    Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the message preview:


    *From Vivienne: Let¡¯s keep this our little secret. Meet me at 11 today at the park. Don¡¯t tell your mom.*


    ra carefully kept her expression neutral, turning back to the pancakes as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything. A momentter, Cora padded into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from her eyes.


    ¡°Good morning, sleepyhead, ra greeted her. ¡°Pancakes are almost ready.¡±


    Cora¡¯s eyes widened when she spotted her tablet on the counter. She rushed over and snatched it up, quickly tapping at the screen to clear the notification.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± ra asked casually.


    ¡°Uh¨Chuh,¡± Cora nodded too quickly. <b>¡°</b>Just a game update¡±


    21:03


    42 Pancakes and Quiet Deceptions.


    ra exchanged a nce with ra, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing. They sat down to breakfast, Cora devouring her pancakes with the enthusiasm only a


    seven¨Cyear¨Cold could muster.


    ¡°These are even better than Friday¡¯s!¡± she dered, maple syrup dripping down her chin.


    ra dabbed at the syrup with a napkin. ¡°Your mother has be quite the chef.¡±


    ¡°Mom makes the best pancakes,¡± Cora agreed. Then, as if remembering something important, she put down her fork. ¡°Um, Mom? Dad¡¯sing back today.¡±


    ra kept her expression carefully neutral. ¡°Oh? I thought he wasn¡¯t due back until Tuesday.¡±


    ¡°He, um, changed his ns,¡± Cora said, avoiding eye contact. ¡°He¡¯s picking me up today.¡±


    ¡°What time?¡± ra asked.


    Cora hesitated. ¡°Around eleven, I think<b>.</b>¡±


    It was a lie. A clumsy, transparent lie from a child who had never had to be deceptive before. The realization stung more than ra expected¨Cnot just that Cora was lying, but that she was doing it for Vivienne.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s perfect timing,¡± ra said smoothly. ¡°I¡¯ll drop you off on my way back to the hotel.¡±


    Panic shed across Cora¡¯s face. ¡°No! i mean, you don¡¯t have to. Dad said he¡¯d send Martin to get me.¡±


    ¡°Martin will be picking you up here?¡± ra interjected, her tone sharp. No love was lost between ra Bellweather and the Thorne family chauffeur, who had once kept her waiting for an hour at a charity function.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Cora said, relief evident in her voice. ¡°So Mom can stay here with Great¨CGrandma. You guys can have a nice day together.¡±


    you,


    ra¡¯s eyes met ra¡¯s over Cora¡¯s head. The older woman¡¯s expression softened. ¡°That would be lovely, wouldn¡¯t it, ra? We haven¡¯t had a proper visit in too long¡±


    ra recognized her grandmother¡¯s attempt to give her an out¨Ca way to avoid what


    21:03


    17


    42 Pancakes and Quiet Deceptions


    would clearly be an ufortable confrontation. ¡°Yes, that sounds nice,¡± she agreed. ¡°I¡¯d love to stay a bit longer.¡±


    Cora beamed, clearly relieved her n was working. ¡°Great! I¡¯ll go get ready.¡±


    As soon as Cora left the kitchen, ra leaned forward. ¡°What was that about?¡±


    ¡°Vivienne sent her a message,¡± ra exined quietly. ¡°She¡¯s meeting her at the park at eleven. That¡¯s why she lied about Damiening back.¡±


    ra¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That woman has no boundaries. Using a child for her games¨Cit¡¯s despicable.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± ra sighed. ¡°But confronting Cora would only make things worse right now. She¡¯s clearly excited about this secret meeting¡±


    ¡°<b>So </b>you¡¯re just going to let her go?¡± ra asked, concerned.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call Martin myself and ask him to pick her up,¡± ra decided. ¡°He¡¯s discreet. He won¡¯t tell her I know what¡¯s really happening.¡±


    ra studied her granddaughter¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, ra. Six months ago, you would have been devastated by this.¡±


    ¡°Six months ago, I still believed I could make Damien love me,¡± ra replied simply.


    ¡°Now I know better.¡±


    At ten¨Cthirty, Cora appeared in the living room, dressed in her favorite blue dress and with her hair carefully brushed. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡±


    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± ra said, genuinely impressed by her daughter¡¯s efforts. ¡°Let me just make a quick call to confirm Martin is on his way.¡±


    She stepped into the kitchen and dialed the Thorne household, speaking briefly with the butler. When she returned, Cora was fidgeting with her bracelet, a clear sign of


    nervousness.


    ¡°Martin will be here at ten¨Cforty¨Cfive,¡± ra informed her. ¡°Right on time.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡± Cora¡¯s voice was a little too high¨Cpitched. ¡°So you¡¯re staying with


    Great¨CGrandma?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have a lot to catch up on,¡± ra confirmed, keeping her tone light.


    21:03


    42 Pancakes and Quiet Deceptions


    ra watched this exchange with interest, her sharp eyes missing nothing. When Martin¡¯s sleek ck car finally pulled into the driveway, Cora practically flew to the door.


    ¡°Bye, Mom! Bye, Great¨CGrandma!¡± she called, barely waiting for their responses before dashing out.


    ra moved to stand beside ra at the window, watching as Martin opened the car door for Cora. ¡°You¡¯re not going to see her off?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± ra said quietly. ¡°I think it¡¯s better this way.¡±


    ra studied her granddaughter¡¯s face, finding a strange mix of sadness and


    determination there. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right,¡± she conceded. ¡°But it¡¯s not like you to be so¡­ detached.


    ra watched the car pull away, carrying her daughter to a secret meeting with the woman who had helped destroy her marriage. Yet she felt oddly calm, even as her heart ached. ¡°I¡¯m learning to pick my battles, Grandmother. And this one isn¡¯t worth fighting. Not yet.¡±


    ra put her arm around ra¡¯s shoulders, a rare show of physical affection from the usually reserved woman. ¡°You¡¯re stronger than I gave you credit for, my dear.¡±


    ¡°I had to be,¡± ra replied simply, turning away from the window as Martin¡¯s car disappeared from view.


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    21:03

 The Sprawling 43

    43 A Father¡¯s Justification, A Daughter¡¯s Fury


    43 A Father¡¯s Justification, A Daughter¡¯s Fury


    The week at YodaVision started lither for ra. Meetings


    any with developers, discussions about project timelines, and strategizing with Julian about their uing pitch to potential investors. It kept her distracted from the fact that Cora hadn¡¯t called once since Sunday. Not even a text message.


    (1)


    She knew where her daughter was with Vivienne. The secret meeting at the park had apparently extended into a multi¨Cday adventure.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been ncing at your phone every five minutes,¡± Julian observed during their lunch break on Thursday. ¡°Still nothing from Cora?¡±


    ra set her phone down with a sigh. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Have you tried calling Damien?¡±


    ¡°And give him the satisfaction of knowing it bothers me? No thanks.¡±


    Julian pushed his sd around with his fork. ¡°It¡¯s not about satisfaction, ra. It¡¯s about your right to know where your daughter is.¡±


    Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. She snatched it up, hope ring, then immediately dimming when she saw it wasn¡¯t Cora.


    ¡°Chloe,¡± she exined to Julian. ¡°She wants to have dinner tonight.¡±


    ¡°Go,¡± Julian encouraged. ¡°You need to think about something other than work and Cora for a few hours.¡±


    That evening, ra met Chloe at Lavender & Thyme, a trendy restaurant downtown. The hostess led them to a table near the back, away from the bustling entrance.


    ¡°You look tired, Chloe noted bluntly as they settled into their seats.


    ¡°Thanks for that stunning observation,¡± ra replied dryly.


    Chloe grinned. ¡°There¡¯s the sass I¡¯ve been missing. Seriously though, how are your holding up?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± ra said automatically, then caught herself. ¡°Actually, not great. Cora¡¯s been with Vivienne all week. Not a single call or message.¡±


    21:04


    <b>1/6 </b>


    43 A Father¡¯s Justification, A Daughter¡¯s Fury


    Chloe¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That woman is ying a dangerous game, using a child.


    to get at you.


    ¡°The worst part is, I don¡¯t even think that¡¯s her intention,¡± ra admitted. ¡°I think she genuinely enjoys spending time with Cora ¨C which somehow makes it worse.¡±


    Their conversation was interrupted by the waiter taking their orders. Once he left, Chloe steered them toward lighter topics ¨C work gossip, a new movie she¡¯d seen, the disastrous blind date her cousin had recently endured.


    Halfway through dinner, ra excused herself to use the restroom. As she was washing her hands, Beck ¨C one of Vivienne¡¯s friends walked in, stopping short when she spotted ra.


    ¡°Oh. It¡¯s you,¡± Beck said, her tone making it clear she wasn¡¯t pleased by the encounter.


    ra nodded politely. ¡°Beck.¡±


    ¡°I saw Vivienne and your daughter yesterday, Beck continued, applying fresh lipstick in the mirror. ¡°They were shopping for riding boots. Apparently Vivienne¡¯s teaching her to ride<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Thement was designed to wound, and it hit its mark. ra had wanted to be the one to teach Cora horseback riding. It was something she¡¯d done as a child with her own mother.


    ¡°How nice,¡± ra replied tly.


    Beck capped her lipstick with a decisive click. ¡°Vivienne¡¯s so good with her. Almost like a mother already¡±


    ra met Beck¡¯s gaze in the mirror. ¡°Are we done here? I¡¯d like to get back to my dinner.


    Beck shrugged and sauntered out, mission aplished.


    When ra returned to the table, Chloe took one look at her face and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Beck happened,¡± ra said, reaching for her wine ss. ¡°Let¡¯s just say subtlety isn¡¯t her strong suit.¡±


    After dinner, Chloe suggested they stop by a nearby jewelry boutique. <b>¡°</b>I need to pick


    21:04


    <b>2/6 </b>


    43 A Father¡¯s Justification, A Daughter¡¯s Fury


    up a birthday gift for my sister,¡± she exined. ¡°It¡¯ll only take a minute.¡±


    The boutique was small but elegant, with disy cases of glittering gems under soft lighting. While Chloe spoke with the sales assistant, ra wandered around, examining the pieces without much interest.


    The bell above the door chimed. ra nced up automatically, then froze.


    Alistair Dubois ¨C Vivienne¡¯s father and the man who had destroyed her mother¡¯s marriage ¨C stood in the entrance. He was older than she remembered, his dark hair now silver at the temples, but still handsome in that polished, aristocratic way that had apparently appealed to her mother all those years ago.


    He didn¡¯t notice her at first, walking directly to the counter. ¡°I¡¯m here to collect a custom piece,¡± he told the sales assistant. ¡°For my daughter. Under Dubois.¡±


    The assistant nodded. ¡°Of course, Mr. Dubois. Just one moment.¡±


    As the assistant disappeared into the back room, Alistair turned slightly, his gaze sweeping the boutique. The moment he spotted ra, his eyes widened in genuine surprise.


    ¡°ra?¡± he said, taking a step toward her. ¡°My goodness, it¡¯s been years.¡±


    ra remained where she was, her body tense. ¡°Mr. Dubois.¡±


    ¡°Please, call me Alistair. We¡¯re practically family.¡±


    The audacity of the statement made her jaw clench. ¡°We are absolutely not family.¡±


    He had the grace to look ufortable. ¡°Right, of course. I just meant¡­ well, with Vivienne spending so much time with Corately, it seems our families are bing somewhat intertwined<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Is that what you call it?¡± ra¡¯s voice was quiet but razor¨Csharp. ¡°Intertwined? Because from where I stand, it looks more like history repeating itself.¡±


    Alistair frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t follow.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you? You had an affair with my mother while she was married. Now your daughter is having an affair with my husband.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s hardly the same situation,¡± Alistair protested, lowering his voice as the sales


    21:04


    43 A Father¡¯s Justification, A Daughter¡¯s Fury


    assistant returned with a velvet box. He quickly signed the receipt and pocketed the box before turning back to ra. ¡°Your marriage to Damien was already in trouble before Vivienne


    e into the picture.¡±


    Chloe had moved to ra¡¯s side, her expression fierce. ¡°Are you actually trying to justify what your daughter is doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m merely stating facts,¡± Alistair replied coolly. ¡°Vivienne isn¡¯t the one who destroyed their marriage.¡±


    raughed, the sound brittle. ¡°No, of course not. She¡¯s just an innocent bystander who happens to be sleeping with a married man and ying mother to his child.¡±


    ¡°Vivienne cares deeply for Damien,¡± Alistair said, his tone defensive. ¡°And for Cora. She would never intentionally hurt anyone.¡±


    ¡°The road to hell is paved with good intentions, ra quoted. ¡°Just like intend to destroy my mother¡¯s life, right?¡±


    you


    didn¡¯t


    Alistair¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Your mother made her own choices. As did I.¡±


    ¡°And the consequences of those choices fell on me,¡± ra shot back. ¡°Just like the consequences of Vivienne¡¯s choices are falling on my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Cora seems perfectly happy with the arrangement,¡± Alistair remarked. ¡°In fact, she and Vivienne have developed quite a bond.¡±


    The casual observation felt like a p. ra stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare use my daughter to justify your family¡¯s behavior. The Dubois specialty seems to be taking what isn¡¯t yours and convincing yourselves you deserve it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s unfair,¡± Alistair protested. ¡°When did you be so willful, ra? You were always such a quiet, reasonable girl.¡±


    ¨C


    ¡°When I realized that ¡®reasonable¡® is just another word for ¡®doormat,¡± ra replied. ¡°I spent years trying to be understanding of my mother¡¯s depression after your affair, of Damien¡¯s indifference, of Vivienne¡¯s so¨Ccalled love for my husband. I¡¯m done being


    reasonable.


    Alistair¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°You¡¯re being hysterical. This is exactly why Damien.


    21:04


    43 A Father¡¯s Justification, A Daughter¡¯s Fury


    ¡°Don¡¯t you people, have no right to speak on matters of loyalty or love.¡±


    dare tell me why my husband doesn¡¯t love me,¡± ra cut him off. ¡°You, of all


    The boutique had gone silent, the other customers and staff watching their


    confrontation with undisguised Interest. Alistair seemed to realize this, straightening his tie in a gesture ofposure.


    ¡°This is neither the time nor ce for such a discussion,¡± he said stiffly.


    ¡°There will never be a right time or ce, ra replied. ¡°Because


    <i>YOU </i>


    could


    say would justify what your daughter is doing ¨C or what you did.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°When did you be so willful?¡± he repeated, genuinely perplexed by her resistance.


    The bell above the door chimed again, and Ruby entered the boutique, followed closely by Linda. Ruby¡¯s gaze immediately found ra, her eyes <b>widening </b>at the obvious tension in the room.


    ¡°ra? Is everything okay?¡± Ruby asked, stepping forward with concern in her eyes.


    ra felt the weight of multiple gazes on her ¨C Alistair¡¯s disapproving stare, Chloe¡¯s protective presence, and now Ruby and Linda¡¯s curious observation. The small boutique suddenly felt suffocating, the walls closing in on her private pain made


    public.


    Comment 1

 The Sprawling 44

    44 Venomous Words, Bitter Truths


    The tension in the boutique was suffocating. ra felt all eyes on her as Ruby approached, her concern seeming genuine but unwee.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine, ra replied tersely, though nothing about the situation was remotely fine.


    Ruby offered a practiced smile. ¡°ra, you look¡­ well.¡± Her gaze swept over ra¡¯s figure. ¡°Those extra pounds suit you. Makes you look more¡­ approachable.¡±


    Chloe stiffened beside her. The backhandedpliment hung in the air like poison.


    Linda moved to stand beside her father, shooting daggers at ra with her eyes. ¡°Daddy, did you get Aunt Lizzy¡¯s anniversary gift?*


    Alistair patted the pocket where he¡¯d stashed the velvet box. ¡°Yes, princess. It¡¯s perfect.¡±


    Linda beamed. ¡°She¡¯ll love it. You¡¯re so thoughtful to get her such an expensive piece for your fifteenth anniversary. She nced at ra, an unmistakable smirk forming. ¡°Aunt Lizzy deserves to be spoiled after putting up with all that drama from your past.¡±


    The implication was clear. Linda was referencing ra¡¯s mother without saying her


    name.


    ¡°We should go,¡± Chloe murmured, cing a protective hand on ra¡¯s arm.


    They turned to leave, but Alistair stepped forward, blocking their path.


    ¡°Actually, ra, I wanted a word with you.¡± His tone was civil but firm. ¡°About Vivienne.¡±


    ra crossed her arms. ¡°I have nothing to say to you about your daughter.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not, but you¡¯ll listen to what I have to say.¡± Alistair¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°Stop causing trouble for her at YodaVision. Your little partnership with Julian Croft is hurting her professional standing.¡±


    ra blinked in genuine confusion. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Linda stepped closer, venom in her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. You know exactly what you¡¯re doing, trying to poach clients that should rightfully go to Vivienne¡¯s firm.¡±


    21:04


    15


    44 Venomous Words, Bitter Truths


    ¡°I haven¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Damien was furious when he found out,¡± Linda continued, cutting her <b>off</b>. ¡°He said he¡¯d handle it personally. He even awarded Vivienne the Sentinel Project¨Cworth billions¨Cto make up for your underhanded tactics.¡±


    The revtion struck ra like a physical blow. Damien had deliberately interfered with her business to benefit Vivienne?


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Linda added, clearly enjoying ra¡¯s shock. ¡°The project my father¡¯spany was hoping tond. But Damien gave it to Vivienne instead. Shows where his loyalty lies, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Anger red through ra¡¯s veins. Of course Damien would do that. He¡¯d always put


    Vivienne first.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Linda, Alistair chided halfheartedly, but his daughter¡¯s smug expression didn¡¯t falter.


    Ruby ced a manicured hand on Alistair¡¯s arm. ¡°Dear, we should really get going. We


    have dinner reservations.¡±


    Alistair nodded but turned back to ra. ¡°Just leave Vivienne alone. She¡¯s happy with Damien. Your daughter is adjusting well to their rtionship. Don¡¯t make things more difficult than they need to be.¡±


    ra felt something snap inside her. ¡°More difficult? You think I¡¯m the one making things difficult?¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± Chloe warned quietly, sensing her friend¡¯s rising fury.


    ¡°No,¡± ra said firmly: ¡°I won¡¯t stand here and be med for problems created by your daughter¡¯sck of morals.¡±


    Ruby gasped. ¡°How dare you! After all Vivienne has done to include you in Cora¡¯s life-¡±


    ¡°Include me? In my own daughter¡¯s life?¡± ra¡¯sugh was hollow. ¡°That¡¯s rich<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable,¡± Alistair stated tly. ¡°Vivienne is trying to create harmony in a difficult situation.¡±


    ¡°A situation she created,¡± ra countered. ¡°Just like you created a situation with my mother years ago.¡±


    21:04


    44 Venomous Words. Bittor Truths


    Linda rolled her eyes dramatically. ¡°Ancient history, Get over it already.¡±


    The sales assistant cleared her throat awkwardly. ¡°Perhaps this conversation could continue elsewhere?¡±


    ra took a step toward the door, Chloe followed, relief evident on her face.


    ¡°Running away won¡¯t solve anything,¡± Alistair called after her. ¡°Please, ra. For Cora¡¯s sake, try to be civil.¡±


    ra stopped in her tracks and turned slowly. ¡°Civil? Like how your daughter was civil when she slept with my husband? Or how you were civil when you destroyed my mother¡¯s marriage<b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°That was different,¡± Alistair insisted. ¡°Your mother and 1-¡±


    ¡°Save it,¡± ra cut him off. ¡°I don¡¯t need to hear your justifications.¡±


    Ruby huffed indignantly. ¡°Your manners are appalling, ra. No wonder Damien preferred Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°And no wonder Cora does too,¡± Linda added with a cruel smile.


    Something inside ra cracked. The umted pain of Damien¡¯s betrayal, Cora¡¯s distance, and now this deliberate attempt to wound her¨Cit was too much.


    ¡°I apologize for my manners,¡± she said, her voice dangerously calm. ¡°I wasn¡¯t raised to be as well¨Cmannered as mistresses seem to be in your family.¡±


    The boutique fell silent. Ruby¡¯s face flushed dark red. Linda¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock. Alistair¡¯s expression hardened into stone.


    ¡°That was uncalled for,¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°So was this entire conversation,¡± ra replied. ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    She pushed past them, Chloe right behind her. Neither spoke until they were outside on the sidewalk, the cool evening air a wee relief after the stifling tension inside.


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Chloe breathed. ¡°That was intense¡±


    ra¡¯s hands were shaking. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have said that.¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding? It was brilliant. They deserved it.¡±


    21:05


    44 Venomous Words, Bitter Truths


    ¡°Maybe¡± ra admitted. ¡°But it won¡¯t help anything


    They walked in silence for a moment, ra¡¯s mind racing with new information. Damien had actively undermined her business to help Vivienne. It shouldn¡¯t have surprised her, but somehow, it still hurt.


    ¡°Do <b>you </b>think it¡¯s true?¡± she finally asked. ¡°About Damien giving Vivienne that <b>project</b>?¡±


    Chloe sighed. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t surprise me. He¡¯s always put her first.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s never even asked what I do at YodaVision,¡± ra said bitterly. ¡°Never shown any interest. But he¡¯ll go out of his way to help Vivienne¡¯s career.¡±


    ¡°Because he¡¯s an ass,¡± Chloe stated bluntly. ¡°A selfish, entitled ass who doesn¡¯t deserve you or Cora.¡±


    They reached Chloe¡¯s car, but neither made a move to get in.


    ¡°What they said about Cora¡­¡± ra¡¯s voice caught. ¡°Do you think she really prefers


    Vivienne?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression softened. ¡°No. Cora¡¯s a child. She¡¯s easily swayed by attention and gifts. But you¡¯re her mother, ra. That bond can¡¯t be reced, no matter how riding lessons Vivienne gives her<b>.¡± </b>


    many


    Inside the boutique, Alistair gathered the velvet box containing the anniversary gift. His face was grim, disappointment etched in the lines around his eyes. Without another word, he turned and walked out, Ruby and Linda trailing behind him.


    ra watched them go, a strange mixture of vindication and regret swirling in her chest. She had stood her ground, but at what cost? The battle lines were more clearly drawn than ever, and somehow, she felt even more isted in her fight to reim what was rightfully hers¨Cher dignity, her career, and most importantly, her daughter¡¯s love.


    21:04

 The Sprawling 45

    45 Painful Truths and Uncaring Words


    ra¡¯s POV


    The evening breeze cooled my flushed cheeks as we left the boutique. My heart still hammered against my ribs. Standing up to my father had been liberating, but emotionally draining.


    ¡°I need some air, I murmured to Chloe.


    She squeezed my arm gently. ¡°Let¡¯s walk a bit. Your car can wait.¡±


    We strolled in silence along the upscale shopping district. Designer boutiques glowed with warm light against the darkening sky. I took deep breaths, trying to calm the


    storm inside me.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Chloe finally asked.


    ¡°No,¡± <b>I </b>admitted. ¡°But I will be¡±


    Chloe nced at me sideways. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you back there. You stood your ground.¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°I lost my temper. That¡¯s not the same thing.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes losing your temper is exactly what¡¯s needed.¡± Chloe stopped walking and turned to face me. ¡°You¡¯ve spent years being the perfect, understanding wife. The amodating ex¨Cwife. The undemanding daughter. It¡¯s about time you showed. some fire.¡±


    A hollowugh escaped <b>me</b>. ¡°Fat lot of good it did.¡±


    ¡°It did plenty. Your father looked shocked. He¡¯s probably never heard you speak that way before.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t change anything¡± The weight of truth sat heavy in my chest. ¡°Damien will still favor Vivienne. My father will still think I¡¯m being unreasonable. Cora will still prefer


    them over me.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes shed with indignation. ¡°Don¡¯t say that about Cora.¡±


    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s true.¡± The words tasted bitter. ¡°My own daughter barely wants to spend time with me. Linda was right about that much.¡±


    21:05


    C


    45 Painful Truths and Uncaring Words


    ¡°Linda is a spiteful bitch who wouldn¡¯t know the truth if it pped her in the face,¡± Chloe retorted.


    We resumed walking, passing a cafe where couples sat enjoying evening coffee. Their easyughter felt like a mockery.


    ¡°Want to grab a drink?¡± Chloe suggested. ¡°You look like you could use one.¡±


    I considered it. Part of me wanted to drown my sorrows in wine and Chloe¡¯s sympathetic car. But another part knew that wouldn¡¯t solve anything.


    ¡°I can¡¯t. I have work to finish.¡± I checked my watch. ¡°I promised Julian I¡¯d review the Henderson proposal tonight.¡±


    ¡°Work can wait,¡± Chloe protested. ¡°You¡¯re upset.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I need to work. I managed a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s the only thing in my life I can control right now.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I understand. Just don¡¯t bury yourself in itpletely, okay?¡±


    We reached my car, and I pulled out my keys. Before I could get in, my phone Cora¡¯s smiling face lit up the screen. My heart jumped.


    ¡°It¡¯s Cora,¡± I told Chloe, quickly answering. ¡°Hello, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Mom?¡± Cora¡¯s voice sounded small. ¡°When are youing home?¡±


    I checked my watch again. ¡°I won¡¯t be home tonight, honey. I¡¯m staying at my apartment. Remember?¡±


    rang.


    ¡°But I¡¯m bored,¡± she whined. ¡°Daddy¡¯s on his phone all the time, and Hannah left after dinner.¡±


    Guilt twisted in my stomach. I pictured her alone in that big house, seekingpany. ¡°Is your father there with you now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but he¡¯s doing business stuff in the living room. He told me to y quietly.¡±


    Of course he did. Damien never changed his schedule for anyone, not even our daughter.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Vivienne?¡± I couldn¡¯t help asking.


    21:05


    45 Painful Truths and Uncaring Words


    ¡°She had some work thing. Can¡¯t youe over? Please?¡±


    The pleading in her voice nearly broke my resolve. But the thought of facing Damlen after what Linda had revealed about him sabotaging my business¨CI wasn¡¯t ready for that confrontation.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetic. I can¡¯t tonight.¡± I softened my voice. ¡°But how about we do something special this weekend? Just you and me?¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m lonely now,¡± she insisted.


    The usation in her tone stung. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Coco. Mom has important work tonight.¡± My chest felt tight. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask your dad to watch a movie with you?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s busy,¡± she repeated, frustration evident.


    ¡°Just ask him, honey. Tell him you¡¯re feeling lonely.¡±


    I heard shuffling, then Cora¡¯s voice, slightly distant as if she¡¯d lowered the phone. ¡°Daddy, can we watch a movie? I¡¯m bored.¡±


    Damien¡¯s deep voice replied, though I couldn¡¯t make out his exact words.


    Cora returned to the phone. ¡°He said maybeter. He has a call with Singapore.¡±


    Always work. Always something more important than our daughter.


    m sure he¡¯ll watch with


    you after his call,¡± I said, trying to sound encouraging. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte anyway, sweetie. Almost your bedtime.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± she sighed dramatically. ¡°Bye, Mom.¡±


    ¡°I love you, Coco.<b>¡± </b>


    But she had already hung up. The abrupt end to our conversation left me staring at my phone, fighting back tears.


    Chloe touched my shoulder. ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I admitted. ¡°But when is it ever?¡±


    ¡°Go home, ra. Get some rest.¡±


    I nodded, giving her a quick hug before getting into my car. As I drove toward my apartment, my mind kept reying the conversation with Cora. The pain of not being


    21:05


    45 Painful Truths and Uncaring Words


    there for her mixed with resentment that Damien could be physically present yet. emotionally absent, and still be considered the better parent.


    Meanwhile at the Thorne mansion, Cora wandered back into the living room. Damien sat on the sofa, phone pressed to his ear, nodding asionally as he listened to whoever was on the other end. He nced up when Cora entered, offering a brief smile before returning his attention to his call.


    She f


    dramatically onto the couch opposite <b>him</b><b>. </b>Damien raised an eyebrow at the disy but continued his conversation without interruption. Cora sighed loudly, kicking her feet against the expensive leather.


    After several minutes, Damien ended his call. ¡°That was unnecessary,¡± he said, gesturing to her feet on the furniture.


    ¡°I¡¯m bored,¡± Corained again.


    Damien checked his watch. ¡°It¡¯s almost your bedtime.¡±


    ¡°Mom said she can¡¯te over.¡±


    ¡°She has work,¡± Damien replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°Just like I do.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re here,¡± Cora pointed out. ¡°She never stays here anymore.¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression tightened momentarily. ¡°That¡¯s¡­plicated, Cora.¡±


    ¡°Because you like Vivienne better? The innocent question carried the weight of adult implications Cora couldn¡¯t fully understand.


    Damien looked genuinely startled. ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    Cora shrugged. ¡°I heard Linda say it to Mom at my birthday party.¡±


    Across town, Alistair Dubois entered hisvish penthouse, still seething from the encounter with ra. Lennox Dubois, his father, looked up from his newspaper as Alistair stormed into


    the living room.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you in such a state?¡± Lennox asked, folding the


    paper.


    ¡°ra,¡± Alistair growled. ¡°I ran into her at Cartier.¡±


    Lennox raised an eyebrow/ ¡°And?¡±


    21.05


    45 Painful Truths and Uncaring Words


    ¡°She refused to help Vivienne get a position at YodaVision.¡± Alistair poured himself a stiff drink. ¡°Called her a mistress, in front of Ruby and Linda.¡±


    ¡°Did she now?¡± Lennox seemed more intrigued than upset. ¡°And what did you want her to do for Vivienne exactly?¡±


    ¡°Put in a good word with Julian Croft: Alistair downed his rink in one swallow. ¡°Vivienne needs connections in the tech world, especially after losing the Sentinel Project to apetitor.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± Lennox nodded. ¡°And naturally, you thought ra would help the woman who stole her husband.¡±


    Alistair scowled. ¡°She¡¯s being petty. Damien would have left her regardless.¡±


    ¡°Likely true,¡± Lennox agreed coldly. ¡°Even if it wasn¡¯t Vivienne, he would¡¯ve divorced her sooner orter. No man wants a doormat forever.¡±


    His callous words hung in the air, a cruel summation of ra¡¯s seven years of marriage ¨C dismissed as inevitable failure by her own family.


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    21:05

 The Sprawling 46

    46 The Tech Expo Gambit.


    Lennox Dubois twirled the crystal ss in his hand, the amber liquid catching the light from the chandelier above. His penthouse office exuded wealth and power, from the Italian leather furniture to the panoramic view of the city below. He watched his son pace back and forth, agitation evident in every step.


    ¡°Sit down, Alistair. You¡¯re giving me a headache with all that movement,¡± Lennoxmanded.


    Alistair dropped into a plush armchair across from his father. ¡°I just can¡¯t believe ra¡¯s audacity. After everything we¡¯ve done for her.¡±


    Lennox snorted. ¡°What exactly have we done for her? Cut her off when she married Damien Thorne against your wishes?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s different. She betrayed the family business by marrying into Thorne Industries¡±


    ¡°And now she¡¯s betraying us again by not helping Vivienne.¡± Lennox took a measured sip of his whiskey. ¡°Frankly, I expected nothing less from her.¡±


    Alistair leaned forward, elbows on knees. ¡°She¡¯s just jealous. Always has been. Vivienne seeded where she failed ¨C capturing Damien¡¯s genuine interest.¡±


    ¡°And now ra¡¯s blocking Vivienne¡¯s entry into YodaVision out of spite. Lennox¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Unfortunately for her, we don¡¯t need her help.¡±


    ¡°We need ess to their Cuap technology,¡± Alistair argued. ¡°It would revolutionize our


    Al systems.


    ¡°Which is why Vivienne needs to get close to their development team.¡± Lennox ced his ss down. ¡°Once she¡¯s inside, she can gather enough information for our engineers to replicate their results.¡±


    ¡°Or better yet, convince Julian Croft to sell, Alistair added. ¡°Every man has his


    price.


    The elevator doors chimed, announcing a new arrival. Both men turned as Vivienne strode into the room<b>, </b>her high heels clicking against the marble floor. She wore a fitted ck dress that emphasized her slender figure, her dark hair cascading over one shoulder.


    21:05


    46 The Tech Expo Gambit


    ¡°Discussing me behind my back?¡± She smiled, though it didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ¡°Merelymenting ra¡¯s predictable refusal to help you,¡± Lennox replied.


    Vivienne waved a dismissive hand. ¡°I expected nothing from her. She¡¯s always been threatened by me.¡±


    She settled gracefully into a chair, crossing her legs. There was something different about her tonight ¨C a confident gleam in her eye that caught both men¡¯s attention.


    ¡°You seem¡­pleased with yourself, Alistair observed.


    ¡°Because I¡¯ve found another way: Vivienne¡¯s red lips curved into a satisfied smile. ¡°If ra won¡¯t open doors for me at YodaVision, I¡¯ll find bigger doors elsewhere.¡±


    Lennox raised an eyebrow. ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°The Annual Tech Innovation Expo is happening next week. Zachary Newman will be


    there.


    Alistair¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Zachary Newman? The Al genius who mentored Julian Croft?¡±


    Vivienne nodded. ¡°The very same. He¡¯s incredibly selective about his projects and prot¨¦g¨¦s. Getting his attention would be far more valuable than anything YodaVision could offer me.¡±


    ¡°And how do you n to get his attention?¡± Lennox asked. ¡°Newman is notoriously reclusive. He rarely gives interviews, let alone entertains unsolicited pitches from


    strangers.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile widened. ¡°That¡¯s where Damienes in. He¡¯s already secured tickets for me to attend the VIP reception. Newman will be there.¡±


    Alistair sat up straighter. ¡°Thorne managed that? Tickets to the VIP reception have been sold out for months. Even I couldn¡¯t get them.¡±


    ¡°Damien has connections that even you don¡¯t, Father.¡± Vivienne¡¯s tone was sweetly venomous. ¡°And unlike some people, he believes in my abilities.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s jaw tightened at the implied critique, but Lennox merelyughed.


    ¡°Well yed, my dear.¡± He raised his ss in a mock toast. ¡°If you can capture


    Newman¡¯s interest, you¡¯ll have aplished something even Julian Croft would envy.¡±


    21:06


    46 The Tech Expo Gambit


    ¡°That¡¯s the n,¡± Vivienne replied. ¡°Newman is looking for fresh perspectives in cognitive AI development. My research aligns perfectly with histest focus areas.


    ¡°Has Damien arranged an introduction?¡± Alistair asked.


    Vivienne shook her head. ¡°He can get me into the room, but the rest is up to Newman despises corporate interference in his selection process.¡±


    ¡°A twenty¨Cminute conversation with Newman could be worth millions to ourpany,¡± Lennox mused. ¡°If he were to coborate with you-¡±


    ¡°Or take me on as a researcher,¡± Vivienne interjected. <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    ¡°Even better. Lennox¡¯s eyes glittered with ambition. ¡°With your brain and Newman¡¯s resources, our family could control the future of Al development.¡±


    Alistair poured himself another drink. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t get ahead of ourselves. Newman is notoriously difficult to impress.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll impress him,¡± Vivienne stated with absolute certainty. ¡°I¡¯ve been studying his work. for years. I understand his theoretical framework better than most of his published coborators.¡±


    ¡°And Damien?¡± Alistair asked. ¡°What does he expect in return for this favor?¡±


    A enigmatic smile yed on Vivienne¡¯s lips. ¡°That¡¯s between Damien and me.¡±


    Lennox chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure it is. Will he be apanying you to the reception?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Vivienne replied. ¡°Damien gave me two tickets, but only two. He thought it would be better if I went without him. Newman dislikes corporate CEOs hovering nearby while he¡¯s evaluating talent.¡±


    ¡°Two tickets?¡± Lennox raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who will apany you, then?¡±


    ¡°I was hoping you would, Grandfather,¡± Vivienne said, turning to him with a sudden warmth in her expression. ¡°Your reputation in business circles would lend me credibility.¡±


    Lennox appeared pleased but surprised. ¡°Not your father?¡±


    Alistair intervened before Vivienne could respond. ¡°I think that¡¯s wise. Dad has more. experience in these situations.¡± His tone suggested this was a calcted move, not a


    21:05


    46 The Tech Expo Gambit


    personal slight.


    ¡°Very well.¡± Lennox nodded, seeming to appreciate the strategic thinking, ¡°I¡¯d be honored to escort my brilliant granddaughter to meet the great Zachary Newman.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s phone chimed. She nced at it, her expression shifting subtly before she tucked it <b>away</b>.


    ¡°Damien?¡± Alistair asked, his tone carefully neutral.


    ¡°Just confirming details for the event,¡± she replied smoothly. ¡°The reception ist Thursday evening. We should arrive promptly at seven.¡±


    Lennox stood and walked to the bar to refill his ss. ¡°This is quite the opportunity. you¡¯ve engineered, Vivienne. I¡¯m impressed with your resourcefulness.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Grandfather.¡± She epted thepliment with practiced grace. ¡°After the Sentinel Project disappointment, I needed to pivot quickly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what separates true innovators from mere academics, Lennox said. ¡°The ability to find alternative paths to sess when conventional routes are blocked.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of blocked paths,¡± Alistair interjected, ¡°what do we do about ra and her influence at YodaVision? She¡¯s still an obstacle to our interests there


    Vivienne¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°She¡¯s irrelevant now. If Newman <b>takes </b>an interest in my work, I¡¯ll have far greater resources at my disposal than anything YodaVision could


    offer.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her,¡± Alistair warned. ¡°She¡¯s bing more assertivetely. She might actively work against us.¡±


    ¡°Let her try, Vivienne replied coldly. ¡°She¡¯s always been Jealous of my sess, my intellect, my rtionship with Damien. But jealousy won¡¯t help herpete with me professionally.¡±


    ¡°True, Lennox agreed. ¡°racks your natural brilliance. She¡¯s always been<b>¡­. </b>adequate at best. Competent, but unremarkable.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s phone chimed again. This time, she smiled as she read the message.


    ¡°Good news?¡± Lennox inquired.


    21:05


    46 The Tech Expo Gambit


    ¡°The best,¡± Vivienne replied. ¡°Damien Just confirmed that Newman reviewed the abstract of my research paper on cognitive neuralworks and expressed interest in discussing it further at the reception.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°How did Thorne manage


    ¡°He has his ways,¡± Vivienne replied cryptically. ¡°The important thing is that this gives me a significant advantage. Newman will be expecting me.*


    ¡°This changes everything,¡± Lennox dered, raising his ss. ¡°To Vivienne, the future face of Al innovation.¡±


    As they clinked sses, Vivienne¡¯s smile contained a <b>hint </b>of triumph. ¡°By this time next month, ra will be nothing but a footnote in my sess story. All her efforts to block me will have been for nothing¡±


    ¡°And Damien Thorne?¡± Alistair couldn¡¯t resist asking.


    Vivienne¡¯s eyes gleamed with ambition. ¡°Damien understands what I¡¯m capable of. He¡¯s investing in my future because he sees my potential.¡±


    ¡°And because he¡¯s in love with you,¡± Lennox added bluntly.


    ¡°That too,¡± Vivienne acknowledged with a self¨Csatisfied smile. ¡°Which makes him all the more valuable an ally.¡±


    ¡°And ra all the more irrelevant,¡± Alistair concluded, raising his ss once more.


    As they drank to her impending sess, Vivienne¡¯s phone lit up with another message from Damien: ¡°Everything¡¯s arranged. Newman will be looking for you specifically. Don¡¯t waste this opportunity.¡±


    Her fingers hovered over the screen<b>, </b>a calcting smile ying on her lips. This was her moment to shine, and nothing ¨C certainly not ra Vance would stand in her


    way.


    ¨C


    21:05

 The Sprawling 47

    47 An Uneasy Calm, A Frosty Reception


    ra¡¯s POVO


    The Thorne mansion felt different tonight. Quieter. Emptier. Despite Cora¡¯s endless chatter filling the kitchen as I prepared dinner, there was a hollowness to these walls that hadn¡¯t existed before I moved out.


    ¡°And then Ms. Harper said my drawing was the best in the ss!¡± Cora beamed, swinging her legs from her perch on the kitchen stool. Her small fingers traced invisible patterns on the marble countertop.


    I smiled, carefully cutting vegetables for the pasta sauce. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, sweetheart. What was your drawing of?¡±


    ¡°Our family!¡± She replied with childish pride. ¡°I drew you and Daddy and me at the


    beach.


    My knife paused mid¨Cchop. We hadn¡¯t been to the beach as a family in over two years.


    ¡°That sounds lovely,¡± I managed, resuming my chopping with perhaps more force than


    necessary.


    I hadn¡¯t nned on being here tonight. But Cora¡¯s tearful phone call this afternoon had crumbled my resolve. With Damien away on business and the nanny calling in sick, my daughter had sounded so small and lonely on the phone.


    ¡°When will Daddy be home?¡± Cora asked, her chin resting in her palm.


    ¡°Tomorrow evening, I believe. I stirred the sauce, tasting it with a small spoon. ¡°He¡¯s in Mn for meetings.¡±


    Cora sighed dramatically. ¡°I miss him.¡±


    A familiar ache squeezed my chest. ¡°I know you do, sweetie.¡±


    The front door opened with a decisive click.


    Cora¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°Daddy?¡± she whispered hopefully.


    Heavy footsteps echoed from the foyer,ing closer.


    21:00


    47 An Uneasy Calm, A Frosty Reception


    ¡°Smells good in here,¡± Damien¡¯s deep voice filled the kitchen before he did.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± Cora squealed,unching herself off the stool and into his arms.


    I froze, wooden spoon suspended over the bubbling sauce. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be back until tomorrow.


    Damien caught our daughter with practiced case, lifting her high before settling her against his hip. His suit was impable despite <b>his </b>travel, not a crease to be seen. His dark hair <b>was </b>perfectly styled, as though he¡¯d just stepped out of a board meeting rather than an international flight.


    ¡°Hello, princess,¡± he said to Cora, his smile warm and genuine in a way it never was for me. Then his eyes found mine. ¡°ra<b>.¡± </b>


    My name sounded formal on his lips. A statement, not a greeting.


    ¡°You¡¯re home early,¡± I observed, turning back to the stove. My voice sounded stiff even


    to my <b>own </b>cars.


    ¡°Meetings finished ahead <b>of </b>schedule.¡± He set Cora down, his gaze lingering on me. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find you here.¡±


    ¡°Mommy came because I was lonely!¡± Cora announced, tugging at her father¡¯s hand. ¡°And she¡¯s making my favorite pasta!¡±


    I could feel his eyes on my back as I stirred the sauce. The weight of his attention. pressed against my shoulder des.


    ¡°How considerate, he remarked, his <b>tone </b>unreadable.


    Mr. Finch appeared in the doorway, his eyebrows rising slightly at the sight of Damien. ¡°Wee home, sir. Shall I take your luggage<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Damien handed over his briefcase. ¡°Dinner smells delicious.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost ready,¡± I replied without turning around. ¡°Cora, would you please set the table?¡±


    My daughter happily obliged, pulling out tes while chatting excitedly to her father about her day. I listened to their easy conversation, feeling like an intruder in what was once my home.


    21:06


    215


    47 An Uneasy Calm, A Frosty Reception


    Twenty minutester, we sat around the dining table- Damien at the head, Cora and 1 on either side. A perfect family portrait that couldn¡¯t be further from reality.


    ¡°And then Jimmy put a frog in Ms. Harper¡¯s desk drawer!¡± Cora giggled, twirling pasta. around her fork. ¡°She screamed sooo loud!¡±


    Damien chuckled. ¡°That wasn¡¯t very nice of Jimmy.¡±


    ¡°He got in big trouble,¡± Cora confirmed solemnly beforeunching into another school tale.


    I kept my eyes on my te, speaking only when Cora directly addressed me. The pasta tasted like ash in my mouth. Every bite required deliberate effort to swallow.


    Mr. Finch moved silently around us, refilling water sses and removing empty tes. His eyes flicked between Damien and me, clearly noting the unusual silence stretching between us.


    ¡°This pasta is excellent,¡± Damien remarked, looking directly at me.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied, still not meeting his gaze.


    Cora¡¯s bright chatter filled the awkward spaces between us. She didn¡¯t seem to notice. the tension, too delighted to have both parents at the table.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne always made the best pasta sauce,¡± Mr. Finchmented as he cleared Damien¡¯s te.


    I stiffened at the title that no longer felt like mine. From the corner of my eye, I caught Damien¡¯s slight frown.


    His phone rang. He checked the screen before declining the call. ¡°My mother,¡± he exined, though I hadn¡¯t asked.


    As if on cue, the house phone rang momentster. Mr. Finch answered in the hallway, then returned to the dining room.


    ¡°Mrs. Eleanor Thorne for you, sir,¡± he announced.


    Damien excused himself and took the call in the adjacent room. His voice carried through the partially open door.


    ¡°Yes, Mother¡­ I just returned early¡­ No, ra is here with Cora¡­ His voice lowered,


    <b>21:09 </b>


    47 An Uneasy Calm, A Frosty Raception


    but I still caught fragments. ¡°Tomorrow?¡­ A family trip?¡­ Hot springs retreat¡­¡±


    My stomach knotted. I¡¯de tonight solely for Cora. A family outing had not been part of the agreement I¡¯d made with myself.


    Damien returned to the table. ¡°That was Grandmother, he told Cora. ¡°She¡¯s invited us


    to the family hot spring retreat tomorrow.¡±


    400


    Cora pped her hands. ¡°Yay! With the big water slide?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Damien confirmed with a small smile.


    His eyes shifted to me. ¡°Mother insists the whole family attend. Apparently, it¡¯s been too long since she¡¯s seen all of us together.¡±


    I took a measured sip of water. ¡°I have work tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just for the weekend. You can join us after work, Damien replied smoothly. ¡°I¡¯ll have the car sent for you.¡±


    His presumption ¨C that familiar, easy control he¡¯d always exercised ¨C ignited a quiet anger in my chest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive there after work, I stated, finally meeting his gaze directly.


    Something flickered in his eyes ¨C surprise, perhaps. He wasn¡¯t ustomed to me contradicting his arrangements.


    as you wish,¡± he conceded after a beat.


    ¡°As


    Cora bounced in her chair, oblivious to the undercurrents. ¡°Can we make s¡¯mores like


    As dinner concluded, I rose to clear the remaining dishes. Damien¡¯s phone rang again ¨C a different caller this time. He excused himself to take it, disappearing into his study. The familiar ritual reminded me of countless other nights, him retreating to work while I handled Cora¡¯s bedtime routine.


    Some things never changed, even when everything had.


    After helping Cora prepare for bed, I found myself lingering in the hallway outside Damien¡¯s study. His voice drifted through the partially closed door.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll have those documents ready¡­ No, there¡¯s been a change of ns for


    47 An Uneasy Calm. A Frosty Raception.


    tomorrow¡­ Family obligation¡­¡±


    I moved past silently, refusing to specte on who was on the other end of that call. It no longer mattered to me who imed his attention.


    Tomorrow would be another test of my resolve ¨C a weekend with the Thorne family, pretending that everything was normal when nothing was. But I would endure it for Cora¡¯s sake, maintaining this uneasy calm while keeping Damien at arm¡¯s length.


    The n


    guest room awaited me at the end of the hall ¨C no longer our shared bedroom, but a neutral territory in this house that had once been my prison and my home.


    Comment

 The Sprawling 48

    48 The Unkept Promise of the Springs


    48 The Unkept Promise of the Springs


    ra¡¯s POV


    The bright morning sun streamed through the windows as Cora bounded into my room, already dressed in her favorite pink swimsuit and a matching cover¨Cup.


    ¡°Mom! Are you ready yet? Can we leave now?¡± She jumped onto the bed, her excitement palpable as she bounced up and down.


    I smiled at her enthusiasm while packing my overnight bag. ¡°Almost done<b>, </b>sweetie. Is your bag packed?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Dad helped mest night before bedtime.¡± She flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling. ¡°He said there¡¯s a new water slide this year!¡±


    I nodded, trying to maintain my smile. ¡°That sounds fun.¡±


    Cora rolled onto her stomach, watching me fold a blouse. ¡°Are you excited, Mom?<b>¡± </b>


    The question caught me off guard. Was I excited to spend a weekend pretending to be a happy family? To watch Damien check his phone every few minutes, waiting for messages that weren¡¯t about work?


    ¡°Of course,¡± I lied. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be excited about hot springs?¡±


    My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Julian¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    ¡°I need to take this,¡± I said, grabbing the phone. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go check if your dad is ready?¡±


    As Cora skipped out of the room, I answered the call. ¡°Good morning, Julian.¡±


    ¡°ra, we¡¯ve got a situation with the YodaVision prototype,¡± Julian¡¯s voice was tense. ¡°The interface is glitching during the third test sequence.¡±


    I sat on the edge of the bed, instantly shifting into work mode. ¡°Send me the diagnostics. I can look at the code remotely.¡±


    ¡°Already sent. But there¡¯s more ¨C the investors moved up their timeline. They want a demo next Wednesday instead of Friday.¡±


    21:06


    48 The Unkept Promise of the Springs


    ¡°What? That¡¯s not enough time to fix the interface and run proper tests!¡±


    Julian sighed. ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I need you toe in today.¡±


    I nced at my half¨Cpacked bag. ¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯m taking Cora to the hot springs retreat.¡±


    ¡°The family thing you mentioned? Can¡¯t you join them


    tomorrow?


    Before I could answer, I noticed Cora standing in the doorway, her excitement reced with disappointment.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you back,¡± I told Julian before hanging up.


    ¡°You¡¯re noting?¡± Cora¡¯s lower lip trembled slightly.


    I went to her, kneeling to her level. ¡°Of course I¡¯ming. That was just work.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re always working now,¡± she mumbled, looking down at her sandals.


    The observation stung, especiallying from my six¨Cyear¨Cold daughter. Had I been that absenttely?


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right down,¡± I promised, kissing her forehead. ¡°Go make sure we haven¡¯t forgotten anything important.¡±


    After she left, I called Julian back and exined the situation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll look at the code tonight after Cora goes to bed,¡± I promised. ¡°And I cane in


    early Monday morning.¡±


    ¡°Fine, Julian relented. ¡°But expect more calls. This deadline is brutal,¡±


    When I finally made it downstairs with my bag, Damien was checking his watch in the foyer. He wore casual clothes ¨C a rarity for him ¨C dark jeans and a light blue


    button¨Cdown with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.


    ¡°There you are,¡± he said, his tone neutral. ¡°The car¡¯s been waiting¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I replied automatically. ¡°Work call.¡±


    Something flickered across his face. ¡°You¡¯ve been taking a lot of thosetely.¡±


    ¡°The YodaVision project is at a critical stage,¡± I exined, though I didn¡¯t owe him exnations anymore.


    21:06


    48 The Unkept Promise of the Springs


    Mr. Finch appeared, taking my overnight bag. ¡°I¡¯ve packed some snacks for the journey, Mrs. Thorne.¡±


    I nodded my thanks, ignoring the twinge I felt at being called Mrs. Thorne. That title belonged to a different woman now one who still believed her marriage meant


    something.


    ¨C


    In the car, Cora chattered excitedly between us, filling the silence Damien and 1 created. I watched the city scenery gradually give way to lush countryside, feeling the weight of pretense settling heavier on my shoulders with each mile.


    My phone rang again. Julian.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± I said, answering quickly. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°The error¡¯s in the tracking module,¡± Julian exined without preamble. ¡°I¡¯ve isted it, but I need your input on the fix.¡±


    I nced at Damien, who was pointedly staring out the window while Cora yed a game on her tablet.


    ¡°Can you send me the segment? I¡¯ll look at it when we arrive,¡± I kept my voice low.


    ¡°Already done. But ra, this is time¨Csensitive-


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll call youter.¡± I ended the call, feeling Damien¡¯s eyes on me.


    ¡°Work again?¡± he asked mildly.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Croft seems to <b>need </b>you constantly these days.¡±


    There was an edge to his voice that I couldn¡¯t quite ce. Was it annoyance? Criticism? Or something else entirely?


    ¡°Julian values my input,¡± I replied simply.


    Damien¡¯s phone chimed with a message. He checked it, frowned slightly, and typed a


    response.


    Cora looked up from her game. ¡°Is that work, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Just something quick, he assured her with a smile that never reached his eyes.


    21:00 E


    48 The Unkept Promise of the Springs


    The drive continued, punctuated by more work interruptions for both of us. By the time we reached the mountain resort, I had mentally solved half of Julian¡¯s coding problem and Damien had taken three calls in the car¡¯s privacy mode.


    Mr. Finch helped unload our bags while Cora ran ahead to the resort entrance.


    ¡°I need to make one more call,¡± Damien announced, stepping away with his phone. ¡°Check us in, will you?¡±


    I watched him walk away, phone pressed to his ear, his posture stiff. Some vacation this would be.


    After check¨Cin, I spent the afternoon with Cora at the children¡¯s pool while Damien was nowhere to be found. He finally appeared for an early dinner, apologizing for his absence with vague references to ¡°urgent matters.¡±


    ¡°Will you take me on the big water slide now, Daddy?¡± Cora asked as she finished her dessert.


    Damien checked his watch. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, princess. Maybe tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°But you promised!¡± Cora¡¯s voice rose in disappointment.


    ¡°I know, but-¡± His phone rang. He nced at the screen. ¡°I need to take this. It¡¯s important.¡±


    As he walked away, Cora¡¯s face fell. I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. ¡°How about we go look at the stars instead? I heard there¡¯s a great viewing spot near the spring garden¡±


    Her smile returned, albeit dimmer than before.


    Later that night, after tucking Cora into bed in our family suite, I sat on the balcony with myptop, working through Julian¡¯s code problem. The mountain air was crisp, carrying the mineral scent of the hot springs below.


    My phone rang. Julian again.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve found the issue, I told him before he could speak. ¡°It¡¯s not in the tracking module itself but in how it interfaces with the visual recognitionponent.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I need you on this project, Julian replied, relief evident in his voice. ¡°No one else would have caught that so quickly.¡±


    21:00


    48 The Unkept Promise of the Springs


    We spent the next hour discussing potential fixes, my fingers flying over the keyboard as I rewrote sections of code.


    I didn¡¯t notice Cora had woken up until she spoke from the doorway.


    ¡°You¡¯re working too,¡± she said usingly. ¡°Just like Dad.¡±


    Guilt washed over me. ¡°Sweetie, 1-¡®


    ¡°Where is Dad anyway?¡± She rubbed her eyes sleepily.


    That was a good question. Damien had disappeared after dinner and hadn¡¯t returned. to the suite.


    ¡°He probably had to handle something for work,¡± I offeredmely, closing myptop. ¡°Let¡¯s get you back to bed.¡±


    After Cora fell asleep again, I waited for Damien. One hour passed. Then two. By midnight, there was still no sign of him.


    I sent him a text: ¡°Where are you? Cora was asking.¡±


    No response.


    Unable to sleep, I worked on myptop until my eyes burned. When I finally crawled into bed in the room adjacent to Cora¡¯s, I stared at the ceiling, wondering if Damien woulde back at all tonight.


    Morning arrived with sunlight filtering through the curtains and still no sign of Damien. Cora bounded into my room, ready for another day of adventure.


    ¡°Is Dad back? Can we go to the big slide now?¡±


    I checked my phone. No messages, no missed calls.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first, I suggested, not wanting to make promises I couldn¡¯t keep.


    In the resort¡¯s dining room, I finally received a text from Damien: ¡°Emergency at Mn office. Had to fly outst night. Tell Cora I¡¯m sorry about the water slide. Will make it up to her.¡±


    I stared at the message, anger building in my chest. Not for myself ¨C I¡¯d long stopped expecting anything from him- but for Cora, who deserved better.


    21:00


    48 The Unkept Promise of the Springs


    <b>¡°</b><b>Is </b>that Dad?¡± Cora asked hopefully, noticing my phone.


    I hesitated, then made a decision. ¡°Yes. He had to go to work<b>, </b>sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°So he¡¯s noting back?¡± Her small voice cracked.


    ¡°Not this weekend.¡± I reached for her hand across the table. ¡°But we can still have fun, just the two of us.¡±


    She pulled her hand away, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°He promised about the water slide! He promised!¡±


    As Cora¡¯s disappointment turned to quiet sniffles, I felt something break inside me <b>¨C </b>thest thread of hope that Damien might someday put his family first. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to call, to hear Cora¡¯s voice when he delivered his news.


    Later, as I watched Cora ssh halfheartedly in the pool, my phone rang again. Julian, with more questions about the code.


    This time, I didn¡¯t hesitate to answer. At least Julian valued what I had to offer.


    The unkept promise of the springs hung over us like a cloud, reminding me that some things would never change ¨C no matter how much I wished they would.


    Comment 1


    21:06

 The Sprawling 49

    49 Forsaken at the Springs, A G¡¯s re


    49 Forsaken at the Springs, A G¡¯s re.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Friday evening arrived with a deafening silence in our suite. Eleanor¡¯s tight¨Clipped ¨¢nger was evident as she paced the room, phone pressed to her ear.


    ¡°Damien, this is uneptable. You promised Cora.¡± Her voice was sharp. ¡°At least speak to your daughter.¡±


    She thrust the phone toward Coco, who sat curled on the sofa, hugging her knees to


    her chest. Tears streamed down her face as she took the device.


    ¡°Daddy? When are youing?¡± Her small voice broke. ¡°You promised about the slide¡­ She listened for a moment. ¡°But you said-*


    I turned away, busying myself with unpacking our swimwear. The familiar pain in my chest had dulled to a constant ache. I¡¯d stopped expecting Damien to show up long


    ago.


    After hanging up, Coco threw the phone onto the sofa cushion. ¡°He¡¯s noting at all! He said he has to work with Aunt Vivienne on something important.¡±


    Eleanor¡¯s face reddened. ¡°That woman! I should have known she was behind this.¡±


    I maintained myposure, folding a towel with precise movements. ¡°Coco, why don¡¯t we go to the children¡¯s pool? I heard they have floating toys.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to swim anymore,¡± she mumbled, burying her face in a decorative pillow.


    Eleanor sat beside her, stroking her hair. ¡°Your father is just busy, dear. He loves


    very much.¡±


    you


    I bit my tongue. Eleanor still clung to illusions about her grandson that I¡¯d abandoned


    years ago.


    That night, I helped <b>Coco </b>into bed despite her sullen protests. Eleanor lingered in the doorway, her expression troubled.


    ¡°ra, I don¡¯t understand why he does this,¡± she whispered once Coco had fallen asleep. ¡°Arthur would never have-


    21:05


    ag Forsaken at the Springs, A G¡¯s re


    ¡°It¡¯ste,¡± I interrupted softly. ¡°We should rest.


    In my room, I stared at the ceiling, listening to the distant sound of water flowing through the resort¡¯s hot springs. Sleep eluded me as my phone lit up with work emails from Julian.


    At least someone needed me.


    Saturday morning brought unexpected quiet. I emerged from my room to find a note from Eleanor on the breakfast table,


    ¡°Developed migraine overnight. Returning home for proper medication. Will callter.


    Eleanor


    A quick check revealed Coco¡¯s room was empty, her small backpack missing


    Panic surged through me as I called the front desk. ¡°Has anyone seen a little <b>girl </b>


    alone?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne? Your daughter left with Mrs. Eleanor Thorne around seven this morning. The elder Mrs. Thorne assured us it was arranged.¡±


    Relief mixed with hurt washed over me. Eleanor had taken Coco¨Cwithout telling me- likely back to the city. Back to Damien and Vivienne.


    My phone rang. Eleanor.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind,¡± she said without preamble. ¡°Coco was so upset. She wanted to see her father, and I was heading back anyway.¡±


    ¡°You could have told me,¡± I replied, keeping my voice even.


    ¡°You were asleep. I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡± A pause. ¡°Damien promised to take her to that new children¡¯s museum today to make up for missing the springs.¡±


    Another promise he¡¯d probably break.


    ¡°I understand,¡± I said, though I didn¡¯t.


    After hanging up, I stood in the empty suite, stillness enveloping me. For the first time. in years, I waspletely alone.


    The realization felt oddly freeing.


    277


    49 Forsaken at the Springs, A G¡¯s re


    I changed into my swimsuit and robe, gathering my book and sunscreen. If I was here alone, I might as well enjoy it.


    The hot spring pools were nearly empty, most families gathered at the water park section. I slipped into a secluded pool, the mineral¨Crich water embracing me with wee heat.


    No child needing attention.


    No husband to wait for.


    No appearances to maintain.


    I closed my eyes, submerging until only my face remained above water. The tension in my shoulders began to dissolve.


    Hours passed as I alternated between reading, soaking, and ordering lunch poolside. By afternoon, I¡¯d finished half my novel and felt more rxed than I had in months.


    FI


    My phone remained silent. No calls from Damien, checking if I was alright. No. messages from Coco, missing her mother.


    Sunday morning, I woke to Eleanor¡¯s call.


    ¡°ra, dear. How are you managing alone? Damien will pick you up this evening, won¡¯t


    he?¡±


    I hesitated, then lied. ¡°Yes, he messaged me. Everything¡¯s arranged.¡±


    ¡°Good. Coco¡¯s having a wonderful time. They went to the museum yesterday, and today they¡¯re visiting the botanical garden.¡±


    The plural ¡°they¡± hung in the air between us. I knew who ¡°they¡± included.


    ¡°I¡¯m d she¡¯s happy,¡± I said honestly. Despite everything, I wanted Coco to be happy.


    After breakfast, I treated myself to a massage at the resort spa. The masseusemented on the knots in my shoulders and neck.


    ¡°Carrying a lot of tension, Mrs. Thorne,¡± she observed, working her fingers against a particrly stubborn knot.


    You have no idea, I thought.


    21:06


    49 Forsaken at the Springs. A G¡¯s re


    Byte afternoon, I began packing my belongings, knowing no one wasing for me. I¡¯d arranged for a car service to take me home, not wanting to burden Mr. Finch on at Sunday evening.


    Eleanor called again as I was checking out.


    ¡°Has Damien arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon,¡± I lied again, signing the bill.


    ¡°Tell him to drive carefully. There¡¯s supposed to be rain tonight.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    The resort staff loaded my bag into the waiting car as darkness fell. The driver, a middle¨Caged man with kind eyes, smiled as he held the door open.


    ¡°Long weekend, Mrs. Thorne?¡±


    ¡°Longer than expected,¡± I replied.


    We¡¯d been driving for thirty minutes when my phone rang. Chloe¡¯s name shed <b>on </b>


    the screen.


    ¡°Tell me you¡¯re not still at that resort,¡± she demanded without greeting.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way home. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Chloe¡¯s voice rose incredulously. ¡°Have you checked social media at all this weekend? Or the news?¡±


    ¡°No, I was trying to rx-¡±


    ¡°While you¡¯ve been soaking in hot springs, your husband¡¯s been making quite a scene with your half¨Csister.¡±


    My stomach clenched. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°The Calloway Foundation G. Last night. It was livestreamed for charity donations.¡± Her voice softened slightly, ¡°Oh, ra. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what happened,¡± I said, my voice surprisingly steady.


    ¡°Someone¨Csome society wife¨Cconfronted Vivienne. Called her a homewrecker right there on the red carpet. Threw a ss of red wine all over her white dress.¡±


    21:08


    49 Forsaken at the Springs, A G¡¯s re


    I closed my eyes, picturing the scene. ¡°And Damien?¡±


    *Stepped right in. Put his jacket around her shoulders, told the woman to mind her own business, and escorted Vivienne away like some knight in shining armor.¡± Chloe¡¯s disgust was palpable. ¡°The whole thing¡¯s online. Thousands of views already.¡±


    The car suddenly felt too warm, too confined.


    ¡°ra? Are you still there?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I managed. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sending you the link. You should see it for yourself. Her tone hardened. ¡°And then you should call yourwyer.¡±


    After we hung up, I stared at the notification of Chloe¡¯s message. A video link with the caption: ¡°This is what Damien was ¡®working on this weekend.¡±


    My finger hovered over it, trembling slightly.


    The driver caught my eye in the rearview mirror. ¡°Everything alright, ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said automatically, the word tasting bitter on my <b>tongue</b>.


    Rain began to fall, pattering against the windows as the city lights grew closer. Withi each drop that hit the ss, my resolve strengthened.


    I tapped the link.


    The video loaded, showing the glittering entrance to the Calloway Foundation G. Celebrities and socialites paraded past photographers, shing perfect smiles.


    Then the camera panned, and there they were.


    Damien, immacte in a tailored tuxedo.


    Vivienne, stunning in a form¨Cfitting white gown.


    They smiled for the cameras, his hand resting possessively on her lower back. They looked perfect together. Happy.


    As they moved further down the red carpet, amotion erupted. A woman in a blue dress approached them<b>, </b>gesturing angrily at Vivienne.


    ¡°How dare you show your face here?¡± The woman¡¯s voice carried clearly over the


    21:06


    49 Forsaken at the Springs, A G¡¯s re


    microphone. ¡°Everyone knows you¡¯re sleeping with a married man!¡±


    Before anyone could intervene<b>, </b>she threw her wine ss forward, the red liquid. sshing across Vivienne¡¯s white dress like blood.


    Gasps and exmations filled the air. Cameras shed frantically.


    Vivienne stood frozen in shock, red wine dripping down her expensive gown.


    Then Damien stepped forward, shrugging off his jacket and wrapping it protectively around Vivienne¡¯s shoulders. He faced the woman with cold fury.


    ¡°You¡¯re making <b>a </b>scene over matters you know nothing about,¡± he said, his voice low but carrying. ¡°My personal life is not for public consumption.¡±


    He turned to Vivienne, his expression softening as he leaned close to whisper something in her ear. She nodded, visibly calming under his attention.


    With his arm firmly around her waist, Damien guided Vivienne away from themotion, ignoring the security personnel rushing to intervene and the reporters. shouting questions.


    The livestream followed them until they disappeared into a waiting car, thementator breathlessly specting about ¡°the dramatic confrontation between


    Mrs. Camden and Damien Thorne¡¯s rumored mistress.¡±


    The video ended, but I kept staring at the ck screen, numb.


    This was what Damien had chosen over his promise to our daughter. Over hismitment to his family.


    A public deration of his priorities, broadcast for all to see.


    Including me.


    21:06

 The Sprawling 50

    The Spectacle of Damien¡¯s Devotion


    ra¡¯s POV


    The video started ying on my phone screen as rain pelted against the car windows. The title read: ¡°Heiress uses Fiance of Cheating with Vivienne Dubols¨CDamien Thorne Steps In!¡±


    I turned up the volume slightly. The scene unfolded at what appeared to be a high¨Cend restaurant. A woman in a designer dress was standing, pointing usingly at Vivienne Dubois, who remained seated at a table with several others.


    ¡°I have proof!¡± the woman shouted, her voice shrill with emotion. ¡°Text messages, hotel receipts¨Ceverything! You¡¯ve been sleeping with my fianc¨¦ for months!¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s expression remained calm, almost bored. She sipped her champagne without acknowledging the user.


    The camera shook as the person filming moved closer. More people gathered around, whispering and recording with their phones.


    An older couple¨Clikely the user¡¯s parents¨Cstepped forward. The father, a portly man in an expensive suit, puffed out his chest.


    ¡°Do you know who we are?¡± he demanded, ring at Vivienne and then at Alistair Dubois, who sat beside her. ¡°The Sullivan name carries weight in this city! You can¡¯t just-


    The restaurant door opened. A hush fell over the crowd.


    Damien Thorne walked in,manding attention without saying a word. His tailored suit entuated his tall frame. His face was a mask of coldposure.


    The Sullivan man faltered mid¨Csentence.


    Damien surveyed the scene briefly before moving directly to Vivienne¡¯s side. He ced a protective hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± His voice was quiet but carried throughout the now¨Csilent


    restaurant.


    Vivienne looked up at him, a small smile ying on her lips. ¡°Nothing worth your


    50 The Spectacle of Damien¡¯s Devotion


    attention, darling


    The usation had stained the front of Vivienne¡¯s cream blouse with red wine. Without hesitation, Damien removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. The gesture was both protective and possessive.


    The Sullivan woman¡¯s face paled as recognition dawned. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Damien Thorne.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re creating a scene in a respectable establishment,¡± he replied coolly. ¡°Whatever personal grievances you have should be addressed privately.¡±


    He turned to Vivienne. ¡°Are you ready to leave?¡±


    She nodded, standing gracefully despite themotion. Damien¡¯s hand found its ce at the small of her back, guiding her toward the exit.


    As they passed the Sullivan parents, Damien paused. ¡°I suggest you help your daughter find herposure. And perhaps speak with your future son¨Cinw about honesty in rtionships.¡±


    The couple didn¡¯t respond, suddenly deferential in the presence of someone whose influence clearly outweighed their own.


    The video followed Damien and Vivienne as they exited. Through the restaurant windows, I could see him helping her into his sleek ck car before driving away.


    The video ended, butments kept scrolling beneath it:


    ¡°Damien Thorne is the definition of POWER!¡±


    ¡°The way he put his jacket around her¡­ swoon!¡±


    ¡°Sullivan family tried to flex but shut down QUICK when they realized who they were dealing with!¡±


    ¡°Vivienne and Damien are GOALS. She¡¯s a PhD, races cars professionally, AND looks.


    like that??¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re the perfect power couple!¡±


    I clicked <b>on </b>another suggested video titled ¡°Everything About Damien Thorne & Vivienne Dubois: The Perfect Match.¡±


    A montage yed¨CDamien and Vivienne at gs, business events, charity functions.


    21:07


    50 The Spectacle of Damien¡¯s Devotion


    His hand always on her waist or lower back. Her leaning into him,ughing at


    something he said. Both of them looking like they belonged in a high¨Cfashion magazine spread.


    The narrator gushed: ¡°Damien Thorne, billionaire CEO and most eligible bachelor despite his marital status, has been linked to the brilliant and beautiful Vivienne Dubois for years. Vivienne, who holds a doctorate in international rtions andes from the prestigious Dubois family, seems perfectly matched with Thorne. Sources close to the couple say Thorne¡¯s marriage has been over for years, existing only on paper¡­


    <b>I </b>closed the video, unable to watch anymore. My phone showed several missed calls from Eleanor Thorne. I swiped away the notifications.


    A memory surfaced¨CEleanor mentioning earlier in the week that Damien would pick me up from the hot springs retreat today. She¡¯d been so certain, insisting he¡¯d promised to make time.


    Yet here was the evidence of where his prioritiesy.


    The car pulled up to my house¨Cnot the Thorne family estate where Damien and Coco. were, but the smaller home I¡¯d purchased after moving out. The driver helped with my bag, concern evident in his eyes when he noticed my distracted state.


    ¡°Will you be alright, Mrs. Thorne?¡±


    I nodded, tipping him generously. ¡°Thank you for getting me home safely.¡±


    Inside, I moved through my evening routine on autopilot. Unpacking my weekend bag. Showering. Preparing for the week ahead.


    My phone rang again. Eleanor.


    ¡°ra? Is everything alright? I expected to hear from you hours ago.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m home,¡± I said simply.


    ¡°Did Damien not pick you up?¡± Her voice held confusion.


    ¡°No, Eleanor. He didn¡¯t.¡±


    A pause. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure something important came up.¡±


    ¦§


    21:07


    50 The Spectacle of Damion¡¯s Devotion


    ¡°Something did,¡± I agreed, my voice unnaturally calm. ¡°You might want to check the trending videos online.¡±


    ¡°What? What videos?¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Eleanor.¡±


    1 ended the call before she could protest further. My home felt quiet, peaceful. No pretenses to maintain. No marriage to salvage. No husband to wait for.


    Moving to my bedroom, I set my rm for tomorrow¡¯s early meeting with Julian at YodaVision. Work would be a wee distraction from the spectacle of Damien¡¯s devotion to another woman.


    As I slipped between cool sheets, I expected tears, anger, or jealousy to overwhelm me. Instead, a curious emptiness settled in my chest¨Cnot quite pain, not quite relief. Something between exhaustion and eptance.


    Seven years of marriage to Damien Thorne had taught me what to expect. The public adoration of his rtionship with Vivienne was nothing new. The world had been watching their love story unfold for years, oblivious or indifferent to my existence in the background.


    What surprised me was my own reaction. Where was the heartbreak? The burning jealousy? The desperate need topete for his attention?


    Gone, along with the naive young woman who¡¯d once believed love could be earned through patience and sacrifice.


    In its ce was someone I barely recognized¨Ca woman who could watch her husband publicly adore another woman and feel¡­ nothing.


    Was this healing or numbness? Growth or surrender?


    My eyelids grew heavy as rain continued to drum against my windows. Tomorrow would bring new challenges at YodaVision, decisions about Coco¡¯s uing school break, <b>and </b>inevitably, another encounter with the Thornes.


    But tonight, in this moment of strange calm, I closed my eyes and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep¨Cthe kind that rarely came in all my years as Damien¡¯s wife.


    21:07

 The Sprawling 51

    51 A Timely Detour and a Familiar Shadow


    ra¡¯s POV


    The phone call with Cora was brief and surprisingly unemotional.


    ¡°Mom, are you mad?¡± Cora asked, her voice small but not particrly remorseful.


    ¡°About what?¡± I responded, sorting through documents for tomorrow¡¯s tech expo.


    ¡°About me going with Dad and Aunt Vivi without telling you.¡±


    I paused<b>, </b>pen hovering over my notepad. A year ago, this would have devastated me. Now, I simply felt detached.


    ¡°Were you safe?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Did you have fun?¡±


    ¡°So much!¡± Cora¡¯s voice brightened instantly. ¡°Aunt Vivi taught me how to swim underwater without holding my nose, and Dad let me stay upte watching movies!¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m d you enjoyed yourself,¡± I said simply.


    A beat of silence followed. Cora seemed thrown by myck of reaction.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to lecture me?¡± she asked, suspicion evident in her tone.


    ¡°Would it make a difference if I did?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she admitted. ¡°But Grandma Eleanor says you might be upset.¡±


    Of course Eleanor would say that. Always trying to manufacture emotion between family members who had grown apart.


    ¡°I have a big presentation tomorrow,¡± I told her. ¡°Just call next time, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Cora agreed, sounding almost disappointed by how easily she¡¯d escaped repercussion. ¡°Bye, Mom!¡±


    I set my phone down and returned to my preparation. Julian had trusted me with presenting ourtest Al innovation at the expo. Mr. Newman would be among the


    21:07


    51 A Timely Detour and a Familiar Shadow


    observers. My stomach tightened at the thought.


    Zachary Newman. The tech mogul who had once told me I was throwing away my potential by abandoning my career for Damien. Hlls words had haunted me for years.


    Sleep came fitfully that night. By morning, I was already on edge.


    I dressed carefully in a navy pantsuit, applied minimal makeup, and checked my presentation materials one final time. Everything needed to be perfect. This was my chance to prove I hadn¡¯t wasted my talents.


    The universe, however, had other ns.


    Halfway to the venue, my car made an rming noise. Smoke seeped from under the hood. I guided the vehicle to the side of the road just as the engine diedpletely.


    ¡°No, no, no, I muttered, checking the time. Twenty minutes until my presentation.


    I called for roadside assistance, pacing beside my car. That¡¯s when the second disaster struck. A distracted driver rear¨Cended my already immobile vehicle, causing a minor traffic jam.


    Police arrived. Questions were asked. Forms were filled out. My anxiety skyrocketed as precious minutes ticked away.


    ¡°This vehicle isn¡¯t going anywhere today, ma¡¯am,¡± the officer informed me sympathetically.


    I was calcting the likelihood of finding a taxi when a sleek ck car pulled up themotion. The window rolled down.


    beside


    ¡°Car trouble?¡± Beck asked, his expression unreadable.


    My breath caught. Beck was Damien¡¯s right¨Chand man at Thorne Industries. We¡¯d never interacted without Damien present.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said automatically, though my situation clearly indicated otherwise.


    Beck¡¯s eyes moved to the damaged car and the building traffic behind it. ¡°You¡¯re headed to the Euclid Tech Expo, right? Julian mentioned you¡¯re presenting today.¡±


    I nodded stiffly.


    ¡°I¡¯m going there myself,¡± he said, opening the passenger door. ¡°I can drop you off.¡±


    21:07


    215


    51 A Timely Dotour and a Familiar Shadow


    My options were limited, and time was running out. ¡°What about my car?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone take care of it.¡± He made a brief call, then looked back at me


    expectantly.


    With reluctance, I slid into the passenger seat, clutch my chest.


    my presentation materials to


    The first few minutes passed in awkward silence. Beck focused on navigating through traffic while I stared out the window, acutely aware of how strange this situation was.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I finally said. ¡°This was¡­ unexpected.¡±


    Beck nodded, eyes on the road. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for years, ra. A ride isn¡¯t a big deal.


    His phone rang, and he answered through the car¡¯s system, immediately diving into business jargon with someone named Thompson. I was grateful for the interruption. It gave me space topose myself and review mental notes for my presentation.


    Beck ended his call just as we approached the venue. ¡°Another one,¡± he muttered, answering a second call.


    The expo center loomed ahead, its modern architecture gleaming in the morning sun. People in business attire streamed toward the entrance.


    ¡°I can get out here,¡± I offered as we neared the drop¨Coff zone.


    Beck nodded, still listening to his caller. He pulled over smoothly.


    ¡°Thank you again,¡± I said, gathering my things.


    He covered the phone¡¯s microphone briefly. ¡°Good luck with your presentation. Then he returned to his call.


    I hurried into the building, checking the time. Five minutes to spare. Relief washed over me as I made my way to the correct hall.


    Outside the presentation room, attendeesworked in small groups. I scanned the crowd, looking for Julian or any familiar face from YodaVision.


    A familiarugh cut through the ambient noise. My head turned instinctively.


    Vivienne stood near the refreshment table, radiant in a cream¨Ccolored dress. Beside


    21:07


    51 A Timely Detour and a Familiar Shadow


    her was Alistair Dubois, her father, in conversation with someone I didn¡¯t recognize. Lennox, her brother, lounged nearby, scrolling through his phone.


    They hadn¡¯t noticed me yet. I started to turn away when Vivienne¡¯s eyes widened with interest. I followed her gaze.


    Beck had entered the building, heading purposefully across the lobby. Vivienne


    excused herself from her father and moved toward him. Their interaction was brief¨Ca few exchanged words, a touch on his arm, a polite nod from Beck before he continued


    on his way


    I ducked into the presentation hall before any of them could spot me.


    Julian waved from the front row, his expression brightening as I approached.


    ¡°You made it!¡± he said, taking my bag. ¡°I was getting worried.¡±


    ¡°Car trouble,¡± I exined, settling beside him. ¡°Beck gave me a ride.¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Beck? As in Damien¡¯s shadow?¡±


    ¡°The very same.¡± I removed my presentation notes from my bag. ¡°Strange day already.¡±


    ¡°Well, at least you¡¯re here now.¡± Julian smiled, but something in his expression seemed


    off.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked.


    Julian leaned closer, lowering his voice. ¡°Mr. Newman is attending the expo today too.¡±


    I froze, my eyes widening. The relief I¡¯d felt upon arriving on time evaporated instantly.


    Zachary Newman. The man who had once told me I was throwing away my life by choosing Damien over my career. The tech visionary whose opinion mattered more


    than I cared to admit.


    ¡°When?¡± My voice was barely audible.


    ¡°He¡¯s scheduled to make an appearance during the afternoon sessions,¡± Julian replied. ¡°But knowing him, he could show up anywhere, anytime.¡±


    My hands trembled slightly as I arranged my notes. After seven years, I would face the man whose disapproval had haunted me through my darkest moments. Only now, I wasn¡¯t Damien¡¯s devoted wife anymore. I was bing my own person again.


    21:07


    51 A Timely Detour and a Familiar Shadow


    Whether that would impress Zachary Newman remained to be seen.


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 The Sprawling 52

    52 Rivalries at the Expor


    ra¡¯s POV 1


    The exhibition hall buzzed with activity. Tech professionals, investors, and industry leaders mingled in clusters throughout the space. I smoothed down my navy pantsuit, grateful I¡¯d made it on time despite the car disaster.


    Julian stood beside me, already in his element. His warm smile and confident demeanor attracted people like moths to me. Within minutes, we were surrounded by curious onlookers eager to learn about YodaVision¡¯stest innovations.


    ¡°Dr. Vance was instrumental in developing our new interface,¡± Julian exined to at potential investor, <b>his </b>hand lightly touching my shoulder. ¡°Her understanding of human¨CAl interaction is unparalleled.¡±


    I felt a flush of pride at his words. It had been years since anyone had acknowledged my expertise so openly,


    ¡°The algorithm adapts to user behavior in real time,¡± I added, finding my voice stronger than expected. ¡°We¡¯ve reduced responseg by forty percent.¡±


    The investor¡¯s eyes widened appreciatively. ¡°Impressive. Mostpanies are struggling to get past twenty percent.¡±


    As I borated on the technical aspects, I noticed Julian watching me with quiet satisfaction. This was why he¡¯d insisted I present today. Not just to showcase our technology, but to remind me who I was before the Thorne name eclipsed my own identity.


    ¡°ra, I¡¯d like you to meet Cole Turner,¡± Julian said, gesturing t¨° a tall man with keen eyes and salt¨Cand¨Cpepper hair. ¡°He heads the innovation department at Nexus Tech.¡±


    ¡°Dr. Vance,¡± Cole acknowledged with a respectful nod. ¡°Julian has spoken highly of your work. I was particrly interested in your paper on emotion recognition in Al


    systems.¡±


    I blinked in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve read my research?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Your approach to empathy algorithms was groundbreaking


    21:08


    15


    52 Rivalries <b>at </b>the Expo


    A warm feeling spread through my chest. Someone had actually read my work- remembered it, even¨Cfrom before I¡¯d be Mrs. Thorne.


    Our conversation flowed


    applications. For those by, moving from theoretical concepts to practical


    minutes, I wasn¡¯t Damien¡¯s estranged wife or Cora¡¯s


    frequently absent mother. I was Dr. ra Vance, respected in my field.


    The moment shattered when a distinct hush fell over our section of the hall.


    I turned instinctively toward the main entrance. Vivienne Dubois glided in, resplendent in her cream¨Ccolored dress that seemed to catch every beam of light. Behind her trailed Alistair Dubois¨Cher father¨Cand several associates I didn¡¯t recognize. @


    Her entrance created an immediate ripple effect. People straightened their posture, checked their appearance, and began gravitating toward her group. The social maism was undeniable.


    O


    Vivienne¡¯s gaze swept the room with practiced poise until itnded on our small gathering. Her perfect smile faltered momentarily when she spotted me standing with Julian and Cole. Surprise shed in her eyes, quickly masked by practiced charm.


    ¡°Vivienne always knows how to make an entrance,¡± Cole murmured beside me, his tone


    neutral but observant.


    Julian¡¯s hand pressed reassuringly against my back. ¡°Focus on why we¡¯re here, ra,¡± he reminded me quietly. ¡°The YodaVision presentation is what matters today.¡±


    I nodded, determined not to let Vivienne¡¯s presence derail my confidence. Yet I couldn¡¯t help noticing how effortlessly shemanded attention, drawing people her orbit with augh or touch on someone¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Julian!¡± Alistair Dubois called out, breaking away from his daughter¡¯s entourage. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to see you here today.¡±


    Julian smiled coolly. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t miss it. The expo is featuring ourtest Al interface.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s gaze shifted to me, recognition dawning slowly. ¡°Ah, Mrs. Thorne-¡±


    ¡°Dr. Vance,¡± Julian corrected smoothly. ¡°ra is my partner at YodaVision.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°I see. And you received an invitation through¡­?¡±


    into


    21:08


    52 Rivalries at the Expo


    ¡°Through me,¡± Julian replied, his tone pleasant but firm. ¡°As one of the featured presenters, I¡¯m allowed to include key team members.¡±


    The underlying message was clear: I was here on merit, not as Damien¡¯s wife.


    Vivienne appeared at her father¡¯s side, her expression perfectlyposed. ¡°Julian, what a surprise.¡± Her gaze slid to me. ¡°ra, I wouldn¡¯t have expected to see you at a tech exhibition<b>.¡± </b>


    ¡°Dr. Vance is presenting our neural interface today,¡± Cole interjected. ¡°Julian speaks very highly of her expertise.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile tightened. ¡°How wonderful. I wasn¡¯t aware you maintained technical skills alongside your¡­ other responsibilities.¡±


    The barb was subtle but intentional.


    ¡°Some of us multitask better than others, I replied calmly, surprising myself with my


    . </b>


    Before Vivienne could respond, a group of attendees approached her eagerly.


    ¡°Ms. Dubois! We heard Thorne Industries might be exploring quantumputing. Could you share any insights?¡± one asked.


    ¡°Is it true Damien Thorne is funding a new research initiative?¡± another questioned.


    Vivienne¡¯s demeanor shifted instantly, radiant as she basked in attention. ¡°Damien¡¯s vision for tech integration is certainly revolutionary,¡± she began, emphasizing her


    connection to him.


    I watched as more people gravitated toward her, drawn by the promise of proximity to Damien Thorne¡¯s influence. The crowd surrounding her grew while our small group


    remained rtively constant.


    ¡°This happens every time,¡± Cole observed dryly. ¡°Put a Dubois in a room and watch everyone scramble for crumbs of Thorne Industries favor.¡±


    Julian nodded. ¡°The industry hasn¡¯t changed much. People still chase connections over


    substance¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pathetic,¡± Cole continued, his voice lowered but intense. ¡°Half these people couldn¡¯t care less about her actual knowledge. They¡¯re just hoping she¡¯ll mention their


    21:08


    35


    52 Rivalries at the Expor


    names to Damien Thorne¡±


    His words hung between us as we watched the spectacle unfold. Vivienne held court. masterfully, dropping casual references to


    developing at Thome Industries. Each ¡®s


    listeners.


    visible excitement from her


    ¡°The difference,¡± Cole added, giving me an appraising look, ¡°is that some people earn their ce through actual contribution to the field.¡± He gestured subtly toward my presentation materials. ¡°While others rely on whose bed they frequent.¡±


    I felt heat rise to my cheeks at his bluntness, but couldn¡¯t deny the uracy of <b>his </b>assessment. Seven years ago, I might have been hurt by the scene. Now, I simply found it revealing.


    Vivienne had positioned herself strategically in Damien¡¯s world, leveraging his name and influence to secure her own social standing. Meanwhile, I was reiming my identity separate from the Thorne legacy, rebuilding a career I had once abandoned.


    Julian checked his watch. ¡°We should prepare for your presentation, ra. The neural Interface demonstration is in twenty


    minutes<b>.¡± </b>


    As we gathered our materials and moved toward the presentation area, I felt Vivienne¡¯s eyes following me. The message <b>in </b>her gaze was clear: this territory¨Cthe tech world, Damien¡¯s world¨Cbelonged to her now.


    But for the first time in years, I felt ready to challenge that assumption. Not by fighting for Damien, but by reiming my own¡¯space in an industry I had loved before I ever


    knew the name Thorne.


    Cole¡¯s words echoed in my mind as we walked away from Vivienne¡¯s growing crowd of admirers. The distinction between earning your ce and borrowing someone else¡¯s influence had never been clearer.


    And in that moment, I knew exactly which path I preferred.


    21:08

 The Sprawling 53

    53 Veiled Presence, Silent Vow


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°That woman is a menace, Marcus Cole muttered, his eyes fixed on Vivienne across the exhibition hall. The bitterness in his voice surprised me.


    Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°You seem to have more than professional grievances with


    her.¡±


    Cole¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°My friend Ste Smith was engaged to Richard Hayes three years ago. Vivienne deshe wanted him, and within two months, Ste¡¯s engagement was broken.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°That sounds like Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°Ste caught them together at a charity g,¡± Cole continued, his voice dropping. ¡°When confronted, Vivienne imed Richard had been pursuing her for months, made Ste look like the desperate, clingy ex.¡±


    Julian frowned. ¡°Is that why Ste isn¡¯t here today? I thought herpany was showcasing their new software.<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°They are, but Ste¡¯s avoiding this particr day.¡± Cole¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Last


    week, she ran into Vivienne and Damien Thorne at a restaurant. Words were exchanged, and now Ste¡¯s being crucified online for ¡®attacking the golden couple.¡±


    The term ¡°golden couple¡® stung more than I wanted to admit.


    ¡°Vivienne has Damien¡¯s PR team backing her now,¡± Cole added, ncing at me apologetically. ¡°Sorry, I know he¡¯s still legally your-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I interrupted, not wanting to hear the word ¡®husband. ¡°Damien and I have separate lives now.¡±


    Cole nodded, looking relieved he hadn¡¯t crossed a line. ¡°Ste¡¯s avoiding public appearances until the scandal dies down. The inte is brutal when Thorne Industries decides someone¡¯s their enemy.¡±


    I knew that reality all too well.


    An hourter, Julian and I toured the exhibition alongside Yandel, <b>one </b>of our lead.


    21:08


    53 Veiled Presence, Silent Vow


    edatat


    developers. We paused at an impressive holographic disy when Julian suddenly tensed beside me.


    ¡°Damien Thorne just walked in,¡± he said quietly, nodding toward the main entrance.


    I didn¡¯t turn immediately. Inhaling deeply, I steeled myself before looking in that


    direction.


    Damienmanded attention without effort. Dressed impably in a charcoal suit. that emphasized his broad shoulders, he moved through the crowd with casual authority. People parted for him instinctively, their expressions shifting to eager smiles or respectful nods.


    Vivienne stood at his side, her hand resting on his arm. She was radiant in her cream dress, looking every bit the partner of one of the world¡¯s most powerful men.


    ¡°They certainly know how to work a room,¡± Yandel remarked, watching as the pair greeted various industry leaders.


    Julian nced at me. ¡°Are you going to say hello? You are still his wife.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I replied firmly. ¡°We agreed to minimal interaction outside matters concerning


    Cora<b>¡± </b>


    Julian looked skeptical. ¡°It¡¯s a public event. Wouldn¡¯t it seem strange if you avoided each otherpletely?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Stranger than him parading his mistress while his wife watches? I


    don¡¯t think <b>so</b>.¡±


    Across the hall, Lucas Sterling joined Damien¡¯s group. I hadn¡¯t seen Lucas since that awkward dinner at Eleanor¡¯s house. He seemed perfectlyfortable with Damien and Vivienne,ughing at something Vivienne said.


    ¡°Why are you really avoiding him?¡± Julian pressed quietly while Yandel stepped away to examine another disy. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about dignity anymore, is it?¡±


    I sighed, lowering my voice. ¡°Before I left, Damien threatened to reveal certain¡­ incidents if I ever caused problems for him or Vivienne.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°What incidents?¡±


    ¡°Things I was used of years ago. Office sabotage, leaked documents.¡± I swallowed


    21:08


    53 Veiled Presence, Silent Vow


    the bitter memory. ¡°I was framed, but I couldn¡¯t prove it. If Damien decided to resurrect those usations publicly¡­


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t,¡± Julian said, but uncertainty tinged his voice.


    ¡°He might, if provoked. My uncle¡¯spany still depends on Thorne Industries contracts. I can¡¯t risk it¡±


    The realization that Damien held this power over me, even as we separated, was humiliating. I¡¯d spent years building a spotless reputation at Thorne Industries, only to have false usations lurking in my personnel file, ready to be weaponized.


    <b>¡°</b><b>That¡¯s </b>ckmail, Julian said quietly.


    ¡°That¡¯s business, I corrected. ¡°At least in Damien¡¯s world.¡±


    We moved to the next exhibit, maintaining a careful distance from Damien¡¯s <b>group</b>. I forced myself not to look in their direction, focusing instead on the technologies we were evaluating for potential partnerships.


    But awareness of Damien¡¯s presence lingered like static electricity on my skin. Years of being attuned to his movements in a room couldn¡¯t be undone so easily.


    ¡°You should talk to him,¡± Julian suggested again as we paused near a quantum


    I shook my head. ¡°What would that aplish? A polite hello while Vivienne watches?


    No thanks,¡±


    Julian sighed but didn¡¯t push further.


    From across the hall came suddenughter ¨C Vivienne¡¯s distinctive, musical sound rising above the ambient noise. I nced over reflexively.


    She was dazzling, telling some story that had captivated her audience. Damien watched her with that subtle smile I¡¯d once desperately hoped he¡¯d direct at me. The intimacy between them was unmistakable, visible in how their bodies angled toward each other, how his hand rested casually at the small of her back.


    They looked like a couple. A real couple.


    The sight shouldn¡¯t have hurt anymore, but it did not because I wanted Damien back, but because I¡¯d never experienced that easy connection with him. Seven years of


    3.5


    <b>53 </b>Veiled Presence, Silent Vow


    marriage, and he¡¯d never once looked at me the way he was looking at Vivienne now.


    ¡°Dr. Vance?¡± A young woman approached with a tablet. ¡°Your presentation space is ready whenever you¡¯d like to set up.¡±


    <b>I </b>nodded gratefully, relieved for the distraction. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll head there now.¡±


    As we gathered our materials, I caught one final glimpse of Damien and Vivienne. They were speaking with the CEO of Nexus Technologies,pletely in their element. Damien¡¯s hand had moved to Vivienne¡¯s waist, his bodynguage protective and possessive.


    I looked away, focusing on the presentation ahead. Confronting Damien here would aplish nothing except possible public humiliation. If he chose to resurrect those old usations, my standing in the techmunity could be damaged just as I was rebuilding my reputation.


    Julian seemed to read my thoughts. ¡°You¡¯re right to avoid <b>him </b>today,¡± he conceded. ¡°The presentation should be our focus.


    I nodded, grateful for his understanding. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of Damien,¡± I rified. ¡°I¡¯m just not going to give him or Vivienne the satisfaction of creating a scene.¡±


    ¡°Your uncle¡¯s business, Julian remembered.


    ¡°Yes.¡± My uncle had supported me through college when my parents couldn¡¯t. His small tech consultancy depended heavily on Thorne Industries contracts. ¡°I won¡¯t risk his livelihood for my pride.¡±


    We headed toward our presentation area, my mind clearer with each step away from Damien. Let him and Vivienne have their moment in the spotlight. I had my own path now, separate from the Thorne name and influence.


    I wasn¡¯t about to let a moment of anger cloud my judgment. The divorce proceedings were already in motion. Soon, I¡¯d be legally free of Damien Thorne, and these careful calctions about when and where to interact with him would be unnecessary.


    For now, I would focus on what I could control ¨C my work, my future, and the walls I was rebuilding around my heart. Walls that, this time, would keep Damien permanently <b>on </b>the outside.


    21:08

 The Sprawling 54

    54 Expo Encounters and Silent Signals


    ra¡¯s POV


    The exhibition hall buzzed with activity as tech enthusiasts and industry professionals moved from booth to booth. I stood beside Yandel at our YodaVision disy, answering questions about ourtest Al innovations.


    ¡°So the algorithm adjusts based on user behavior?¡± A woman in sses asked, examining our interface demo.


    I nodded. ¡°Exactly. Unlike static systems, ours learns continuously from each interaction, making it increasingly intuitive.¡±


    Yandel stepped forward. ¡°Dr. Vance designed the core adaptation protocols herself. They¡¯re what sets our system apart.¡±


    The woman looked impressed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard your name before. Weren¡¯t you at Thorne Industries previously?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I answered simply, steering the conversation back to the technology. ¡°The adaptive learning curve here shows how quickly the system optimizes.


    I¡¯d grown ustomed to these moments¨Cbrief references to my past that I needed to navigate around. Today, I was Dr. ra Vance, Al specialist, not Mrs. Thorne, the


    invisible wife.


    ¡°Dr. Vance, could you help with this query?¡± Another YodaVision team member called from nearby.


    I excused myself and moved to assist, grateful for the distraction. This expo represented my full return to the field I loved. Every sessful interaction affirmed that my decision to leave Damien¡¯s shadow had been right.


    Across the hall, near the main entrance, a flutter of activity caught my peripheral vision. Even without looking directly, I knew Damien was there. Years of tracking his movements in rooms had created an almost supernatural awareness.


    I deliberately focused on the technical question before me, exining aplex feature to a potential investor. My voice remained steady, my hands gesturing confidently as I walked him through our system architecture.


    21:08


    54 Expo Encounters and Silent Signals


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we¡¯ve been looking for,¡± the investor said, smiling broadly. ¡°Could we schedule a more in¨Cdepth demonstration next week?¡±


    <b>I </b>passed him my business card¨Ccrisp and new with just my name and YodaVision


    credentials. No mention of Thorne.


    ¡°Dr. Vance would be happy to arrange


    ir converat,¡± Julian said, appearing beside me and


    seamlessly joining our conversation.


    After the investor departed, Julian leaned closer. ¡°You¡¯ve drawn quite a crowd today. People are impressed.¡±


    I smiled, allowing myself to enjoy the moment. ¡°It feels right to be back in this world.¡±


    ¡°Your world,¡± Julian corrected. ¡°You¡¯re not just back¨Cyou¡¯re thriving¡±


    Across the exhibition floor, Lucas Sterling stood beside Damien, his gaze fixed in our direction. He nudged Damien and said something, gesturing subtly toward me.


    Damien turned slightly, his eyes finding me instantly among the crowd. Our gazes connected briefly before I looked away, returning my attention <b>to </b>the presentation


    materials.


    ¡°Iing,¡± Julian murmured, but Damien made no move to approach.


    Instead, he remained where he stood, observing from a distance as I continued exining our technology to another group that had gathered. I could feel his eyes on me but refused to acknowledge his presence again.


    The expo attendees around our booth grew more animated as I demonstrated a practical application of our Al system. Their questions were insightful and challenging -exactly the kind of engagement I¡¯d missed during my years as Damien¡¯s corporate


    wife.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got them eating out of your hand,¡± Yandel whispered approvingly as apuse followed my demonstration.


    Iughed softly. ¡°They just recognize good technology when they see it.¡±


    When the group dispersed, I allowed myself one quick nce toward Damien. He was still watching, his expression unreadable. For a moment¨Cso brief I might have imagined it¨Chis lips seemed to curve into a faint smile.


    21:00


    54 Expo Encounters and Silent Signals


    I looked away immediately, dismissing the thought. Damien Thorne didn¡¯t smile at <b>me</b><b>. </b>Not anymore. Not ever, really.


    *Damien seems interested in your presentation,¡± Julian noted casually.


    ¡°He¡¯s probably just surprised I remember how to speak tech jargon,¡± I replied, arranging our brochures. ¡°It¡¯s been years since he¡¯s seen me in this environment.¡±


    Lucas approached Damien, saying something that made him nod slowly. Their eyes remained fixed in my direction, their conversation clearly about me.


    ¡°Should we go say hello?¡± Julian suggested, his tone neutral but his eyes watchful.


    I shook my head firmly. ¡°No reason to. We¡¯re here professionally, and so is he.¡±


    ¡°He keeps looking over, Yandel observed, no longer pretending not to notice.


    <b>¡°</b>Let him look,¡± I said, straightening my shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m done performing for Damien Thorne¡¯s approval.¡±


    A young woman approached our booth with technical questions about implementation timelines. I weed the interruption, diving into specifics about our rollout schedule andpatibility features.


    As we spoke, I was acutely aware of Lucas watching us, his expression thoughtful. After


    a few minutes, he returned to Damien¡¯s side, leaning in to speak directly into his ear.


    ¡°What do you think Sterling is telling him?¡± Julian asked quietly when we had a moment alone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t care,¡± I replied, though the wordsckedplete conviction. even to my ears.


    Julian raised an eyebrow but said nothing.


    ÖÃ


    The crowd shifted, revealing Vivienne entering the hall, drawing attention as she always did. Her cream dressplemented her wlessplexion, and her smile. captivated those she passed. She moved directly toward Damien, who turned to greet


    her.


    Their bodynguage spoke of familiarity and intimacy¨Cthe casual touch of her hand to his arm, the way he bent slightly to hear her words. They looked right together. They always had.


    21:08


    54 Expo Encounters and Silent Signals


    I turned away, focusing on reorganizing our disy materials. The sting was less acute now, more a dull ache of what could never be rather than the sharp pain of loss.


    ¡°Dr. Vance?¡± A distinguished older gentleman approached our booth. ¡°Professor Bryson, MIT. Fascinating work you¡¯re doing here.¡±


    I smiled genuinely, recognizing the name instantly. ¡°Professor Bryson, it¡¯s an honor. Your algorithm theory paper changed the direction of my doctoral research.¡±


    Weunched into an animated technical discussion. For those minutes, I forgot about Damien and Viviennepletely, lost in the intellectual exchange that had once been the center of my world.


    When Professor Bryson finally moved on, promising to continue our discussionter, I noticed that Vivienne was now engaged in conversation with Alistair Dubois, her father. They both nced briefly in my direction before turning toward where Professor Bryson had headed.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Professor Bryson?¡± Alistair asked loudly enough for nearby attendees to hear. ¡°I believe we met briefly at the Cambridge symposium.¡±


    Professor Bryson paused, turning toward them with polite interest.


    Vivienne¡¯s expression brightened as she approached him. ¡°Professor, I¡¯ve been hoping to speak with you about your recent paper on quantum algorithm applications. The implications for medical imaging alone are groundbreaking,¡±


    Professor Bryson seemed pleasantly surprised by her knowledge. ¡°You¡¯ve read my paper?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Vivienne replied smoothly. ¡°In fact, Dubois Medical Technologies has been exploring implementation possibilities for your theoretical framework.¡±


    I watched as Vivienne effortlessly engaged Professor Bryson in conversation, her


    charm working its familiar magic. Her father joined them, addingments about potential coborations between Bryson¡¯s research and Dubois technologies.


    Julian appeared at my side. ¡°Quite theworking pro, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°Always has been,¡± I acknowledged quietly. ¡°Vivienne knows exactly who to target and how to approach them.¡±


    As their conversation deepened, Vivienne led Professor Bryson toward a nearby


    <b>21:00 </b>


    54 Expo Encounters and Silent Signals


    disy, pointing out features and asking insightful questions. Her father followed, hist expression revealing clear approval of his daughter¡¯s initiative.


    Damien observed from a short distance, that same unreadable expression on his face. For a moment, his eyes shifted back to me, catching me watching the interaction.


    I held his gaze briefly before deliberately turning away, returning to a conversation with a potential client. I would not let <b>him </b>see any reaction¨Cnot interest, not jealousy, not anything.


    The exhibition continued around us, a swirl of innovation and ambition. Vivienne and


    Professor Bryson remained deep in discussion, moving from exhibit to exhibit, their conversation growing more animated with each disy they examined.


    ¡°She¡¯s making quite an impression on <b>him</b>,¡± Yandel noted.


    I nodded, keeping my voice neutral. ¡°Professor Bryson¡¯s research would be valuable to any medical technologypany.¡±


    As I turned to answer another visitor¡¯s question, I couldn¡¯t help noticing that Vivienne had positioned herself and Professor Bryson directly in my line of sight. Whether intentional or not, the message was clear: she was securing connections that would benefit her family¡¯spany while simultaneously disying her value to Damien.


    I focused on my own work, on the people genuinely interested in YodaVision¡¯s innovations. This was my arena now¨Cnotpeting for Damien¡¯s attention or battling Vivienne¡¯s maneuvers, but building something meaningful on my own <b>terms</b>.


    Yet as Vivienne¡¯sughter carried across the hall, punctuating her increasingly productive conversation with Professor Bryson, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what new advantage she was gaining, and how it might reshape theplexndscape we all navigated.


    21:05

 The Sprawling 55

    55 Strategic Seats and an Unspoken Challenge


    In the far corner of the exhibition hall, two men observed the crowd with calcted interest. Alistair Dubois, impably dressed in a tailored navy suit, leaned slightly toward Lennox.


    ¡°Notice how Thorne hasn¡¯t even nced at his wife since arriving. Alistair remarked quietly. ¡°Those rumors about their forced marriage must be true.¡±


    Lennox nodded. ¡°Seven years ofplete indifference. Impressivemitment <b>to </b>ignoring someone.¡±


    The exhibition hall had transformed into the conference area for the main event. Rows of chairs faced the stage, with the coveted front row reserved for VIPs and key industry leaders.


    ¡°The keynote¡¯s starting soon,¡± Lennox said, checking his watch. ¡°We should find seats.¡±


    As they moved toward the seating area, Julian Croft entered with ra at his side. Unlike her usual position at Thorne Industries events¨Clingering quietly in the background¨Cra walked confidently beside Julian, matching his stride.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see her here as a presenter, Lennox murmured, eyebrows raised. ¡°Isn¡¯t she just Thorne¡¯s trophy wife?¡±


    Alistair frowned. ¡°Apparently not anymore. Croft treats her like she¡¯s valuable to his


    Julian guided ra toward the middle section, his hand respectfully at her elbow. ¡°Mr. Newman specifically asked if you¡¯d be attending,¡± he told her. ¡°He remembers your work from graduate school.¡±


    ra smiled, a genuine expression that reached her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve spoken with him. I¡¯m surprised he remembers me at all.¡±


    ¡°Hard to forget the only person who challenged his quantum intelligence theorem and won,¡± Julian replied with a grin.


    Vivienne and Lennox took seats several rows back, the only positions still avable. Vivienne¡¯s displeasure was evident in her tightened jaw and narrowed eyes.


    21:00


    55 Strategic Seats and an Unspoken Challenge


    ¡°These scats an


    from here.


    uneptable,¡± she hissed. ¡°We won¡¯t be able to speak with Newman


    Lennox shrugged. ¡°We werete. What did you expect?¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s attention shifted as Damien entered the conference area. She straightened, her expression transforming into a calcted smile.


    Damien scanned the room, his gaze passing over ra without pausing beforending on Vivienne. He made his way toward the front row where two seats remained


    reserved.


    He beckoned to Vivienne, ignoring the whispers his gesture provoked.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Vivienne said to Lennox, rising gracefully. ¡°It seems better amodations await.¡±


    She navigated the rows with practiced elegance, pointedly passing by ra without acknowledgment. ra kept her eyes forward, her posture rxed despite the obvious.


    slight.


    ¡°Mr. Newman always sits with keynote speakers in the front,¡± Julian told ra quietly. ¡°Vivienne can bat her eyshes all she wants, but it won¡¯t impress him. He judges on intellect, not proximity.¡±


    ra tilted her head thoughtfully. ¡°I wonder if we underestimate her. Vivienne rarely shows her full capabilities unless necessary.¡±


    Whispers rippled through the audience as Vivienne took the seat beside Damien in the <b>front </b>row. Several industry leaders nced their way with barely concealed envy.


    ¡°Front row ess to Newman is worth its weight <b>in </b>gold,¡± a woman nearby muttered. ¡°How did she manage that?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s with Damien Thorne,¡± herpanion replied. ¡°That¡¯s all the qualification


    needed.


    Julian leaned closer to ra. ¡°You deserve that seat more than she does.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a front¨Crow seat to make an impression, ra replied calmly. ¡°Besides, I¡¯d rather earn recognition for my work than my connections.¡±


    On stage


    the event coordinator approached the podium. The lights dimmed slightly,


    21:09


    55 Strategic Soats and an Unspoken Challenge


    focusing attention forward.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, wee to the keynote address of this year¡¯s International Technology Expo,¡± she announced. ¡°We are honored to have with us today a true visionary in artificial intelligence<b>.¡± </b>


    Damien leaned toward Vivienne, whispering something that made her smile


    confidently. She crossed her legs, angling herself to maximize visibility from the stage.


    ¡°When hees down after the speech, introduce yourself immediately, Damien instructed. ¡°Mention your doctoral research on neural pathways. It aligns with his


    current interests.¡±


    Vivienne nodded, her eyes fixed on the stage. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared thoroughly. He won¡¯t forget meeting me.¡±


    In their row, ra reviewed her notes, periodically exchanging observations with Julian. Her focus remained on the content rather than the politics ying out around


    her.


    ¡°Your adaptive learning algorithms would interest him,¡± Julian remarked. ¡°You should show him the preliminary results after his speech<b>.¡± </b>


    ra nodded. ¡°If there¡¯s an opportunity, I will.¡±


    The host¡¯s voice rose with enthusiasm. ¡°Our speaker has revolutionized how we understand machine learning. His breakthroughs in quantum Al have transformed industries from healthcare to space exploration.¡±


    The audience straightened in anticipation. Vivienne smoothed her dress, ensuring <b>she </b>presented the perfect image. Damien¡¯s expression remained impassive, though his eyes briefly flickered toward where ra sat.


    ¡°He noticed you,¡± Julian whispered, catching the momentary nce.


    ra shook her head slightly. ¡°He was probably looking for someone else.¡±


    The host continued, building momentum. ¡°His current work at the Institute for Advanced Intelligence promises to redefine what we believe possible in human¨Cmachine interaction.¡±


    Vivienne leaned forward, her posture radiating eager attention. In the middle section, ra remainedposed, her notepad open and ready.


    21:09


    55 Strategic Seals and an Unspoken Challenge


    The room hummed with anticipation as the host extended her arm toward the side of the stage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in weing the brilliant mind behind Quantum Neural Networks, a true pioneer in our field.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile widened, her hand already positioned to apud enthusiastically. Damien sat straighter, his expression shifting to one of professional interest.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s wee Mr. Zachary Newman to the stage for his keynote address!¡±


    The room erupted in apuse as a distinguished man in his sixties approached the podium. His silver hair and wire¨Crimmed sses gave him an air of academic authority, while his rxed stance suggested confidence earned through decades of achievement.


    As Newman surveyed the audience, his gaze moved methodically across the <b>room</b>. When his eyes reached the middle section, he paused, a flicker of recognition crossing his features as he spotted ra.


    For a brief moment, he smiled directly at her before continuing his scan of the audience. The subtle acknowledgment wasn¡¯t lost on those watching closely.


    In the front row, Vivienne¡¯s smile faltered slightly as she noted the direction of Newman¡¯s attention. She quickly recovered, apuding with renewed vigor as the distinguished speaker took his position at the podium.


    Damien, too, had noticed the brief exchange. His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly as he nced toward ra, who was focused entirely on Newman, her expression one of professional interest and respect.


    ¡°Thank you for that warm wee,¡± Newman began, adjusting the microphone. ¡°Before I dive into today¡¯s topic, I¡¯d like to acknowledge some familiar faces in the audience. It¡¯s always encouraging to see former students continuing to push


    boundaries in our field.¡±


    His gaze returned briefly to where ra sat before turning to address the room atrge.


    Julian leaned toward ra, his voice barely audible over the continuing apuse. ¡°I think your quiet approach just trumped Vivienne¡¯s front¨Crow strategy.¡±


    ra remained silent, her attention fixed on Newman as he began his presentation. The subtle recognition had been unexpected but validating¨Ca reminder that in this


    21:09


    55 Strategic Soats and an Unspoken Challenge


    world, it was her mind that mattered, not her marriage or her connections.


    In the front row, Vivienne whispered something to Damien, her smile fixed but her eyes calcting. The battle lines had been drawn, not with words but with nces and strategic positioning.


    As Newmanunched into his keynote, the unspoken challenge hung in the air between the women¨Cone positioned perfectly by privilege, the other recognized purely on merit.


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    21:09

 The Sprawling 56

    56 The Professor¡¯s Unspoken Disdain


    56 The Professor¡¯s Unspoken Disdain


    Zachary Newman¡¯s keynote address captivated the audience with its brilliant insights. and visionary concepts. Hismanding presence held everyone¡¯s attention for the full hour. When he concluded, thunderous apuse filled the exhibition hall.


    ¡°Thank you for your attention,¡± Newman said with a slight nod before stepping away from the podium.


    As he descended from the stage, a swarm of industry executives moved forward, eager to exchange even a few words with the renowned professor. Newman acknowledged them with brief, polite responses, his expression remaining impassive.


    The event coordinator guided him to his assigned seat in the front row. People continued to approach, offering business cards and attempting to initiate


    conversations. Newman epted the cards mechanically, rarely making eye contact for more than a second.


    Damien Thorne rose from his seat, Vivienne Dubois at his side. He waited for a momentary break in the crowd before approaching Newman.


    ¡°Professor Newman,¡± Damien said, extending his hand. ¡°It¡¯s been over ten years.¡±


    Newman¡¯s eyes flickered briefly to Damien¡¯s face. He shook the offered hand with minimal pressure. ¡°Thorne<b>.</b>¡±


    The single¨Cword response hung in the air. Damien maintained hisposed expression, seemingly unfazed by the cool reception.


    ¡°I believe you know of Vivienne Dubois, Damien continued, gesturing to the woman beside him. ¡°Shepleted her doctoral work on neural pathway mapping at Cambridgest year<b>.¡± </b>


    Vivienne stepped forward with practiced grace, her smile dazzling. ¡°Professor Newman, your work on quantum neuralworks has been foundational to my research. I¡¯d love to discuss how it intersects with my findings on cognitive pattern. recognition.¡±


    Newman¡¯s gaze settled on her briefly. ¡°Ms. Dubois.¡±


    He nodded once, then turned to acknowledge the person seated next to him,


    <b>21:12 </b>


    56 The Professor¡¯s Unspoken Disdain


    effectively ending the interaction. Vivienne¡¯s smile faltered slightly at the abrupt dismissal.


    As they returned to their seats, Vivienne leaned close to Damien. ¡°That unexpectedly cold. Does he treat everyone that way?¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Yes,¡± Damien replied simply.


    t was


    ¡°He barely acknowledged my research, Vivienne said, a note of frustration edging her


    voice. ¡°I specifically mentioned topics rted to <i>his </i>current work.


    ¡°Newman isn¡¯t known for social graces,¡± Damien said. ¡°He evaluates people based on their intellectual contributions, not their conversational skills.¡±


    Vivienne watched as Newman engaged in what appeared to be the longest exchange he¡¯d had since descending from the stage¨Ca brief conversation with the person seated beside him about quantumputing applications.


    ¡°Even so, that was unusually dismissive, Vivienne persisted. ¡°Did something happen between you two? A falling out of some kind?¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression remained unreadable. ¡°No falling out.¡±


    ¡°Then why-¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t think much of me,¡± Damien said quietly.


    Vivienne waited for boration, but Damien offered nothing more. His attention had shifted to the next speaker taking the stage.


    The remainder of the conference proceeded with presentations from various industry leaders. Throughout the sessions, Newman remained in his front row seat, his posture rigid and attention focused forward. He rarely spoke unless directly addressed.


    During the closing remarks, whispers began circting through the crowd.


    ¡°I heard Newman¡¯s staying in the city for a few days.¡±


    ¡°Apparently, he¡¯s interested in some local research project.¡±


    ¡°Whoever catches his attention could secure the next big funding grant.¡±


    The conference concluded with final acknowledgments from the organizers. As attendees began gathering their belongings andworking in small groups, Vivienne


    21.12


    58 The Professor¡¯s Unspoken Disdain.


    studied Newman with renewed interest.


    ¡°If he¡¯s staying, we should arrange a proper meeting,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°Perhaps<b>. </b>dinner at The Ashford? I know the owner¡±


    Damien checked his phone, scrolling through messages. ¡°Newman doesn¡¯t do social dinners. He considers them a waste of time.¡±


    ¡°Everyone needs to eat,¡± Vivienne countered. ¡°And everyone has their price. What¡¯s his weakness?¡±


    ¡°Intellectual challenge,¡± Damien replied without looking up. ¡°Nothing else matters to him.¡±


    Vivienne considered this information carefully. ¡°Then I¡¯ll prepare a proper presentation of my research. Something that will provoke his interest..¡±


    ¡°Do as you wish,¡± Damien said, his tone indicating the end of the conversation.


    Across the hall, Julian Croft was engaged in animated discussion with ra Vance. Their heads were bent over a tablet, reviewing data points and graphs.


    ¡°Newman¡¯s speech validated our approach,¡± Julian said, gesturing to a particr chart. ¡°His quantum processing methods align perfectly with your adaptive learning 1.amework.¡±


    ra nodded, making notes on the tablet. ¡°We should adjust these parameters based on his insights about neural decay rates. That could improve our response time significantly.


    Julian nced around the dispersing crowd. ¡°Did you see how quickly he dismissed everyone? The man¡¯s legendary for hisck of small talk¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s always been that way,¡± ra replied. ¡°Even back when I was in his graduate seminar. It¡¯s not personal¨Che just doesn¡¯t see the point in conversations that don¡¯t advance understanding.¡±


    ¡°Yet you managed to impress him enough that he remembered you yearster, Julian observed.


    ra smiled slightly. ¡°Only because I challenged his theorem and provided data he couldn¡¯t ignore. Newman respects good science, regardless of who produces it.¡±


    21:12


    3/G


    66 The Professor¡¯s Unspoken Disdain


    Julian¡¯s phone chimed with a notification. He checked the screen, his eyebrows raising. *Interesting. I just got an email from the conference organizers. Newman has


    requested a private meeting tomorrow with several selected participants.¡±


    ra looked up from the tablet. ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t say,¡± Julian replied<b>, </b>scrolling through the message. ¡°Just that he wants to discuss ¡®potential coborative opportunities¡® with a small group. And,¡± he added with a meaningful nce at ra, ¡°YodaVision is on the list.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a significant opportunity,¡± ra said thoughtfully.


    ¡°Indeed, Julian agreed. ¡°And perfe quarter.¡±


    timing, considering our new projectunch next


    As they gathered their materials, ra noticed Damien and Vivienne making their way toward the exit. Damien paused briefly, his gaze meeting ra¡¯s across the crowded hall. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his expression before he turned away, continuing toward the door with Vivienne at his side.


    Julian followed her line of sight. ¡°Everything alright?


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra said, refocusing on their conversation. ¡°Just thinking about how to


    pproach tomorrow¡¯s meeting.¡±


    Outside the conference hall, attendees clustered in small groups, exchanging business cards and continuing discussions. The buzz about Newman¡¯s extended stay dominated


    many conversations.


    roject one executive told another.


    ¡°They say he¡¯s looking for a particr type of ¡°Something involving quantum adaptive learning¡±


    ¡°Whatever it is,nding Newman¡¯s endorsement would be a game¨Cchanger for anypany,¡± hispanion replied.


    As ra and Julian walked toward the parking area, they passed close to where Damien stood waiting <b>for </b>his driver. Vivienne was engaged in conversation with another conference attendee several steps away.


    Damien¡¯s gaze followed ra¡¯s movements, his expression unreadable. When Julian¡¯s phone rang and he stepped aside to take the call, ra found herself momentarily


    alone near Damien.


    21:12


    58 The Professor¡¯s Unspoken Disdain


    ¡°I understand you¡¯ve been invited to Newman¡¯s meeting tomorrow,¡± Damien said quietly, breaking the silence between them.


    ra turned, surprised by his initiation of conversation. ¡°Yes. Julian just received the


    notification<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Congrattions,¡± Damien said, his tone neutral. ¡°Newman doesn¡¯t waste time on projects he doesn¡¯t find promising.¡±


    Before ra could respond, Vivienne rejoined Damien, looping her arm through his. She nced at ra with a dismissive smile.


    ¡°Ready to go, darling? I¡¯ve made dinner reservations at Mn¡¯s,¡± Vivienne said to Damien before turning to ra. ¡°Oh, ra, I didn¡¯t see you there.¡±


    ¡°Vivienne, ra acknowledged with a slight nod.


    Julian returned from his call, positioning himself subtly at ra¡¯s side. ¡°Our car is ready,¡± he said, focusing his attention solely on ra.


    As they walked away, ra could feel Damien¡¯s gaze following them. She didn¡¯t look


    In the car, Julian broke the silence. ¡°What was that about?¡±


    ¡°Apparently, Damien knows about Newman¡¯s meeting tomorrow,¡± ra replied.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Julian mused. ¡°I wonder if Thorne Industries received an invitation as


    well.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± ra said truthfully. ¡°He didn¡¯t mention it.¡±


    Julian nced at her. ¡°How do you feel about potentially working in proximity to your soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband?¡±


    ra considered the question carefully. ¡°My personal situation with Damien has no bearing on YodaVision¡¯s opportunities. If coborating with Newman advances our work, then that¡¯s what matters.¡±


    As the car merged into evening traffic, ra found herself wondering about Damien¡¯s carlierment. The rumor about Newman staying in town was spreading quickly among conference attendees, creating an undercurrent of anticipation and spection about his intentions.


    21.12


    570


    66 The Professor¡¯s Unspoken Disdain


    Whatever tomorrow would bring. ra was determined to approach it with


    professional focus, regardless of whichpanies¨Cor people¨Cmight be involved in Newman¡¯s mysterious meeting.


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 The Sprawling 57

    57 Zachary¡¯s Sharp Judgment.


    57 Zachary¡¯s Sharp Judgment


    News of Zachary Newman¡¯s presence spread like wildfire through the exhibition hall. Business executives and tech enthusiasts rushed forward, forming an eager crowd around the renowned professor. Themotion drew attention from all corners of


    the venue.


    Vivienne stood beside Damien, observing the scene with calcted restraint. Unlike others scrambling for Newman¡¯s attention, she maintained herposure.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we join them?¡± asked Aunt Lennox, nodding toward the growing crowd.


    Vivienne smiled politely. ¡°Damien suggested we arrange a private meeting with Professor Newmanter. It¡¯s more productive thanpeting for thirty seconds of his time right now.¡±


    Her aunt raised an eyebrow, impressed. ¡°How strategic. That¡¯s the Thorne approach,


    isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Vivienne confirmed. ¡°Quality over quantity.¡±


    From across the room, Marcus Wellington, CEO of Wellington Technologies,


    pproached them. ¡°Ms. Dubois, wonderful presentation yesterday. Your analysis of neural pathway efficiency was remarkable.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Vivienne replied smoothly. ¡°I¡¯m hoping to implement some of those concepts in our uing projects.¡±


    ¡°Our projects,¡± Wellington noted with a knowing smile. ¡°You¡¯ve certainly secured your position at Thorne Industries quickly. Impressive trajectory.¡±


    Damien ced his hand on Vivienne¡¯s lower back. ¡°Ms. Dubois earned her ce through merit. Her doctoral work caught my attention long before our personal rtionship developed.¡±


    Wellington nodded respectfully. ¡°No doubt. I¡¯ve followed her publications. Brilliant mindbined with umonposure¨Ca rarebination <b>in </b>our field.¡±


    Several other business magnates joined their conversation circle, each acknowledging Vivienne with newfound respect. She navigated the interaction wlessly, bncing technical insights with charming remarks.


    21:12


    57 Zachary¡¯s Sharp Judgment


    Meanwhile, across the exhibition hall, ra and Julian stood examining holographic disys of theirtest algorithms. Their conversation focused entirely on the technical aspects of their presentation. D


    ¡°The quantum response time looks promising,¡± Julian noted, adjusting a parameter on the disy. ¡°Better than our initial projections.¡±


    ra nodded. ¡°The adaptive learning module is integrating well with the new framework. These results validate our approach.¡±


    They continued their technical discussion, unbothered by themotion surrounding Newman. Unlike most attendees, they didn¡¯t need to mor for his attention or impress random executives.


    After twenty minutes of being surrounded by admirers, Newman checked his watch and made a brief announcement. ¡°I need to depart shortly. Thank you for the


    wee.¡±


    His statement sent a ripple of disappointment through the crowd. People quickly tried to make final impressions, handing business cards and making hasty pitches.


    Julian¡¯s phone buzzed with a message. He read it quickly, then turned to ra. ¡°We need to head to the parking lot.¡±


    ow?¡± ra asked, looking up from her tablet.


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s important,¡± he replied quietly.


    They gathered their materials efficiently and made their way toward the exit. As they passed near Damien and Vivienne¡¯s group, ra noticed Vivienne¡¯s puzzled expression watching their departure.


    The parking area was nearly empty when they arrived. A sleek ck sedan waited at the far end, its engine humming softly.


    Standing beside it was Zachary Newman.


    Julian and ra approached him with measured steps. No rushing<b>, </b>no excessive eagerness¨Cjust professional/courtesy.


    ¡°Professor Newman,¡± Julian greeted.


    Newman nodded curtly. His gaze shifted to ra. ¡°Ms. Vance. You were in my


    21:12


    57 Zachary¡¯s Sharp Judgment


    Advanced Neural Computing seminar at MIT. Third row, right side. You challenged my parallel processing theorem with counter¨Cexamples.


    ra smiled slightly, surprised he remembered. ¡°Yes, that was me.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Your exhibit,¡± Newman said, gesturing vaguely toward the building they¡¯d just left. ¡°The adaptive quantum learning module. Interesting approach.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra replied. ¡°We¡¯ve been working to improve the integration between-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s underdeveloped, Newman interrupted coldly. ¡°The pattern recognition algorithms are promising but fundamentally wed in their current implementation<b>. </b>


    Julian stiffened beside ra. ¡°We¡¯re still refining certain aspects-¡±


    ¡°Three years,¡± Newman said, his voice cutting through the evening air. ¡°Three years since you founded YodaVision. Three years of development.¡± His piercing gaze moved between them, calcting and critical. ¡°Three years, and this is all you¡¯ve aplished?¡±


    The question hung in the air like a guillotine. ra felt her heart rate increase but kept her expression neutral. This wasn¡¯t just a casual critique¨Cthis was Zachary Newman directly challenging their work, their progress, their very worth in the field.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been methodical in our approach, ra replied evenly. ¡°Quality over speed.¡±


    ¡°A convenient excuse forck of progress,¡± Newman countered. ¡°Yourpetitors have developed simr technologies in half the time.¡±


    Julian stepped forward. ¡°With respect, Professor, our framework approaches the problem differently. We¡¯re building a more robust foundation that-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in exnations,¡± Newman interrupted. ¡°Results speak for


    themselves.¡±


    ra took a deep breath. ¡°Then perhaps you¡¯d be interested in seeing ourplete progress rather than just the public exhibition version.¡±


    Newman¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly¨Cthe closest thing to surprise he¡¯d shown all evening. ¡°Exin.¡±


    ¡°What we¡¯ve presented here is themercially viable portion,¡± ra continued confidently. ¡°Our more experimental work wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for this setting.¡±


    21112


    57 Zachary¡¯s Sharp Judgment


    <b>¡°</b>Because it¡¯s unstable?¡± Newman challenged.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s revolutionary, ra countered. ¡°And not ready for public scrutiny.¡±


    A flicker of something¨Cpossibly interest¨Ccrossed Newman¡¯s typically impassive face. ¡°Bold im, Ms. Vance.¡±


    ¡°Based on evidence, not bravado,¡± she replied.


    Newman checked his watch again. ¡°I have a dinner engagement in thirty minutes. Tomorrow morning, 7 AM. My hotel. Bring your evidence¡± He handed Julian a business card with a room number scribbled on the back.


    Without waiting for their response, Newman opened his car door. Before sliding inside, he fixed ra with onest prating look. ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time, Ms. Vance. I don¡¯t offer second chances<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The car pulled away, leaving ra and Julian standing in stunned silence. After a moment, Julian exhaled loudly.


    ¡°Well, that


    was¡­ intense,¡± he said.


    ra nodded slowly. ¡°He¡¯s always been that way. Direct to the point of brutality.¡±


    He remembered you from a ss that must have had hundreds of students,¡± Julian


    noted.


    ¡°I made an impression by proving him wrong,¡± ra replied. ¡°Newman respects intellectual challenges, not ttery.¡±


    Julian nced at the card in his hand. ¡°7 AM tomorrow. That doesn¡¯t give us much time


    to prepare.¡±


    ¡°Then we should get started immediately,¡± ra said, already walking toward their car. ¡°We¡¯ll need theplete prototype demonstration and all our research data.¡±


    ¡°This could be huge for us, you know,¡± Julian said, keeping pace with her. ¡°Newman¡¯s endorsement would put YodaVision in a different league entirely.¡±


    ¡°Or his criticism could set us back significantly,¡± ra reminded him. ¡°But either way, we face it head¨Con.¡±


    As they reached their vehicle, ra nced back at the exhibition hall. Through the


    475


    $7 Zachary¡¯s Sham Judgment


    But tonight, ra realized, she and Julian had something more valuable than social capital. They had Zachary Newman¡¯s interest. And in their industry, that was worth more than <b>all </b>theworking connectionsbined.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, she said resolutely. ¡°We have work to do?


    As they drove away, ra¡¯s mind was already racing through preparations for tomorrow¡¯s meeting. Newman¡¯s challenge echoed in her thoughts: ¡°Three years, and this is all you¡¯ve aplished?¡±


    By tomorrow morning, she would show him exactly what they had aplished¨Cand what they were capable of achieving next.


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 The Sprawling 58

    58 The Professor¡¯s Chilling Demands


    58 The Professor¡¯s Chilling Demands


    Zachary Newman¡¯s suite was impressive but austere, much like the man himself. At precisely 7 AM, ra and Julian stood before him, having spent the entire night.


    preparing their presentation.


    ¡°Sit,¡± Newmanmanded, gesturing to two chairs positioned across from his imposing desk.


    Neither ra nor Julian spoke as they arranged their materials. The weight of exhaustion pressed against ra¡¯s shoulders, but she maintained perfect posture. Showing weakness before Newman would be fatal to their cause.


    Julian connected their presentation device to the room¡¯s disy system. Their prototype¡¯s interface materialized on therge screen. ¡°Professor, we¡¯ve prepared aprehensive overview of our-


    ¡°Skip the introduction,¡± Newman cut in sharply. ¡°Show me what you didn¡¯t reveal yesterday.¡±


    ra nodded and took control of the presentation. ¡°Our core innovation lies in the neural mapping algorithms. Unlike conventional approaches, we¡¯ve developed at recursive pattern that-


    For the next forty minutes, they detailed their work. Newman remained silent, his piercing gaze never leaving the screen. asionally, his fingers would tap against the desk¨Cthe only indication he was processing their information.


    When they finished, the silence stretched painfully.


    Finally, Newman leaned forward. ¡°Your approach is¡­ unconventional.¡±


    Julian exchanged a quick nce with ra. Was that approval or criticism?


    ¡°Unconventional doesn¡¯t mean incorrect, ra stated calmly.


    Newman¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°No, but it often means untested. He stood abruptly and walked to the window. ¡°You¡¯ve built an impressive theoretical framework. But your implementation is wed.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve tested extensively, Julian argued. ¡°The results-¡±


    21:13


    68 The Professor¡¯s Chilling Demands


    ¡°Are insufficient,¡± Newman finished. ¡°Your <b>sample </b>size is too small. Your stress testing Inadequate. He turned back to face them. ¡°And your timeline is uneptable.¡±


    ra felt a chill run down her spine. ¡°What would you suggest, Professor?¡±


    Newman¡¯s gaze was cold. ¡°I don¡¯t suggest. I instruct.¡± He returned to his desk and pulled out a tablet. ¡°Your current product isn¡¯t ready. And I don¡¯t want to see either of you again until it is.¡±


    The finality in his tone was crushing. ra struggled to maintain herposure.


    Julian leaned forward. ¡°We understand your concerns. Perhaps if we had more time-¡±


    ¡°Time isn¡¯t the issue. Focus is.¡± Newman tapped something on his tablet. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to Boston tonight. I want aplete technical summary of everything you¡¯ve seen at this expo on my desk by midnight.¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Tonight? That¡¯s impossible. There are dozens of presentations


    ¡°Is it impossible, Mr. Croft? Or merely difficult?¡± Newman¡¯s voice had dropped to a dangerous whisper. ¡°Because if you find it impossible, perhaps you should consider another field entirely.¡±


    ra felt her throat tighten. ¡°We can do it,¡± she said <b>firmly</b>.


    Newman ignored her. His eyes remained fixed on Julian. ¡°Well, Mr. Croft?¡±


    Julian swallowed hard. ¡°We¡¯ll have it ready¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Newman¡¯s attention finally shifted to ra. His expression changed subtly- somehow bing even colder. ¡°Ms. Vance, I must say I¡¯m particrly disappointed in you.¡±


    The personal attack caught her off¨Cguard. ¡°Sir?¡±


    ¡°Your academic record was exemry. Your early papers showed remarkable promise.¡± His eyes bored into hers. ¡°Then you married Damien Thorne and apparently lost your ambition along with your surname.¡±


    The words struck like physical blows. ra¡¯s cheeks burned with humiliation,


    ¡°My marriage has nothing to do with my work, she managed to say.


    58 The Professor¡¯s Chilling Damanda


    Newman¡¯sugh was utterly without humor. ¡°Everything has to do with <b>everything</b>, Ms. Vance. The choices we make define us. He gestured dismissively. ¡°You had the potential to revolutionize this field. Instead, you chose to y corporate wife to a man who clearly doesn¡¯t value your intellect.¡±


    Julian stood abruptly. ¡°That¡¯spletely inappropriate-¡±


    ¡°Sit down, Mr. Croft.¡± Newman¡¯s voice cracked like a whip. ¡°Your loyalty is admirable but misced.¡±


    ra ced a restraining hand on Julian¡¯s arm. ¡°It¡¯s all right, she murmured, though it wasn¡¯t. Nothing about this was all right.


    Newman gathered his papers. ¡°You have until midnight. Don¡¯t disappoint me further.¡±


    They were clearly dismissed. As they gathered their materials, ra¡¯s mind raced. What had Zachary Newman heard about her marriage? Had Damien said something? Or Vivienne?


    The elevator ride down was silent. Once they reached the lobby, Julian exploded. ¡°That waspletely unprofessional! He had no right to bring your personal life into this.¡±


    ra¡¯s face remained carefully nk. ¡°Focus on what matters. We have an impossible task toplete by tonight.¡±


    ¡°ra, about what just happened-¡±


    we need to tal


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t.¡± Her tone was final. ¡°Newman wants us to fail. I refuse to give him that satisfaction.¡±


    They exited the hotel into the bright morning sunshine. The exhibition hall loomed ahead, bustling with attendees arriving for the day¡¯s events.


    ¡°We¡¯ll split up,¡± ra decided. ¡°Cover twice as many presentations. Take detailed


    notes, record what you can.¡±


    Julian looked concerned. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She wasn¡¯t, but that didn¡¯t matter.


    As they entered the exhibition hall, ra spotted Damien and Vivienne across the atrium. Damien¡¯s expression remained impassive when their eyes met briefly. They both looked away simultaneously.


    21:13


    <b>375 </b>


    58 The Professor¡¯s Chilling Demands


    Julian followed her gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t let them get to you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± ra lied. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on work.¡±


    Throughout the morning, ra methodically attended presentations, takingprehensive notes. She avolded the section where Damien and Vivienne were holding court with investors. Theirughter asionally drifted across the hall, each sound like a needle under her skin.


    During a brief break, ra noticed Alistair Dubois, Vivienne¡¯s father, entering with an entourage of business associates. Their eyes met for a moment. In the past, he had always greeted her politely, if distantly.


    This time, he looked directly through her and turned away.


    The deliberate snub was unexpected. ra knew Alistair was protective of Vivienne, but he had never been openly rude before. Something had changed.


    From across the room, she caught Vivienne watching the interaction, a satisfied smile ying on her lips. Beside her stood Lennox, Vivienne¡¯s aunt, whispering something.


    ra approached a refreshment table near them, pretending to examine the offerings while listening.


    -shouldn¡¯t worry about her,¡± Lennox was saying, ¡°Newman barely acknowledges her


    existence.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not worried,¡± Vivienne replied smoothly. ¡°But connections matter in this industry. She¡¯s attempting to leverage her past with him.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Lennox scoffed. ¡°She was just another student. You¡¯re the one with the impressive CV


    ra selected a water bottle and moved away, her face carefully neutral despite the burning in her chest. Zachary Newman¡¯s words echoed in her mind: ¡°The choices we


    make define <b>us</b>.¡±


    She spotted Julian across the hall and made her way toward him. They needed to coordinate their afternoon schedule if they were going to fulfill Newman¡¯s impossible demand.


    As she passed Alistair Dubois again, realization dawned. He wasn¡¯t just being rude¨Che was deliberately avoiding acknowledging her. The social dynamics suddenly became


    21:13


    58 The Professor¡¯s Chilling Doriands


    clear. If he greeted her, he would have to exin who she was to his associates.


    And how embarrassing would that be? To admit that the quiet woman taking notes in the corner was Damien Thorne¡¯s wife, while his daughter stood publicly by Damien¡¯s side<b>? </b>


    The humiliation of the situation hit her with fresh force. In their world, she wasn¡¯t just being ignored¨Cshe was being erased.¡±


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 The Sprawling 59

    59 A Father¡¯s Biased Appeal


    Julian Croft looked down at his phone, checking the time. ra had been gone almost ten minutes. <b>The </b>next presentation would start soon, and they couldn¡¯t afford to miss anything if they wanted to meet Newman¡¯s impossible deadline. U


    The crowd in the exhibition hall shifted, and Julian spotted Alistair Dubois making a beeline toward him. His posture was upright, confident, with an easy smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. Beside him walked Vivienne, elegant in a tailored navy suit, and Lennox, whose piercing gaze seemed to evaluate everything in her path.


    Julian tensed. This wasn¡¯t random. They had deliberately waited until ra was


    elsewhere.


    ¡°Mr. Croft,¡± Alistair extended his hand, his voice smooth as polished marble. ¡°I¡¯ve been hoping to meet you. I¡¯m Alistair Dubois.¡±


    Julian epted the handshake with professional courtesy. ¡°Mr. Dubois. A pleasure.¡±


    ¡°Please, call me Alistair. His smile widened as he gestured to his daughter. ¡°This is Vivienne. I believe you might have crossed paths with her already.¡±


    Vivienne offered her hand. ¡°Mr. Croft. Your presentation yesterday was impressive.¡±


    Thank you,¡± Julian replied, keeping his tone neutral. He nodded to Lennox, who merely smiled in return.


    Alistair positioned himself to block Julian¡¯s view of the restroom hallway. ¡°I understand you work closely with ra.¡±


    The mention of ra¡¯s name without her surname was deliberate. Julian knew this game all too well.


    ¡°Yes, ra Vance is my business partner at YodaVision.¡± Julian emphasized herst name deliberately.


    Alistair¡¯s smile tightened for a fraction of a second. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve known her since she was a young girl.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Julian kept his face professionally pleasant.


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Alistair lowered his voice conspiratorially. ¡°She¡¯s always been¡­ challenging to


    21:13


    1.0


    59 A Father¡¯s Biased Appeal


    deal with. Brilliant, of course<b>, </b>but stubborn to a fault.¡±


    Julian fought to keep his expression neutral. ¡°Interesting perspective<b>.</b>¡±


    ¡°I worry about her sometimes,¡± Alistair continued, his voice dripping with false concern. ¡°She tends to iste herself, makes things harder than they need to be.¡±


    Vivienne shifted slightly, her eyes darting to the left. Julian noted her subtle difort.


    ¡°I¡¯m d she has someone like you looking out for her at YodaVision,¡± Alistair pressed on. ¡°She needs a steadying influence.¡±


    Julian met his gaze directly. ¡°ra is the steadying influence at YodaVision. Her vision guides our entire operation.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s smile wavered before snapping back into ce. ¡°How generous of you to say so. Though I¡¯ve always found her to be somewhat¡­ inflexible in her thinking¡±


    ¡°Different approaches yield different results,¡± Julian replied evenly. ¡°Her particr approach has revolutionized our field.¡±


    Lennox stepped forward. ¡°Vivienne has been doing remarkable work with neural interface theory at Cuap. Perhaps you¡¯ve seen her recent publication<b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Julian acknowledged. ¡°It was excellent work.¡±


    Vivienne offered a genuine smile. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ve been considering expanding my research. YodaVision would be an ideal environment for that.¡±


    The intent was clear. Julian watched as Alistair¡¯s expression grew more expectant.


    ¡°Vivienne would be an asset to any organization, Alistair added smoothly. ¡°She adapts well to team environments, unlike some who prefer to work in istion.¡±


    Theparison hung in the air, unmistakable.


    Julian maintained eye contact with Alistair. ¡°ra is my friend,¡± he said simply. The words carried weight beyond their simplicity. ¡°And her talent is unmatched.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s smile froze. Vivienne nced at her father, then back to Julian.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said, smoothly redirecting. ¡°I admire your loyalty. It¡¯s reassuring to see professionals supporting each other.¡±


    21:13 D


    59 A Father¡¯s Biased Appeal


    Julian recognized her pivot. She was smarter than her father, realizing this approach wouldn¡¯t work.


    ¡°I¡¯m more interested in meaningful connections than specificpanies,¡± Vivienne continued. ¡°The work is what matters.¡±


    Julian nodded, appreciating her tactical shift. ¡°Agreed. The field benefits when talented minds coborate, regardless of organizational boundaries.¡±


    Lennox watched this exchange with calcting eyes. ¡°Perhaps we could arrange a more formal discussion over dinner sometime? Professional connections are invaluable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to discuss coborative opportunities, Julian replied diplomatically. ¡°With the entire YodaVision executive team, of course.¡±


    Alistair¡¯s Jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. His n to iste ra was failing.


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Lennox said, though her tone suggested otherwise. ¡°We should-¡±


    She stopped mid¨Csentence, her eyes focusing on something beyond Julian¡¯s shoulder.


    Julian turned to see ra standing near the hallway entrance. She had frozen in ce, her expression carefully controlled as she observed the group. The momentary hesitation in her posture spoke volumes.


    Lennox¡¯s lips curved into a knowing smile. Their eyes met across the distance.


    ra squared her shoulders and began walking toward them.


    Julian watched the subtle shift in Alistair¡¯s demeanor ¨C the slight straightening of his spine, the recalibration of his expression from conspiratorial to formal.


    ¡°Ah, speaking of ra, Alistair said, his voice louder than necessary. ¡°There she is.¡±


    Vivienne turned, her faceposed into a polite mask. But Julian didn¡¯t miss the sh of something ¨C not quite difort, not quite guilt¨Cin her eyes before it disappeared.


    ra approached with measured steps, her face revealing nothing of what she might have overheard. Her eyes met Julian¡¯s briefly, a silent question in them.


    ¡°You must be proud of your daughter¡¯s aplishments,¡± Julian said to Alistair,


    50 A Fathers sed Appeal


    deliberately changing the subject. ¡°Both your daughters, in fact.¡±


    The emphasis was subtle but unmistakable. The air between them seemed to crystallize with tension.


    Before Alistair could respond, Lennox stepped slightly forward, positioning herself like a buffer between the parties. ¡°ra has always been¡­ determined, she said, her smile not reaching her eyes. ¡°Even as a child.¡±


    Julian turned his full attention toward ra as she reached their small circle. Herposure was absolute, revealing nothing of what she might be feeling


    ¡°I apologize for the interruption,¡± ra said smoothly. ¡°Julian, we should hurry if we want to catch the next presentation.¡±


    Julian nodded, grateful for the exit she provided. ¡°You¡¯re right. We¡¯re on a tight


    schedule¡±


    ¡°Always rushing.¡± Alistairmented, his tone light but his eyes sharp. <b>¡°</b>Some things never change.¡±


    ra met his gaze directly. ¡°Some things don¡¯t,¡± she agreed, her voice calm. ¡°While others change entirely.¡±


    For a brief moment, father and daughter stood locked in silentmunication, years of unspoken history passing between them.


    Vivienne cleared her throat softly. ¡°We should let you get to your presentation,¡± she said, her professional demeanor firmly in ce. ¡°It was nice meeting you properly, Mr. Croft.¡±


    Julian nodded. ¡°Likewise.¡±


    As they prepared to part ways, Lennox caught ra¡¯s eye one final time. The knowing smile remained, a silent acknowledgment of the game being yed.


    ra¡¯s expression remained impassive, but Julian saw the slight tension in her jaw.


    They turned and walked away, maintaining professional postures until they were safely


    out of earshot.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± ra asked quietly, her eyes fixed ahead.


    21:13


    59 A Father¡¯s Biased Appeal.


    Julian hesitated, weighing his response. ¡°Your father expressed concern about you.¡±


    ra¡¯s step faltered for just a moment. ¡°Concern?¡±


    ¡°The maniptive kind,¡± Julian rified. ¡°He was trying to undermine you.¡±


    A small, bitter smile touched ra¡¯s lips. ¡°That¡¯s not new.


    ¡°He also tried to position Vivienne for opportunities at YodaVision.¡±


    ra absorbed this information with a slight nod. ¡°Also not new.¡±


    They reached the entrance to the next presentation hall, pausing before entering.


    ¡°How much did you hear?¡± Julian asked.


    ¡°Enough,¡± ra replied simply. She straightened her shoulders. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We


    have work to do.¡±


    Julian studied her face. Theposed mask was firmly in ce, revealing nothing of the hurt she must be feeling.


    ¡°ra-¡±


    ¡°Not here,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Not now.¡±


    Julian nodded, respecting her wishes. As they entered the hall, he noticed her hands. were perfectly steady as she prepared her tablet for notes. Her focus was absolute, her discipline impressive.


    But he didn¡¯t miss the moment when she nced back toward where her father and sister stood, their heads bent together in conversation, Lennox watching the crowd with calcting eyes.


    In that brief, unguarded moment, the depth of ra¡¯s istion was painfully clear.


    Then the moment passed. Her mask returned, perfect and imprable.


    The presentation began, and they both turned their attention to the task at hand ¨C the impossible deadline still looming over them like a guillotine de.


    50

 The Sprawling 60

    60 An Invitation Among Adversaries


    The next day, ra was reviewing a code sequence when Julian burst into her office. His expression was unusually tense.


    ¡°We¡¯ve received an invitation,¡± he announced, waving his phone.


    ra looked up from her screen. ¡°For what exactly?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Lunch with the Paxon brothers and Newman.¡±


    ra raised her eyebrows. The Paxon brothers were pioneering brainputer interface technology. Their work wouldplement YodaVision¡¯s developments perfectly.


    ¡°That¡¯s excellent news,¡± she said, already mentally rearranging her schedule.


    Julian grimaced. ¡°There¡¯s more. Damien will be there.¡±


    ra¡¯s fingers froze over her keyboard. She didn¡¯t need to ask which Damien. There <b>was </b>only one whose mere mention could make her pulse stutter.


    ¡°With Vivienne, I assume?¡± she asked, keeping her voice neutral.


    Julian nodded. ¡°Apparently the Paxons are considering multiple investment options.


    .horne Industries is their primary interest, but Newman mentioned our work to


    them.¡±


    ra turned back to her screen, trying to process this information. A meeting with her soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband and her half¨Csister. In public. While discussing business.


    ¡°We should decline,¡± Julian said. ¡°I can meet with the Paxons separately.¡±


    ra stared at the lines of code on her screen, not really seeing them. The old ra away, letting Damien


    would have avoided the confrontation. She would have them. The old ra


    dominate yet another professional space.


    ¡°No,¡± she said firmly. ¡°We¡¯re going¡±


    Julian looked surprised. ¡°Are you sure? It will be awkward.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a business lunch with potential p artners, ra replied, straightening her


    21:14


    60 An Invitation Among Adversaries


    shoulders. ¡°My personal situation with Damien is irrelevant.¡±


    ¡°<b>And </b>Vivienne?¡±


    ra met his gaze. ¡°We¡¯ll be professional. We can behave like strangers.¡±


    Julian studied her face, clearly concerned. ¡°If you¡¯re certain.¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± she said, her voice steady despite the quickening of her heartbeat. ¡°What time is lunch?¡±


    The restaurant was one of those exclusive establishments where tables were spaced <b>far </b>enough apart to ensure privacy for business discussions. ra smoothed down her navy dress as she and Julian approached the entrance.


    ¡°You look great, Julian assured her. ¡°Confident. Professional.¡±


    ra nodded, grateful for his support. They paused at the entrance, and through the ss doors, she could see them already inside.


    Damien stood tall <b>in </b><b>an </b>impably tailored suit, his <b>dark </b>hair perfectly styled. His posture exuded power and control. Beside him, Vivienne shone in a crimson dress that entuated her curves, her hand casually resting on <b>Damien¡¯s </b>arm as sheughed at something someone said.


    ra took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    As they entered, <b>ra </b>kept her expression neutral, though she couldn¡¯t help noticing how Vivienne¡¯s smile faded when their eyes met. The other woman quickly whispered something to Alistair Dubois, who was <b>also </b>present, before turning away.


    Damien looked up, his expression unchanging as he registered ra¡¯s presence. His eyes moved over her briefly before shifting to Julian.


    Newman spotted them and waved them over enthusiastically. ¡°Croft! Vance! Come meet the Paxons!¡±


    Two men who must be the Paxon brothers turned to look at them with interest. Lennox stood nearby, her calcting gaze taking in ra¡¯sposure.


    Alistair¡¯s expression darkened slightly as they approached. He leaned toward Lennox,


    90 An Invitation Among Adversaries


    whispering, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize she would be joining¡±


    Lennox¡¯s lips pressed together in disapproval. ¡°Newman must have invited them directly.¡±


    Julian stepped forward confidently, extending his hand to the older Paxon brother. ¡°Julian Croft, CEO of YodaVision. This is my business partner and Chief Technology Officer, ra Vance.¡±


    ¡°Erik Paxon, the man replied, shaking Julian¡¯s hand firmly before turning to ra. ¡°Ms. Vance, I¡¯ve read your paper on emotional pattern recognition in AL. Brilliant work.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra replied, feeling a small burst of pride.


    The younger Paxon brother, Marcus, joined in. ¡°We¡¯re excited to discuss potential synergies between ourpanies¡±


    Newman gestured toward the private dining room. ¡°Shall we head in? I¡¯ve arranged a


    wonderful menu.


    As the group began moving toward the dining area, Damien finally acknowledged their presence with a curt nod. ¡®Croft.¡±


    ¡°Thorne,¡± Julian replied equally tersely


    Their <b>eyes </b>held for a moment before Damien turned away, guiding Vivienne with a hand on the small of her back


    <b>ra </b>felt a pang watching the familiar gesture but quickly suppressed it. This was


    business, nothing more.


    In the <b>private </b>dining room, Damien pulled out a chair for Vivienne before taking his seat beside her. Their movements were practiced,fortable¨Ca couple ustomed to each other¡¯s presence.


    Julian deliberately sat next to ra, creating a buffer between her <b>and </b>the others. As everyone settled, waiters appeared with menus and water.


    ¡°The steak here is exceptional¡± Damienmented to Erik Paxon. ¡°I rmend it


    rare.¡±


    Vivienne leaned against him slightly. ¡°Damien always knows the best choices at every


    restaurant.¡±¡°


    60 An invitation Among Adversaries


    ra studied her menu intently, ignoring the familiar way Vivienne said Damien¡¯s


    <b>name </b>


    ¡°What looks good to you? Julian asked quietly.


    ¡°The salmon, I think,¡± ra replied, grateful for the distraction.


    Alistair and Lennox exchanged nces across the table, seemingly relieved by ra¡¯sposed demeanor.


    As the waiter took their orders, the conversation turned to business. Erik Paxon described theirtest breakthrough in neural interfaces, while Marcus outlined their


    <b>vision </b>for the future.


    ¡°That¡¯s where I see potential coboration with both yourpanies,¡± Erik exined. ¡°Thorne Industries has the manufacturing capabilities, while YodaVision¡¯s emotional intelligence algorithms could revolutionize our user experience.


    Damien nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve been following your work closely. Thorne Industries is prepared to offer significant resources to elerate your development timeline.¡±


    *Resources are important, Julian agreed, ¡°but so is innovation. At YodaVision, we prioritize creative solutions over brute force approaches.¡±


    The subtle dig wasn¡¯t lost on Damien, whose jo tightened almost imperceptibly.


    Vivienne leaned forward. ¡°Creativity is valuable, certainly, but scale matters too. Thorne Industries call implement solutions globally.¡±


    ¡°Scale without refinement leads to propagating ws,¡± ra countered, speaking for the first time. All eyes turned to her. ¡°What YodaVision offers is precision and nuance.¡±


    Erik Paxon looked intrigued. ¡°Could you borate, Ms. Vance?¡±


    ra met his gaze confidently. ¡°Our adaptive algorithms can recognize ny¨Cseven distinct emotional states. That level of emotional intelligence would transform how users interact with your neural interfaces.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± Marcus murmured.


    Damien¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but ra noticed his knuckles whiten slightly around his water ss.


    60 An Invitation Among Adversaries


    ¡°Thorne Industries has its own emotional recognition technology in development<b>, </b>Vivienne Interjected quickly. ¡°We¡¯ve been making significant progress<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Under whose leadership?¡± Julian asked innocently. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware Thorne had expertise in that area<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The tension at the table thickened.


    ¡°We¡¯ve assembled a talented team, Damien replied smoothly. ¡°And we¡¯re always looking to expand our capabilities through strategic partnerships<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    The first course arrived, momentarily distracting everyone. As they began eating. Newman steered the conversation toward safer topics, discussing industry trends and market projections.


    ra ate methodically, acutely aware of Damien¡¯s presence across the table. She kept. her focus on the Paxon brothers, contributing to the conversation when appropriate but otherwise maintaining professional distance.


    During a brief lull, she noticed Vivienne leaning close to whisper something to Damien. He nodded slightly, his hand briefly covering hers on the table. The casual intimacy stung more than ra wanted to admit.


    ¡°The work you¡¯re doing with adaptivenguage models is fascinating¡± Marcus Paxon said, drawing ra¡¯s attention back to business. ¡°How do you handle ethical considerations around emotional maniption<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    This was ra¡¯s wheelhouse. Sheunched into an exnation of YodaVision¡¯s ethical framework, her voice growing more animated as she described the safeguards they¡¯d implemented.


    ¡°We believe technology should enhance human connection, not rece it, she


    concluded.


    Erik nodded approvingly. ¡°I appreciate that perspective. Too manypanies rush into development without considering long¨Cterm implications.¡±


    A subtle nce passed between the brothers, <b>and </b>ra sensed they were genuinely impressed.


    As the main course arrived, she caught Damien watching her with an unreadable expression. When their eyes met, he quickly looked away, turning to answer a question


    <b>60 </b>An Invitation Among Adversaries


    <b>from </b>Newman<b>. </b>


    The lunch continued with a delicate dance of business and subtlepetition. Julian- skillfully highlighted YodaVision¡¯s strengths while Damien emphasized Thorne Industries¡® resources <b>and </b>global reach.


    Through it all, ra maintained herposure, neither avoiding Damien nor seeking his attention. She focused on the Paxon brothers, making her case with quiet confidence.


    As dessert was served, she noticed Vivienne growing increasingly tense beside. Damien. The other woman¡¯s smile seemed more forced, herughter a touch too bright.


    ¡°We should set up follow¨Cup meetings with both your teams,¡± Erik Paxon announced as they finished their coffee. ¡°Your approaches are different but potentially


    ¡°We¡¯d be delighted,¡± Julian replied.


    Damien nodded. ¡°My team will contact yours to arrange details.¡±


    As the lunch drew to a close, Alistair approached ra while Julian was engaged with


    the Paxons.


    ou¡¯ve been very¡­ professional today,¡± he observed, his tone suggesting surprise.


    ¡°Did you expect otherwise?¡± ra asked coolly.


    Alistair shrugged. ¡°Given the circumstances, some might find it difficult to maintainposure.


    Before ra could respond, she noticed Vivienne leaning toward Alistair and Lennox a few steps away. Though Vivienne spoke softly, ra could clearly hear her words.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Vivienne whispered with a smirk. ¡°With Damien Thorne here, she


    wouldn¡¯t dare act out.


    21:14

 The Sprawling 61

    61 Unseen ra, Praised Vivienne


    Vivienne Dubois leaned closer to Lennox as they sat at the tech expo dinner, her eyes flicking toward the far end of the table where ra Vance sat.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised she even showed up, Vivienne remarked quietly. ¡°But with Damien here, she wouldn¡¯t dare cause a scene.¡±


    Lennox nodded, adjusting her elegant zer. ¡°She knows better than to o jeopardize Julian¡¯s business opportunities.¡±


    What they failed to notice was how deeply engaged ra was in conversation with Bryson Leonard, a brilliant systems engineer she¡¯d met earlier at the expo. Unlike the strained politeness she¡¯d maintained throughout the day, her expression now showed genuine interest.


    ¡°Your approach to quantum processing is fascinating,¡± ra said, her voice animated despite keeping it low. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on simr integration issues with our emotional recognition algorithms.¡±


    Bryson¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°The recursive functions you mentioned earlier could solve thetency problems we¡¯ve been facing¡±


    ¡°xactly,¡± ra replied, sketching a quick diagram on her napkin. ¡°If you adjust the feedback loops here and here, the system bes self¨Ccorrecting¡±


    Across the table, Vivienne tossed her glossy dark hair over her shoulder, drawing the attention of several executives nearby. She smiled at their admiring nces before turning back to Lennox.


    ¡°What do you suppose she¡¯s discussing so intensely with Bryson?¡± Vivienne asked, her tone suggesting she already knew the answer.


    Lennox nced over disinterestedly. ¡°Probably just asking technical questions. You know how thesepanies work¨Calways fishing for insider information.¡±


    The conversation around them shifted as Marcus Weber, CEO of a prominent venture capital firm, addressed Bryson.


    ¡°Leonard, are you going to grace us with that famous scotch of yours after dinner?¡± he called out jovially.


    61 Unseen ra Praised Vivienne


    Bryson looked up from his conversation with ra, grinning. ¡°Only If you promise not to talk about your golf handicap all night again.¡±


    The table crupted inughter, temporarily drawing everyone into a single conversation. ra sat back, her moment of connection broken as the attention shifted toward the more established figures in the room.


    ¡°Speaking of technical brilliance,¡± Charles Paxon said, ¡°Vivienne¡¯s presentation on automated transportation systems today was remarkable. The neuralwork application you¡¯ve developed could revolutionize the entire industry.¡±


    Vivienne epted the praise with a practiced modest smile. ¡°Thank you, Charles. It¡¯s been abor of love.¡±


    ¡°And abor of extraordinary talent,¡± added Damien Thorne, his deep voicemanding attention as always. His hand rested casually on the back of Vivienne¡¯s chair. ¡°Her work is years ahead of ourpetitors.¡±


    ra kept her expression neutral as she reached for her water ss. She took a small sip, using the moment topose herself.


    <b>¡°</b>With Thorne Industries¡® backing and your brilliance, Vivienne, I expect we¡¯ll see your systems implemented nationwide within five years, Charles continued.


    Vivienne¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Damien has been instrumental in elerating our timeline. His vision for integration with existing infrastructure solved problems we¡¯d been struggling with for months.¡±


    Around the table, heads nodded appreciatively. The waitstaff began serving the main course<b>, </b>momentarily interrupting the conversation with the tter of tes and murmured acknowledgments.


    Damien nced at Vivienne¡¯s te, then signaled a waiter. ¡°She prefers her salmon. medium¨Crare, not well¨Cdone.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir,¡± the waiter said immediately, whisking the te away.


    Vivienne touched Damien¡¯s arm appreciatively. When the correct dish arrived momentster, she made a show of serving Damien first, selecting the best portions and arranging them carefully on his te before serving herself.


    ¡°Always taking care of each other,¡± Marcusmented with approval. ¡°That¡¯s what


    21:14


    61 Unseen ra Praised Vivienne


    makes a powerful team.¡±


    The conversation shifted to ra¡¯s side of the table when Lennox <b>asked</b>, ¡°And what exactly is your role at Croft Technologies, Ms. Vance? Are you mainly in


    administration?¡±


    ra looked up from her <b>te</b>. ¡°I lead our Al development team. We¡¯re focusing on emotional intelligence applications for autonomous systems.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right,¡± Lennox said, her tone suggesting she¡¯d forgotten something trivial. *Julian mentioned you had a technical background.¡±


    Before ra could respond, Charles Paxon jumped in. ¡°She¡¯s the pretty one who works for Julian, right? I¡¯ve heard some rumors about you two.¡±


    Julian, seated several ces away and engaged in another conversation, didn¡¯t hear the


    *Julian and I are business partners,¡± ra rified calmly. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other since college.¡±


    ¡°Such a shame to hide that lovely face behindputer screens all day,¡± Charles remarked with a patronizing smile. ¡°Though I suppose someone has to handle the technical details while Julian manages the business end.¡±


    ra¡¯s fingers tightened slightly around her fork. ¡°Actually, I-¡®


    *Speaking of future developments,¡± Vivienne interrupted smoothly, ¡°has everyone seen the preview of next year¡¯s expo exhibits? They¡¯re expanding the autonomous vehicle section significantly.¡±


    The interruption effectively redirected everyone¡¯s attention. As conversation flowed around her, ra noticed Bryson watching her with a look of quiet understanding. He gave her a small, sympathetic smile before being drawn into a discussion about manufacturing challenges.


    ¡°The integration of AI with physical systems remains our greatest hurdle, someone was saying. ¡°The software is advancing faster than hardware can keep up.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where Vivienne¡¯s work is so groundbreaking,¡± Damien said. ¡°She¡¯s designed systems that optimize existing hardware rather than requiringplete recements.¡±


    21:14


    61 Unseen ra, Praised Vivienne


    ¡°Cost¨Ceffective and brilliant,¡± another executivemented. ¡°No wonder Thorne Industries is leading the market.¡±


    Vivienne epted the praise graciously, asionally touching Damien¡¯s arm or shoulder as she spoke, marking her territory in subtle but unmistakable ways.


    ra focused on her meal, contributing asionally to technical discussions but finding herself repeatedly overlooked as conversation gravitated toward Vivienne¡¯s aplishments and Damien¡¯s business insights.


    As dessert was being served, Bradley Newman, who had been rtively quiet throughout dinner, suddenly addressed Damien directly.


    ¡°Thorne, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask¨Chave you considered a coboration with Croft Technologies? Their intelligent traffic programmingnguage would pair extraordinarily well with your autonomous vehicle project.¡±


    The table fell silent. All eyes turned to Damien, then briefly to ra, before settling


    back on him<b>. </b>


    Damien¡¯s expression remained impassive as he set down his fork. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting suggestion, Newman.¡±


    The silence stretched, pregnant with unasked questions and unspoken history. Everyone at the table knew of Damien and ra¡¯s impending divorce, though it was never mentioned in professional settings.


    ra kept her gaze steady, waiting for Damien¡¯s response with the rest of them, her heart beating a rapid rhythm against her ribs as the moment of truth approached.

 The Sprawling 62

    62 The Dinner Party¡¯s Deceptivo Fall


    62 The Dinner Party¡¯s Deceptive Fall


    Damien¡¯s eyes flicked briefly to Julian Croft before returning to Bradley Newman. ¡°We¡¯ve considered several potential coborations for the traffic integration project. Croft Technologies¡® programmingnguage has impressive capabilities.


    The entire table seemed to hold its breath. This was the <b>closest </b>Damien hade to


    acknowledging any professional merit rted to ra since their separation.


    Julian leaned forward slightly. ¡°Our Al emotional recognition algorithms could significantly enhance user experience in autonomous vehicles. We¡¯d be open to discussing possibilities.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to hear more details,¡± Damien replied with casual authority. ¡°Perhaps we can arrange a formal presentation next month.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s eyes widened slightly before sheposed herself. ¡°That could be beneficial for bothpanies,¡± she said smoothly. Her gaze drifted to Julian, lingering a moment longer than necessary. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to coordinate the technical aspects.¡±


    ra maintained her professional demeanor, though she noted the calcted interest in Vivienne¡¯s eyes as she looked at Julian. It wasn¡¯t surprising<b>. </b>Julian¡¯spany was gaining significant attention in the tech world, and Vivienne had always been drawn to


    ower and sess.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my team prepare a proposal,¡± Julian said, nodding at Damien before turning to ra. ¡°We should update the integration models for the presentation.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± ra replied evenly. ¡°We can review them tomorrow.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Julian, I¡¯ve been following your work on emotional intelligence algorithms. I¡¯d love to discuss how they might enhance our systems.¡±


    Julian smiled politely. ¡°Certainly. Though ra is the true expert in that field. She pioneered our most sessful applications.¡±


    Several executives nced at ra with reassessed interest. She noted the surprise in their expressions, the subtle recalctions happening behind their eyes.


    ¡°Fascinating¡± Vivienne said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. ¡°I had no idea ra was so¡­ technically involved.¡±


    21:15


    62 The Dinner Party¡¯s Deceptive Fall


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Julian said, checking his phone. ¡°<b>I </b>need to make a quick call. ra, would you mind getting me a sparkling water with lime while I step out?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± ra replied, rising gracefully from her seat.


    She made her way to the bar area set up at the side of the banquet hall, grateful for a moment away from the table¡¯s subtle tensions. The bartender handed her Julian¡¯s sparkling water, and she turned back toward the table.


    A group of executives moved suddenly into her path, deep in conversation. ra stepped aside to avoid them but collided with another guest walking behind her. The jolt sent her stumbling forward, right into Damien¡¯s solid chest as he approached the <b>bar</b>.


    His hands came up automatically to steady her, gripping her arms. For a breathless moment, they were closer than they¡¯d been in months.


    ra looked up into his familiar face, momentarily frozen. The cologne he wore¨Cthe same one she¡¯d given him years ago¨Cfilled her senses. His expression remained unreadable, his eyes cool.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said quietly, regaining her bnce.


    Without a word, Damien released her and stepped back, putting deliberate distance. between them. His face showed nothing beyond mild irritation as he straightened his perfectly tailored jacket.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going,¡± he said simply, then continued past her to the bar.


    ra drew a steady breath and resumed her walk to the table, aware that several people had witnessed the exchange. She set the sparkling water at Julian¡¯s ce just as he returned from his call.


    ¡°Everything all right?¡± Julian asked, noticing her slightly flushed cheeks.


    ¡°Yes, just a small collision. Nothing serious.¡± She smiled reassuringly.


    Across the room, Lennox leaned close to Vivienne. ¡°Did you see that? She literally threw herself at him.¡±


    Vivienne watched Damien ordering at the bar, her eyes calcting. ¡°So predictable. She¡¯s getting desperate.¡±


    21:16 C


    SEAN


    <62 The Dinner Party¡¯s Deceptive Fall


    ¡°At least Damien made it clear where he stands,¡± Lennox replied. ¡°He practically pushed her away.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s lips curved in satisfaction. ¡°Exactly <b>as </b>he should.¡±


    Alistair Dubois, seated nearby, had observed the entire exchange. He¡¯d previously thought ra Vance was simply quiet and unassuming¨Ca dull counterpart to Vivienne¡¯s vibrant presence. But witnessing her stumble into Damien and the subsequent cold shoulder she received had him reconsidering.


    Perhaps there was more to ra than met the eye. The timing of the collision seemed suspiciously convenient. And hadn¡¯t she been engaged in deep conversation with Bryson Leonard earlier? The same Bryson whosepany was considering a partnership with Thorne Industries?


    Alistair watched as ra resumed her seat beside Julian, her expressionposed and professional. Not a hint of embarrassment showed on her face despite the awkward encounter with her estranged husband.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± he murmured to himself.


    When Damien returned to the table, he sat beside Vivienne without sparing ra a nce. He handed Vivienne a ss of red wine¨Cher favorite cabe.


    ¡°Thank you, darling Vivienne said, her voice carrying just enough to ensure others heard the endearment.


    She ced her hand on his arm possessively, casting a quick nce toward ra, who


    notice. was engaged in conversation with Julian and appeared not to


    ¡°So, Julian,¡± Vivienne called across the <b>table</b>, ¡°when did you first recognize ra¡¯s¡­ technical abilities? Was it during college?¡±


    Julian looked up, his expression friendly but guarded. ¡°We met in Dr. Chen¡¯s advanced Al seminar. ra¡¯s thesis on emotional recognition patterns was groundbreaking. Several majorpanies tried to recruit her before graduation<b>.¡± </b>


    ¡°How fascinating¡± Vivienne replied, her tone suggesting exactly the opposite. ¡°And yet she ended up working as an executive assistant at Thorne Industries for years. Quite a detour from such promise.¡±


    ra maintained herposure. ¡°Life takes unexpected turns,¡± she said simply.


    02 The Dainel Party¡¯s Deemptive Fall


    ¡°Indeed it does, Vivienne agreed with a pointed smile. ¡°Some people just aren¡¯t cut out for the demanding world of technological innovation.¡±


    Julian frowned slightly. ¡°Actually, ra¡¯s return to the field has been remarkably seamless. Ourtest project sess rates have doubled since she rejoined the team.¡±


    The conversation shifted when Charles Paxon began discussing market projections, but Alistair Dubois continued watching ra. Her calm demeanor, the way she had managed to engage Bryson Leonard in deep conversation earlier, her apparent reconnection with Julian Croft¡¯spany after years away¨Cit all seemed calcted.


    Even that stumble into Damien¡¯s arms, which had appeared idental¡­ could it have been a ploy for attention? A way to remind Damien of their past?


    Alistair¡¯s gaze narrowed thoughtfully. Perhaps ra Vance wasn¡¯t merely quiet and unassuming after all. Perhaps she was adept at ying a more subtle game¨Cusing her apparent innocence to manipte situations to her advantage.


    He¡¯d dismissed her before as insignificantpared to his niece Vivienne. Now, watching her calmly sip her water while navigating thisplex social terrain, he wondered if he¡¯d underestimated her all along.


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    21:15

 The Sprawling 63

    63 Amidst Cold Shoulders, A Helping Hand Calls


    ra winced as she attempted to stand from her chair, <b>a </b>sharp pain shooting through her ankle. The fall had been more severe than she initially thought.


    Julian noticed her distress immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t put weight on it,¡± he instructed, moving


    to her side.


    Several eyes turned toward them, including Damien¡¯s. His expression remained impassive, his attention quickly returning to his conversation with Bradley Newman.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ra insisted quietly, embarrassed by the attention.


    Julian ignored her protest. ¡°You¡¯re clearly not fine. Let me see.¡±


    He knelt beside her chair, gently lifting her ankle to examine it. The area was already swelling visibly.


    ¡°That needs ice and elevation,¡± he said firmly. ¡°I¡¯m going to find the event coordinator and get some medical attention<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Before she could object further, Julian stood and addressed those at the table. ¡°Please excuse us. ra needs medical attention for her ankle.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s lips curved in a small smile as she leaned toward Damien. ¡°How


    unfortunate,¡± she murmured, loud enough for ra to hear. ¡°Perhaps she should be


    more careful.¡±


    Julian¡¯s jaw tightened slightly, but he maintained his professional demeanor. Without waiting for furthermentary, he carefully helped ra to her feet, supporting her weight.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to- ra began.


    ¡°I do,¡± Julian interrupted softly. ¡°Lean on me.¡±


    <b>¦§ </b>


    As Julian guided her away from the table, ra caught sight of Damien watching them, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Vivienne whispered something that made <b>him. </b>


    turn back to her.


    ¡°I can walk with assistance, ra said to Julian. ¡°You don¡¯t need to make a scene<b>.</b>¡±


    21:15


    <b>03 </b><b>Amidst </b>Cold Shoulders, A Helping Hand Calls


    ¡°This isn¡¯t about making a scene,¡± Julian replied, his voice low and firm. ¡°This is about getting you proper care.¡±


    Several people watched as they made their way across the banquet hall. ra could feel the weight of their stares, the quiet murmurs that followed them.


    Julian found the event coordinator quickly and exined the situation. Within minutes, a small meeting room was cleared for their use, and a call was ced for a doctor.


    ¡°You should return to the dinner,¡± ra told Julian once she was seatedfortably with her leg elevated on another chair. ¡°It¡¯s an importantworking opportunity.¡±


    Julian shook his head. ¡°The most important partnerships are already in motion. I¡¯m staying <b>until </b>the doctor arrives at minimum.¡±


    ¡°People will talk,¡± she warned.


    ¡°People always talk,¡± he replied with a shrug. ¡°I care more about your wellbeing than their gossip.


    The event coordinator returned with ice wrapped in a cloth. ¡°The doctor will be here. in fifteen minutes,¡± she informed them. ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡±


    ¡°This is perfect, thank you,¡± Julian said, taking the ice pack.


    Once they were alone again, Julian carefully ced the ice on ra¡¯s swollen ankle.


    She winced at the cold.


    ¡°Sorry¡± he murmured. ¡°But it will help with the swelling.¡±


    ra sighed. ¡°This is embarrassing. I shouldn¡¯t have worn these heels.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t the heels,¡± Julian said tly. ¡°Someone bumped into you rather forcefully.¡±


    ra frowned. ¡°You noticed that?¡±


    ¡°I was returning to the table when it happened,¡± he confirmed. ¡°That wasn¡¯t an ident, ra. That woman deliberately pushed past you.¡±


    ra thought back to the moment before her fall. She had felt someone brush against her back with unusual force, but she¡¯d been too focused on regaining her bnce to see who it was.


    21:15


    69 Amidst Cold Shoulders, A Holping Hand Calls


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked.


    Julian nodded grimly. ¡°Quite sure. One of Vivienne¡¯s friends¨Cthe brte who¡¯s been hovering near her all evening.¡±


    ¡°Lennox,¡± ra supplied, suddenly understanding. ¡°She and Vivienne have been friends. since college.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Well, she should be more careful about assaulting people in public.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± ra said wearily. ¡°Let it go.¡±


    They sat inpanionable silence until the doctor arrived. After a thorough examination, he confirmed what they suspected¨Ca moderate sprain that required rest, ice,pression, and elevation.


    ¡°No weight on it for at least twenty¨Cfour hours, the doctor instructed as he wrapped her ankle with apression bandage. ¡°And minimal weight for several days after that. I¡¯ll write you a prescription for the pain.¡±


    Once the doctor departed, Julian helped ra to her feet¨Cor rather, her one good. foot.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking you home,¡± he said firmly.


    ¡°But the dinner-


    ¡°Is practically over,¡± he finished for her, ¡°Most of the important conversations have already happened. Besides, I¡¯ve seen enough of Vivienne Dubois¡¯s smug expressions for one evening.


    Julian supported her as they made their slow progress through the now¨Cthinning crowd. Several people offered sympathetic nces or inquiries about her condition. ra responded with gracious smiles and brief reassurances.


    Near the exit, they passed Alistair Dubois, who watched them with calcting eyes.


    ¡°What a devoted business partner you have, Mrs. Thorne,¡± he remarked, his tone implying something more. ¡°Most executives wouldn¡¯t be so¡­ hands¨Con.¡±


    Julian met his gaze evenly. ¡°Most executives understand that taking care of your team is good business, Mr. Dubois. Something worth remembering.¡±


    21:15


    63 Amidst Cold Shoulders, A Helping Hand Calls


    Without waiting for a response, Julian guided ra past him and out to the waiting area where he had already arranged for his car.


    The ride to ra¡¯s apartment was quiet. She leaned her head against the window, exhaustion washing over her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said finally, ¡°For everything tonight.¡±


    Julian nced at her. ¡°No thanks necessary. That¡¯s what friends do.¡±


    When they arrived at her building, Julian insisted on helping her to her door despite. her protests.


    ¡°I have some errands to run tonight, but I can cancel them if you need me to stay,¡± he offered as she unlocked her apartment<b>.. </b>


    ¡°No, please go,¡± she insisted. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll take some pain medication and rest.¡±


    Julian hesitated. ¡°Call me if you need anything. I mean it, ra. Anything at all.¡±


    After he left, ra changed intofortable clothes and settled onto her couch with her ankle elevated on pillows. The quiet of her apartment enveloped her, a stark contrast to the noise and tension of the evening.


    She was just beginning to drift into a light sleep when her phone rang. Groggily, she reached for it, expecting Julian checking on her.


    Instead, an unfamiliar male voice greeted her. ¡°Mrs. Thorne? This is Beck Harper.¡±


    ra frowned, trying to ce the name. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m calling about your car,¡± he exined. ¡°The damage has been taken care of, and it¡¯s ready whenever you¡¯d like to pick it up. Or if you¡¯re busy, I can have someone drive it back to you.¡±


    ra blinked in confusion. ¡°My car? What damage?¡±


    There was a pause on the other end. ¡°From the incident earlier today. At the intersection of Pine and 5th?¡±


    ra sat up straighter, wincing as she identally jostled her injured ankle. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I think there¡¯s been some mistake. My car is in the parking garage at my apartment building. It hasn¡¯t been in any incident.¡±


    45


    63 Amidst Cold Shoulders, A Helping Hand Calls


    Silence greeted her statement, then Beck Harper¡¯s voice returned, now cautious. ¡°This Isn¡¯t ra Thome¡¯s phone number?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± she confirmed. ¡°But my car is fine. At least, it was this morning when I drove to work.¡±


    ¡°I see, Harper replied slowly. ¡°In that case, I think we need to discuss this further, Mrs. Thorne. Someone¡¯s been using your identity.¡±


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 The Sprawling 64

    21:16


    <b>04 </b>A Generous Gesture and on Unsettling Dobt


    64 A Generous Gesture and an Unsettling Debt


    ra stared at her phone, mind racing as she processed Beck Harper¡¯s words.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s been using my identity?¡± she repeated, shifting on the couch to better elevate her throbbing ankle.


    ¡°It appears so,¡± Beck replied. ¡°The woman who brought in the car matched your description perfectly. She had your ID and insurance information<b>.</b>¡±


    ra¡¯s stomach knotted. ¡°What kind of car was it?¡±


    ¡°A silver Audi A6, license te TRH¨C4389.¡±


    Her breath caught. That was definitely her car. ¡°That is my car. But I haven¡¯t driven it since this morning when I arrived at work. It should be in the Thorne Industries. parking garage.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Beck¡¯s tone shifted from suspicious to concerned. ¡°Mrs. Thorne, I¡¯ll look into this situation immediately. In the meantime, would you like me to have someone deliver your car to you?¡±


    ra nced down at her bandaged ankle. She wouldn¡¯t be driving anywhere tonight regardless.


    No, thank you. I¡¯m actually dealing with an injury at the moment. I¡¯ll arrange to have someone pick it up tomorrow.¡±


    After exchanging a few more details, ra ended the call and immediately dialed


    Julian.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± he answered on the second ring.


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± ra exined the situation quickly. ¡°Would you mind checking if my car is still at Thorne Industries? I¡¯d go myself, but with this ankle¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way there now,¡± Julian said decisively.


    While waiting for Julian¡¯s call back, ra tried to make sense of the situation. Who would take her car? And why? The throbbing in her ankle intensified as her anxiety


    grew.


    21:36 C


    64 A Generous Gesture and an Unsettling Debt


    Twenty minutester, her phone rang again.


    ¡°Your car isn¡¯t here,¡± Julian confirmed. ¡°Security footage shows Damien took your keys from your desk around three this afternoon.¡±


    ra closed her eyes. Of course it was Damien.


    <b>¡°</b>Julian, I hate to ask for another favor<b>, </b>but could you possibly retrieve my car from the repair shop tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Consider it done,¡± he replied without hesitation. ¡°Get some rest, ra.¡±


    Sleep came fitfully that night, her mind cycling between her injured ankle, her missing car, and Damien¡¯s inexplicable behavior.


    The next morning, ra¡¯s phone rang just as she finished her coffee. Cora¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    ¡°Mom<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Cora¡¯s voice was uncharacteristically concerned. ¡°Dad said you hurt your ankle. Are you okay?<b>¡± </b>


    ra¡¯s heart softened. Despite everything, these moments with her daughter were precious.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, sweetheart. Just a sprain. I need to rest it for a few days.¡±


    ¡°Are you at home? Can Ie see you?¡±


    ra hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m staying at my apartment for now. It¡¯s easier to manage with the injury.¡±


    ¡°But Dad and I could help you,¡± Cora protested.


    ¡°That¡¯s sweet, but <b>I¡¯m </b>managing fine,¡± ra kept her tone gentle but firm. ¡°I have Julian helping me with a few things.¡±


    A brief silence followed. ¡°Julian? From your work?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s been very kind.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Cora¡¯s voice cooled slightly. ¡°Dad said you don¡¯t work at hispany anymore.¡±


    ra hadn¡¯t expected Damien to inform their daughter so quickly. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m working on some exciting Al projects with Julian now.¡±


    21:16


    64 A Generous Gesture and an Unsettling Dobt


    ¡°But why did you leave Dad¡¯spany?¡±


    ¡°It was time for a change,¡± ra said carefully. ¡°I¡¯m doing work I¡¯m really passionatel


    about now.¡±


    Cora was quiet for another moment. ¡°Will I see you this weekend?¡±


    ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll have our regr Saturday together.¡±


    After saying goodbye to Cora, ra hobbled to her kitchen for more coffee. Her phone rang again almost immediately.


    ¡°ra,¡± Damien¡¯s cool voice greeted her. ¡°Cora tells me you¡¯ve injured your ankle.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied simply, unsure why he was calling.


    ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Last night at the Dubois Foundation dinner. I fell.¡±


    A


    pause. ¡°I know. I saw it happen.¡±


    Of course he had. And he¡¯d done nothing.


    ¡°Why did you take my car yesterday?¡± ra asked, changing the subject.


    ¡°It needed repairs. The check engine light came on. I noticed when I returned from lunch.¡±


    His casual exnation stunned her. ¡°You could have told me.¡±


    ¡°You were in meetings all afternoon.¡±


    ra bit back a retort about text messages existing for exactly these situations. ¡°Well, thank you, I suppose. Julian is picking it up for me today.¡±


    I see. Damien¡¯s tone remained neutral. ¡°Cora mentioned you¡¯re no longer working for


    Thorne Industries.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right<b>.¡± </b>


    ¡°You¡¯re with Croft now? At his AI startup?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Somewhere I actually like working.¡± She couldn¡¯t keep the edge from her voice.


    64 A Generous Gesture and an Unsettling Dobt


    Another pause. ¡°I see. Goodbye, ra.¡±


    The call ended as abruptly as it had begun.


    Later that evening, Julian arrived carrying a bag of takeout in one hand and her car keys in the other.


    ¡°Your chariot awaits, mdy, he announced with a mock bow. ¡°I parked it in your designated spot.¡±


    ¡°Thank <i>you </i>le


    ra gratefully. ¡°How much do I owe for the repairs?¡±


    Julian shrugged as he unpacked containers of Thai food. ¡°They didn¡¯t charge me anything. Said it was already taken care of.¡±


    ra frowned. ¡°What do you mean<b>?</b>¡±


    ¡°Apparently the charges were paid for yesterday. The mechanic recognized your name and just handed over the keys.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s odd. Damien didn¡¯t mention paying for repairs.¡±


    Julian hesitated. ¡°I got the impression it wasn¡¯t Damien who paid.¡±


    ¡°Then who?¡±


    ¡°When I mentioned I was picking it up for ra Thorne, the guy said, ¡®Oh, Mr. Harper already settled everything. Does that name mean anything to you?¡±


    ra¡¯s chopsticks froze halfway to her mouth. ¡°Beck Harper? The man who called mest night?¡±


    ¡°Must be,¡± Julian nodded. ¡°Anyway, your car is fixed and running perfectly. Now, before


    you


    dive into this assignment,¡± he tapped a folder he¡¯d ced on her coffee table, ¡°eat some noodles.¡±


    After dinner, Julian briefed her on an academic project they were coborating on with a local university. Despite her best efforts to focus, ra¡¯s mind kept returning to Beck Harper¡¯s unexpected generosity.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to review those journal articles by next week,¡± Julian concluded. ¡°Can you manage with your ankle?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± ra nodded. ¡°Reading isn¡¯t affected by ankle injuries<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    21:16


    64 A Generous Gosture and an Unsettling Dabl


    Once Julian left, ra reached for her phone. She needed to clear this debt.


    immediately. Thest thing she wanted was to owe favors to strangers, especially ones. connected to Thorne Industries.


    She dialed the number fromst night. Beck Harper answered on the third ring.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± he greeted her. ¡°I¡¯m <b>d </b>you called. I wanted to check how you¡¯re doing<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Mr. Harper,¡± ra replied firmly. ¡°Did you cover the repair cost for my car? If so, how much was it? I¡¯ll transfer the money to you right away¡±


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 The Sprawling 65

    21:10


    <b>05 </b>A Daughter Distant Curl


    <b>65 </b>A Daughter¡¯s Distant Call


    ra shifted slightly in her chair, her eyes fixed on herputer screen as she waited for Beck Harper¡¯s response.


    ¡°Yes, I did,¡± Beck replied after a brief pause. ¡°But there¡¯s no need to repay me. Consider it a professional courtesy.


    ra frowned, ufortable with the idea of epting such generosity from someone she barely knew. ¡°I appreciate the gesture, but I¡¯d prefer to settle the debt. Please tell me the amount.¡±


    ¡°Six hundred and seventy¨Cfive dors,¡± Beck finally answered, his tone suggesting reluctance.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll transfer that amount immediately,¡± ra said, already reaching for her banking app. ¡°And thank you for handling the situation.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mrs. Thome<b>.¡± </b>


    ra ended the call and quickly arranged the payment. As she set her phone down, she noticed Julian watching her with raised eyebrows. 1


    ¡°You really couldn¡¯t let that go, could you?¡± he asked, leaning against the doorframe of


    her home office.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like owing people favors,¡± ra replied simply, turning back to herputer. ¡°Especially people I don¡¯t know well.¡±


    Julian walked into the room, settling into the chair across from her desk. ¡°Fair enough. But you two seemed rather formal with each other. I thought he might be a friend.¡±


    ¡°Hardly.¡± ra shook her head. ¡°Just someone who works at Thorne Industries. I¡¯ve only spoken to him a few times.¡±


    Julian nodded, then nced at the clock on her wall. ¡°We should probably get back to <b>work </b>if we want to finish this presentation before midnight.¡±


    The hours ticked by as they refined their PowerPoint deck for tomorrow¡¯s meeting with potential investors. Julian ordered pizza somewhere around eleven, and they continued working side by side, pausing only briefly to eat.


    21:16


    65 A Daughter¡¯s Distant Call


    <b>By </b>two in the morning. ra¡¯s ankle was throbbing again, but they had finallypleted the presentation. She saved the file with a satisfied sigh.


    ¡°Done,¡± she announced, rubbing her tired eyes. ¡°Thank you for staying sote.¡±


    Julian stretched his arms above his head. ¡°No problem. That¡¯s what partners do. He stood and gathered hisptop and notes. ¡°You should get some rest. I can handle the meeting tomorrow if you need to stay off that ankle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll work from home,¡± ra decided. ¡°But I¡¯ll join the call. This presentation is too important for me to miss.¡±


    After Julian left, ra hobbled to her bedroom, exhaustion settling deep in her bones. She barely managed to change into her pajamas before copsing into bed, falling into a dreamless sleep.


    The next morning, she awoke to sunlight streaming through her curtains. Her ankle felt better, but still not good enough to navigate the office. She sent Julian a quick text confirming she¡¯d work remotely today, then settled at her desk with a cup of coffee.


    Midway through reviewing some code, her phone rang. ra nced at the screen, surprised to see Cora¡¯s name.


    ¡°Hello, sweetheart,¡± she answered, unable to keep the smile from her voice.


    ¡°Mom?¡± Cora¡¯s voice was hesitant, almost formal. ¡°Dad said I should call to check on


    your ankle. How are you feeling?¡±


    ra¡¯s smile faltered slightly. So this was Damien¡¯s idea, not Cora¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m doing better <b>today</b>, thank you for asking¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Cora replied. A brief silence followed. ¡°Aras


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m working from my apartment today.¡±


    you at home?¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Another pause. ¡°When are youing back to the house?¡±


    The innocent question stabbed at ra¡¯s heart. How could she exin to her daughter that she might never return to what had once been their family home?


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet, sweetheart. My ankle needs more time to heal, and this apartment is easier to manage right now.¡±


    21:16


    275


    65 A Daughter¡¯s Distant Call


    ¡°But I miss you, Cora said, her voice small.


    ra closed her eyes, fighting back a wave of emotion. ¡°I miss you too, Coco. So much


    The childhood nickname slipped out naturally, but Cora¡¯s response was immediate and sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that. I¡¯m not a baby anymore.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± ra replied softly, stung by her daughter¡¯s tone. ¡°You¡¯re right, you¡¯re growing up so fast.¡±


    ¡°Vivienne says pet names are for children,¡± Cora continued, her voice gaining confidence. ¡°She calls me by my real name. She says it¡¯s more respectful.¡±


    Of course she does, ra thought bitterly. Another small way for Vivienne to distance


    Cora from her own mother.


    ¡°Well, Vivienne certainly knows about respecting boundaries,¡± ra managed, keeping her tone neutral despite the irony burning in her throat.


    ¡°She does,¡± Cora agreed earnestly. ¡°She¡¯s teaching me lots of things. Yesterday she showed me how to make French toast. We¡¯re going to make it for Dad this weekend.¡±


    ra swallowed hard. That had been their tradition¨CSunday morning French toast, just her and Cora, before Damien woke up. Now Vivienne was taking that too.


    ¡°That sounds lovely,¡± she said, her voice slightly strained. ¡°I¡¯m sure your dad will enjoy


    that.¡±


    ¡°Vivienne says she¡¯s going to teach me how to ride horses next month,¡± Coral


    continued, seemingly oblivious to her mother¡¯s pain. ¡°She has a friend who owns


    stables.¡±


    ¡°How nice,¡± ra murmured. She had mentioned riding lessons to Damien months ago, but he had dismissed the idea as impractical.


    The conversationpsed into another awkward silence. ra could hear muffled voices in the background¨CDamien, she guessed, and probably Vivienne too.


    ¡°Mom?¡± Cora finally spoke again.


    <b>¡°</b>Yes, sweetheart?¡±


    ¡°Vivienne got me a new dress. It¡¯s purple with butterflies. She says I can wear it to her


    21:16


    65 A Daughter¡¯s Distant Call


    friend¡¯s garden party next week.¡±


    Each word felt like a tiny needle pricking ra¡¯s heart. She remembered when Cora would run to show her new clothes, twirling and beaming with excitement. Now her daughter spoke about these things with the same detached politeness she might use with a distant rtive.


    ¡°You¡¯ll look beautiful, I¡¯m sure,¡± ra replied, trying to keep her voice steady.


    ¡°Dad thinks so too, Cora added. ¡°He said I look just like Vivienne when I tried it on.¡±


    ra bit her lip hard. Theparison wasn¡¯t lost on her¨CDamien had never once said Cora resembled her mother.


    ¡°Is there anything you need, Mom?¡± Cora asked after another silence, her tone suggesting she was wrapping up <b>the </b>call.


    ¡°Just to hear your voice,¡± ra answered honestly. ¡°It makes me happy to talk to you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Cora sounded slightly surprised. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ra heard more muffled conversation in the background, then Cora¡¯s voice returned.


    ¡°Dad, do you want to talk to Mom on the phone?¡±


    ra¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she waited for Damien¡¯s response, her heart


    uddenly racing with unexpected anxiety.


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    21:16

 The Sprawling 66

    66 An Icy Encounter and a Bitter Truth


    ra¡¯s heart pounded as she waited for Damien¡¯s response. The silence on the other end of the line stretched ufortably.


    ¡°He said he¡¯s busy right now,¡± Cora finally reported, her voice dropping with


    disappointment.


    ra¡¯s grip on her phone tightened. Of course he was busy. Too busy to speak with his soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Cwife, even for a moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± she replied coolly. ¡°I need to get back to work anyway.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Cora said. ¡°Bye, Mom<b>.¡± </b>


    ¡°Goodbye, sweetheart. I love you.¡±


    But Cora had already hung up. ra stared at her phone screen, a familiar ache blooming in her chest. She set the device down and turned back to herputer, throwing herself into her work with renewed determination.


    Over the next few days, ra continued working from home. Julian visited daily, bringing files, takeout food, and much¨Cneededpanionship. They spent long hours: refining their project, ignoring Zachary¡¯s increasingly critical emails.


    He¡¯s just looking for reasons to reject our proposal, Julian muttered one evening, reading Zachary¡¯stest message. ¡°These so¨Ccalled ¡®concerns¡® are ridiculous.¡±


    ra nodded, massaging her temples. ¡°We¡¯ve addressed every technical issue twice over. At this point, he¡¯s just being difficult because he can be.¡±


    Julian closed hisptop with a snap. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a night. Your ankle seems better. Will you being to the office tomorrow?¡±


    ra tested her weight on her injured ankle. The pain had subsided to a dull ache. ¡°Yes, I think I¡¯m ready. I can¡¯t hide out here forever.¡±


    The next morning, ra arrived at YodaVision¡¯s headquarters early. The familiar buzz of activity greeted her as she made her way to her office, nodding hello to colleagues who weed her back.


    She had barely settled at her desk when Julian appeared in her doorway, an unusual


    10


    66 An ley Encounter and a Bitter Truth


    <b>smile </b>ying on his lips.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked, immediately suspicious.


    ¡°I have news,¡± he said, stepping inside and closing the door. ¡°Damien¡¯s private techpany wants to coborate with us.¡±


    ra blinked in surprise. ¡°What? When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°His technical director, Henry Quinn, reached out yesterday afternoon. They¡¯re interested in our Alnguage processing capabilities.¡±


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell me thisst night because¡­?¡±


    Julian shrugged. ¡°I wanted to confirm it was legitimate first. Henry¡¯s scheduled toe in at ten for preliminary discussions<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ra nced at the clock¨C8:30 AM. She had less than two hours to prepare.


    ¡°Do you want to lead the meeting?¡± Julian asked carefully.


    ¡°No,¡± ra replied quickly, perhaps too quickly. ¡°This is your area of expertise. I¡¯ll support from the sidelines.¡±


    At precisely ten o¡¯clock, Henry Quinn arrived. Tall andnky with wire¨Crimmed sses<b>, </b>he looked every bit the brilliant technical mind ra had heard he was. She and Julian weed him into the conference room.


    ¡°Ms. Vance, Mr. Croft,¡± Henry greeted them warmly. ¡°Thank you for meeting with me


    on such short notice.¡±


    The initial discussions went better than ra had expected. Henry was sharp, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in their technology. He asked insightful questions and seemed impressed by their answers.


    ¡°I think there¡¯s definitely potential for coboration here,¡± Henry concluded after two hours. ¡°Your Alprehension algorithms couldplement our security systems perfectly.¡±


    Julian nodded enthusiastically. ¡°We¡¯d be happy to work with your team on this.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Henry smiled, checking his watch. ¡°Would you mind if we continue this over lunch? I¡¯m starving.¡±/


    21:10


    68 An Icy Encounter and a Bitter Truth


    They agreed<b>, </b>and Julian suggested a nearby restaurant known for its business<b>¨C</b>friendly atmosphere. The three of them walked the short distance, continuing their technical discussion along the way.


    The restaurant was bustling when they arrived. The hostess led them to a table near the center of the room, and they had just settled in when the main door opened.


    ra froze mid¨Csentence as Damien Thorne walked in, his tall figuremanding attention. Beside him stood Vivienne, stunning in a formfitting dress that highlighted her perfect curves. They made a striking couple¨Cpowerful, beautiful, andpletely


    in <b>sync</b><b>. </b>


    Henry noticed them immediately. ¡°Oh, Mr. Thorne! What a coincidence.¡± He waved them over enthusiastically.


    ra¡¯s stomach clenched. She exchanged a quick nce with Julian, who looked equally ufortable.


    Damien and Vivienne approached their table. Henry stood to shake Damien¡¯s hand, beaming like an excited puppy.


    ¡°Sir, I was just having a productive meeting with YodaVision about the potential coboration we discussed.¡±


    Damien nodded curtly. His eyes briefly scanned the table, resting momentarily on Julian butpletely skipping over ra as if she were invisible.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said simply.


    Julian stood, ever the professional. ¡°Mr. Thorne, good to see you again.¡± He nodded politely at Vivienne. ¡°Ms. Dubois.¡±


    Vivienne smiled, her perfect lips curving upward. ¡°Julian.¡± Her eyes slid to ra, a sh of triumph visible before she masked it with practiced indifference.


    ra remained seated, her face carefully nk. She refused to show how much this casual dismissal from Damien hurt, especially in front of Vivienne. 1


    ¡°Would you like to join us?¡± Julian offered, though ra knew he was only being polite.


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Damien replied coolly. ¡°We¡¯re here on a personal outing.¡± His hand. moved to the small of Vivienne¡¯s back, a possessive gesture that didn¡¯t escape ra¡¯s


    notice. 1


    21:16


    60 An <b>loy </b>Encounter and a Bitter Truth


    ¡°Perhaps another time,¡± Vivienne added smoothly, leaning slightly into Damien¡¯s touch.


    Henry looked disappointed but nodded. ¡°Of course, sir. Enjoy your lunch.¡±


    The hostess appeared to escort Damien and Vivienne to a private booth in the corner. <b>As </b>they walked away, ra couldn¡¯t help but notice how Damien leaned down to whisper something in Vivienne¡¯s car, making herugh softly.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Shall </b>we order?¡± Julian asked briskly, drawing ra¡¯s attention back to their table. She was grateful for his tact<b>. </b>


    The lunch continued, but ra found it difficult to focus. Her eyes kept drifting to the corner where Damien and Vivienne sat, heads close together in intimate conversation. She forced herself to engage with Henry¡¯s detailed questions about their technology, but her responsescked her usual sharpness.


    By the time they finished their meal, Damien and Vivienne had already left. ra felt a mix of relief and lingering humiliation. Being ignored sopletely had stung more


    than she cared to admit.


    As they walked back to the office, Henry excused himself to take a call, leaving ra and Julian momentarily alone.


    Julian leaned closer to her, his voice low. ¡°You okay?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± she answered automatically.


    ¡°He¡¯s an ass,¡± Julian muttered.


    ra shook her head slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s just focus on the work.¡±


    They continued in silence for a few steps before Julian spoke again, his voice careful


    and measured.


    ¡°There¡¯s something you should know,¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to mention it earlier, but with what just happened¡­¡± He hesitated.


    ¡°What is it?¡± ra asked, a sense of dread building.


    ¡°The Dubois family has secured several major projects in Baumond recently¡± Julian exined. ¡°Word is that Damien put his full support behind them, leveraging his


    connections to ensure their sess.¡±


    21:16


    66 An ley Encounter and a Bitter Truth


    ra felt a coldness settle in her chest. During their marriage, Damien had never once used his influence to help her career. He¡¯d kept their professional lives strictly separate, refusing to even visit her at work. Yet here he was, actively promoting Vivienne¡¯s family business.


    ¡°I see, she murmured softly, her voice barely audible over the street noise.


    The message was crystal clear: Vivienne wasn¡¯t just a passing fancy. Damien was fully invested in her, in ways he¡¯d never been with ra. The bitter truth settled like a stone in her stomach as they walked back to the office, Henry chattering obliviously about technical specifications behind them.


    Comment

 The Sprawling 67

    Swipe left to continue >


    <b>87 </b>A Rival¡¯s Ascendancy at Innova Tech


    67 A Rival¡¯s Ascendancy at InnovaTech


    ra smoothed down her zer as she and Julian entered the imposing ss doors of InnovaTech. Thepany¡¯s headquarters radiated power and innovation¨Call sleek lines and minimalist design.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Julian asked, giving her a sideways nce.


    ¡°As I¡¯ll ever be,¡± she replied, keeping her voice steady despite the fluttering in her


    stomach.


    She¡¯d spent hours preparing for this meeting. Every document was meticulously organized, every potential question anticipated. This contract mattered too much to YodaVision¨Cto her future¨Cto let personal feelings interfere.


    The


    receptionist directed them to the main conference room on the thirty¨Csecond floor. As the elevator climbed, ra focused on her breathing, maintaining the calm exterior she¡¯d perfected over years of business negotiations.


    Henry Quinn was waiting for them when they arrived, his familiarnky frame rising to greet them.


    ¡°Ms. Vance, Mr. Croft, wee to InnovaTech,¡± he said warmly, shaking both their


    hands.


    A second man stepped forward. ¡°Jonathan Knox, he introduced himself with a firm handshake. ¡°Head of Strategic Partnerships.¡±


    The conference room was spacious, with floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. ra took a seat, arranging her materials precisely before her.


    ¡°I understand Mr. Thorne won¡¯t be joining us today,¡± Julian remarked casually as they


    settled in.


    Henry exchanged a quick nce with Jonathan. ¡°Actually, Mr. Thorne is in the building. today. He may stop byter.¡°/


    ra¡¯s stomach tightened, but she kept her expression neutral. ¡°Let¡¯s get started


    <b>then</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    21:17


    16


    67 A Rivals Ascendancy at InnovaTech


    For the next hour, they discussed contract specifics¨CImplementation timelines, resource allocation, financial terms. ra was in her element, smoothly addressing concerns and clearly articting YodaVision¡¯s capabilities.


    ¡°Yournguage processing algorithms are impressive, Jonathan admitted, reviewing the technical specifications. ¡°The security applications alone could revolutionize-¡±


    The door swung open, cutting him short.


    ra didn¡¯t need to look up to know who had entered. The sudden shift in the room¡¯s energy said it all. She kept her eyes on her tablet, finishing her note before slowly raising her head.


    It wasn¡¯t Damien.


    It was Vivienne.


    She glided into the room like she owned it, dressed in a tailored power suit that emphasized her perfect figure. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant chignon, highlighting her wless bone structure.


    ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interrupting, Vivienne said, her voice smooth as honey.


    Jonathan immediately stood. ¡°Not at all, Ms. Dubois. Please, join us.¡±


    ra fought to keep her expression neutral as Vivienne took a seat directly across from her. Of all the possibleplications, this was the one she¡¯d least prepared for.


    ¡°Ms. Dubois is consulting with us on several key projects,¡± Henry exined, his tone


    reverent.


    Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware you were involved with InnovaTech, Ms. Dubois<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Vivienne smiled, a perfect sh of white teeth. ¡°Damien values my input on certain matters.¡± She said his name with intimate familiarity, her eyes briefly flickering to ra.


    The message was clear: I belong here. You don¡¯t.


    Jonathan cleared his throat! ¡°We were just discussing the security applications of YodaVision¡¯s algorithms.¡±


    21-17


    67 A Rival¡¯s Ascendancy at InnovaTech


    ¡°Fascinating¡± Vivienne replied, leaning forward slightly. ¡°Would you mind if I take a look at the contract details?¡±


    ra tensed. The contract contained proprietary information about YodaVision¡¯s technology¨Cinformation that should be shared only with official InnovaTech representatives.


    Before she could voice her concern, Jonathan slid the document across the table


    toward Vivienne.


    ¡°Of course. Mr. Thorne trusts Ms. Duboispletely with confidential matters,¡± he exined, noticing ra¡¯s expression.


    ra watched as Vivienne began reviewing the document, her manicured finger tracing along key points. The casual way she essed this information struck ra like a physical blow.


    During their marriage, Damien had never shared business details with her. She¡¯d been kept firmly outside his professional world, told repeatedly that business and personal boundaries must be maintained.


    ¡°These terms are quite generous,¡± Viviennemented, looking up at Jonathan. ¡°Perhaps too generous for what¡¯s being offered?¡±


    Julian stiffened beside ra. ¡°Our technology speaks for itself,¡± he countered smoothly. ¡°The value proposition is clear.¡±


    Vivienne smiled again, this one not quite reaching her eyes. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m simply advocating for InnovaTech¡¯s best interests.¡±


    As if she were already an executive here, ra thought bitterly.


    Henry jumped in, exining technical details that clearly aimed to smooth over the moment of tension. ra forced herself to refocus, contributing to the conversation with practiced professionalism.


    The meeting continued for another forty minutes, with Vivienne asionally interjecting


    questions that, while technically relevant, subtly undercut YodaVision¡¯s position. Each time, ra responded with calm precision, refusing to be rattled.


    When they finally reached a tentative agreement on all major points, Jonathan closed his folder with satisfaction.


    67 A Rival¡¯s Ascendancy at innovaTech


    <b>¡°</b>I think <b>this </b>will be a fruitful partnership, he dered. ¡°The final contract will be ready for signatures next week.


    As they gathered their materials, Julian turned to Vivienne. ¡°Will you be joining InnovaTech officially, Ms. Dubois? You seem quite involved already.¡±


    A calcted question, ra knew, Julian was fishing for information about their


    . </b>


    Vivienne smiled enigmatically. ¡°Damien has offered me a position, but I prefer to maintain my independence. My research demands flexibility.¡±


    ¡°A pity,¡± Jonathan interjected passionately. ¡°Your research on multilingual AI recognition is groundbreaking. <b>The </b>industry still talks about your presentation at the


    Geneva Tech Summit.¡±


    ra looked up sharply. Multilingual AI recognition was her specialty at YodaVision- the very technology they were discussing today.


    Jonathan continued, his admiration evident. ¡°That paper you published in Computational Linguisticsst year was revolutionary. Honestly, Ms. Dubois, InnovaTech would be incredibly fortunate to have someone with your expertise on


    board.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± Vivienne demurred, but her expression was triumphant as her gaze slid to ra.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Jonathan insisted. ¡°Mr. Thorne himself said your approach tonguage pattern recognition is unparalleled. The applications for security systems alone would transform our entire product line.¡±


    Each word hit ra like an arrow. Not only was Vivienne being granted ess to confidential business matters, but she was also being courted for her expertise in ra¡¯s own field¨Cwith Damien¡¯s explicit endorsement.


    ¡°Perhaps someday,¡± Vivienne replied graciously. ¡°For now, I¡¯m content with my current


    arrangement.¡±


    As they all stood to leave, Henry touched ra¡¯s elbow. ¡°Ms. Vance, could I have a quick word about the implementation schedule?¡±


    ra nodded, stepping aside with Henry while Julian engaged in polite small talk with


    21:17


    67 A Rival¡¯s Ascendancy at Innova Tuch


    Jonathan.


    ¡°I just wanted to say, Henry lowered his voice, ¡°your work on this project has been exemry. The clear documentation and thoughtful architecture really impressed <b>our </b>


    team.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra replied, genuinely surprised by thepliment.


    He adjusted his sses nervously. ¡°I know Ms. Dubois¡¯s presence can be somewhat¡­ intimidating. But I want you to know your expertise is valued here.¡±


    Before ra could respond<b>, </b>she heard Jonathan¡¯s voice rise with enthusiasm behind.


    her.


    ¡°Ms. Dubois, I simply must insist you reconsider! With your background in advanced Al linguistics and pattern recognition, you¡¯d revolutionize everything we¡¯re doing here. The entire department would benefit from your leadership!¡±


    ra turned slowly, meeting Vivienne¡¯s eyes across the room. In them, she saw not just triumph, but a clear message: Everything you are, everything you do, I can do better- and Damien knows it.


    Comment 0


    21:17

 The Sprawling 68

    68 The CEO¡¯s Constant Companion


    ra kept her gaze fixed on the contract as Jonathan continued praising Vivienne¡¯s research aplishments. Each word felt like a needle piercing her professional dignity, but she refused to show any reaction. Years of marriage to Damien had taught her how to wear a mask of indifference.


    ¡°Your multilingual recognition algorithms wouldplement our security systems perfectly, Jonathan gushed,pletely oblivious to the tension in the room.


    Julian shot ra a concerned nce. He knew this was her specialty¨Cthe very foundation of YodaVision¡¯spetitive edge.


    ¡°Perhaps we should finish reviewing the implementation timeline,¡± ra suggested smoothly, redirecting the conversation. ¡°We still need to discuss the transition phases.¡±


    Henry nodded gratefully. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s get back to the-


    The conference room door swung open without warning. Damien Thorne stepped in,manding attention instantly. His tailored charcoal suit emphasized his broad shoulders, and his confident stride carried him directly to the head of the table.


    is eyes swept


    ¡°Julian,¡± he acknowledged with a brief nod before over the rest of the room, pausing only a fraction of a second on ra.


    ¡°Darling,¡± Vivienne purred, rising from her seat. ¡°We were just discussing the


    YodaVision contract.


    Damien¡¯s expression softened as he turned to her. ¡°I need to steal you away for lunch. We have that meeting with the Swiss investors at two<b>.¡± </b>


    ra¡¯s chest tightened. The casual intimacy between them was unmistakable. This wasn¡¯t just a fling or temporary fascination¨CVivienne had clearly integrated herself into every aspect of Damien¡¯s life, even his business affairs.


    ¡°I was just telling Vivienne how valuable her input would be on our security division,¡± Jonathan added eagerly.


    Damien ced his hand on Vivienne¡¯s lower back. <b>¡°</b>She¡¯s been instrumental in several projects already.¡±


    68 The CEO¡¯s Constant Companion


    ra focused on keeping her breathing steady. The slight emphasis on ¡°already¡± didn¡¯t <b>escape </b>her notice. It was as if he was making a point that Vivienne belonged here¨Chad been here¨Cwhile ra remained an outsider.


    ¡°We won¡¯t keep you, Julian interjected smoothly. ¡°We¡¯re nearly finished here.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Damien replied, barely ncing at the documents spread across the table. ¡°Jonathan, make sure everything¡¯s in order before you send it up to legal.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir.¡±


    With a parting nod to Julian¨Cand nothing for ra¨CDamien guided Vivienne toward the door. ra caught a glimpse of his hand sliding from Vivienne¡¯s back to her waist as they exited, a possessive, intimate gesture he had rarely shown ra, even during their early marriage.


    The door closed behind them, leaving a heavy silence in the room.


    ¡°Well,¡± Henry said, shuffling papers awkwardly, ¡°shall we continue?¡±


    The rest of the meeting dragged on interminably. ra maintained her professional demeanor, addressing each point with precision and rity despite the churning in her stomach. She refused to let her personal distress affect this critical business opportunity.


    By three o¡¯clock, they had finalized all implementation details. Jonathan collected the documents with a satisfied smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take these up to Mr. Thorne for final approval,¡± he announced. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±


    As Jonathan left, Henry turned to Julian with barely contained excitement. ¡°Your Al¡¯s contextual learning capabilities are remarkable. The demo you showedst week blew our engineering team away.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all ra¡¯s work, Julian replied, giving her due credit. ¡°She¡¯s the genius behind ournguage processing technology.¡±


    Henry looked genuinely impressed. ¡°That exins why it¡¯s so intuitive. Mostnguage engines feel mechanical, but yours has an almost human quality to its responses.¡±


    ra was about to respond when the door opened again. This time, it was <b>just </b>Jonathan, returning with signed documents.


    <b>21:17 </b>


    68 The CEO¡¯s Constant Companion


    ¡°All approved,¡± he announced triumphantly. ¡°Mr. Thorne was pleased with the terms<b>. </b>


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Julian replied, rising to shake his hand. ¡°We look forward to working with InnovaTech<b>.¡± </b>


    As they gathered their materials to leave, Henry leaned toward Julian. ¡°Ms. Dubois has been with Mr. Thorne all day. They make quite the power couple, don¡¯t they?¡±


    ra pretended not to hear, but Henry¡¯s voice carried clearly.


    ¡°She¡¯s been here nearly every day this month. The rumor mill says she¡¯ll be taking over our Al division soon. They¡¯re practically inseparable.¡±


    Julian¡¯s reply was nomittal, but ra felt a fresh wave of hurt wash over her. Every day. Not just asional appearances or lunch dates¨CVivienne had effectively moved into Damien¡¯s professional world, iming territory that ra had never been allowed to enter.


    ¡°Thank you both for your time, ra said, extending her hand to Henry. Her voice remained steady despite the knot in her throat.


    They made their way to the reception area, Julian carrying their shared portfolio. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he whispered as they waited for the elevator.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, ra replied automatically, the practiced response of seven years.


    Julian looked skeptical but didn¡¯t press. The elevator arrived with a soft chime, and they stepped forward¨Conly to freeze at the sight of the elevator¡¯s upants.


    Damien stood there, his arm casually draped around Vivienne¡¯s shoulders. Their conversation halted mid¨Csentence as they registered ra and Julian waiting to enter.


    ¡°Going down?¡± Damien asked, his tone neutral as if addressingplete strangers.


    ra¡¯s heart hammered against her ribs. She¡¯d spent the entire day steeling herself against exactly this scenario¨Cbeing forced into close quarters with Damien and Vivienne together. Now, trapped in this moment, she felt every carefully constructed defense begin to crumble.


    Vivienne¡¯s perfect red lips curved into a smile that never reached her eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you join us? There¡¯s plenty of room.¡±


    21:17

 The Sprawling 69

    V


    69 Elevator Encounters<b>, </b>Daughter¡¯s Wee


    69 Elevator Encounters, Daughter¡¯s Wee


    Julian <b>was </b>the first to recover from the awkward moment. ¡°We can wait for the next one,¡± he said politely, stepping back to put some distance between their group and the elevator.


    Damien¡¯s gaze lingered on ra before he nodded. ¡°As you wish. His arm remained firmly around Vivienne¡¯s shoulders as the elevator doors slowly closed.


    Henry looked between Julian and the closed doors with mild confusion. ¡°That was odd. We could have easily fit


    ra exhaled slowly, grateful for Julian¡¯s quick thinking. Being trapped in that small space with Damien and Vivienne would have been unbearable.


    ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s better not to crowd,¡± Julian replied casually. ¡°Besides, I just remembered I wanted to tell you about ourtest recognition algorithm improvement.¡±


    As Julian engaged Henry and Jonathan in technical discussion, raposed herself. She smoothed her navy pencil skirt and adjusted her zer, trying to ignore the tight feeling in her chest.


    Within minutes, another elevator arrived. The four of them stepped in, and Jonathan pressed the lobby button.


    Just as the doors began to close, ra¡¯s phone rang. She nced at the screen and felt <b>a </b>rush of warmth seeing ¡°Coco¡± disyed.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said softly before answering. ¡°Hello, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Cora¡¯s excited voice came through the speaker. ¡°When are youing home? My ankle feels much better now!¡±


    ra couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I¡¯m just leaving work now. I¡¯ll be home very soon.¡±


    ¡°Good! I want to show you my new drawing. Ms. Patricia says it¡¯s the best one in ss!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see it,¡± ra replied, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. ¡°Have


    you


    had your snack yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Hannah made those special cookies with the chocte pieces. <b>I </b>saved one for you<b>!</b>¡±


    21:17 C


    69 Elevator Encounters, Daughter¡¯s Wee.


    That¡¯s very thoughtful of you. I¡¯ll be home in about twenty minutes, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay! Love you, Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Love you too, Coco. See you soon<b>.¡± </b>


    ra ended the call and looked up to find Henry and Jonathan watching her with curious expressions.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had a child,¡± Henry remarked, sounding surprised.


    ra slipped her phone back into her purse. ¡°Yes, my daughter Cora. She¡¯s seven<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Seven? That¡¯s a wonderful age,¡± Jonathanmented. ¡°My nephew Just turned eight. What does your husband do?¡± he asked conversationally.


    The question hung in the air for a moment. Julian shot her a quick, concerned nce.


    ¡°He¡¯s in business,¡± ra answered vaguely, grateful when the elevator doors opened to the lobby, ending the conversation.


    As they walked across the marble floors toward the exit, Julian hung back to walk


    beside her.


    ¡°I almost told them who your husband is,¡± he admitted quietly. ¡°But with the divorce proceedings and Vivienne¡¯s presence here¡­ I thought it might createplications you don¡¯t need right now.¡±


    ra nodded gratefully. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s better this way.¡±


    Julian gave her shoulder a supportive squeeze. ¡°Don¡¯t let today get to you. We secured the contract, and that¡¯s what matters professionally.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± ra agreed, though her thoughts were already shifting to home and Cora¡¯s unexpected call.


    They parted ways in the parking garage, and ra drove home with her mind


    ping¨Cponging between thoughts of work and family.


    When she arrived at the Thorne estate twenty minutester, Cora was waiting at the door, bouncing on her heels despite her recently injured ankle.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± she cried, rushing forward to wrap her arms around ra¡¯s waist.


    21:17


    (09 Elevator Encounters, Daughter¡¯s Wee


    ra knelt down to properly embrace her daughter, breathing in the sweet scent <b>of </b>her strawberry shampoo. ¡°I missed you today. How¡¯s your ankle feeling<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    Cora pulled back, demonstrating a little twirl. ¡°All better! The doctor said I can even go to ballet next week!¡±


    Hannah appeared in the doorway, smiling at their reunion. ¡°Wee home, Mrs. Thorne. Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Thorne?¡± ra asked, trying to sound casual as she helped Cora back inside.


    Hannah¡¯s expression flickered briefly. ¡°He called to say he¡¯s busy with meetings and won¡¯t be home for dinner.¡±


    Busy. The word echoed in ra¡¯s mind as she remembered Damien¡¯s arm around Vivienne in the elevator. She wondered if his ¡°meeting¡± involved Vivienne¡¯s penthouse apartment downtown.


    ¡°Come see my drawing!¡± Cora tugged at her hand, pulling her from those dark thoughts.


    ra followed her daughter upstairs to her bedroom, where a colorful drawing was proudly disyed on her art easel. It showed three figures¨Cclearly meant to be Cora, ra, and Damien¨Cholding hands in front of what appeared to be their house.


    ¡°That¡¯s beautiful, sweetheart,¡± ra said, genuinely touched by the family portrait.


    Cora beamed. ¡°Ms. Patricia said my proportions are very good for my age.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s absolutely right,¡± ra agreed, noticing how much more detailed the mother figure waspared to the father. A small observation that brought a bittersweet


    smile to her face.


    After admiring the artwork, they went downstairs for dinner. Hannah had prepared Cora¡¯s favorite¨Cchicken parmesan with roasted vegetables.


    Unlike previous dinners when Cora would barely speak to her, tonight her daughter chatted animatedly about school, her friends, and the uing science fair.


    ¡°Will you help me with my project?¡± Cora asked between bites. ¡°I want to do something with robotics. Dad said it would be too hard, but I told him you know all aboutputers and robots.¡±


    21:17


    60 Elevator Encounters, Daughter¡¯s Wee


    ra was surprised. ¡°You told him that?¡±


    Cora nodded enthusiastically. ¡°I said you¡¯re super smart and could help me build anything.¡±


    ¡°Of course I¡¯ll help you, ra promised, warmed by her daughter¡¯s newfound confidence in her abilities.


    As they finished dinner, Cora looked at her thoughtfully. ¡°Mommy, can you give me my bath tonight? And braid my hair the special way you used to?¡±


    The request was so unexpected that ra felt her eyes sting with tears. For months, Cora had insisted that Hannah help her with baths and bedtime routines, iming ra ¡°didn¡¯t do it right.¡±


    ¡°I would love to,¡± ra said, reaching across the table to squeeze her daughter¡¯s hand.


    Cora smiled¨Cthat bright, unguarded smile that had be increasingly rare. ¡°Good. I like when you do my hair. It feels nicer.¡±


    As they cleared their tes together, ra found herself wondering what had prompted this change in Cora. Whatever the reason, she was grateful for this reconnection with her daughter¨Ca bright spot in a day that had otherwise been filled with painful reminders of everything she was losing.


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 The Sprawling 70

    70 Echoes in the Steam


    70 Echoes in the Steam


    ra¡¯s night with Cora had been surprisingly peaceful. After braiding her daughter¡¯s hair ¡°the special way,¡± they¡¯d read three bedtime stories together. When Cora had. sleepily asked her to stay, ra couldn¡¯t refuse. She¡¯d spent the night in her daughter¡¯s princess¨Cthemed bedroom, curled up beside her small form.


    Morning arrived with harsh rity. Damien hadn¡¯te homest night. Not even a text message asking about their daughter.


    ra dressed in silence, selecting a simple blouse and pencil skirt. She brushed her hair methodically while Cora bounced around her, suddenly full of chatter about school projects and yground politics.


    ¡°Can you take me to school today, Mommy? Cora asked, her eyes bright with hope.


    ra paused mid¨Cbrush. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied, unable to hide her surprise. ¡°I¡¯d love


    to.¡±


    For months, Cora had insisted on Damien driving her to school, often mentioning that Vivienne sometimes joined them. Today¡¯s request felt like a precious gift.


    At breakfast, Hannah approached with a troubled expression. ¡°Mrs. Thorne, Mr. Thorne called. He asked if you could pack Cora¡¯s overnight bag. She¡¯ll be staying with him at Ms. Dubois¡®ke house this weekend.¡±


    ¡°Iv


    ra¡¯s spoon clinked against her cereal bowl. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of any weekend ns.¡±


    Hannah¡¯s sympathetic nce spoke volumes. ¡°He said it was decidedst week.¡±


    Cora looked up from her pancakes. ¡°Auntie Vivi has a new boat! She¡¯s going to teach me


    to fish!¡±


    ra nodded mechanically, swallowing the bitter taste in her mouth. Another weekend activity nned without her knowledge. Another memory she wouldn¡¯t be part of.


    The drive to Cora¡¯s school provided a wee distraction. Cora chattered endlessly about her friends and teachers, asionally pointing outndmarks as if ra had. never driven this route before.


    21:18 C


    70 Echoes in the Steam


    ¡°Auntie Vivi says I¡¯m getting really good at math, Cora announced proudly.


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± ra managed, gripping the steering wheel tighter. ¡°You¡¯ve always- been clever with numbers.¡±


    When they arrived at the school gates, Cora surprised her with a quick kiss on the cheek before dashing off to join her friends. ra watched her disappear into the building, that familiar ache spreading through her chest.


    Her phone buzzed with a text from Julian: *Team building weekend confirmed. Hot spring resort, Friday to Sunday. Attendance strongly encouraged.


    ra stared at the message, her stomach knotting. Hot springs. Thest time she¡¯d visited one had been a disaster¨Ca family weekend that had ended with Cora throwing a tantrum and demanding Vivienne instead of her. Damien had been coldly furious, ming ra for not ¡°connecting properly¡± with their daughter.


    She typed back: *Not sure I can make it. Family obligations<b>.</b><b>* </b>


    Julian¡¯s response came swiftly: *This is important for the project. The whole leadership team will be there. Please reconsider.*


    Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. She had no actual family obligations¨CCoral would be with Damien and Vivienne. The only thing holding her back was her own difort.


    With a deep breath, she replied: *I¡¯ll be there.*


    The resort was nestled in the mountains, surrounded by autumn foliage in brilliant shades of red and gold. Despite the beauty, ra felt tense as she checked in and settled into her room<b>. </b>


    The first day passed in a blur of team¨Cbuilding exercises and strategy sessions. By evening, when everyone gathered for dinner, ra felt drained. The constant socialization, the forced smiles¨Cit all reminded her too much of the corporate events she¡¯d attended as Damien¡¯s wife.


    ¡°You¡¯re quiet tonight,¡± Julian observed, sliding into the seat beside her. ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    ra nodded, pushing her food around her te. ¡°Just tired. I think I¡¯ll turn in early:¡±


    21:18


    70 Echoes in the Steam


    <b>¡°</b>Before you do,¡± Julian lowered his voice, ¡°Henry¡¯s been asking questions about your background. I think he¡¯s impressed with your work and wants to know more about you.¡±


    ¡°What did you tell him?¡±


    ¡°Just that you¡¯re brilliant and we were lucky to get you back.¡± Julian smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t <b>mention </b>your connection to Thorne Industries.¡±


    ra felt a sh of gratitude. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯d prefer to keep my personal life separate from work.¡±


    After dinner, instead of heading straight to her room, ra found herself wandering toward the outdoor hot spring baths. A sign indicated that the women¡¯s section was empty¨Ca rare opportunity for solitude.


    The night air was crisp, steam rising from the surface of the water in ghostly wisps. ra slipped out of her robe and eased into the hot spring, wincing slightly as the heat enveloped her tense muscles.


    She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the present moment: the warmth of the water, the distant chirp of crickets, the gentle ssh of the small waterfall feeding the pool. Not on Cora¡¯s excited face as she talked about fishing with Vivienne. Not on Damien¡¯s absence from their home.


    A high¨Cpitched giggle broke her concentration. ra opened her eyes to see a young girl¨Cperhaps seven or eight, around Cora¡¯s age¨Cying near the edge of the pool area. She wore pink pajamas and was clearly not supposed to be there.


    ¡°Hello,¡± ra called gently. ¡°This area is for adults only. Where are your parents?¡±


    The girl startled, then grinned mischievously. ¡°I¡¯m exploring! My uncle is busy on his phone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you to be here alone,¡± ra warned, moving closer to the edge. ¡°The water is very deep.¡±


    The girl inched closer to the pool, peering at the steaming surface with fascination. ¡°Is it magic water? My uncle says it makes people feel better.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s special water from underground,¡± ra exined, bing increasingly concerned about how close the child was to the edge. ¡°But it¡¯s dangerous if you don¡¯t


    21:18


    375


    70 Echoes in the Steam


    know how to swim properly.¡±


    ¡°I can swim<b>!</b>¡± the girl dered proudly, taking another step closer.


    What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. The girl leaned forward to touch the water, her foot slipped on the wet stone, and suddenly she was falling headfirst into the deep section of the pool.


    ra reacted instantly. She lunged forward, ignoring the burn of her muscles as she grabbed the thrashing child. The girl¡¯s eyes were wide with panic, her small arms iling desperately.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± ra gasped, lifting the sputtering child out of the water. ¡°You¡¯re safe


    now.¡±


    The girl coughed violently, water streaming from her hair and clothes. Tears began flowing down her cheeks as the shock set in.


    ra quickly climbed out of the pool, wrapping her robe around her body with one hand while keeping a firm hold on the trembling child with the other.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find your uncle, ra said soothingly, lifting the girl into her arms. ¡°What¡¯s your


    name?¡±


    ¡°L¨CLily,¡± the girl hupped between sobs.


    ¡°That¡¯s a beautiful name,¡± ra replied, carrying her toward the main building. ¡°I¡¯m ra. Everything¡¯s going to be okay now.¡±


    Lily¡¯s small arms wrapped tightly around ra¡¯s neck, her wet pajamas soaking through ra¡¯s robe. The gesture reminded ra painfully of Cora when she was younger, before the distance between them had


    grown.


    As they approached the resort¡¯s main walkway, Lily suddenly perked up, looking over ra¡¯s shoulder. Her tear¨Cstreaked face brightened, and she stretched her hands toward someone in <b>the </b>distance.


    ¡°Uncle Beck!¡± she cried out, her voice filled with relief and residual fear,


    ra turned, still holding the dripping child in her arms, to face the man rushing toward them with panic written across his handsome features.


    21.18

 The Sprawling 71

    71 A Child Saved, A Tense Repast


    71 A Child Saved, A Tense Repast


    Beck¡¯s face drained of color as he took in the sight of his soaking wet niece in ra¡¯s arms. He rushed forward, his eyes wide with panic.


    ¡°Shanice! What happened?¡± He reached out, taking the trembling child from ra¡¯s


    arms.


    ¡°She fell into the hot spring,¡± ra exined, adjusting her robe tighter around herself. ¡°I was there and pulled her out immediately.¡±


    Beck clutched Shanice to his chest, his expression shifting from fear to relief to intense gratitude. ¡°Thank you. God, thank you so much.¡±


    Shanice buried her face against her uncle¡¯s neck, her small body still shaking. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Uncle Beck. I wanted to see the magic water.¡±


    ¡°I was on a call for just a minute,¡± Beck said, his voice unsteady. He looked at ra with genuine remorse. ¡°I thought she was watching TV in the room.¡±


    ra nodded, feeling a sudden awkwardness as she stood there in just her bathrobe. ¡°Children can disappear in seconds. She¡¯s fine, just scared.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you.¡± Beck¡¯s voice was thick with emotion. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been there..¡±


    ¡°No need to think about that,¡± ra cut him off gently. ¡°You should get her into dry clothes before she catches cold.¡±


    Beck nodded, seeming to notice ra¡¯s state of undress for the first time. He quickly averted his eyes. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll take her back to our room now.¡±


    ra turned to leave, eager to retreat to her own room and change.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± Beck called after her.


    She stiffened at the name but/turned back.


    ¡°Thank you again,¡± he said softly. ¡°I¡¯m truly in your debt.¡±


    She gave a small nod and hurried away, wanting nothing more than to distance herself from any connection to the Thorne world.


    15


    71 A Child Saved, A Tonse Repast


    The next morning, ra sat alone at a corner table in the resort¡¯s buffet restaurant. She had deliberately chosen to eat carly, hoping to avoid most <b>of </b>her colleagues<b>. </b>After the incidentst night, she needed some quiet time to gather her thoughts.


    She was halfway through her coffee when she spotted Beck entering the dining area with Shanice in tow. The little girl was chattering animatedly, looking none the worse for her adventure the previous night.


    ra quickly lowered her gaze to her te, hoping they wouldn¡¯t notice her. The <bst </b>thing she wanted was another interaction with someone from Damien¡¯s circle.


    Her hope was in vain.


    ¡°Mrs. Thor¨CI mean, ra?¡± Beck¡¯s voice came from beside her table.


    She looked up, forcing a polite smile. ¡°Good morning.¡±


    Shanice peeked out from behind her uncle¡¯s leg, suddenly shy.


    ¡°Would you mind if we joined you?¡± Beck asked, his expression tentative. ¡°Shanice has something she¡¯d like to say.¡±


    ra hesitated. Every fiber of her being wanted to refuse, to protect the new life she was building from any remnants of her past. But the hopeful look on the little girl¡¯s face made it impossible to say no.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she replied, gesturing to the empty chairs.


    ¡°Thank you.


    I¡¯ll just get our food first,¡± Beck said. He turned to Shanice. ¡°Stay with ra for a minute, okay? I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    Before ra could protest, Beck was walking toward the buffet, leaving his niece standing awkwardly beside the table.


    ¡°Would you like to sit down?¡± ra asked, pulling out a chair for the child.


    Shanice climbed onto the chair, her legs swinging above the floor. She studied ra with curious eyes.


    ¡°Uncle Beck says you saved me from drowning,¡± she said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly.


    ¡°You slipped and fell in,¡± ra exined gently. ¡°I was just there to help.¡±


    71 A Child Saved, A Tense Repast


    Shanice nodded solemnly. ¡°He said I could have died.¡±


    ra winced at the blunt statement. ¡°Well, hot springs can be dangerous. That¡¯s why ra winced at the blunt there are signs saying children need supervision.¡±


    ¡°I can read,¡± Shanice informed her proudly. ¡°I just didn¡¯t listen.¡±


    Despite herself, ra smiled. The girl reminded her of Cora at that age¨Ccurious and fearless to a fault.


    Beck returned carrying two tes piled with breakfast foods. He set one in front of Shanice and took the seat across from ra.


    ¡°Shanice,¡± he prompted. ¡°Remember what we talked about?¡±


    for


    The little girl straightened in her seat and looked directly at ra. ¡°Thank you saving me from the magic water, Mrs. ra. I promise I won¡¯t go exploring by myself again.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very wee,¡± ra replied, touched by the formal little speech. ¡°And it¡¯s just ra.¡±


    ¡°Now eat your breakfast,¡± Beck told his niece, who immediately attacked her pancakes with enthusiasm.


    An ufortable silence settled between the adults. ra sipped her coffee, desperately wishing for an excuse to leave.


    ¡°Are you here alone?¡± Beck finally asked.


    ra shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m with colleagues. It¡¯s a team¨Cbuilding weekend.¡±


    Beck¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°From Thorne Industries?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she replied, her tone cooling. ¡°I don¡¯t work there anymore.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Beck looked genuinely surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. I¡¯m sorry if I¡ª¡®


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± ra cut him off. ¡°It¡¯s been some time now.¡±


    The tension at the table was palpable. Shanice, oblivious to the adult difort,


    happily devoured her breakfast while humming to herself.


    Beck cleared his throat. ¡°Listen, I know we¡¯ve had our¡­ disagreements in the past, but I


    315


    71 A Child Saved, A Tense Repast


    want to thank you properly for what you didst night. Shanice is everything to me?


    ra softened slightly at the obvious love in his voice. ¡°She seems like a wonderful


    child.¡±


    ¡°She is,¡± Beck agreed, his face lighting up. ¡°Too clever for her own good sometimes, but wonderful.¡±


    For a brief moment, the awkwardness between them eased as they both watched Shanice carefully arranging her strawberries into a smiley face on her te.


    Then Beck asked, ¡°How¡¯s Cora doing? She must be getting big now.¡±


    The question sent a sharp pain through ra¡¯s chest. She opened her mouth to respond when she spotted Julian across the room, looking around as if searching for


    someone.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, seizing the opportunity. ¡°I need to speak with my colleague.¡±


    She stood quickly, not waiting for Beck¡¯s response, and made her way across the dining room to where Julian stood.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she greeted him with relief. ¡°I was just about toe find you.¡±


    Julian smiled at her but his eyes moved past her shoulder. ¡°Who¡¯s that you were sitting


    with?¡±


    ra turned slightly, seeing Beck watching them with a puzzled expression. The question hung in the air between them, forcing ra to confront a piece of her past she¡¯d hoped to leave behind.

 The Sprawling 72

    72 An idental Reveal


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°That¡¯s Beck Harper,¡± I said to Julian, feeling a slight hesitation in my voice.


    Julian raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his expression. ¡°Harper? The shipping magnate? I didn¡¯t know you were acquainted with him.¡±


    I nced back at Beck¡¯s table, where he was now helping Shanice cut her pancakes. ¡°I¡¯m not, really. I just happened to pull his niece out of the hot spring yesterday when she fell in.¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You saved a child from drowning and didn¡¯t think to mention


    it?¡±


    I shrugged, ufortable with his amazement. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that dramatic. She slipped, I was there, I pulled her out. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°ssic ra,¡± Julian said with a knowing smile. ¡°Doing extraordinary things and then dismissing them as nothing.¡±


    I shifted ufortably under his gaze. ¡°Anyway, are we still meeting with the team at


    ten?¡±


    Julian nodded, but his attention remained on Beck and Shanice. ¡°They seem quite


    taken with you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just gratitude,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°If you say so,¡± Julian replied, his tone suggesting he thought otherwise. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to my room to prepare for the meeting. See you in the conference room.¡±


    As Julian walked away, I couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. Thest thing I needed was for my professional and personal worlds to collide any more than they already had.


    From across the restaurant, Beck observed ra talking with the tall, dark¨Chaired man he¡¯d seen her with several times during their stay at the resort. They seemedfortable together, with an easy rapport that spoke of familiarity and trust.


    176


    >><b>72 </b><b>An </b>idental Reveal


    <b>¡°</b><b>Is </b>Mrs. ra leaving?¡± Shanice asked, noticing his distraction.


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± Beck replied, watching as the man walked away and ra <b>headed </b><b>toward </b>the exit. ¡°Finish your breakfast, munchkin¡±


    ¡°I like her,¡± Shanice dered. ¡°She¡¯s pretty and nice.¡±


    Beck smiled at his niece¡¯s simple assessment. ¡°Yes, she is.¡±


    He¡¯d always known ra Vance¨Cor rather ra Thorne¨Cwas beautiful in a quiet, elegant way. But seeing her outside the context of Thorne Industries, where she¡¯d always seemed reserved and somehow diminished, he was struck by how differently she carried herself now. There was a confidence to her movements, a lightness that had been absent before.


    The man she¡¯d been talking to¨Cher colleague, Beck assumed¨Cseemed to bring out that lightness. They looked good together.


    The thought came unbidden, and Beck pushed it aside. ra¡¯s personal life was none of his business, regardless of who she might be seeing. His connection to her was tenuous at best, linked only through business dealings with her husband¨Csoon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband, if the rumors were true.


    ¡°Uncle Beck, can I have more syrup?¡± Shanice¡¯s voice pulled him back to the present.


    ¡°Just a little,¡± he conceded, reaching for the syrup pitcher. ¡°We don¡¯t want you bouncing off the walls all morning.¡±


    That evening, Iy on my bed, savoring the peace and quiet after a full day of meetings and team¨Cbuilding exercises. The resort¡¯s king¨Csized bed was heavenly, and I¡¯d just settled in with a book when my phone rang.


    Damien¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    I stared at it for several rings, debating whether to answer. Ourmunication these days was sparse and usually conducted throughwyers. A direct call from him was unusual.


    Curiosity won out. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°ra.¡± Damien¡¯s voice was crisp and businesslike. ¡°I¡¯m calling to inform you


    that


    <b>72 </b><b>An </b><b>Acoldental </b>Reveal


    Grandmother expects us for dinner tomorrow night.¡±


    No greeting. No pleasantries. Just a directive. Typical.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in town,¡± I replied evenly. ¡°I¡¯m at apany retreat until Sunday evening<b>¡± </b>


    There was a brief pause. ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± I countered, irritation ring. ¡°I won¡¯t be back untilte Sunday<b>? </b>


    ¡°Fine.¡± His tone grew more clipped. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Grandmother you¡¯re unavable. She¡¯ll <b>be </b>disappointed.¡±


    The familiar weight of guilt began to creep in, but I pushed it back firmly. Eleanor had been kind to me, but I was no longer obligated to arrange my schedule around Thorne family expectations.


    ¡°Please give her my regrets,¡± I said, keeping my voice neutral. ¡°I¡¯ll call her next week.¡± Without another word, Damien hung up.


    I stared at my phone, a mixture of annoyance and relief washing over me. There was <i>a </i>time when such a dismissive interaction would have left me devastated. Now, it was merely an unpleasant reminder of what I¡¯d left behind.


    The next morning dawned bright and clear. With meetings concluded, we had the day to ourselves before departing tomorrow. I decided to take advantage of the resort¡¯s facilities onest time.


    After an invigorating workout in the gym, I headed to the hot springs. The early hour meant I had the outdoor pool to myself. Steam rose from the surface of the mineral¨Crich water as I slipped in, feeling the tension in my muscles begin to dissolve. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the edge of the pool. The contrast between the cool morning air on my face and the hot water enveloping my body was delicious.


    ¡°Mrs. ra! Mrs. ra!¡±


    The excited voice broke through my peaceful reverie. I opened my eyes to see Shanice bouncing toward the edge of the pool, her nanny hurrying behind her.


    72 <b>An </b>idental Reveal


    ¡°Shanice, don¡¯t run!¡± the young woman called out, catching <b>up </b><b>to </b>the child <b>before </b><b>she </b>could get too close to the water.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I greeted them, sitting up straighter and making sure my <b>bathrobe </b>was securely tied.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to disturb you,¡± the nanny apologized. ¡°Shanice saw you from the <b>pathway </b>and insisted on saying hello.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± I assured her, though I¡¯d been looking forward to my solitary soak.


    ¡°Thank you again for saving her,¡± the nanny said earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ve been so careful with her since the incident, but Mr. Harper needed me to pack their things for check¨C<b>out </b>while he¡¯s in a meeting.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving today?¡± I asked, surprised at the twinge of¡­ something I felt at the


    news.


    Shanice nodded vigorously. ¡°Uncle Beck has to go back to work. But I didn¡¯t want to leave without saying goodbye to you!¡±


    Her genuine enthusiasm was impossible to resist. I smiled at the little girl. ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, Shanice.¡±


    ¡°Can I get in the water with you?¡± she asked hopefully.


    ¡°Not today, sweetheart,¡± her nanny answered firmly. ¡°We need to finish packing. We just came to say goodbye.¡±


    Shanice¡¯s face fell. ¡°But I want to y with Mrs. ra.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m actually about to get out,¡± I said, not wanting to cause a scene. ¡°I need to get ready for the day too.¡±


    I stood carefully, making sure my blue bathrobe was securely covering my swimsuit beneath. The hot water had done its work; I felt rxed and refreshed.


    ¡°I can walk with you to the elevator,¡± I offered, seeing Shanice¡¯s disappointed expression.


    The child¡¯s face immediately brightened. ¡°Yes! And you can carry me!¡±


    Before either adult could respond, Shanice hadunched herself at me. <b>I </b><b>caught </b>her


    <b>72 </b><b>An </b>idental Reveal


    reflexively, lifting her into my arms.


    ¡°Shanice!¡± the nanny scolded. ¡°That was very rude. You can¡¯t just demand <b>to </b><b>be </b>


    carried.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± I said, adjusting the child on my hip. Despite the unexpected <b>weight</b>, holding Shanice felt natural. A pang of longing for Cora swept through me. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    We started toward the elevator, Shanice chattering happily about the dolphins she¡¯d seen on a boat trip the day before. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself genuinely engaged in the conversation.


    As we approached the elevator, the doors opened to reveal Beck Harper, his attention fixed on his phone.


    He looked up, surprise registering on his face when he saw me carrying his niece.


    ¡°Uncle Beck!¡± Shanice eximed. ¡°Look who I found! Mrs. ra is carrying me because she¡¯s my friend now!¡±


    ¡°I see that,¡± Beck replied, his eyes meeting mine with an unreadable expression. ¡°I was justing to find you two.¡±


    Shanice wriggled in my arms, stretching toward her uncle. ¡°Uncle Beck, can Mrs. rae visit us in our house? She can swim in our pool!¡±


    As Beck reached to take his niece, Shanice twisted and lunged toward him, her small hands still gripping the cor of my robe. The sudden movement caused the loosely tied belt to give way.


    The front of my robe fell open, revealing the bluece lingerie I¡¯d worn under my swimsuit. For a long, frozen moment, Beck¡¯s eyes dropped to my exposed body¨Cfair skin, the curve of my breasts outlined in delicatece, the t ne of my stomach, and the matching bluece below.


    His eyes widened, color rising to his cheeks as he quickly averted his gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he muttered, taking Shanice and turning slightly away.


    Heat flooded my face as I clutched my robe closed, retying the belt with trembling fingers. The nanny stood nearby, pretending to be fascinated <i>by </i><i>a </i>potted nt.


    <b>72 </b><b>An </b>idental Reveal


    ¡°It¡¯s<b>¡­ </b><b>it¡¯s </b>fine,¡± I managed, my voice strained. ¡°idents happen<b>? </b>


    The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Shanice<b>, </b>oblivious <b>to </b><b>the </b>adults¡® difort, continued chattering about swimming pools and y dates.


    Beck finally looked back at me, his expression aplex mixture of embarrassment and something else I couldn¡¯t quite identify.


    ¡°ra, I¡­¡± he began, then stopped, seeming unsure how to continue.


    Comment

 The Sprawling 73

    73 Echoes of a Rival¡¯s Name


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, really,¡± I said, tightening my robe¡¯s belt with a firm tug. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I avoided Beck¡¯s eyes.


    Shanice wiggled in her uncle¡¯s arms,pletely oblivious to the awkward moment she¡¯d created. ¡°Mrs. ra has pretty blue clothes like a mermaid!¡±


    Beck cleared his throat. ¡°Shanice, that¡¯s enough.¡± His voice was unexpectedly gentle


    but firm.


    I risked a quick nce at him. His ears were pink, but his expression was deliberately neutral as he held his niece. The nanny finally stepped forward, reaching for Shanice. ¡°It¡¯s time to finish packing,¡± she said, taking Shanice from Beck¡¯s arms.


    I seized the opportunity to escape. ¡°I should be going too. Goodbye, Shanice. It was lovely meeting you.¡±


    ¡°Bye, Mrs. ra!¡± Shanice waved enthusiastically as her nanny carried her away.


    Beck remained, his tall frame blocking my path to the elevator. ¡°ra, I apologize for¡­ that. Shanice can be unpredictable.¡±


    ¡°Children usually are,¡± I replied, forcing a polite smile while keeping my arms firmly crossed over my chest. ¡°No harm done.¡±


    An ufortable silence stretched between us.


    ¡°Well, safe travels,¡± I finally said, stepping around him toward the elevator.


    Beck nodded. ¡°You as well.¡±


    I kept myposure until the elevator doors closed, then let out a long breath. What an utterly mortifying end to my peaceful morning.


    Two hourster, I walked with Julian toward the parking area. My suitcase rolle behind me as resort staff loaded other guests¡® luggage into waiting vehicles.


    73 Echoes of a Rival¡¯s Name


    ¡°The team made real progress this weekend,¡± Julian said. ¡°Your leadership on the YodaVision expansion is exactly what we needed.¡±


    I smiled, pleased by his assessment. ¡°Everyone contributed valuable insights. I think we¡¯re on the right track.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of tracks,¡± Julian gestured ahead. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the shipping magnate and his


    niece?¡±


    My steps faltered. Sure enough, Beck and Shanice stood by a sleek ck SUV. The driver was loading their luggage while Shanice bounced excitedly beside her uncle. ¡°Perhaps we should wait a moment,¡± I suggested, slowing my pace.


    Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Any particr reason?¡±


    ¡°We had an awkward encounter earlier,¡± I admitted, not borating further.


    But it was toote. Shanice had spotted us and was pointing in our direction. Beck turned, his gaze meeting mine briefly before shifting to Julian.


    ¡°Mrs. ra!¡± Shanice called out, waving frantically.


    There was no graceful way to avoid them now. I forced a smile and approached, Julian at my side.


    ¡°Hello again,¡± I greeted them. ¡°All packed up?¡±


    Beck nodded. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re heading back to the city.¡± His eyes moved to Julian, a question


    in them.


    ¡°Oh, this is Julian Croft, my business partner,¡± I exined. ¡°Julian, this is Beck Harper and his niece, Shanice.¡±


    The men shook hands, sizing each other up with that peculiar male assessment I¡¯d never quite understood.


    ¡°YodaVision, right?¡± Beck asked. ¡°I¡¯ve read about your AI innovations.¡±


    Julian smiled. ¡°That¡¯s us. ra¡¯s our technical genius.¡±


    Beck¡¯s eyes returned to me/something like surprise in them. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Before I could respond, my phone rang. I excused myself and stepped away to answer <ol><li>it<b>. </b></li></ol>


    73 Echoes of a Rival¡¯s Name


    ¡°Hello, Eleanor,¡± I said, seeing the caller ID.


    ¡°ra, dear, I wanted to confirm dinner tonight,¡± Eleanor Thorne¡¯s voice <b>came </b><b>through </b>clearly. ¡°Seven o¡¯clock sharp.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t Damien tell you? I¡¯m at apany retreat. I won¡¯t be back until


    tomorrow evening.¡±


    ¡°Oh, he mentioned


    of the sort,¡± Eleanor replied, disappointment evident in her


    voice. ¡°I was so looking forward to having the whole family together.¡±


    Guilt tugged at me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eleanor. I can join you all next weekend instead?¡±


    ¡°I suppose that will have to do,¡± she sighed. ¡°Drive safely, dear.¡±


    I ended the call and rejoined the others, where Shanice was regaling Julian with a detailed ount of her dolphin sighting.


    Beck nced at me. ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Family dinner ns,¡± I exined vaguely. ¡°Nothing important.¡±


    He nodded, seemingly understanding more than I¡¯d said. ¡°We should get going. It was nice seeing you again, ra. Mr. Croft.¡±


    Julian and I watched as Beck helped Shanice into the SUV. Before climbing in himself, Beck looked back, giving me a brief nod. I returned it, feeling oddly unsettled.


    C


    ¡°Interesting man,¡± Julianmented as we walked to my car. ¡°He couldn¡¯t stop looking at you.¡±


    I shot him a warning nce. ¡°Don¡¯t start.¡±


    Julian raised his hands in surrender, but his knowing smile remained.


    The drive to Thorne Manor took longer than usual due to weekend traffic. By the time


    I pulled into the circr driveway, the sun was setting. Estate lights illuminated the grand fa?ade, making the mansion look like something from a magazine¨Cbeautiful but somehow cold.


    73 Echoes <b>of </b><b>a </b>Rival¡¯s <b>Name</b><b>: </b>


    <b>I¡¯d </b><b>called </b>Eleanor earlier to let her know I was <b>returning </b>early and <b>could </b>make dinner <b>after </b>all. She¡¯d been delighted, insisting I join them even though <b>I </b>wouldn¡¯t <b>arrive </b><b>until </b>shortly before seven.


    The butler greeted me as I entered. ¡°Good evening, Mrs. Thorne. The family <b>is </b>in <b>the </b>drawing room.¡±


    I found Eleanor alone, elegant in a navy dress, reading by the firece.


    ¡°ra, dear!¡± She stood to embrace me. ¡°What a lovely surprise. I¡¯m so d <b>you </b><b>could </b>make it after all<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    I returned her hug. ¡°I managed to wrap things up early. Where are Damien and <b>Cora</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>Eleanor¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°They haven¡¯t arrived yet. Damien texted to say they¡¯re runningte.¡±


    I nced at the ornate clock on the mantel. It was already 7:15 PM.


    ¡°Did he say howte?¡± I asked, settling into an armchair.


    Eleanor shook her head. ¡°No details. You know how he is¨Cbrief to the point of rudeness sometimes.¡± She sighed. ¡°I do wish he¡¯d be more considerate. The chef has prepared Cora¡¯s favorite roast.¡±


    I smiled sympathetically. ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be here soon.¡±


    We chatted about the estate¡¯s gardens and Eleanor¡¯s charity ns for another fifteen minutes. As the clock struck 7:30, Eleanor¡¯s patience visibly thinned.


    ¡°This is getting ridiculous,¡± she huffed. ¡°Would you mind calling him, dear? He might answer you more promptly.¡±


    I doubted that but pulled out my phone anyway. Damien answered on the fourth ring. ¡°Yes?¡± His voice was clipped, background noise suggesting he was in his car.


    ¡°Eleanor was wondering when you and Cora might arrive for dinner,¡± I said, keeping my tone neutral.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be there in twenty minutes,¡± he replied curtly.


    In the background, I heard a child¡¯s voice¨CCora¡¯s voice¨Cclear as day: ¡°Gooauye, Vivienne! I had fun today!¡±


    <b>73 </b><b>Echoes </b>of a Rival¡¯s Name


    Then, unmistakably, Vivienne¡¯s melodicugh followed <b>by </b>her voice<b>: </b><b>¡°</b><b>Bye</b>, sweetheart See you tomorrow, Damien.¡±


    My heart stuttered.


    ¡°Is there anything else


    what I¡¯d just heard.


    pain sliced through me¨Csharp, then <b>dull</b><b>, </b><b>then </b>hollow.


    need2


    Damien asked coldly, as if daring me <b>to </b>mention


    ¡°No,¡± I managed, my voice surprisingly steady. ¡°We¡¯ll see you soon.¡±


    The line went dead before I could say more. I lowered the phone, aware of <b>Eleanor </b>watching me expectantly.


    ¡°They¡¯ll be here in twenty minutes,¡± I reported, proud of how normal I sounded despite the trembling in my chest.


    Eleanor nodded, satisfied. ¡°Excellent. I¡¯ll have James inform the kitchen.


    As she bustled out to speak with the butler, I remained seated, staring at nothing. The conversation reyed in my mind¨CCora¡¯s innocent goodbye to Vivienne, my half¨Csister¡¯s voice so casually intimate with my husband.


    After all this time, it shouldn¡¯t hurt anymore. But somehow, it still did¨Cnot like a fresh wound, but like scar tissue being stretched and torn anew.


    I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. In twenty minutes, I would sit across from Damien and pretend I hadn¡¯t heard. I would smile at Cora and listen to her stories, never letting on that I knew where they¡¯d been. I would y the role I¡¯d perfected over seven years¡ªtheposed, gracious Mrs. Thorne.


    But with each performance, a little more of me slipped away. I wondered how much of myself would remain when the final curtain fell on our marriage.

 The Sprawling 74

    <b>74 </b>Eleanor¡¯s Hopeful Maneuvers


    <b>74 </b>Eleanor¡¯s Hopeful Maneuvers.


    ¡°That rare Jamaican coffee you like,¡± Damien exined. ¡°An apology for missingst month¡¯s family dinner.¡±


    After dinner, we moved to the sitting room. Eleanor and Damien fell into conversation about a business acquisition while I sat quietly nearby, not attempting to join in. Cora yed with her new dolphin toy on the carpet.


    <b>As </b>we left the sitting room together, I could feel Eleanor¡¯s gaze following us¨Cwatching, hoping, that her orchestrations might finally bear fruit. She didn¡¯t understand that she was trying to mend something that had been broken from the beginning.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± His response was equally detached.


    As the grandfather clock struck nine, Eleanor stifled a yawn behind her hand. ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s gettingte.¡± She nced meaningfully between Damien and me. ¡°You two must be tired as well. Why don¡¯t you head upstairs? I¡¯ll have James bring Coco up in a little


    while.¡±


    ¡°Eleanor,¡± he greeted, leaning down to kiss her cheek. He pulled a small package from his coat pocket. ¡°I brought you something.¡±


    Eleanor smiled, patting his arm. ¡°Thank you, dear.¡± Then, with a pointed nce in my direction, she added, ¡°Though I¡¯m not the only one deserving an apology, am I?¡±


    ¡°Coco! My sweet girl,¡± Eleanor cooed, kissing the top of Cora¡¯s head. ¡°Did you have a good day?¡±


    Again, Damien followed his grandmother¡¯s direction without protest. He ced a helping of mashed potatoes on my te¨Cmy favorite side dish¨Cbefore serving


    himself.


    ¡°So, Coco,¡± Eleanor said, turning to her great¨Cgranddaughter, ¡°tell me more about the


    aquarium.¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Cora turned and gave me a quick hug before pulling away to dig through her little backpack. ¡°Look what 1 got!¡±


    Eleanor sighed softly at my redirection. She still believed I was protecting Damien, covering for his coldness as I had done countless times before. She didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d


    <b>14:49</b>.


    74 Eleanor¡¯s Hopeful Maneuvers


    long stopped caring about salvaging his image.


    Cora nced at me, considering the idea. ¡°Ma returning to her meal.


    she said nomittally before


    The front door opened again, and Damien stepped in. Even after all these years, his presence stillmanded attention. Tall and imposing in his tailored suit, he nodded briefly in my direction before turning to his grandmother.


    Our eyes met, and in that moment, I felt the weight of all our choices¨Chis, mine, and the ones we¡¯d made together¨Cpressing down on us in the quiet hallway of his family


    home.


    My stomach tensed at her suggestion. Though we still officially shared a bedroom at Thorne Manor during our visits, Damien and I had perfected the art of avoiding actual interaction within those private spaces.


    Coraunched into an enthusiastic ount of her day,plete with dramatic hand gestures. ¡°And then Vi¨CI mean, we saw this huge shark! It was bigger than Dad¡¯s car!¡±


    Damien and I ascended the grand staircase side by side, close enough that our shoulders nearly touched, yet separated by an invisible wall thicker than the mansion¡¯s stone foundation. Neither of us spoke. The only sound was our footsteps on the polished wood.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said politely.


    The rest of dinner passed with carefully polite conversation. Eleanor asked about my work, and I gave brief updates about YodaVision¡¯stest projects. Damien listened withoutment, focusing on his food.


    I observed my husband as he spoke with his grandmother. His posture rxed, his expression animated in a way it never was with me. I felt no jealousy, only a detached awareness of the difference.


    ¡°That sounds wonderful, dear,¡± Eleanor responded, smoothly guiding the conversation away from dangerous territory. ¡°Perhaps next time your mother could join you.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Very cute,¡± I agreed, gently stroking her hair.


    The silence stretched ufortably until I broke it. ¡°Dinner should be ready soon.


    14:40


    74 Eleanor¡¯s Hopeful Maneuvers


    Shall we move to the dining room?¡±


    I said nothing. What could I say? That I no lo..ger made excuses for Damien? That I had stopped being ¡°on his side¡± months ago? Eleanor cherished the illusion of our family unit. I wouldn¡¯t be the one to shatter it tonight.


    ¡°Damien, would you serve ra?¡± Eleanor suggested as the first course arrived. ¡°You


    know what she likes.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s cat,¡± Eleanor agreed. ¡°James has prepared your favorite roast, Coco.¡±


    Eleanor included me asionally with a question orment, but I kept my responses minimal. I wasn¡¯t being deliberately difficult; I simply had nothing to contribute to their discussion. The distance between Damien and me had grown so vast that even sitting in the same room felt like upying differents.


    In the dining room, Eleanor orchestrated the seating arrangement with practiced subtlety. ¡°Damien, why don¡¯t you sit here beside ra? Coco and I will sit across from


    you.¡±


    At the top of the stairs, we paused, both facing the hallway that led to our shared bedroom. The air between us felt charged with unspoken words andplicated


    history.


    I recognized Eleanor¡¯s hopeful gaze as she watched our interaction. Despite years of evidence to the contrary, she still believed our marriage could be rekindled through proximity and small gestures. I found myself strangely unmoved by Damien¡¯s consideration. Once, I would have treasured this moment, analyzing every nuance of his behavior for hints of care. Now, I simply ate my dinner.


    As she rummaged around, I caught the faint scent of an expensive perfume on her clothes. Vivienne¡¯s signature scent. My smile remained fixed in ce while my chest tightened. I said nothing about it.


    I rose as well, giving Eleanor a warm hug. ¡°Goodnight, Eleanor. Thank you for dinner.¡±


    Damien¡¯s eyes flickered to me for a moment, his expression unreadable. No words


    followed.


    The slight slip didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Eleanor, whose smile tightened momentarily. Vivienne¡¯s name hovered unspoken over the table.


    14:49


    74 Eleanor¡¯s Hopeful Maneuvers


    Eleanor linked her arm with mine as we followed. ¡°You always make things easier for him,¡± she whispered. ¡°You¡¯ve always been o is side.¡±


    I stepped forward from where I¡¯d been standing in the entryway. ¡°Hello, sweetheart,¡± I said, bending down to Cora¡¯s level.


    Cora cheered and skipped ahead of us toward the dining room.


    Damienplied withoutment, taking the seat next to mine. Our chairs were closer than necessary, another of Eleanor¡¯s transparent maneuvers.


    Cora nodded eagerly, her small ponytail bouncing. ¡°It was amazing! We went to the new aquarium, and I got to touch a stingray!¡±


    ¡°Found it!¡± Cora pulled out a small plush dolphin. ¡°Isn¡¯t it cute?¡±


    Damien turned slightly toward me, his expression unreadable in the dimly lit corridor. For a moment, I thought he might say something meaningful. Then his phone vibrated in his pocket. He nced at the screen briefly, and I caught the sh of Vivienne¡¯s name before he tucked it away.


    Eleanor Thorne¡¯s face lit up when Cora dashed through the front door of Thorne Manor. The elderly woman opened her arms wide, smiling as her great¨Cgranddaughter


    flew into her embrace.


    ¡°Goodnight, my dears,¡± she replied, waving us toward the stairs with a hopeful smile.


    ¡°That sounds sensible,¡± Damien agreed, setting aside his empty ss. He stood and offered his grandmother a kiss on the cheek.


    Eleanor¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest as she took the package. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

 The Sprawling 75

    75 An Unexpected Embrace


    75 An Unexpected Embrace


    Cora¡¯s eyes darted between her mother and the door, her small features twisted with curiosity. ¡°You¡¯re quiet today, Mom,¡± she observed, swinging her legs from where she sat on the bathroom counter.


    ra worked the towel through Cora¡¯s damp hair, her movements gentle but distracted. ¡°Just tired, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Is it because of Grandma Eleanor¡¯s party tomorrow?¡± Cora asked, tilting her head.


    ¡°Partly,¡± ra admitted, though Eleanor¡¯s birthday celebration was the least of her


    concerns.


    She finished drying Cora¡¯s hair, dropping a kiss on her daughter¡¯s crown, The familiar scent of children¡¯s shampoo mingled with traces of Vivienne¡¯s perfume that lingered despite the bath. Thebination made her stomach twist.


    ¡°All done,¡± ra announced, helping Cora down from the counter. ¡°Ready for bed?¡±


    Cora nodded, padding to her bedroom in her unicorn pajamas. ra followed, watching as her daughter climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers.


    ¡°Will you stay?¡± Cora asked, patting the space beside her.


    ra hesitated. She¡¯d spent previous visits at the manor sleeping in Cora¡¯s room to avoid sharing a bed with Damien. But Eleanor had been watching them closely all evening, her hopeful nces impossible to miss.


    ¡°Not tonight, sweetheart,¡± ra said softly. ¡°Grandma Eleanor might check on youter, and she¡¯ll want to see me in¡­ the other room.¡±


    Cora epted this with a shrug, already reaching for her stuffed dolphin. ¡°Okay. Night,


    Mom.¡±


    ra kissed her forehead. ¡°Goodnight, my love.¡±


    She lingered at the doorway, watching Cora¡¯s eyes grow heavy. When her daughter¡¯s breathing slowed to the steady rhythm of sleep, ra quietly pulled the door closed.


    The hallway stretched before her, the master bedroom waiting at the end. She walked slowly, each step deliberate, preparing herself for another night of carefully


    14:50


    75 An Unexpected Embrace


    maintained distance from the man who was still legally her husband.


    When she entered, Damien was sitting up in 1,ptop bnced on his thighs. The blue light from the screen cast shadows across his face, highlighting his sharp cheekbones. He nced up briefly when she entered, then returned his attention to


    his work without a word.


    ra moved quietly to the ensuite bathroom, closing the door behind her. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, noting the tired lines around her eyes. The woman looking back at her seemed like a stranger sometimes¨Cso different from the hopeful bride she¡¯d once been.


    She went through her nightly routine methodically¨Cwashing her face, applying toner, serum, moisturizer. Each step performed with care, focusing on the task to avoid thinking about the man in the next room. When she finished, she changed into silk pajamas¨Cmodest but elegant. Armor of a different kind.


    Returning to the bedroom, she found Damien in the same position, fingers moving rapidly over the keyboard. She slipped into her side of the bed, as far from the center as possible without falling off, and picked up her book from the nightstand.


    The minutes ticked by in silence. ra read the same paragraph three times without absorbing a word. Eventually, she gave up and set the book aside, switching off hermp.


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± she said quietly, more out of habit than expectation of a response.


    Damien made a nomittal sound that might have been acknowledgment. ra turned away from his light, curling onto her side.


    Shey awake, listening to the soft tapping of keys. Would he leave once he thought she was asleep? Go to Vivienne, perhaps? The thought shouldn¡¯t hurt anymore, but it did¨Ca dull ache rather than the sharp stab it once was.


    Eventually, the tapping stopped. She heard the soft click of theptop closing, felt the shift of weight as Damien ced it on his nightstand. The light switched off, plunging the room into darkness.


    The mattress dipped as he settled in. ra remained perfectly still, carefully maintaining the invisible boundary between them. She¡¯d grown ustomed to this dance¨Csharing a bed without sharing space.


    14:50


    <i>2/4 </i>


    75 An Unexpected Embrace


    Despite her racing thoughts, exhaustion eventually won out. ra drifted to sleep, cocooned in the warmth of expensive sheets and the quiet hum of the manor¡¯s heating


    system:


    She slept deeply, morefortable than she expected. The bed was warm,


    her position perfectly cozy. In her dreams, she was surrounded byfort, held securely in a cocoon of safety.


    When ra first opened her eyes, the dawn was just breaking, casting soft gray light through the partially open curtains. She felt unusually warm andfortable, more


    rested than she¡¯d been in months.


    Then she registered the weight around her waist. The solid heat pressed against her back. The steady breath against her neck.


    ra froze, suddenly wide awake. Damien¡¯s arm was draped heavily over her, his body curved around hers like a protective shell. His chest rose and fell against her back, his


    face nestled in her hair.


    How had this happened? They had started the night on opposite sides of the king¨Csized bed, a good two feet of mattress between them. Yet somehow, in sleep, they had gravitated toward each other¨Cor rather, he had moved to her.


    ra¡¯s mind raced. Was he dreaming of Vivienne? Did he think he was holding his lover instead of his estranged wife? The thought sent a sharp pain through her chest.


    She needed to move, to extract herself before he woke and they faced the awkwardness of this unintended intimacy. Carefully, she tried to shift away from his


    hold.


    His arm tightened in response, pulling her closer. ra¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She tried again, more deliberately this time, attempting to lift his arm.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Damien murmured, his voice thick with sleep. He shifted, pulling her more firmly against him.


    ra¡¯s heart hammered in her chest. She could feel every inch where their bodies connected¨Chis chest against her back, his legs tangled with hers, his arm heavy and secure around her waist. It had been so long since he¡¯d held her like this. Years, maybe.


    She should try again to move away. This wasn¡¯t real¨Cjust some unconscious reaction, his body seeking warmth in the cool morning air. Yet she remained still, allowing


    14:50


    75 An Unexpected Embrace


    herself just a moment to remember what it felt like to be held by him, to pretend <b>that </b>this embrace meant something.


    The steady rhythm of his breathing changed subtly. Was he waking up? ra held her breath<b>, </b>uncertain what would happen next.


    Damien¡¯s arm shifted, but instead of releasing her, he gathered her closer. His lips brushed against her forehead in the lightest of kisses¨Cso gentle she might have imagined it.


    ¡°Just five more minutes,¡± he murmured, his voice a low rumble against her skin.


    ra¡¯s mind whirled with confusion. His words, his touch¨Cthey seemed intentional, not the unconscious actions of a sleeping man. But that couldn¡¯t be right. Damien hadn¡¯t shown her tenderness in years. Had never held her like this, even in the beginning.


    Shey perfectly still in his arms, afraid to move, afraid to speak, afraid that whatever spell had been cast over this moment would break with the slightest disturbance. His embrace felt like a question she didn¡¯t know how to answer.


    Comment 0

 The Sprawling 76

    76 A Stolen Kiss, A Painful Truth


    76 A Stolen Kiss, A Painful Truth


    Stepping into the hallway, she answered. ¡°Good morning, Gran<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    She sshed her face repeatedly, willing the chill to numb the ache in her chest. Afterposing herself, ra showered and dressed with methodical precision, armor against the day ahead.


    The table fell silent. ra felt heat rush to her face.


    Eleanor frowned. ¡°Damien, please put that away. We¡¯re having family breakfast.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ra replied automatically. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    ra swallowed the hurt those words caused. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she replied, her tone equally. neutral as she sat up. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Damien looked up, his expression softening as it always did for his daughter. ¡°What did you see, princess?¡±


    Her aunt Amelia. Despite theirplicated history, ra had always respected the woman¡¯s independence and strength. Perhaps seeing her was exactly what she needed today.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, his voice t and controlled. ¡°I was dreaming.¡±


    Cora nodded enthusiastically. ¡°The best! Daddy, did you see what I saw this morning?¡±


    Damien stirred, his arms tightening around her waist. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he


    mumbled, his voice clearer now.


    Eleanor brightened. ¡°Lovely! It¡¯s been too long since you¡¯ve seen your family.¡± She turned to Damien. ¡°Why don¡¯t you apany ra? You haven¡¯t been back to the Bellweather estate in ages.¡±


    ¡°Stupid,¡± she whispered to herself, turning on the cold water. ¡°So stupid.¡±


    ¡°Morning, Grandma. Morning, Coco,¡± ra replied, forcing a smile.


    The single syble shattered the fragile fantasy. Of course. He thought she was Vivienne. The realization felt like a knife twisting in her heart.


    14:50


    76 <b>A </b>Stolen Kiss<b>, </b>A Painful Truth


    <b>¡°</b>Excuse me<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>she said, rising from the table. ¡°It¡¯s my grandmother.¡±


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>went to your room to say good morning, but you were still sleeping,¡± Cora said between bites. ¡°You were hugging Mommy e this.¡± She demonstrated by wrapping her arms around herself tightly.


    ra wasn¡¯t surprised. She¡¯d expected nothing less. Still, the quick dismissal felt like another small wound on an already battered heart.


    ra froze. He was awake.


    ¡°Good morning, dear,¡± Eleanor greeted warmly as ra took her seat.


    She tried to edge away discreetly, keeping her movements slow to avoid waking him fully. Each inch of separation felt like tearing off a bandage, revealing the raw wound beneath.


    Before ra could respond, her phone chimed with an iing call. She nced down, grateful for the distraction.


    ¡°Wonderful! One o¡¯clock at the usual ce.¡±


    The challenge in her mother¨Cinw¡¯s voice made ra look up in surprise. Damien¡¯s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly at being questioned.


    ra¡¯s appetite vanished. She set down her fork, the soft clink against fine china unnaturally loud in the strained silence.


    She remained silent, unsure what to say. The room filled with awkward tension as Damien¡¯s body suddenly stiffened. His eyes snapped open, confusion clouding his features as he stared at her.


    Breakfast at the Thorne manor was always an borate affair when Eleanor was in residence. The dining room gleamed with polished silver and fresh flowers, a stark contrast to ra¡¯s subdued mood.


    ra ended the call and returned to the dining room, where Eleanor was interrogating


    Damien about some business matter.


    Damien¡¯s expression closed immediately. ¡°I can¡¯t. I have meetings all afternoon.¡±


    14:50


    76 A Stolen Kiss, A Painful Truth


    ¡°What¡¯s <b>so </b>urgent?¡± Eleanor frowned, her tone sharpening. ¡°You haven¡¯t gone back with ra for ages!¡±


    Cora continued, oblivious to the tension. ¡°Yo hug Vi¨CVi.¡±


    ooked happy, Daddy. Like when you


    Eleanor sat at the head of the table, elegant as always in her cashmere sweater. Cora was beside her, happily devouring pancakes shaped like animals.


    Eleanor shot Cora a warning look before changing the subject. ¡°ra, dear, how is work going? That project you mentioned sounds fascinating.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, look! Grandma made me a bunny pancake!¡± Cora eximed, holding up her


    fork.


    ¡°Coffee, sir?¡± The maid appeared at his elbow.


    He nodded without looking up from his phone. ¡°ck.¡±


    ¡°Vi,¡± he murmured against her hair, his voice rough with sleep.


    ra remained motionless in Damien¡¯s arms, her mind racing. The gentle kiss he¡¯d ced on her forehead burned against her skin, a sensation both achingly familiar and painfully foreign. For years, she had craved his touch, dreamed of moments like this.


    When she emerged from the bathroom, Damien was gone. The rumpled sheets on his side of the bed were the only evidence he¡¯d been there at all.


    The air between them crackled with tension as Eleanor stared down her son, waiting for an answer that would exin years of neglect toward his wife¡¯s family.


    Eleanor¡¯s eyes widened with delight, darting between them. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    His dismissive tone stung ra more than it should have. What had she expected? An admission that he¡¯d enjoyed holding her? That was never going to happen.


    She didn¡¯t look back as she slipped into the bathroom, closing the door with a soft click. Only when she was alone did she allow her mask to fall, her hands gripping the edge of the sink as she stared at her reflection.


    Recognition dawned in his gaze, followed quickly by something else¨Cdifort, perhaps embarrassment. He released her immediately, rolling away to his side of the bed.


    14:50


    76 A Stolen Kiss<b>. </b>A Painful Truth


    ra smiled genuinely this time. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, sweetheart. Is it delicious<b>?¡± </b>


    ra held her breath, caught between wanting to hear his excuse and dreading whatever painful truth might emerge.


    ¡°That was my grandmother,¡± ra announced, retaking her seat. ¡°She¡¯s invited me to lunch. Aunt Amelia is back in town.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d love to,¡± ra said sincerely.


    Damien cleared his throat, his face expressionless. ¡°I was asleep, Coco. I didn¡¯t realize.¡±


    ¡°Perfectly fine. I wanted to invite you for lunch today. Amelia is back from her trip to


    Paris.¡±


    Damien entered a momentter, freshly showered and impably dressed in a tailored suit. His expression revealed nothing of their earlier encounter as he took the seat opposite ra.


    Her eyes were too bright, her cheeks flushed. She looked like a woman who had been embraced by her lover, not mistaken for someone else by her husband.


    ¡°ra, darling,¡± ra Bellweather¡¯s warm voice filled the line. ¡°How are you?¡±


    With visible reluctance, he set his phone aside. His eyes briefly met ra¡¯s before


    sliding away.


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 The Sprawling 77

    77 Gifts, Guilt, and Guarded Words


    Dinner that evening was an intimate affair with st Uncle Victor, Gran, Cora, and me. Aunt Amelia had been dyed in Paris but would arrive the following morning.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call if anythinges up,¡± I said, filling the awkward silence.


    Her bottom lip jutted out in the beginning of a pout. ¡°But Great¨CGrandma ra doesn¡¯t have the new dollhouse.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    I smiled at her excitement. ¡°Gran must have had it redone.¡±


    I decided not to wait for Damien. After breakfast, I packed Cora¡¯s things while she yed in her room. The events of the morning had left me drained. His kiss, meant for Vivienne, was a stark reminder of where his heart truly belonged.


    ¡°Uncle Victor, I¡¯m your only great¨Cniece,¡± Cora pointed out.


    My daughter sat cross¨Clegged on her floor, surrounded by dolls in borate setups. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m not done ying!¡±


    I nced toward the study where Damien had disappeared after breakfast. The door remained firmly closed.


    ¡°For the drive,¡± she exined as my daughter peeked inside to find new coloring books and scented markers.


    ¡°Some tech mogul,¡± Gran replied. ¡°Foreign, I believe. There¡¯s talk ofpletely renovating the old ce.¡±


    She opened them methodically, her expression revealing nothing as she inspected each item. The cashmere throw earned a slight nod of approval before being set aside. The tea and choctes were passed to the housekeeper with instructions to store


    them.


    ¡°Not this time, princess. I have work to finish.¡± He crouched down to her level. ¡°Be good for Mommy, okay?¡±


    Once they¡¯d gone, Victor refilled our wine sses, his expression growing serious.


    14:50


    77 Gifts, Guilt, and Guarded Words


    As <b>we </b>finished dessert, Cora yawned widely, her eyelids drooping.


    ¡°The same,¡± I answered, not borating. Gran had never approved of my marriage, had- warned me about Damien¡¯s true nature fro he start. I didn¡¯t need her to say ¡°I told


    <b>you </b>so.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take her up,¡± I offered, rising from my seat.


    Victor opened his mouth to respond, but his eyes suddenly shifted to something behind me. His expression changed subtly as he gave an almost imperceptible shake of


    his head.


    ¡°Change can be good,¡± Gran said pointedly. ¡°Sometimes the most beautiful gardens grow where old structures have been torn down.¡±


    Eleanor studied me with knowing eyes. ¡°You¡¯re considerate, dear. Always thinking of others before yourself. I¡¯m sure Damien appreciates the space after his long business trip.¡±


    I caught his meaning immediately. ra¡¯s footsteps sounded behind us.


    After Eleanor left, I finished packing and went to collect Cora.


    ¡°But you lost millions,¡± I protested.


    ¡°How are things?¡± Gran asked, her shrewd eyes missing nothing.


    This seemed to appease her, and she carefully selected which dolls would make the journey.


    As our car crunched up the gravel driveway, Cora pressed her face against the window. ¡°Mommy, look! The fountain has mermaids now!¡±


    ¡°I made it back elsewhere,¡± he assured me with a small smile. ¡°The Vances aren¡¯t so easily defeated.¡±


    ¡°Still, he¡¯s my husband. His actions reflect on me.¡±


    ¡°What are these?¡± I asked as the packages were ced on the bed.


    Eleanor waved dismissively. ¡°He¡¯s on a call with Tokyo. I¡¯ll let him know you¡¯ve gone.¡±


    14:50


    77 Gifts, Guilt, and Guarded Words


    Gran¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the sudden shift in conversation. But she <b>said </b>nothing, taking <b>her </b>seat with the graceful poise that had always defined her.


    Downstairs, the staff loaded our bags into waiting car. Eleanor presented Cora with <b>a </b>small gift bag.


    ¡°She has the garden yhouse you love,¡± I reminded her. ¡°With the real miniature furniture.¡±


    Cora threw her arms around his neck. ¡°I will! Can we go to the park when Ie


    back?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Grandma!¡± Cora hugged Eleanor¡¯s legs tightly.


    I nced out the window toward the neighboring estate. Construction equipment dotted the grounds, and workers moved purposefully around the property.


    ¡°The gardener says we¡¯ll have a record bloom this summer,¡± I replied smoothly, turning to smile at my grandmother as she rejoined us.


    Gran¡¯s eyebrow arched as she examined the packages. ¡°How¡­ generous.¡±


    Cora had already disappeared into the garden, leaving us adults to talk freely.


    ¡°Of course.¡± He kissed her forehead before standing.


    ¡°Nothing could keep us away,¡± I assured her, presenting Eleanor¡¯s gifts. ¡°From Eleanor.¡±


    ¡°Any word on the new owners?¡± I asked, grateful for the change in subject.


    Damien nodded, his gaze finally settling on me. ¡°Drive safely.¡±


    ¡°Let me,¡± Gran insisted. ¡°I want to show her the new books I got for her room.¡±


    Damien nodded, already reaching for his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. ¡°Have a good weekend.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving already?¡± he asked, his eyes flicking between Cora and me.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to stay another day?¡± Eleanor appeared in the doorway, her elegant figure leaning against the frame.


    ¡°All the more reason you¡¯re my favorite.¡± He winked, setting her down. ¡°Your great¨Cgrandmother is in the srium.¡±


    14:50


    77 Gifts, Guilt, and Guarded Words


    The Lawrences¡® estate had stood vacant for years, its once¨Cgrand Victorian


    architecture falling into disrepair. I¡¯d yed there as a child, exploring the overgrown gardens with my cousins.


    Victor leaned forward. ¡°Listen to me. Damien Thorne has been using business to wage personal vendettas for years. I knew the risks when I backed Vivienne¡¯s project.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she gets them,¡± I promised, though I knew most would end up in Gran¡¯s donation pile by next week.


    As if summoned by our conversation, the study door opened. Damien emerged, his expression unreadable as he approached.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re headed to ra¡¯s,¡± Eleanor continued, ¡°would you mind taking these along?¡± She gestured to a staff member who appeared with several elegantly wrapped boxes.


    ¡°It will be strange having new neighbors after all these years,¡± I mused.


    ¡°Gran¡¯s rosebushes are looking spectacr this year,¡± he said loudly, his tone abruptly conversational. ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Just a few things for ra.¡± Eleanor smiled warmly. ¡°Some tea from Japan, Belgian choctes, that cashmere throw she admiredst year.¡±


    The question hung in the air. Would I return to this house that had never felt like home?


    ra Bellweather¡¯s estate sprawled across ten acres of manicured grounds. The imposing stone mansion had been in our family for generations, its grandeur rivaling even the Thornes¡® wealth.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± I answered honestly. ¡°I¡¯ll let Damien know.¡±


    Victor¡¯spany had suffered significant losses after Damien blocked several key partnerships¨Cretaliation for Victor¡¯s support of Vivienne¡¯s career advancement in apeting firm.


    ¡°Perfect.¡± Eleanor sped her hands together. ¡°Do you need help with anything else?¡±


    We found Gran surrounded by her prized orchids, looking regal in a silk blouse and


    14:50


    77 Gifts, Guilt, and Guarded Words


    tailored pants despite being in her seventies.


    I zipped Cora¡¯s small suitcase closed before answering. ¡°Gran is expecting us. Besides, I think it¡¯s better this way.¡±


    I merely nodded, not wanting to correct her misunderstanding. Let her believe I was leaving to give Damien space, rather than to protect what remained of my wounded


    heart.


    ¡°There¡¯s my favorite niece,¡± he said, embracing me tightly. ¡°And my favorite great¨Cniece!¡± He scooped Cora up, making her giggle.


    ¡°No, thank you. We¡¯re almost ready.¡±


    Our eyes met over our daughter¡¯s head. For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his gaze¨Cregret? Longing? Whatever it was vanished quickly, reced by his usual detached expression.


    She nodded, thankfully not pressing further. ¡°There are some changes happening next door. The Lawrences finally sold their property.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to apologize,¡± I said quietly. ¡°For what Damien did to your business deals in


    Asia. I know it was because of Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°There you are,¡± she said, rising to embrace me. ¡°I was beginning to think that husband of yours had changed your mind.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to Great¨CGrandma¡¯s house!¡± Cora announced excitedly.


    The moment had passed, but Victor¡¯s warning look lingered in my mind. Some truths were still too dangerous to speak aloud, even here in what should have been the safety of my family home.


    ¡°She does try, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Gran remarked, her tone making it clear that no amount of expensive gifts would erase the past.


    ¡°Daddy, aren¡¯t youing?¡± Cora looked up expectantly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Victor said firmly. ¡°None of that was your fault, ra.¡±


    Victor, my uncle, greeted us at the entrance. His warm smile was a wee change from the cool formality of the Thorne household.


    14:50


    77 Gifts, Guilt, and Guarded Words


    <b>I </b><b>stared </b>into my wine ss, guilt still weighing heavily. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if marrying him was the biggest mistake of my life.¡±


    Her metaphor wasn¡¯t subtle, but I appreciated!


    my marriage.


    restraint in not directly criticizing


    That was it. No goodbye kiss, no promises to callter. Just three words of practical


    advice.


    ¡°We need to leave soon, Coco. You can bring two dolls with you.¡±


    With that dismissal, we left the Thorne manor behind.


    ¡°Should I¡­¡± I hesitated, wondering if I should inform him we were leaving.


    I stared at the mountain of gifts. This wasn¡¯t mere politeness¨Cit was Eleanor¡¯s


    continued campaign to win over my grandmother, who¡¯d never fully forgiven the Thornes for how Damien and I came to be married.


    Eleanor nodded, pausing at the door. ¡°Will you be returning on Sunday?¡±


    Comment


    0


    14:50

 The Sprawling 78

    78 A Child¡¯s Weekend Plea


    ¡°Tell Daddy I made a new drawing for him,¡± she


    led as I reached the door.


    ¡°That important people have important things to do.¡± She adjusted a doll¡¯s tiny hat. ¡°And that when I grow up, I¡¯ll be important too.¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°For a Bellweather celebration, it practically qualifies as intimate.¡±


    She trudged up the stairs without another word, her dejected posture twisting the knife of maternal guilt deeper.


    ¡°You should go home,¡± he said, noticing my stifled yawn. ¡°Get some actual sleep in an


    actual bed.


    ¡°Mrs. Winters said Daddy has to go away for the weekend. For business.¡±


    I sighed, already seeing where this was heading. ¡°Gran would prefer something simpler.¡±


    ¡°Just picking up some documents,¡± I exined. ¡°Cora¡¯s upstairs.¡±


    My breath caught. Of course. Even in Damien¡¯s absence, Vivienne¡¯s influence lingered. I closed my eyes, fighting forposure.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Amelia waved dismissively. ¡°Mother deserves to be celebrated properly. Eighty years! We should have live music, maybe that string quartet she likes.¡±


    Thursday evening, Julian ordered takeout as we workedte again.


    She nodded enthusiastically. ¡°She showed me how to make pressed flowers! And Uncle Victor taught me a magic trick with cards.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± There was a pause. ¡°Mom, Dad won¡¯t be home on the weekend. When are youing back home?¡±


    Downstairs, I was grabbing my purse when I heard the front door open. Damien entered, his suit immacte despite thete hour.


    The vulnerability in her question made my heart clench. I had been so focused on maintaining my distance from Damien, on building my independence, that I¡¯d neglected to consider how my absence affected Cora.


    14:50


    <b>78 </b>A <b>Child¡¯s </b>Weekend Plea


    I <b>smiled</b><b>. </b>¡°That sounds wonderful.¡±


    After she <b>left</b>, Amelia turned to me with a determined expression. ¡°Twenty¨Cfive will work, but we¡¯ll need to be selective with the g st list.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m quite aware of my age, Amelia.¡± ra¡¯s tone was mild but firm. ¡°I don¡¯t need reminding with an extravagant affair.¡±


    ra¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but I caught the slight tightening around her eyes.


    ¡°A quiet dinner. Here, with family.¡± Her gaze swept around the table. ¡°Just the people


    who matter most.¡±


    ¡°ra.¡± His tone was gentle but firm. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other too long for that to


    work.¡±


    ¡°But Mother-¡± Amelia began.


    I smiled gratefully. ¡°Thanks, Jules.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see, sweetheart. Let me talk to your dad first, okay?¡±


    ¡°Just dedicated to the project,¡± I deflected.


    I nodded, unsurprised. ¡°I¡¯ll just be gathering some papers from my office. We won¡¯t be staying long.¡±


    An awkward silence fell. I cleared my throat. ¡°I was just suggesting we ask what you


    might prefer.¡±.


    He studied me over his container of noodles. ¡°Is everything okay? You¡¯ve been practically living here this week.¡±


    Victor nodded enthusiastically. ¡°And we could fly in that chef from Mn she admires.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± she mumbled against my shoulder.


    When I went upstairs to find Cora, she was sitting cross¨Clegged on her bedroom floor, methodically arranging her dolls in a circle.


    Amelia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wonderful idea! We should host it at theke house. The gardens will be perfect in full bloom.¡±


    ¡°Mother, turning eighty is significant,¡± Amelia pressed. ¡°We shouldmemorate it


    14:50


    78 A Child¡¯s Weekend Plea


    properly.¡±


    ¡°Mom.¡± Her small voice sounded hesitant. ¡°When are youing home?¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± I moved toward the door. ¡°Goodnight, Damien.¡±


    ¡°Yes. There¡¯s a project deadline tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother¡¯s,¡± I corrected automatically. ¡°It was fine. She¡¯s nning her birthday celebration.¡±


    I frowned at the data scrolling across my screen. ¡°What if we reconfigure the cooling system? Maybe split it into dual channels instead of the singr pathway?¡±


    ¡°Love you too, Coco.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s better than releasing a product that overheats after thirty minutes of use.¡± I tapped my pen against the table, mind racing with potential solutions.


    Before I could argue further, Aunt Amelia swept into the room in a cloud of expensive perfume. ¡°Did I hear something about a party?¡±


    I sighed, setting down my fork. ¡°Home is¡­plicated right now.¡±


    ¡°I will, if I see him.¡±


    ¡°No, ma¡¯am. He called earlier to say he¡¯d be dyed.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re having a meeting,¡± she corrected seriously. ¡°About why parents are never home.¡±


    ¡°Like you do? Is that why you¡¯re always at your office now?¡±


    Victor leaned forward. ¡°What would you prefer, Gran?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s turning eighty. We should do something special.¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡± I reached for my own cup, inhaling the rich aroma.


    We all turned to see ra standing in the doorway, elegant as ever in her sage green pantsuit.


    ra¡¯s POV


    I had no good answer. Instead, I pulled her into a h¨²g, breathing in her sweet, little¨Cgirl


    14:50


    <b>78 </b>A <b>Child¡¯s </b>Weekend Ploa


    scent. <b>¡°</b><b>I </b><b>love </b>you so much. You know that, right?¡±


    She fell silent, staring out the window as we turned into the long driveway of Thorne Manor. The imposing gray stone structure loomed ahead, windows glowing with warm light that belied the emotional coldness inside.


    ¡°I was thinking a small garden party. Fifty people, maybe sixty. Her closest friends, family, some of her former colleagues.¡±


    ¡°Twenty, perhaps twenty¨Cfive.¡±


    His expression was unreadable. ¡°I see.¡±.


    Cora¡¯s face fell. ¡°We¡¯re not staying?¡±


    The guilt hit me like a physical blow. ¡°I¡¯m trying to bnce everything, Coco. It¡¯s not always easy.¡±


    I knelt to her eye level. ¡°I need to go back to work tonight, Coco. There¡¯s an important deadline tomorrow.¡±


    He nodded, loosening his tie. ¡°How was your mother¡¯s?¡±


    An awkward silence fell between us. Once, I would have asked about his day, tried to bridge the distance. Now, I simply waited for the conversation to end.


    ra nodded, seeming pleased. ¡°That sounds lovely.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Daddye with us?¡±


    She looked up at me with eyes too knowing for her age. ¡°Then why are you leaving?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Victor refilled his coffee. ¡°Now, can we discuss something more important than thermal conductivity? Like Gran¡¯s birthday next month?¡±


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s chocte hazelnut, you may make it as spectacr as you wish.¡±


    My brother Victor leaned back in his chair across the table, nursing his morning coffee while pretending not to eavesdrop. ra¡¯s dining room had be my temporary


    office for the week.


    ¡°ra. I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be here.¡±


    14:50


    4/9.


    78 A Child¡¯s Weekend Plea


    ¡°Hi, sweetie! How are you?¡±


    After a long moment, I reluctantly pulled away. ¡°I really do need to go. But I¡¯ll see you tomorrow evening<b>, </b>I promise.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± This was the first I¡¯d heard of any weekend trip. ¡°Did he tell you where?¡±


    Something flickered in his eyes¨Cperhaps guilt, perhaps merely annoyance at the implied criticism. ¡°I¡¯ll spend time with her.¡±


    ¡°Has Mr. Thorne returned yet?¡± I asked, helping Cora remove her coat.


    ¡°That would mean redesigning the entire case structure,¡± Julian countered.


    I shot Victor an appreciative nce. ¡°Let me work up some sketches and I¡¯ll send them over this afternoon.¡±


    Amelia looked ready to argue but stopped when I shot her a warning look.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want,¡± I said gently.


    ¡°I see.¡± She walked to the sideboard and poured herself tea. ¡°And who decided this?¡±


    I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. ¡°Sometimes adults have many responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°Really. We can do whatever you want.¡±


    ra took a seat, regarding us over the rim of her teacup. ¡°How thoughtful of you,


    ra.¡±


    With the matter settled, ra rose. ¡°Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, I promised Cora we¡¯d explore the old greenhouse this morning.¡±


    <b>I </b>nced at the clock. ¡°I should be home for dinner tonight. Is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± he asked, noticing my purse and the files in my hand.


    Julian¡¯s voice perked up. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ actually not a bad idea.¡±


    After ending the call, I closed myptop with a sigh. ¡°Thanks for the suggestion.¡±


    ¡°Hold on,¡± I protested. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we ask what Gran actually wants?¡±


    The next few days passed in a blur of work. YodaVision¡¯stest AI interface was


    14:51


    78 A Child¡¯s Weekend Plea


    approaching its final development phase, and Julian and I spent long hours refining the prototype. I barely saw Thorne Manor, arrivingte and leaving early, often sleeping on the couch in my office.


    ¡°Can we make cookies? And have a movie night?


    ¡°How many?¡± Victor asked cautiously.


    ¡°Apromise,¡± ra interrupted. ¡°Twenty¨Cfive guests here, and you may hire that string quartet.¡±


    I brushed her hair back from her forehead. ¡°How about you go up and organize your toys while I get my work done? Then I¡¯lle say goodbye properly.¡±


    The casual arrogance of Damien¡¯s worldview, already being instilled in our daughter, made my chest ache. ¡°Being busy doesn¡¯t make someone important, Coco. And being important doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t be present for the people you love.¡±


    The question caught me off guard. ¡°He¡­ had work to do, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°We could have it here in the main dining room,¡± I suggested. ¡°Private catering, your


    favorite flowers.¡±


    The statement hit like a p. ¡°Coco¡­¡±


    Cora¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Your birthday celebration,¡± Amelia announced. ¡°We were thinking theke house, garden party, about sixty guests.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Hope brightened her voice.


    ¡°And can we invite Vivienne too? She said she¡¯d teach me how to paint nails¡­¡±


    Our eyes met across the foyer. He looked surprised to see me.


    That evening, I drove Cora back to Thorne Manor. The weekend had flown by, and though I dreaded returning to the cold atmosphere of the Thorne household, I needed to collect some documents from my home office.


    Julian nodded, not pressing further. ¡°Well, my couch is terrible for your back, so at least take the guest room tonight.¡±


    14:51


    78 A Child¡¯s Weekend n


    ¡°For Gran¡¯s birthday,¡± Victor exined.


    <b>In </b>my office, I quickly gathered the files I needed, then spent a few minutes reviewing- emails. A notification from Julian reminded me of our morning conversation about the


    ou


    cooling system redesign. I needed to get back YodaVision headquarters to work on those sketches.


    ¡°But I just got home,¡± she protested, her lower lip trembling slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be home soon, Coco,¡± I promised. ¡°We¡¯ll have the whole weekend together, just you


    and me.¡±


    ¡°He always has work,¡± Cora said, her voice small.


    ¡°Cora mentioned she made a drawing for you.¡± I shifted my weight, eager to escape the suffocating tension. ¡°She¡¯s disappointed I¡¯m not staying.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, not looking up. ¡°I understand about work. Daddy exins it to me


    all the time.¡±


    ¡°I know, sweetie. But Mrs. Winters will take good care of you, and Daddy will be home soon.¡± The lie tasted bitter on my tongue¨CI had no idea when Damien would actually


    return.


    I tilted my head. ¡°Define ¡®special. You know Gran hates fuss.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Her mood had lifted considerably. ¡°Love you, Mom!¡±


    Mrs. Winters, the housekeeper, greeted us at the door. ¡°Wee home, Mrs. Thorne,


    Miss Cora.¡±


    ¡°Sixty people is hardly small, Victor.¡±


    <b>I </b>shook


    my head. ¡°There¡¯s still too much to do.¡±


    Friday afternoon, I was reviewing coding sequences when my phone rang. Seeing Cora¡¯s name on the screen, I immediately answered.


    ¡°Having a tea party?¡± I asked, leaning against the doorframe.


    I recognized the gleam in her eye. ¡°No matchmaking, Amelia.¡±


    ¡°You were.¡± I closed the discussion by reopening myptop. ¡°Now <b>if </b>you¡¯ll excuse me, I


    have work to finish.¡±


    14:51


    78 A Child¡¯s Weekend Plea


    ra set down her cup. ¡°Though perhaps¡­¡± A small smile yed at her lips. ¡°A slightlyrger dinner wouldn¡¯t be terrible. I do have friends I¡¯d like to see.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, ra.¡±


    ¡°The prototype¡¯s thermal issues are still unsolved,¡± Julian exined, his voice crackling through the speakerphone as I reviewed the schematics on myptop.


    ¡°Ask me what?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°Did you have fun at Great¨CGrandma¡¯s?¡± I asked, ncing at Cora in the rearview. mirror.


    As I ended the call, a heavy weight settled in my chest. The weekend stretched before me¨Cjust Cora and me at Thorne Manor, a house that had never truly felt like home. And hanging over us, the ghost of Vivienne¡¯s presence, growing stronger in my daughter¡¯s life with each passing day.


    I entered the room and sat on the edge of her bed. ¡°What does Daddy say?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t-¡±


    Cora nodded, resigned. I kissed her forehead and stood to leave.


    Victor cleared his throat. ¡°Forgive my intrusion, but would a graphene¨Cbased cooling solution work? I read about some promising applications in tech journals.¡±


    On Wednesday, I attended a conference at InnovaTech¡¯s headquarters, half¨Cexpecting to run into Damien or Vivienne, but encountered neither. The building hummed with activity, but I remained focused on my presentations, deliberately avoiding the executive floors where they might be.


    Amelia brightened. ¡°And the cake? There must be a spectacr cake.¡±


    14:51

 The Sprawling 79

    79 Stolen Joy at the Stables


    Cora¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Can I? Really?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at the equestrian center. I¡¯ll take Cora. We¡¯ll be back Sunday as nned.


    But once in the saddle, muscle memory took over. Within twenty minutes, Ryan was nodding approvingly as I guided Firefly through increasinglyplex maneuvers.


    My smile froze in ce. ¡°They¡¯ll have another opportunity, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Momentster, another horse was brought for Damien. He swung into the saddle with effortless confidence, and the three of them set off toward the wooded trail ¨C Vivienne with Cora, Damien alongside them, the perfect picture of a family outing.


    He ended the call without saying goodbye.


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Good.¡± His tone was clipped, businesslike. ¡°I¡¯ll be back Sunday evening.¡±


    Before I could respond, he added, ¡°Vivienne is apanying me.¡± <b>1 </b>


    The remainder of the drive passed with Cora telling me everything she knew about horses from her picture books. I nodded and responded at appropriate intervals, while inwardly steeling myself against the constant reminder that my daughter increasingly saw Vivienne as a parental figure.


    When Ryan called time on our session, I patted Midnight¡¯s neck gratefully. ¡°Thank you. That was¡­ exactly what I needed.¡±


    This was news to me. ¡°She hasn¡¯t mentioned it to me.¡±


    ¡°Last night before he left. He showed me pictures on hisputer.¡± She beamed. ¡°Vivienne said she used to ride horses when she was my age. She said she¡¯de watch me someday.¡±


    Each mention of Vivienne was like a paper cut ¨C small but stinging. I forced a smile. ¡°Well, today it¡¯s just you and me, Coco. Are you excited?¡±


    ¡°Wee to Hayes! I¡¯m Megan. You must be Mrs. Thorne and Cora?¡±


    14:51


    79 Stolen Joy at the Stables


    I approached the mare, stroking her soft muzzle. Something within me rxed as Firefly nuzzled my palm.


    The riding clothes I¡¯d borrowed suddenly felt


    istrictive. I changed quickly in the


    locker room, gathered my belongings, and walked to my car alone.


    A family that didn¡¯t include me.


    There, in the children¡¯s paddock, stood Damien and Vivienne.


    Ryan observed my interactions with the horse. ¡°You seemfortable around horses.¡±


    Damien¡¯s hand rested easily on Vivienne¡¯s lower back. ¡°Would you like to ride with Vivienne next, Coco? She¡¯s offered to take you around the trail.¡±


    Back at the main building, I sat on a bench, numb. My phone buzzed with a text from Damien:


    Cora nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Is Butterscotch here?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a natural,¡± he said. ¡°We have adult advanced sessions on Thursday evenings if you¡¯re interested.¡±


    I stood frozen, watching as a stable hand brought out a beautiful palomino horse for Vivienne. With practiced grace, she mounted, then waited as an attendant carefully seated Cora in front of her. Damien approached, adjusting Cora¡¯s helmet and giving her knee a reassuring squeeze.


    Cora¡¯s excitement was palpable as we drove to Hayes Equestrian Center the next morning. She bounced in her car seat, chattering non¨Cstop.


    ¡°Of course, darling,¡± Vivienne answered. ¡°It¡¯ll be fun!¡±


    As I pulled out of the parking lot, I caught sight of them in my rearview mirror ¨C Damien, Vivienne, and Cora returning from their trail ride, all smiles andughter. Cora¡¯s delighted expression as she gazed up at Vivienne stabbed at my heart.


    ¡°Yes! But¡­¡± Her voice trailed off.


    ¡°Perhaps because you¡¯ve hardly been home,¡± he replied, the usation clear in his voice.


    My heart stuttered. Damien was supposed to be in Chicago. Yet here he was, watching


    14:51


    79 Stolen Joy at the Stables


    <b>as </b>Cora demonstrated <b>her </b>newfound skills on Butterscotch, pping enthusiastically. Beside him, Vivienne looked elegant even in casual riding attire, her auburn hair captured in a stylish braid.


    I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s been seven years. I should start slow.¡±


    Megan knelt to Cora¡¯s level. ¡°Are you ready for your first riding lesson?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne, you¡¯re seriously underselling your abilities,¡± he said. ¡°Would you like to try something more advanced?¡±


    I nodded, helping Cora from her car seat.


    ¡°Of course! Let me check who¡¯s avable.¡± Megan made a quick call on her radio. ¡°Ryan can take you. He specializes in refresher lessons for adults.¡±


    ¡°Look how straight I¡¯m sitting!¡± she called to them. ¡°Miss Leslie says I¡¯m a natural rider!¡±


    Hayes Equestrian Center sprawled across several acres of meticulously maintained grounds. Stone stables housed gleaming horses, and pristine white fences bordered the riding areas. As we parked, a young woman in riding attire approached us.


    ¡°She sure is! She¡¯s excited to meet you.¡± Megan stood and addressed me. ¡°We have a children¡¯s group starting in fifteen minutes. Will you be watching from the observation


    area?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need to take Cora this weekend,¡± Damien stated without preamble when he called Friday evening. ¡°I have meetings in Chicago.¡±


    I nced at her in the rearview mirror. ¡°When did Dad tell you all this?<b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Hold on tight to the pommel, just like I showed you,¡± he instructed.


    ¡°Hayes Equestrian Center is reputable. They have instructors for children her age.¡±


    His eyebrows rose. ¡°Then perhaps Firefly isn¡¯t challenging enough for you.¡±


    He brought out a spirited ck gelding named Midnight. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you remember about jumping¡±


    After returning Midnight to the stables, I checked my watch. Cora¡¯s lesson should be finishing soon. I headed toward the children¡¯s riding area, taking a shortcut through a


    14:51


    <b>79 </b><b>Stolen </b><b>Joy </b><b>at </b>the Stables


    wooded path.


    I bnced my phone against my ear while gathering papers from my desk at


    YodaVision. <b><i>¡°</i></b>I¡®


    already nning to be home he called me earlier.¡±


    After settling Cora with her instructor and the other children, I met Ryan by a paddock where a chestnut mare waited.


    No exnation for his presence. No apology for the change in ns. Just a curt notification that once again, I was superfluous.


    I was surprised he¡¯d researched this. ¡°I¡¯ll call them tomorrow. Thank you for the rmendation.¡±


    Riding had been my passion in college ¨C before marriage, before Thorne¨CIndustries consumed my life. I suddenly craved the freedom I¡¯d once felt on horseback.


    ¡°But what, sweetheart?¡±


    ¡°ra¡­¡± he began, then paused. ¡°Cora mentioned wanting to go horseback riding. She¡¯s been asking about it for weeks.¡±


    ¡°This is Firefly,¡± he said, patting the horse¡¯s neck. ¡°She¡¯s responsive but gentle ¨C perfect for someone getting back in the saddle.¡±


    ¡°Just like your father,¡± Vivienne replied, smiling up at Damien. ¡°Must run in the Thorne genes.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ll hold you safe,¡± Vivienne added, her arms creating a secure circle around my


    daughter.


    For the first time in weeks, I felt genuinely happy. ¡°Yes, I would.¡±


    I dismounted, already considering rearranging my schedule. ¡°I might be.¡±


    An awkward silence stretched between us. I waited for him to end the call as he typically did.


    As I approached the clearing where the children¡¯s lessons were held,ughter ¨C familiarughter ¨C stopped me in my tracks. I moved cautiously forward until I could


    see the source.


    14:51


    79 Stolen Joy at the Stables


    Of course she was. I kept my voice neutral. ¡°I understand.


    ¡°Actually,¡± I said, surprising myself, ¡°I was wondering if there might be an instructor avable for me as well? It¡¯s been years since! ridden¡±


    Cora beamed under their attention, proudly sitting tall in her tiny saddle.


    An hour flew by as I reacquainted myself with the exhration of sailing over jumps, the powerful animal beneath me responding to my lightest touch. Wind in my hair, sun on my face ¨C I felt alive, unbound by the constraints of my daily life.


    I retreated back along the path, unwilling to be discovered. The joy I¡¯d felt earlier evaporated, reced by a hollow ache. This moment wasn¡¯t meant for me to witness this glimpse of what life might be like if I weren¡¯t in the picture..


    I turned onto the main road, leaving behind the family portrait that should have included me, and the daughter whose joy I¡¯d nned but didn¡¯t get to share.


    ¡°I used to ridepetitively in college,¡± I admitted. ¡°Dressage and jumping.¡±


    I bit back a retort about his own frequent absences. ¡°I¡¯ll look into finding a stable that offers lessons.¡±


    ¡°Dad said the horses are very big but very gentle and that I might get to ride a pony named Butterscotch!¡±


    I typed a simple ¡°OK¡± in response.


    <b>1 </b>


    She looked down at her hands. ¡°I wish Dad and Vivienne could see me ride today.¡±


    ¨C


    14:51

 The Sprawling 80

    80 Kites in a Solitary Sky


    His touch was light but sure, helping me reg


    we guided the kite back to stable heights.


    control without taking over. Together,


    ¡°You¡¯re doing great,¡± he encouraged as she managed a small loop.


    ¡°It¡¯s too heavy!¡± sheined.


    I stood watching them¨CBeck steadying Shanice¡¯s hands, both faces tilted upward in shared delight. Something about their easypanionship made my chest ache.


    She nodded seriously, gripping the spool with determination.


    Years ago, before her condition deteriorated so severely, she¡¯d told me something I clung to: ¡°Even when I don¡¯t seem present, I can feel you¡¯re here. Don¡¯t stoping.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how to set it up?¡± Shanice asked, breaking into my thoughts.


    ¡°Want to try?¡± Shanice suddenly called to me. ¡°It¡¯s super fun!¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said softly. ¡°She¡¯s with her father today.¡±


    The parking lot was busy with weekend visitors. Families spread pic nkets on grassy areas. Children chased each other while parents watched indulgently. Kites dotted the sky like colorful birds.


    I should go back to my parents¡® house. But the thought of returning to that empty space without Cora seemed unbearable. What would I do there alone? Sit in silence, nursing my wounds?


    ¡°How is she today?¡± I asked, dreading the answer.


    I nodded, kneeling to unfold the kite. ¡°I used to fly these with my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Look! It¡¯s flying!¡± Shanice squealed.


    Something about his easy manner, theck of expectation in his eyes, made the decision easier. ¡°Alright. One kite.¡±


    A tall man approached, expression apologetic. ¡°Shanice, what did I say about talking to


    strangers?¡±


    14:51


    80 Kites in a Solitary Sky


    On the grassy hill, families dotted thendscape like wildflowers. I felt conspicuously alone until Shanice grabbed my hand.


    ¡°The same, I¡¯m afraid. The new medication ha shown significant improvement.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I am not terrible,¡± he protested with mock indignation. ¡°I¡¯m strategically challenged.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing it!¡± she crowed. ¡°Beck, look! I¡¯m flying it all by myself!¡±


    After ending the call, I sat watching a father help his young daughterunch a butterfly kite. The little girl¡¯sughter carried across the parking lot. Something twisted inside me as I started the car and headed toward Harmony Nursing Home.


    Together they ran, the string paying out behind them. This time, the butterfly caught a current and soared upward, wings gleaming against the blue sky.


    ¡°She¡¯s not a stranger anymore,¡± the child reasoned. ¡°Her name is¡­¡± She looked expectantly at me.


    I followed, remembering countless kite¨Cflying excursions with Cora. The familiar ache returned. Was she enjoying her ride with Vivienne right now? Would she even notice I wasn¡¯t there waiting when they returned?


    A small kiosk near the entrance sold kites of all shapes and sizes. I wandered over, running my fingers along the colorful fabrics. What was I doing here?


    The sterile halls of the facility always unsettled me. A nurse greeted me with practiced sympathy.


    After moisturizing her hands andbing her hair, I kissed her forehead. ¡°I love you, Mom. I¡¯ll be back in a few days.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a kite,¡± I said.


    My mother remained still, lost in whatever world her mind now inhabited.


    ¡°Hardly,¡± I demurred, but epted the string.


    ¡°Are you going to buy one?¡±


    ¡°Hi, Mom,¡± I said softly, cing a hand on her shoulder.


    ra¡¯s POV


    14:51


    80 Kites in a Solitary Sky


    <b>Her </b>unabashed approach startled a smile from me. ¡°Does it?¡±


    She didn¡¯t turn. Didn¡¯t register my presence at all.


    She concentrated fiercely, her small face se us. The kite responded, rising higher.


    Shanice tugged at my sleeve. ¡°Will you fly a kite with me? Beck is terrible at it.¡±


    Beck, who had been hanging back, stepped forward. ¡°Need any help?¡±


    The kite wobbled, refusing to gain altitude. I could see Shanice struggling with the strong pull on the line.


    Dr. Harrison picked up on the second ring. ¡°ra, I was just about to call you.¡±


    Once assembled, I handed the spool to Shanice. ¡°Hold this tightly. When I say run<b>, </b>go that way with the wind at your back.¡±


    My hands tightened on the steering wheel. A sign for Willowbrook Wend Park caught my eye, and on impulse, I turned. I needed to be anywhere but alone with my thoughts.


    Shanice took off, her small legs pumping. The kite caught air, rising a few feet before dipping dangerously.


    I shook my head, fingers working deftly to secure the cross¨Cstruts. ¡°I¡¯ve done this many times.¡±


    She nodded solemnly. ¡°Beck says it¡¯s ¡®cause of the aero¡­ aero¨Cdy¡­ something.¡±


    On the drive back, I found myself passing Willowbrook Park again. The kites still soared, families stillughed. Without conscious decision, I pulled into the parking lot and stepped out into the warm afternoon.


    The blue butterfly kite was indeed beautiful, its gossamer wings shimmering in the sunlight. The vendor handed it to me with a smile. ¡°Good choice. Perfect day for flying.¡±


    The kite danced and swooped. Gradually, Beck let Shanice take more control, his hands hovering near hers without touching, ready to help if needed.


    I closed my eyes briefly. ¡°I¡¯ll stop by this afternoon.¡±


    Their interaction reminded me painfully of Damien with Cora at the equestrian center


    14:51


    80 Kites in a Solitary Sky


    -the guidance, the shared moment of joy. Except I sensed Beck wasn¡¯t Shanice¡¯s


    father. There was an attentiveness in his manner that spoke of chosen care rather than obligation.


    Shanice pped her hands. ¡°Yay!¡±


    Beck caught my eye over her head, his expression warm with appreciation. ¡°You¡¯re a good teacher.¡±


    ¡°Is she here too?¡± Shanice looked around.


    ¡°Keep running!¡± I called, jogging beside her. ¡°Don¡¯t slow down!¡±


    I found my mother by the window in her room, staring vacantly at the garden outside. Her silver hair, once so like my own, had thinned considerably.


    Beck stepped in smoothly, covering her small hands with his. ¡°Let me help. We¡¯ll do it together.¡±


    For a moment, I lost myself in the simple pleasure of controlling the kite, feeling the wind¡¯s moods through the string. Up here, none of my troubles could reach me. I was just a woman with a kite on a sunny day.


    Shanice pointed at the kiosk. ¡°You can buy one! The blue butterfly is the prettiest.¡±


    ¡°Cora is learning to ride horses,¡± I told her, filling the silence. ¡°She¡¯s a natural, apparently.¡± I arranged her toiletries in the bathroom cab. ¡°Work is going well. The new AI interface is finally functioning properly.¡±


    I hesitated, then walked over. Beck offered me the spool with a smile. ¡°Your turn. I hear


    you¡¯re an expert.¡±


    I remained in my car, an observer of joy rather than a participant. My phone buzzed¨Ca reminder about my mother¡¯s medication delivery. I¡¯d almost forgotten.


    The man¨CBeck¨Csmiled ruefully. ¡°I¡¯m Beck Lawson. Sorry if she¡¯s bothering you.¡±


    Beck studied my face. ¡°Only if you want to. No pressure.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted/


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Beck stepped closer, his handsing to steady mine.


    ¡°Aerodynamics,¡± a male voice finished.


    <b>3 </b>


    14:51


    80 Kites in a Solitary Sky


    I held the kite aloft, waiting for a gust. ¡°Ready¡­ run!¡±


    He stepped back with an easy smile. ¡°No problem. These bigger kites can be tricky.¡±


    I hesitated. I¡¯de here to escape loneliness, not engage with it. Yet something in the girl¡¯s hopeful expression weakened my resolve.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, suddenly aware of how close he stood.


    The road stretched endlessly before me as I drove with no particr destination in mind. Just away from the equestrian center. Away from the image of Damien, Vivienne, and Cora¨Cthe perfect family portrait that excluded me.


    As I watched Shanice navigate her butterfly through the sky, I felt a tiny part of my heart unfurl like a kite catching wind¨Cfragile, hesitant, but reaching upward nheless. O


    I handed her the spool, helping position her hands. ¡°Remember to feel the wind through the string. The kite talks to you that way.¡±


    Shanice bounced impatiently. ¡°Can I try again?¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± I supplied, amused despite myself.


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re good at this,¡± Shanice observed, watching me execute a gentle figure


    eight.


    I hoped that was still true.


    ¡°She¡¯s having a calm day, Mrs. Thorne.


    I sat beside her, unpacking the supplies I¡¯d brought¨Cher favoritevender lotion, new nightgowns, the soft throw nket she¡¯d always loved.


    ¡°She¡¯s not,¡± I assured him.


    Something inside me softened at his words. When was thest time someone had genuinely appreciated something I¡¯d done? Not as Damien¡¯s wife or Cora¡¯s mother or YodaVision¡¯s co¨Cfounder, but just as me?


    Outside, I sat in my car, hands gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. The visits always left me feeling hollowed out. Another person I loved, present yet unreachable.


    14:51


    30 Kites in a Solitary Sky


    ¡°Over here! This spot has the best wind.¡±


    The pull of the kite was stronger than I expected, a living thing tugging toward freedom. I adjusted my grip, feeling the familiar tension through the line.


    Then a powerful gust caught the butterfly wings. The spool jerked in my hands, nearly pulling free. The kite dipped rmingly.


    I looked down to find a small girl, perhaps six years old, staring up at me with curious dark eyes.


    ¡°You should get the butterfly one. It flies real good.¡±


    No response. There never was anymore.


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 The Sprawling 81

    81 An Invitation to Intrigue


    81 An Invitation to Intrigue


    Again, that brief hesitation, followed by a small smile. ¡°That would be lovely¡±


    ¡°Beck Lawson.¡±


    When I returned to the table, ra looked up with a questioning smile. ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    Three hourster, Shanice and I stepped onto Lucas Sterling¡¯s ostentatious yacht, ¡°The Golden Opportunity.¡± The name was as subtle as its owner.


    Beck¡¯s POV


    Shanice clung to my hand, suddenly shy among the crowd of well¨Cdressed adults milling about the deck. Her earlier enthusiasm had dampened in the face of reality.


    I checked my watch. ¡°It is lunchtime. Would you like to join us, ra? There¡¯s a nice little ce just outside the park.¡±


    Shanice¡¯s face fell immediately. ¡°Already? But we were having so much fun!¡±


    The girl¨CCoco¨Cnoticed Shanice immediately. Breaking away from Vivienne, she approached us with confident steps.


    Lunch passed pleasantly, with Shanice dominating the conversation. I noticed ra carefully steered topics away from herself, instead asking Shanice about school and her interests. A practiced deflection.


    Shanice immediately jumped at the idea. ¡°Yes! Can Ms. rae too?¡±


    ¡°Just work,¡± I replied, sitting down. ¡°Nothing that can¡¯t wait.¡±


    That gave me pause. Damien Thorne rarely expressed interest in anyone¡¯s attendance unless he had a specific reason.


    ¡°Blue, and I think the universe is too vast for us to be alone,¡± ra answered with surprising seriousness.


    Lucas sighed dramatically. ¡°Fine. But you have toe to the yacht party tonight. Non¨Cnegotiable.¡±


    14:51


    <b>No </b><bwork </b>avable <b>now</b>. <b>Please </b><b>check </b><b>your </bwork.


    81 An Invitation to Intrigue


    ra hesitated, ncing at her watch. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should¡­¡±


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± I said, stepping away from the table.


    Shanice perked up slightly. ¡°Really? Like a fun party?¡±


    We watched as she walked back to her car¨Ca sleek silver Mercedes that confirmed my suspicions about her identity. She waved once before driving away.


    ¡°I hope so,¡± I murmured, though my expectations were considerably lower.


    By the time we reached home, Shanice was drowsy from the afternoon¡¯s activities. ¡°Can we take a nap?¡± she asked, rubbing her eyes.


    ¡°I like her,¡± Shanice dered as we headed to my own car. ¡°She makes me feel happy


    inside.¡±


    I sensed the topic was sensitive and didn¡¯t press further. Instead, I focused on helping Shanice spot a turtle sunning itself on a rock near the shore.


    Something flickered in her eyes. ¡°I have a daughter.¡±


    After we¡¯d finished eating, we returned to the park for a final hour of y. Shanice¡¯s energy seemed inexhaustible as she dragged ra from the kite hill to the yground.


    ¡°Would you like to try the paddleboats?¡± I suggested, pointing toward the smallke at the center of the park.


    ¡°I know, sweetie. I had a wonderful time with you.¡± ra knelt to Shanice¡¯s level. ¡°Thank you


    for letting me fly kites with you.¡±


    The mention of Coco Thorne¨Cpresumably Damien¡¯s daughter¨Cmade me nce again at ra. Something clicked into ce. ra Vance. Could she be ra Thorne, Damien¡¯s estranged wife? The gossip columns had been buzzing about their impending divorce for weeks.


    ¡°The pleasure was ours,¡± I replied honestly. ¡°Drive safely, ra.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± I said nomittally before hanging up.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Shanice nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±


    I saw ra¡¯s expression soften as she carefully returned the hug. ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±


    14:53


    81 An invitation to Intrigue


    The restaurant was a casual waterfront caf¨¦ with outdoor seating. Shanice insisted on sitting next to ra, asking her endless questions about everything from her favorite color to whether she believed in aliens.


    ra¡¯sugh when Shanice tried to paddle and nearly steered us into a fountain was genuine and unguarded. It transformed her facepletely.


    After ensuring Shanice was settled for her nap, I made a quick call to confirm our attendance at Lucas¡¯s yacht party. If Damien Thorne was specifically asking about me, I needed to know why,


    ¡°Can we feed them?¡± she asked, looking between us.


    There was something captivating about ra Vance. Despite her designer clothes and the expensive car I¡¯d spotted her arriving in, there was an unexpected approachability about her. The sadness in her eyes hadn¡¯t escaped my notice either.


    Shanice threw her arms around ra¡¯s neck in an impulsive hug. ¡°Will youe again


    sometime?¡±


    ¡°Bring the kid! There¡¯s plenty of room. Damien brought his daughter too.¡±


    By the time we returned to the dock, Shanice had thoroughly bonded with ra. They fed the ducks together, Shanice giggling as the birds quacked and jostled for position.


    ¡°Care for a drink?¡± he asked, his gray eyes assessing me with unsettling intensity.


    ¡°It¡¯s important, Beck. Some potential investors will be there. Damien specifically asked if you¡¯d be attending.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not a babysitting job,¡± I replied tersely.


    I watched as Coco led Shanice below deck, surprised by the older girl¡¯s kindness. From what little I knew of the Thorne family dynamics, I hadn¡¯t expected such


    consideration.


    Something in her expression shifted¨Ca decision being made. ¡°Actually, I¡¯d love to join you both.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because Ms. ra showed me the trick.¡± Shanice beamed at ra, who smiled back with genuine warmth.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t take you for the babysitting type,¡± Lucasmented, handing me a ss <b>of </b>


    14:52


    81 An Invitation to Intrigue


    champagne.


    ¡°Hi! I¡¯m Coco. Do you want toe y with us? There¡¯s a games room below deck


    where all the kids are¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a feeding station near the dock,¡± I exined. ¡°We can stop there on our way back.¡±


    Twenty minutester, we were gliding across the smallke in a swan¨Cshaped paddleboat. Shanice sat between us, pointing excitedly at the ducks that swam nearby.


    ¡°Beck! Where are you, man?¡± Lucas¡¯s voice boomed through the speaker.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fun,¡± Shanice insisted, already beginning to reel in her kite with surprising efficiency.


    We both turned at the sound of the deep, authoritative voice. Damien Thorne stood before us, impably dressed in a tailored navy suit. His expression was unreadable as he extended a hand, offering me a ss of red wine.


    ¡°Sure thing, kiddo. But not for too long. We have somewhere to be this evening.¡±


    Our food had just arrived when my phone buzzed. Lucas Sterling¡¯s name shed on the screen. I considered ignoring it, but the call might be important.


    When she stood, our eyes met over Shanice¡¯s head. ¡°Thank you for today,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I needed this more than you know.¡±


    ¡°What time?¡± I relented.


    Eventually, ra nced at her watch with obvious reluctance. ¡°I should probably get going.¡±


    ¡°You need to keep your feet steady,¡± she advised, demonstrating the proper technique.


    ¡°She seems nice,¡± I agreed, helping Shanice with her seatbelt.


    Lucas spotted us immediately, cocktail already in hand. ¡°Beck! You made it.¡± His gaze dropped to Shanice. ¡°And you brought the littledy. Perfect timing¨CVivienne just arrived with Coco.¡±


    ¡°Having lunch. What¡¯s up?¡±


    14:52


    81 An Invitation to Intrigue


    The afternoon sun cast a golden hue across the park as Shanice continued flying her butterfly kite with unexpected skill. ra stood nearby, asionally offering gentle guidance that Shanice eagerly followed. I couldn¡¯t help but notice how ra¡¯s entire demeanor had softened since we¡¯d first encountered her.


    ¡°Like this?¡± Shanice attempted to mimic her movements.


    ¡°Not happening, Lucas.¡± My tone left no room for argument. ¡°We already have ns.¡±


    ¡°Beck, look how high it¡¯s going!¡± Shanice called out, her face bright with excitement.


    ¡°A party on a boat. There will be other children there.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very good with children,¡± Imented.


    ¡°Seven. Bring Shanice if you need to. Coco Thorne will be there¨Cthey can y together.<b>¡± </b>


    As if on cue, a striking woman in a crimson dress descended the stairs to the main deck, holding the hand of a girl a few years older than Shanice. Vivienne Dubois. I¡¯d seen her in countless society pages, always on Damien Thorne¡¯s arm.


    I nodded approvingly. ¡°You¡¯re a natural.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m getting hungry,¡± Shanice announced after we¡¯d finished our duck¨Cfeeding adventure.


    I found myself watching ra more than the scenery. There was a grace to her movements, a quiet strength beneath her reserved exterior. When she caught me looking, I didn¡¯t nce away.


    ¡°Where?¡± She yawned widely.


    She nodded, her paddle dipping into the water with more force than necessary. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Before I could respond, Shanice had already turned to ra with pleading eyes. ¡°Will you? Please?¡±


    I stepped closer to ra. ¡°No pressure. We understand if you need to be somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Perfect.¡±


    Lucas raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t pursue the matter. ¡°So, big news about the Peterson contract. Damien thinks-¡±


    14:52


    81 An Invitation to Intriguo


    ¡°The one who¡¯s with her father today?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re getting seafood at Marina Bay. Damien Thorne is here. You should join us.¡±


    Shanice looked up at me uncertainly, I gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. ¡°Go ahead if you want to.¡±


    I nced back at the table where ra was helping Shanice cut her grilled cheese sandwich into manageable pieces. ¡°Can¡¯t today. I¡¯m with Shanice.¡±


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 The Sprawling 82

    82 A Child¡¯s Yachtside Revtion


    ¡°Some of us take our responsibilities seriously,¡± Damien replied dryly.


    ¡°At the park, right?¡± Lucas pressed. ¡°Anything else interesting happen?¡±


    ¡°Sensitive teeth,¡± Beck found himself exining unnecessarily. ¡°Common issue.¡±


    The evening breeze carried the gentle rocking motion of ¡°The Golden Opportunity¡± as it remained anchored in the bay. Soft jazz music drifted across the deck, blending with the murmur of conversation from the various groups of business elites scattered around Lucas Sterling¡¯s yacht.


    Beck closed his eyes briefly, wishing the deck would open up and swallow him whole. When he opened them, Lucas was barely containing his delight at this revtion, while Damien watched with unexpected intensity.


    There was something in Lucas¡¯s tone that made Beck nce at him sharply. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Thirty¨Cfour,¡± Coco corrected, stepping forward with a proper poise that seemed at odds with her young age. ¡°And Dad promised me one from his next business trip too.¡±


    ¡°They insisted on showing you their desserts,¡± Vivienne exined, her scarlet lips curved into a practiced smile. ¡°Something about sprinkles being special.¡±


    His silence was confirmation enough.


    The conversation shifted to safer topics¨Cmarket trends, uing deals, and thetest industry gossip. Yet Beck couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Damien was studying him more intently than usual, those perceptive gray eyes missing nothing.


    ¡°A chance meeting? With someone who spent the entire day with you two? Swan boats, duck feeding, lunch¨Csounds like quite the spontaneous day.¡±


    The casualment sent a sudden tension through the adults. Beck felt his spine stiffen.


    Lucas rolled his eyes. ¡°Speaking of responsibilities, Beck, what exactly had you so upied today that you almost missed this?¡±


    Shanice nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Coco showed me her collection of keychains! She


    14:52


    <i>1/4 </i>


    82 A Child¡¯s Yachtside Revtion


    has over thirty!¡±


    Lucas shrugged innocently, but the glint in his eye suggested he knew something. Before he could respond, a server approached with a tray of appetizers, providing Beck a momentary reprieve from Lucas¡¯s questioning.


    ¡°No way,¡± Lucas countered gleefully. ¡°This is the most interesting thing that¡¯s happened all night. Tell us more about this mysterious butterfly enthusiast.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a question but a statement of fact, delivered with such certainty that Beck froze. He opened his mouth to deny it, then closed it again, knowing any protest would ring false.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you two are discussing work again,¡± Lucas groaned, leaning against the railing. ¡°This is supposed to be a party.¡±


    ¡°Just someone we met at the park,¡± Beck replied dismissively, though he avoided direct eye contact with any of them.


    Beck maintained hisposure, though inwardly he cursed Shanice¡¯s perfect recall and timing. The group¡¯s collective attention shifted to him withser focus.


    Shanice nodded and rejoined Coco, who was showing the other children something on her child¨Csized tablet. The moment they were out of earshot, Lucas pounced.


    ¡°Like the butterfly keychain Uncle Beck bought today?¡± Shanice asked innocently, taking another lick of her ice cream.


    ¡°Ms. ra?¡± Lucas repeated, a slow grih spreading across his face. ¡°Who might that be,


    Beck?¡±


    Beck shrugged. ¡°Had other ns initially.¡±


    ¡°Butterfly keychain?¡± Lucas echoed, his interest visibly piqued.


    ¡°I believe I¡¯ve met her before,¡± Vivienne interjected smoothly, her gaze calcting. ¡°ra¡­ not amon name. Was she tall, slender, with dark hair?¡± Her question seemed casual, but there was something pointed in her tone.


    ¡°I should check on Shanice,¡± Beck said, setting down his empty ss.


    Beck¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the horizon. ¡°Just spending time with Shanice.¡±


    14:52


    214


    82 A Child¡¯s Yachtside Revtion


    ¡°You¡¯re unusually quiet tonight,¡± Damien observed, his voice low enough that only Beck could hear. ¡°Lucas mentioned you were reluctant to join us.¡±


    Shanice, oblivious to the undercurrents, continued cheerfully. ¡°She helped me fly my kite! And we went on the swan boats and fed ducks and had lunch and she knows ALL about butterflies!¡± She paused only to take another lick of her rapidly melting ice cream. ¡°She was really pretty and nice. Uncle Beck kept staring at her when she wasn¡¯t looking.¡±


    ¡°With your niece.¡± Damien nodded. ¡°Coco seems quite taken with her. She rarely warms up to other children so quickly.¡±


    ¡°The children are fine,¡± Damien assured him. ¡°Vivienne is supervising them. She arranged for dessert to be served in the children¡¯s area.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s perfect smile had dimmed slightly, though she quickly recovered. ¡°How lovely,¡± she murmured, her tone carefully neutral. ¡°Another ice cream enthusiast, I presume?¡±


    Beck found himself standing at the stern, swirling the red wine Damien had offered him earlier. The two men had discussed business briefly before falling into afortable silence, both watching the sunset paint vibrant oranges and pinks across


    the water.


    ¡°Common issue,¡± Lucas echoed mockingly. ¡°So tell us about this Ms. ra with the sensitive teeth who knows all about butterflies.¡±


    Beck felt trapped. Any confirmation would lead to more questions, while denial would be transparent given Shanice¡¯s detailed ount.


    ¡°It was just a chance meeting at the park,¡± Beck insisted, standing up and guiding Shanice toward the other children. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go finish your ice cream with Coco before it meltspletely?¡±


    As if summoned by his words, the sound of children¡¯sughter floated up from below deck. Momentster, Vivienne emerged with Coco, Shanice, and two other children in tow, all holding ice cream cones.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes widened in genuine surprise. ¡°No way, it¡¯s true?¡± He leaned forward eagerly. ¡°Who is she? Do we know her? Why haven¡¯t you brought her to meet us yet?¡±


    Shanice immediately bounded over to Beck, ice cream already dripping down her


    14:52


    82 A Child¡¯s Yachtside Revtion


    fingers. ¡°Uncle Beck! Look at mine! It has rainbow sprinkles AND chocte ones!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring you back something special,¡± Damien confirmed, his expression softening slightly as he looked at his daughter.


    Shanice nodded enthusiastically. ¡°From the park! Uncle Beck got one for me and one for Ms. ra because butterflies were her favorite when she was little like me!¡±


    Beck crouched to her level, wiping a smudge of vani from her cheek. ¡°Very impressive. Are you having fun?¡±


    Before Beck could respond, Lucas approached, carrying a fresh drink. His eyes darted between them with undisguised curiosity.


    ¡°I¡¯m more interested in why you¡¯re avoiding the topic,¡± Damien said quietly, his eyes fixed on Beck with unnerving perception. ¡°You¡¯re interested in her.¡±


    Shanice shook her head. ¡°Ms. ra only had water at lunch. She said ice cream makes her teeth hurt.¡±


    Beck met his friend¡¯s gaze steadily. ¡°Drop it, Lucas.¡±


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    14:52

 The Sprawling 83

    83 Ruby¡¯s Provocation, Vivienne¡¯s Answer


    ¡°I understand,¡± he replied, his tone softening slightly. ¡°Get some rest, ra. We¡¯ll figure something out.¡±


    ra¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She considered hanging up, but steeled herself instead. ¡°I need to speak with Damien.¡±


    ra sat up straighter, her brow furrowing. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Victor? Is everything okay?¡± she answered, immediately concerned by thete hour of the call.


    There was a brief pause before Vivienne responded. ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve heard about Ruby and Charles¡® new ce. Lovely neighborhood, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°If your mother is still upset about ancient history, perhaps she should consider therapy,¡± Vivienne suggested with mock concern. ¡°Holding grudges is so unhealthy.¡±


    Her phone buzzed with a text from Victor: ¡°Any luck?¡±


    The table fell silent. Coco¡¯s smile faded slightly as she inspected the keychain. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe.¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± The voice was unmistakably Vivienne¡¯s, smooth and confident.


    ra took a steadying breath. ¡°My mother¡¯s health is fragile. Having your family move in directly across from her is cruel, and you know it.¡±


    ra¡¯s chest tightened at the suggestion. Calling Damien meant potentially dealing with Vivienne, especially at this hour. But her mother¡¯s health had toe first.


    ¡°He¡¯s in the shower at the moment,¡± Vivienne answered, the implication clear in her casual delivery. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to take a message.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± ra cut in, worry settling like a stone in her chest. Their mother¡¯s health had been delicate since their father¡¯s death. Any stress could trigger another episode. ¡°Has Mom seen them yet?¡±


    ra felt her stomach drop. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. That property has been empty for


    years.¡±


    14:52


    83 Ruby¡¯s Provocation. Vivienne¡¯s Answer


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not okay,¡± Victor¡¯s voice crackled through the speaker, tight with anger. ¡°You won¡¯t believe who I just saw at the vi across from Mom¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s not! It¡¯s a deliberate provocation.¡± Victor¡¯s frustration vibrated through the phone. ¡°You know how Mom gets when anything rted to the Dubois familyes up. Her blood pressure-¡±


    After ending the call with Victor, ra stared at her phone, her finger hovering over Damien¡¯s contact. Taking a deep breath, she pressed dial.


    ¡°I have something for you, Coco,¡± Shanice said, digging into her small purse. She pulled out a crystal keychain that caught the light, sending tiny rainbows dancing across the table. ¡°It¡¯s to add to your collection.¡±


    Victor¡¯s voice dropped. ¡°Can you call Damien? He might be able to do something. Buy the property, force them out¨CI don¡¯t know, but he has resources we don¡¯t.¡±


    She pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°I¡¯ll be there first thing tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± Vivienne said, a hint of amusement coloring her tone. ¡°What a surprise. Calling sote?¡±


    ¡°Mmm¨Chmm,¡± Shanice nodded, taking a big sip of her apple juice.


    ¡°I¡¯ve met her three times,¡± Shanice announced proudly at dinner, reaching for her ss of juice. ¡°She¡¯s really nice.¡±


    ¡°ra? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s on the phone?¡± Damien¡¯s voice, distant but unmistakable.


    ra gripped her phone tighter. ¡°This is about your family moving in across from my mother¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Damien said, his voice carefully neutral. ¡°And what would you like me to do


    about this?¡±


    There was a moment of silence, then shuffling sounds before Damien¡¯s voice came through clearly..


    ra¡¯s heart raced as she waited, wondering if Vivienne would lie or hand over the phone.


    14:53


    83 Ruby¡¯s Provocation, Vivienne¡¯s Answer


    ¡°Not when they¡¯re made as weapons,¡± ra replied firmly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call him,¡± she agreed reluctantly. ¡°Try to keep Mom away from the house as long as possible tomorrow morning. I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±


    ra closed her eyes, trying to process this information. ¡°This can¡¯t be coincidental.¡±


    Lucas Sterling leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with interest. ¡°Three times? And you said her name was ra?¡±


    She exhaled, relieved yet still tense. ¡°Your future sister¨Cinw and her husband have purchased the property directly across from my mother¡¯s house. Given the history between our families, this feels deliberately provocative.¡±


    The feigned innocence in Vivienne¡¯s voice made ra¡¯s blood boil. ¡°We both know this isn¡¯t a coincidence.¡±


    There was a pause. ra could imagine Vivienne watching Damien, waiting for his


    response.


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough,¡± Victor insisted. ¡°This is calcted. They¡¯re doing this to hurt Mom, to remind her of everything that happened. We need to do something now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ra,¡± Vivienne answered, her voice suddenly sweeter. ¡°Something about Ruby moving near her mother¡¯s house. I told her you¡¯re busy.¡±


    ra typed back: ¡°Spoke to Damien. He said he¡¯ll look into it. Coming first thing


    tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just making conversation,¡± Lucas replied innocently, though his smirk suggested otherwise. ¡°So, Shanice, what else can you tell us about this mysterious ra?¡±


    ¡°No, she¡¯s been at Aunt Josephine¡¯s all day. But she¡¯ll be home tomorrow, and there¡¯s no way to hide this. The house is directly across the street, ra.¡±


    Vivienne smoothly changed the subject, steering the conversation toward the dessert menu, but Beck noticed how Damien¡¯s gaze lingered on his daughter for a moment longer than usual.


    As she ended the call, ra leaned back against her headboard, exhaustion washing over her. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Vivienne answering Damien¡¯s phone, though she


    14:52


    83 Ruby¡¯s Provocation, Vivienne¡¯s Answer


    shouldn¡¯t have been surprised. Their rtionship was no secret, after all.


    What troubled her most wasn¡¯t Vivienne¡¯s presence in Damien¡¯s life¨Cshe had epted that reality long ago. It was the calcted cruelty of the Dubois family¡¯s move, and the uncertainty of whether Damien would actually help or side with Vivienne in thistest chapter of their families¡® bitter history.


    ¡°When what?¡± Vivienne interrupted. ¡°When you¡¯re filing for divorce? When you¡¯re trying to make a new life for yourself? Don¡¯t tter yourself, ra. Ruby¡¯s housing decisions have nothing to do with you.¡±


    Later that evening, ra was reviewing documents in her hotel room when her phone rang. Victor¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Vivienne agreed, her voice silky. ¡°Though I wouldn¡¯t wait up. We have nster.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Beck gets grumpy when I talk about her,¡± Shanice whispered loudly to Coco, who giggled in response.


    ¡°After sitting empty for three years, it suddenly bes avable right when¡ª¡±


    Damien observed the exchange quietly, his expression unreadable as he sipped his


    wine.


    Damien sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll call you tomorrow after I¡¯ve spoken with them.¡±


    Coco¡¯s eyes widened as she epted the gift. ¡°It¡¯s so pretty! Thank you!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t about grudges,¡± ra fought to keep her voice calm. ¡°It¡¯s about basic human decency. Please, have Damien call me when he¡¯s avable.¡±


    ¡°Ruby Dubois. Vivienne¡¯s uncle¡¯s wife.¡± Victor spat the name like it was poison. ¡°They¡¯re moving in, ra. Right across from Mom.¡±


    ¡°Not everything is about you, ra,¡± Vivienne said coolly. ¡°Ruby has always loved that area. When the property became avable, it was a natural choice.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look into it,¡± Damien finally said. ¡°But I can¡¯t promise anything. Property purchases are personal decisions.¡±


    ¡°What do you suggest?¡± ra asked, already knowing there were few options.


    14:52


    83 Ruby¡¯s Provocation, Vivienne¡¯s Answer


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra said, genuine gratitude in her voice despite everything. She hesitated, then added, ¡°Damien, please understand¨Cthis isn¡¯t about me or our situation. It¡¯s about my mother¡¯s wellbeing.¡±


    Beck shot Lucas a warning nce. ¡°I don¡¯t think we need to make a federal case out of who we met at the park.¡±


    The phone rang twice before someone answered.


    Beck cut in before Shanice could answer. ¡°Lucas, enough. She¡¯s just someone we met.


    Leave it alone.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Shanice beamed. ¡°Uncle Beck helped me pick it.¡± She hesitated, then added in a softer voice, ¡°Do you think your mom would like one too?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an urgent matter,¡± ra replied, keeping her voice level. ¡°Is Damien avable?¡±


    Before ra could respond, there was a muffled sound on Vivienne¡¯s end, followed by a deeper voice in the background.


    She set her rm for 6 AM, knowing sleep would be elusive tonight. As she stared at the ceiling, she couldn¡¯t shake the memory of Vivienne¡¯s satisfied voice answering Damien¡¯s phone¨Ca sharp reminder of everything she had walked away from, and everything she still had to face.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not empty anymore. I saw the moving trucks this morning, and then Ruby herself this afternoon, directing thendscapers like she owns the ce.¡± Victor¡¯s voice rose. ¡°Which apparently she does now,¡±


    ¡°I was hoping you might speak with them. This will cause unnecessary stress for my mother, and her health is already precarious.¡±


    14:52

 The Sprawling 84

    84 Echoes of Absence, Whispers of Return


    84 Echoes of Absence, Whispers of Return


    ¡°It certainly was,¡± Vivienne¡¯s melodiousugh floated up the stairs. ¡°Though I think your father was more impressed by the shark feeding¡±


    ¡°Any word from your husband?¡± Victor asked without preamble.


    ra set down her bag and crossed to the walk¨Cin closet. Opening the door, she found her clothes still hanging on one side, untouched. Damien¡¯s suits and shirts upied the other half, meticulously arranged as always.


    The question stung more than it should have. The guest room. Not the master suite she had shared with Damien for years.


    She heard Cora¡¯s excited voice from downstairs. ¡°Dad! Dad! Mom¡¯s car is outside!


    Mom¡¯s home!¡±


    There was a pause before Vivienne answered. ¡°I believe he made some inquiries. But really, ra, you should understand that business transactions aren¡¯t easily undone. My uncle purchased that property fair and square.


    ¡°Mr. Thorne mentioned they would be back this evening. They¡¯ve taken Miss Cora to the aquarium afterward.¡±


    ¡°Actually, he¡¯s on an important business call,¡± Vivienne replied coolly. ¡°But I can take a


    message.¡±


    She quickly packed her overnight bag. She¡¯d intended to return to her apartmentter that day, but given the circumstances, there was only one ce she should be ¨C the Thorne vi. If Damien was avoiding her calls, he couldn¡¯t avoid her in person,


    ra held her breath, imagining the look that must have passed between Damien and


    Vivienne at this revtion.


    She hade here determined to confront Damien about his silent treatment and the situation with her mother. But now, hearing Cora¡¯s excitement at her presence, ra realized she was walking back into theplicated web of rtionships she had been


    trying to escape.


    Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door.


    84 Echoes of Absence, Whispers of Return


    ¡°¡­and then the octopus changed colors right in front of us! It was so cool!¡±


    She heard the front door open, followed by Cora¡¯s excited voice echoing through the foyer.


    She paused outside the master bedroom door, suddenly unsure. What if Damien had already moved Vivienne¡¯s things in? What if all traces of her had been erased?


    ra stepped back from the window, her heart suddenly racing. The confrontation she had been preparing for all day was about to happen. She returned to the desk, arranging her papers with deliberate calm, determined to appearposed when they entered.


    <i>¡°</i>Barely. She¡¯s getting suspicious about why I insisted she extend her stay at Aunt Josephine¡¯s.¡±


    The security guard recognized her car immediately and opened the gates without question. As she pulled into the circr driveway, she noted with some surprise that neither Damien¡¯s car nor Vivienne¡¯s sleek sports car was present.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne is upstairs,¡± the butler replied.


    ra tensed, waiting for the moment Cora would discover her presence. Perhaps it would be easier to face her daughter first, before confronting Damien and Vivienne.


    The room looked exactly as she had left it. Her perfume bottles still lined the vanity. Her books remained stacked on the nightstand. Even the framed photo of her and Cora


    still stood on the dresser.


    ra made her way up the grand staircase, her footsteps echoing in the marble foyer. The vi felt emptier than she remembered, despite the immacte furnishings and artwork. Without Cora¡¯sughter or even Damien¡¯s distant presence, it was just another beautiful, cold space.


    ¡°We both know this isn¡¯t just a business transaction,¡± ra said quietly. ¡°Please, have


    Damien call me back.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure whether to feel relieved or more confused. Was Damien simply respecting her property until the divorce was finalized? Or was there something else at y?


    ¡°Typical,¡± Victor scoffed. ¡°When ites to anything involving the Dubois family, he¡¯s


    14:52


    24 Echose of Absence Whispers of the en


    <b>useless </b>to us.¡±


    ¡°This is about what we discussedst night. Has he spoken to anyone about the vi purchase?¡±


    No sign of Vivienne¡¯s belongings. No evidence that anyone had disturbed the space since ra had moved out.


    ra nodded, unsurprised but still disappointed. ¡°Do you know when they¡¯ll return?¡±


    Cora¡¯s voice came again, this time directed at Mr. Finch: ¡°Where¡¯s Mom?¡±


    After ending the call with Victor, ra took a deep breath and dialed Damien¡¯s number again. This time, someone answered on the third ring.


    ra couldn¡¯t make out Damien¡¯s response, but she heard Cora¡¯s footsteps racing up


    the stairs.


    ¡°Nothing¡± ra replied, running a hand through her hair. ¡°I¡¯ve called multiple times sincest night. Either his phone is off or he¡¯s deliberately avoiding me.¡±


    ¡°That would be lovely, thank you.¡±


    Whatever was about to happen, she would face it with dignity. She was no longer the woman who silently epted disrespect or waited in the shadows for scraps of attention. She hade here with a purpose, and she would not leave until she had aplished it ¨C even if it meant confronting both Damien and Vivienne on their own


    turf.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Finch,¡± ra smiled warmly at the butler who had always shown her kindness. ¡°I need to speak with Mr. Thorne urgently. Is he home?¡±


    Hours passed as ra worked, stopping only briefly when Mr. Finch brought her lunch. The familiar routine felt strangelyforting ¨C working in Damien¡¯s study had been part of her life for years.


    ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ll take it to the master bedroom myself.¡±


    ra¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I need to speak with Damien.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Vivienne replied sweetly. ¡°Though he¡¯s terribly busy today.¡±


    ra stared at her phone in frustration. Once again, her call to Damien went straight


    84 Echoes of Absence, Whispers of Return.


    to voicemail. This was the fifth attempt since speaking with himst night about the Dubois family moving across from her mother¡¯s home.


    Mr. Finch hesitated only briefly. ¡°Of course, madam. Shall I have your bag taken to the guest room?¡±


    The drive to the Thorne vi took nearly an hour. As ra approached the familiar wrought¨Ciron gates, a mixture of emotions swept through her. Though she had moved out weeks ago, this ce had been her home for seven years. Now it felt like entering foreign territory.


    ¡°Damien, it¡¯s me again. Please call back as soon as possible. The situation with my mother is urgent.¡± She ended the call and tossed her phone onto the hotel bed.


    ra stood, smoothing her skirt and taking a steadying breath. Any moment now, her daughter would burst into the room, followed eventually by Damien. And Vivienne. The thought made her stomach knot with tension.


    The butler¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, madam. Mr. Thorne left early this morning for business meetings. Ms. Dubois apanied him.¡±


    Pushing these thoughts aside, ra freshened up and changed into morefortable clothes. She had work to do while waiting for Damien¡¯s return.


    ¡°Oh, ra. Still calling?¡± Vivienne¡¯s tone was mock¨Csympathetic. ¡°He¡¯s indisposed at


    the moment.¡±


    ¡°In the shower again?¡± ra couldn¡¯t keep the sarcasm from her voice.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll wait for him in the study. There¡¯s some urgent work I need to attend to anyway.¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± Vivienne¡¯s voice was as smooth and self¨Csatisfied as ever.


    Mr. Finch opened the front door before she could ring the bell, his weathered face lighting up with genuine pleasure.


    ra sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll try once more, then I¡¯m heading to Mom¡¯s. Have you managed to keep


    from the house?¡±


    her away


    There was a pause before Damien¡¯s terse response: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Of course. A perfect family outing with Vivienne ying the role that should have been


    Nowork avable now. Please check yourwork.


    14:52


    84 Echoes of Absence, Whispers of Return


    ra¡¯s. She pushed the thought away.


    A flicker of surprise crossed the butler¡¯s face, but he quickly recovered. ¡°Very well, madam. Would you like some tea brought up?¡±


    Just as she was contemting her next move, her phone buzzed. Hope red briefly until she saw it wasn¡¯t Damien but Victor.


    1


    As footsteps thundered up the stairs ¨C Cora¡¯s quick, light steps followed by slower, heavier ones ¨C ra straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.


    As evening approached, ra heard a car pulling into the driveway. She moved to the window just in time to see Cora leap out of Damien¡¯s ck Bentley, her face animated as she spoke to someone still inside the car. A momentter, Vivienne emerged from the passenger side, looking effortlessly elegant as always. Damien followed, his expression unreadable even from a distance.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne! What a delightful surprise,¡± he eximed, stepping aside to let her enter. ¡°We weren¡¯t expecting you today.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to see if Mr. Finch made those cookies he promised!¡± Cora called back down.


    The line went dead. ra stared at her phone, suspecting Damien would never get her message. She made a decision. If Damien wouldn¡¯t respond, she would have to take matters into her own hands.


    In the study, she set up herptop and spread out documents rted to her mother¡¯s situation. If Damien wouldn¡¯t help, she needed another n. Perhaps there were legal grounds to contest the property sale if she could prove malicious intent.


    14:53

 The Sprawling 85

    85 An Unexpected Agreement


    Damien studied her face for a long moment. ¡°And what do I get in return?¡±


    Damien leaned against the dresser, crossing his arms. ¡°That was before either of us was born, ra.¡±


    ¡°For three generations, they¡¯ve taken what they wanted from my family and then treated us like dirt,¡± ra¡¯s voice cracked slightly. ¡°And now Oliver Dubois is deliberately moving across from my uncle¡¯s home, where my mother stays. It¡¯s a calcted move to torment her.¡±


    ra sank down onto the edge of the bed, her mind racing. In all their years of marriage, Damien had never agreed to anything involving the Dubois family without a fight. Yet today, he had simply said ¡°okay¡± as if her request were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.


    ra took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s about Vivienne¡¯s uncle.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Damien interrupted calmly.


    And somehow, that was more unsettling than any argument they could have had.


    ¡°Why?¡± she finally managed to ask.


    The mention of Vivienne¡¯s nickname made ra¡¯s smile falter, but she quickly recovered. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, darling.¡±


    The question hung in the air between them. ra hesitated, then squared her shoulders. ¡°Anything.¡±


    Damien uncrossed his arms and stepped closer. ¡°What exactly are you asking me to


    do?¡±


    Relief washed over ra, so powerful she felt slightly light¨Cheaded. ¡°My mother will be grateful.¡±


    Once Cora was out of earshot, Damien turned to Vivienne. ¡°Would you give us a


    moment?¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s perfectly shaped eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°Of course,¡± she said, her tone pleasant but her eyes cold as they swept over ra. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the living room if you


    14:53


    85 An Unexpected Agreement


    need me.<b>¡± </b>


    A sh of something¨Cperhaps understanding¨Ccrossed Damien¡¯s face, but it vanished- quickly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been calling,¡± ra replied evenly. ¡°We need to discuss an urgent matter.¡±


    ¡°You offered ¡®anything,¡°¡± Damien reminded her with a slight shrug. ¡°I¡¯ll let know


    you


    what that means when I decide.¡±


    After Vivienne¡¯s departure, Damien gestured toward the doorway. ¡°Let¡¯s talk in our¨Cin


    the bedroom.¡±


    Damien¡¯s eyes flickered briefly to Cora, who was still chattering about her day at the aquarium, oblivious to the tension between the adults.


    ¡°ra,¡± Damien acknowledged with a slight nod. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you today.¡±


    Why had he agreed so readily? What did he mean by saying he wasn¡¯t doing it for her mother? And most puzzling of all, why did his eyes hold that brief sh of¡­ something¡­ when he looked at her?


    ¡°And this concerns me how exactly?¡± Damien asked, his tone maddeningly calm.


    Damien closed the door behind them and turned to face her. ¡°What¡¯s this urgent matter you¡¯ve been calling about?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Gable,¡± Damien called out to the housekeeper who was passing by the study. ¡°Could you please take Cora for her bath? It¡¯s gettingte.¡±


    ra stopped mid¨Csentence, certain she had misheard. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°But Dad!¡± Cora protested. ¡°Mom just got here!¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Just like that.¡±


    ¡°Hello, sweetheart,¡± ra said, bending down to kiss the top of Cora¡¯s head. The familiar scent of her daughter¡¯s strawberry shampoo brought an unexpected lump to


    her throat.


    ra turned just in time to catch her daughter as sheunched herself forward, small arms wrapping tightly around her waist. The force of Cora¡¯s enthusiasm nearly


    14:63


    85 An Unexpected Agreement


    knocked her backward.


    ¡°Oliver Dubois?¡± Damien¡¯s expression remained impassive.


    ¡°But¡­¡± ra stammered, thrownpletely off bnce by his easy capittion. ¡°Don¡¯t you want something in return?¡±


    Damien remained silent, watching her with those calcting eyes.


    A ghost of a smile touched Damien¡¯s lips at her assessment of his power. ¡°And what if I don¡¯t want to interfere?¡±


    Cora¡¯s lower lip jutted out in a familiar pout, but she nodded reluctantly. ¡°Promise?¡±


    ¡°We went to the aquarium! They had this huge octopus that changed colors right in front of us!¡± Cora¡¯s words tumbled out in a breathless rush. ¡°And we saw sharks being fed and touched starfish and-¡±


    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s purchased the vi directly opposite my uncle Victor¡¯s home¨Cwhere my mother stays when she¡¯s in town.¡±


    ¡°I said okay,¡± Damien repeated, his expression neutral. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not doing this for your mother,¡± Damien said, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the moment passed. ¡°You should stay the night. Cora would be disappointed if you left.¡±


    ¡°My grandmother ra helped Dorothy Shaw when her family lost everything,¡± ra continued, her voice growing more passionate. ¡°She gave them money, connections, opportunities. And how did they repay her? By stabbing her in the back at every turn.¡±


    Something had changed, but ra couldn¡¯t determine what. All she knew was that for the first time in years, Damien Thorne had given her exactly what she wanted without making her beg for it.


    It wasn¡¯t enough. Not by a long shot. But ra knew better than to press for answers Damien wasn¡¯t willing to give.


    Footsteps approached the study. ra looked up to see Damien standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable as always. Behind him, Vivienne hovered with a carefullyposed smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ra felt her frustration rising. ¡°You know perfectly well what this means. The Dubois


    14:53


    85 An Unexpected Agreement


    and Shaw families have been tormenting mine for decades. This isn¡¯t a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°Within reason,¡± ra amended quickly. ¡°I just need you to make them choose another- property. There are plenty of other vis in this city. They don¡¯t need to be right across from my family unless they¡¯re deliberately trying to-¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t stop there,¡± ra insisted. ¡°Lilian Shaw¨CVivienne¡¯s mother¨Cdid the same to my mother. Miranda helped her get established in business, introduced her to influential people. And Lilian repaid her with mockery and condescension.¡±


    Damien paused with his hand on the doorknob. ¡°I¡¯ll make the necessary calls tomorrow morning. Oliver Dubois will receive an offer for the property that he won¡¯t be able to refuse. By this time next week, he¡¯ll be looking elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Promise,¡± ra confirmed, giving her daughter one more quick hug before Mrs. Gable led her away.


    Before ra could respond, Damien opened the door and walked out, leaving her alone with questions she couldn¡¯t begin to articte.


    ra stared at him, trying to decipher his motives. This wasn¡¯t the negotiation she had expected. She had prepared arguments, counterarguments, even potentialpromises. But Damien¡¯s immediate agreement left her speechless.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, sweetie,¡± ra said gently, disengaging from Cora¡¯s embrace. ¡°Your father and I need to talk about some grown¨Cup things. I¡¯lle say goodnight before you go to sleep.¡±


    ¡°It was the best day ever! And yesterday we went to the park and had ice cream and Vivi taught me how to skip rocks on the pond!¡±


    The slip didn¡¯t escape ra¡¯s notice, but she said nothing as she followed him up the stairs to the master suite. The room felt different now¨Ca neutral territory rather than their shared space.


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± Damien countered, moving toward the door. ¡°You asked for help. I agreed to help. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    ¡°Anything?¡± Damien repeated, his eyebrow lifting slightly.


    ¡°Mom! Mom!¡± Cora¡¯s excited voice echoed through the study doorway seconds before she burst into the room.


    14:53


    85 An Unexpected Agreement


    ¡°Make them sell the property,¡± ra said firmly. ¡°I know you have the influence. You¡¯re Damien Thorne. Nobody in this city refuses you anything.¡±


    ra blinked in confusion. ¡°Just like that?¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you had quite an adventure,¡± ra smiled, absorbing her daughter¡¯s excitement while her eyes darted to the doorway, anticipating Damien¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Please,¡± ra said, hating the note of desperation in her voice but unable to suppress it. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t ask if it weren¡¯t important. My mother has been through enough. This will destroy her peace of mind.¡±


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 The Sprawling 86

    86 An Evening with the Matriarch


    When dessert arrived, Eleanor turned her focus back to ra. ¡°Are you sleeping properly? You look exhausted.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s my girl!¡± she eximed, embracing ra warmly. ¡°Let me look at you.¡±


    After breakfast and the school run, ra arrived at YodaVision¡¯s headquarters. Julian was already in their shared office, surrounded by digital diagrams.


    ¡°My grandmother arrived unexpectedly,¡± Damien said without preamble. ¡°She¡¯s asking


    for


    you. I told her you¡¯re working, but you know how she is.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s lost more weight,¡± Damien interrupted, his eyes scanning ra¡¯s frame with a scrutiny that made her cheeks warm.


    Eleanor nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight again. You really don¡¯t know how to take care of yourself.¡±


    ra startled at Damien¡¯s voice. He stood in the doorway, already dressed in a charcoal suit that highlighted his broad shoulders.


    ra squeezed his arm reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s just dinner. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow to finish


    this.¡±


    They spent hours refining the code, barely noticing as morning turned to afternoon. This was what ra loved¨Cbeing valued for her mind, her contributions recognized and appreciated. Here, she wasn¡¯t just Damien Thorne¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Eleanor,¡± ra protested gently, ¡°I feed myself just fine.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Eleanor said with a satisfied smile, ¡°I¡¯m d to see you supporting her endeavors, Damien.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re up early.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sweetheart,¡± ra replied, stroking her daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°But you need to sleep now. Schooles early.¡±


    ¡°I hear you¡¯re doing remarkable things with artificial intelligence,¡± Eleanor said to ra as the first course was served. ¡°Arthur always said you had the sharpest mind of anyone at Thorne Industries.¡±


    14:53


    86 An Evening with the Matriarch


    ¡°Long night,¡± ra replied, pulling up her project files. ¡°But productive. I think I¡¯ve solved our adaptive learning algorithm issue.¡±


    ¡°Mom, can we have pancakes tomorrow?¡± Cora asked, her small face illuminated by the fairy lights strung across her bedroom ceiling.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Damien took his coffee and left without another word.


    ¡°I promised Cora pancakes,¡± she exined, avoiding his gaze.


    ¡°Will you still be here when I wake up?¡± There was uncertainty in Cora¡¯s voice that tugged at ra¡¯s heart.


    Eleanor linked her arm through ra¡¯s. ¡°Now tell me everything you¡¯ve been doing. Damien says you¡¯re back at that techpany of yours.¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Her phone rang just as they were celebrating a breakthrough. Seeing Damien¡¯s name on the screen made her stomach tighten.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ra assured her. ¡°Just busy with work and-¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra said, genuinely grateful despite her difort. The silence between them stretched until she cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯ll take Cora to school, then head to


    work.¡±


    ¡°Good. She¡¯s already nned dinner for all of us.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Gable announces dinner is ready,¡± the housekeeper announced from the doorway.


    ¡°Bnce,¡± she repeated softly, holding his eyes. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s something I¡¯m still working


    on.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Eleanor continued, setting down her dessert spoon, ¡°what my grandson should do is ensure you¡¯re not working yourself to death. Bnce is important, dear.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s kind of him,¡± ra replied, touched by the mention of Damien¡¯ste grandfather. ¡°Our current project could revolutionize predictive analytics in


    healthcare.¡±


    ¡°Grandma brought me a music box from Vienna,¡± Cora announced, drawing attention


    14:53


    86 An Evening with the Matriarch


    to <b>the </b>intricate silver piece on the coffee table.


    Eleanor held ra at arm¡¯s length, her sharp eyes assessing. Despite being in her seventies, Eleanor Thorne retained themanding presence that had made her formidable in business circles decades ago.


    Damien nodded, approaching the coffee maker. ¡°I¡¯ve made the call about the property. Oliver Dubois will receive an offer this afternoon.¡±


    ra met Damien¡¯s gaze across the table. For once, his expression wasn¡¯t closed off- there was something there, a question perhaps, or a realization. Whatever it was, it


    made her heart beat faster.


    ¡°Yes, I promise. Now close your eyes.¡±


    ra nced at him in surprise. Damien had never shown interest in her work before, let alone praised it publicly.


    ¡°She¡¯s being modest,¡± Damien interjected unexpectedly. ¡°The algorithms she¡¯s developing could save thousands of lives.¡±


    Dinner continued with Eleanor dominating the conversation, sharing stories from her travels and asking Cora about school. ra observed the dynamics, noticing how Damien seemed more attentive than usual¨Crefilling her water ss, passing dishes her way before she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± ra remarked, grateful for the distraction.


    Thement hung in the air. ra felt herself being assessed, not just by Eleanor but by Damien as well. In their eyes, was she failing at self¨Ccare? Or was this concern genuine?


    ¡°You¡¯re working too hard,¡± she dered. ¡°Damien, don¡¯t you feed this girl?¡±


    Morning arrived too quickly. ra woke before Cora¡¯s rm and slipped out to prepare breakfast. The kitchen was empty¨Cno sign of Damien or the staff. She worked quietly, making pancake batter from scratch.


    When ra arrived at the vi, she found Eleanor, Damien, and Cora in the living room. Eleanor rose immediately, arms outstretched.


    ¡°Eleanor¡¯s in town,<b>¡± </b>ra exined, gathering her things. ¡°I need to go y the dutiful granddaughter¨Cinw.¡±


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    86 An Evening with the Matriarch


    <b>They </b>moved to the dining room, where Eleanor directed the seating arrangements. ¡°Damien<b>, </b>sit beside your wife. I want Cora next to me.¡±


    As ra exined her current projects, she noticed Damien watching her with an unreadable expression. His attention felt different somehow¨Cless dismissive, more¡­ present.


    ra decided to spend the night in Cora¡¯s room rather than deal with the


    Typically, Damien would find a reason to sit elsewhere, but tonight he took the chair beside ra withoutment. The proximity was unsettling¨Cshe could smell his cologne, feel the slight shift in the air when he moved.


    Julian raised an eyebrow as she ended the call. ¡°Duty calls?¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Show me.¡±


    ¡°You look tired,¡± hemented as she set down her bag.


    ra sighed. Eleanor Thorne was a force of nature¨Cloving but demanding. ¡°I¡¯ll wrap up here ande home.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t let them pull you back in,¡± Julian warned, his concern evident. ¡°You¡¯ve made so much progress.¡±


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    14:63

 The Sprawling 87

    87 Grandma¡¯s n, A Startling Gaze


    ¡°Grandmother, perhaps ra doesn¡¯t want to discuss work right now,¡± Damien intervened smoothly. ¡°She¡¯s been busy all day.¡±


    ¡°Come,¡± Eleanor announced, standing up. ¡°Both of you join me for a walk in the garden before bed. The night air will do us good.¡±


    The bedroom appeared empty. Relieved, she stepped out and moved quickly toward her bag on the chair.


    ¡°I¡­¡± she began, uncertain how to proceed.


    With no graceful way to refuse, ra retreated to the living room. She pulled out her phone and messaged Julian about their project.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra murmured. ¡°For not telling her about my resignation.¡±


    She was typing a response when Eleanor¡¯s voice startled her.


    Damien looked at the thermos, then at ra. ¡°She¡¯s staying, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°I should go back to my apartment,¡± she said quickly.


    When dinner ended, Eleanor stood decisively. ¡°Cora, show me those new books you mentioned. ra, you rest. I¡¯ll handle the kitchen.¡±


    Eleanor patted ra¡¯s hand. ¡°Of course, dear. We can chat about that another time.¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression remained neutr¨¢l. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m sure ra has been-¡±


    *Julian: Good luck escaping her clutches! Don¡¯t forget we have the investor meeting Tuesday.*.


    Damien watched the interaction with an unreadable expression. He made no move to intervene as his grandmother continued her fussing.


    *Julian: How¡¯s it going with the dragondy?*


    Later that evening, ra entered the master bedroom with trepidation. The space felt foreign now, though she¡¯d shared it with Damien for years. She gathered her nightclothes and headed to the en¨Csuite bathroom:


    14:53 C


    # Grandma¡¯s n. A Startling Gazo


    ra fire at the sound of Damien¡¯s voice. She turned slowly to find him sitting in the armchair by the window, hisptop open on hisp. Ilis eyes met hers directly, then dropped briefly to take in her bare legs before returning to her face,


    ra felt a wave of panic. Eleanor staying meant maintaining their fa?ade. It meant pretending everything was normal between them.


    ¡°Nonsense, Eleanor repeated firmly. ¡°A woman needs her strength.¡±


    ¡°Apparently,¡± he confirmed, ¡°She mentioned something about spending quality time


    with us.¡±


    ¡°I brought special supplements from Switzend,¡± Eleanor announced, reaching into her handbag. She pulled out several small bottles. ¡°Perfect for boosting energy and immunity. I¡¯ll make you both a nourishing soup tomorrow.¡±


    ra hesitated, listening for sounds in the bedroom. Hearing nothing, she assumed Damien was still in his study. She wrapped a towel around her waist and cracked open the door.


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Eleanor cut him off as she fussed over ra. ¡°Sit down, dear. Let me serve


    you


    Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked back toward the house, leaving ra standing alone in the garden.


    ¡°You know she won¡¯t allow that,¡± Damien replied. ¡°She¡¯ll insist you stay here while she¡¯s


    visiting.¡±


    The towel suddenly felt inadequate. Her tank top clung to her still¨Cdamp skin, and the towel barely covered what it needed to. She stood rooted to the spot, caught between embarrassment and something else¨Csomething that made her heart beat faster as Damien¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her.


    ra quickly lowered her phone. ¡°Just a quick message.¡±


    ra bit her lip, ¡°But where will I sleep? I¡¯ve been using Cora¡¯s room, but-¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Eleanor replied. ¡°nnah already prepared it. You two enjoy the evening air a bit longer.¡± She reached into her pocket and handed Damien a thermos. ¡°Share this soup. It¡¯ll help you both sleep well.¡±


    ra caught Damien¡¯s eye across the table. His lips quirked slightly, almost


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    87 Grandma¡¯s n, A Startling Gaze


    sympathetically.


    Eleanor moved closer, settling beside her on the couch. ¡°Damien tells me you¡¯re doing- wonderfully at Thorne Industries.¡±


    ¡°The master bedroom has plenty of space,¡± Damien stated matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°I¡¯ll be in my study most of the night anyway.¡±


    Under the hot spray of the shower, ra tried to calm her nerves. She could handle one night in the master bedroom. Damien had said he¡¯d be workingte. She would likely be asleep before he came to bed.


    Before either could respond, Eleanor was heading back toward the house, leaving them alone in the garden.


    ¡°Both of us?¡± he asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± ra began.


    Stepping out of the shower, she dried off and put on her sleep tank top. She reached for her pajama pants, then realized with horror she¡¯d forgotten to bring them into the bathroom. They were still in her overnight bag in the bedroom.


    After fifteen minutes, Eleanor turned to them. ¡°I think I¡¯ll retire now. It¡¯s been a long day of travel.¡±


    ¡°Yes, both of you,¡± Eleanor confirmed. ¡°You work too hard as well, Damien. Those dark circles under your eyes aren¡¯t bing.¡±


    ¡°Work again?¡± The older woman stood in the doorway, arms crossed.


    ra froze. She hadn¡¯t told Eleanor about resigning from Thorne Industries to work full¨Ctime at YodaVision. She nced toward the doorway, where Damien now stood watching them.


    Damien¡¯s eyes remained fixed ahead. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to know everything.¡±


    ra shot Damien a surprised look. Why had he covered for her?


    The garden was beautifully lit with small pathway lights. Eleanor walked ahead, leaving ra and Damien trailing behind her.


    *ra: She¡¯s determined to fatten me up. Says I¡¯m too thin.*


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    87 Grandma¡¯s n, A Startling Gaze


    The realization hit ra suddenly. ¡°Oh no¡­ she¡¯s nning to stay?¡±


    Dinner proceeded with Eleanor dominating the conversation. Cora happily chatted with her great¨Cgrandmother, leaving ra free to focus on her meal and avoid direct interaction with Damien.


    The cryptic response hung between them as they continued their silent walk.


    ¡°You should have told me ra was looking so thin,¡± she scolded, moving directly to ra¡¯s side. ¡°Look at her!¡±


    ra smiled despite herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you to the guest room,¡± Damien offered.


    ¡°It absolutely is,¡± Eleanor insisted. ¡°Go rx.¡±


    Eleanor Thorne swept into the dining room with the energy of a woman half her age. She shot a pointed look at Damien.


    ¡°Looking for something?¡±


    ¡°Eleanor, really, this is too much,¡± ra protested weakly.


    Before ra could protest, Eleanor was piling food onto her te. The older woman¡¯s hands moved with practiced efficiency, selecting the choicest pieces of roast chicken and adding generous portions of vegetables.


    Comment


    14:53

 The Sprawling 88

    88 An Awkward Night, A Startling Truth


    88 An Awkward Night, A Startling Truth


    ra nodded silently and slipped into the left side of the bed, keeping as close to the edge as possible without falling off. She reached for her phone, pretending to check messages while acutely aware of Damien¡¯s presence beside her.


    ¡°Goodnight, Damien,¡± she murmured.


    Eleanor¡¯s smile tightened as she looked between them. ¡°Both up so early? I thought you might sleep in.¡±


    Before ra could respond, the back door opened. Damien walked in, dressed in running clothes, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. His eyes met ra¡¯s briefly before turning to his grandmother.


    Once safely behind the closed door, ra let out a long breath. She quickly pulled on her pants, trying to dismiss the strange tension in her chest. It was ridiculous to feel embarrassed around her soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband, especially after seven years of


    marriage.


    ¡°Good morning, dear,¡± she said, her tone pleasant but her gaze assessing. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond, but his breathing eventually deepened into sleep. ra finally drifted off sometimeter, her dreams uneasy and forgettable.


    ¡°I just¡­¡± ra paused, searching for words. ¡°I appreciate you agreeing to it.¡±


    ra stood frozen, clutching the towel around her waist. Her oversized pajama top hung over her thighs, but she felt terribly exposed under Damien¡¯s steady gaze.


    Eleanor¡¯s face hardened. ¡°I did what was best for this family.¡±


    <b>755 </b>


    Shey rigid, facing away from him, listening to his steady breathing. The bed wasrge enough that they weren¡¯t touching, but she felt his presence like a physical weight.


    Minutes stretched into an hour. Sleep evaded herpletely.


    ¡°I studied pharmacology, remember?¡± Damien said calmly, wiping his face with a small towel. ¡°I recognized the scent of those herbs immediately.¡±


    She clutched the pants to her chest, backing toward the bathroom. Though the pajama


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    88 An Awkward Night, A Startling Truth.


    +755


    top wasn¡¯t particrly revealing, covering her to mid¨Cthigh, she couldn¡¯t help feeling self¨Cconscious. The soft cotton material clung slightly to her damp skin in ways she


    hadn¡¯t considered..


    She felt him shift slightly. ¡°What about it?¡±


    When she emerged, Damien had moved to the bed, still working on hisptop. He¡¯d changed into dark sleep pants and a fitted t¨Cshirt. ra hesitated, uncertain where to <ol><li>go. </li></ol>


    Eleanor turned to her, eyes glinting with determination. ¡°Sometimes people need a little help seeing what¡¯s right in front of them.¡±


    When morning light filtered through the curtains, ra woke to find herself alone in the bed. Damien¡¯s side was empty, the sheets already cold. She stretched, feeling oddly disappointed despite knowing it was for the best.


    His dismissive tone stung despite her relief at his indifference. ra hurried to her overnight bag, rummaging through it with one hand while desperately holding the


    towel with the other.


    Finally, Damien closed hisptop and set it on the nightstand. He turned off hismp without a word. ra quickly did the same, plunging the room into darkness.


    Eleanor waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so dramatic. It was just a little herbal mixture to rx your inhibitions. You two need to remember why you got married in the first ce,¡±


    She dressed quickly in a simple blouse and pants, ran a brush through her hair, and headed downstairs. The house was quiet except for faint noises from the kitchen.


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking too loudly,¡± Damien¡¯s voice cut through the darkness.


    ¡°Hard to sleep with you tossing and turning.¡±


    Eleanor stood at the counter, arranging fruit on a tter. She looked up as ra entered, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    ra stiffened, the implication hitting her like a physical blow. Eleanor had drugged them in hopes they would sleep together. The vition left her momentarily speechless.


    The tapping of his keyboard filled the room for nearly an hour. ra stared nkly at


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    88 An Awkward Night, A Startling Truth


    her screen, unable to focus on anything. Her mind kept returning to Damien¡¯s earlier words at the garden¨Chis promise to help with the divorce after Eleanor left.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just change in the bathroom,¡± she said to fill the awkward silence.


    Damien took a long drink of water, then set the bottle down with a soft thud. ¡°Your soup wouldn¡¯t have worked on me anyway, Grandmother.¡±


    Practical. Of course. Everything with Damien was about practicality, never emotion. ra closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted.


    Damien¡¯s expression remained carefully controlled, but ra saw the muscle ticking in his jaw¨Ca rare sign of genuine anger.


    ra froze, her coffee mug halfway to her lips. Understanding dawned slowly, horribly. The soup Eleanor had insisted they drinkst night¡­


    Damien didn¡¯t look up. ¡°As you wish.¡±


    ¡°By drugging us?¡± ra finally found her voice, raw with indignation. ¡°How could you think that was eptable?¡±


    ¡°I hope that soup helped,¡± Eleanor continued, sliding the fruit tter across the counter. ¡°Special family recipe.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not help,¡± ra said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s control.¡±


    There was something in her tone that made ra¡¯s skin prickle. A suggestion, an


    expectation.


    Damien was quiet for so long that ra thought he might have fallen asleep. Then he replied, ¡°It¡¯s a practical solution.¡±


    ¡°I forgot my pants,¡± she exined quickly, her voiceing out higher than intended.


    ¡°We got married because you forced us to,¡± Damien stated tly.


    Eleanor had the grace to look slightly embarrassed, though not particrly remorseful. ¡°Just a mild rxant, dear. To help you both¡­ reconnect.¡±


    Silence fell again. ra stared at the wall, counting her heartbeats to distract herself. She had reached three hundred and seventeen when Damien spoke again.


    ra frowned, confused by his words.


    14:53


    88 An Awkward Night, A Startling Truth.


    ¡°Good morning, Grandmother,¡± he said, reaching for a bottle of water from the refrigerator


    ¡°You drugged our soup?¡± ra¡¯s voice came out as a shocked whisper.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the right side,¡± Damien said without looking at her, solving her dilemma.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± Eleanor replied, but her voicecked conviction.


    ra startled. ¡°I thought you were asleep.¡±


    The words hung in the air, sharp and undeniable. ra¡¯s hands trembled as she set her coffee down, afraid she might drop it.


    ra considered lying but found herself answering honestly. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about what you said earlier. About helping with the divorce.¡°.


    ¡°Is something bothering you?¡± His voice held no real concern, just mild irritation.


    Damien¡¯s expression remained neutral, his eyes briefly flickering down her bare legs before returning to hisptop screen. ¡°There¡¯s no need for exnations,¡± he said tly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing I haven¡¯t seen before.¡±


    ¡°That waspletely inappropriate,¡± he said quietly, his controlled tone more frightening than if he¡¯d shouted.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± she whispered, trying to lie still.


    ra¡¯s mind raced, processing the enormity of Eleanor¡¯s maniption. The woman had deliberately drugged them both, hoping to orchestrate an intimate encounter that neither of them had consented to. The realization made her feel physically ill.


    ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± ra lied smoothly. She reached for a coffee mug, needing caffeine before facing whatever schemes Eleanor had nned for the day.


    ¡°I know that,¡± she mumbled, finally locating her gray pajama pants. ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect you to be here already.¡±


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    89 A Seat Reserved


    Near the end of the drive, Cora grew restless with her game. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty,¡± she


    announced.


    Cora nodded eagerly. ¡°Can we get ice cream after?<b>¡± </b>


    As they pulled up to Cora¡¯s school, Damien turned to ra. ¡°I¡¯ll drop Cora off and then take you to work.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± ra said quickly. ¡°I can take a cab.¡±


    Confused, ra stared at him. ¡°Does it matter?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful just as you are,¡± ra said automatically, reaching to stroke her daughter¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Put that back, Cora,¡± Damien said evenly, his eyes briefly meeting ra¡¯s in the


    rearview mirror.


    Ten minutes into the journey, Cora suddenly looked up from her tablet. ¡°Dad, are you texting Vivi?¡±


    Cora reluctantly obeyed, closing thepartment with a soft click. The car fell silent again, heavier than before.


    When they finished, Eleanor insisted on clearing the dishes herself. ¡°You three should get going. Don¡¯t want to bete.¡±


    ra kissed Cora goodbye and stepped out of the car. As she watched them drive away, a cold realization washed over her. Damien hadn¡¯t wanted her to sit in the front passenger seat because it was Vivienne¡¯s seat. He¡¯d reserved it for her, keeping it empty even in her absence.


    ra nearly choked on her coffee. She set the mug down carefully, avoiding Eleanor¡¯s


    eager gaze.


    She held up a small designer clutch that ra had seen Vivienne carrying atpany events. The evidence of Vivienne¡¯s presence in Damien¡¯s personal space ¨C his car, his life <b>was </b>overwhelming.


    ¡°Daddy, can Vivie for <b>ice </b>cream too?¡± Cora asked suddenly, her eyes bright with


    14:54


    hope.


    8P A Seal Reserved


    The drive was mostly silent, punctuated only by Cora¡¯s asional giggles at her game. ra stared out the window, trying to ignore the tension vibrating through the car.


    ¡°No need,¡± Damien said curtly. ¡°Get in.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll get out here and take a cab. I need some fresh air anyway.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that was nothing,¡± Eleanor waved dismissively. ¡°Just a little encouragement. You two need more than herbs to fix what¡¯s broken.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Eleanor insisted. ¡°Family rides together.¡±


    Before ra could protest further, Cora bounded into the kitchen, her school backpack bouncing against her small frame.


    Eleanor frowned, her eyes darting between them. ¡°Nonsense. You¡¯re just not trying hard enough.¡± She turned to ra, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Men are simple creatures, dear. You need to be more¡­ proactive.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fix,¡± ra said quietly. ¡°Some things just can¡¯t be repaired.¡±


    ¡°Eleanor, please,¡± she said, keeping her voice steady. ¡°After what you just tried to do with the soup¡­¡±


    Without hesitation, Damien handed his phone back to Cora. ra caught a glimpse of Vivienne¡¯s smiling face on the screen radiant, confident, everything ra wasn¡¯t.


    Thirty minutester, they sat around the dining table eating breakfast. To ra¡¯s surprise, Damien took the seat beside her rather than his usual ce across the table. His cologne ¨C subtle and expensive drifted toward her, stirring unwanted memories.


    Cora jerked away slightly. ¡°But not as pretty as Vivi. Dad says she¡¯s the most beautiful woman in the world.¡±


    Eleanor pped her hands together. ¡°Perfect! You can drive ra to work too. It¡¯s on


    your way.¡±


    ra watched their interaction with a familiar ache in her chest. This easy affection between father and daughter was something she¡¯d longed to see for years. Now that it existed, she felt like an outsider looking in through frosted ss.


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    89 A Seat Reserved


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Cora,¡± Damien¡¯s voice was sharper now. ¡°Put everything back where you found it.¡±


    The implication was clear that ra wasn¡¯t that woman, but Vivienne was. The thought pierced her heart like a needle, small but precise in its pain.


    ra¡¯s gaze flicked to the front seat. Damien was indeed tapping out a message at a red light, his fingers moving swiftly across his phone screen.


    Feeling inexplicably dismissed, ra walked around and slid into the back seat next to Cora, who was already engrossed in a game on her tablet. Damien took the driver¡¯s seat without another word, adjusting his mirrors with methodical precision.


    In the driveway, Damien opened the back door of his sleek ck car for Cora, then walked around to the passenger side.


    Cora eagerly opened the storagepartment between the front seats. ¡°I don¡¯t see any¨Coh!¡± She pulled out something small and cylindrical. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Vivi¡¯s lipstick! The one she was looking for yesterday!¡±


    ra¡¯s breath caught as she recognized the distinctive gold tube ¨C Vivienne¡¯s favorite brand, ridiculously expensive and impossible to miss.


    ¡°I can sit in the back with Cora,¡± ra offered, not wanting to endure the silent tension of sitting beside him.


    ¡°There should be water in thepartment,¡± Damien replied.


    ¡°What¡¯s not appropriate is giving up on your marriage without a fight,¡± Eleanor replied sharply. ¡°Damien needs a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ra replied stiffly, knowing exactly what Eleanor was fishing for. Evidence that her drugged soup had worked, perhaps.


    ¡°Not today,¡± Damien replied, his tone betraying nothing. ¡°She has a meeting with


    sponsors.¡±


    ¡°Not that side,¡± he said. ¡°Take the other door.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s so pretty,¡± Cora sighed dreamily. ¡°I want hair like hers when I grow up.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± he said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. ¡°Go eat your breakfast first.¡±


    14:54 C


    <b>3/5 </b>


    89 A Seat Reserved


    He didn¡¯t argue, which somehow made it worse.


    ¡°Good morning!¡± she chirped, making a beeline for Damien. He ruffled her hair affectionately, his expression softening in a way it never did for ra.


    ra froze mid¨Cbite. The casual mention of Vivienne Vivi- as a natural part of their family outings was like salt in an open wound.


    ¡°Can I see her picture again?¡± Cora asked eagerly.


    ra¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Eleanor, please stop. This isn¡¯t appropriate.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered simply. ¡°She¡¯s asking about dinner ns.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking,¡± Eleanor said, breaking the tense silence in the kitchen. ¡°It¡¯s been seven years since you two gave me Cora. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time for another grandchild?¡±


    ¡°Are you feeling better today?¡± Eleanor asked innocently, passing the toast.


    Damien remained silent, his face unreadable as he continued drinking his water. His indifference stung ra more than she cared to admit.


    Sensing it wasn¡¯t worth arguing, ra reached for the handle, but Damien¡¯s hand shot out, stopping her.


    ¡°Ready for school, princess?¡± he asked.


    But Cora was already rummaging deeper. ¡°Her purse is here too! The little one you bought her in Paris!¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± he replied without exnation. ¡°Take the seat behind the driver¡¯s side.¡±


    The message couldn¡¯t have been clearer if he¡¯d spoken it aloud: Vivienne belonged


    there. ra did not.


    As they pulled out of the driveway, ra caught Eleanor watching from the front door, a satisfied smile on her face. The older woman truly believed she was helping, which made the situation all the more tragic.


    The casual statement hit ra like a physical blow. She turned back to the window, blinking rapidly to clear the sudden moisture in her eyes. Damien remained silent, his


    14.54 C


    ge A Spal Reserved


    eyes fixed on the road ahead.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking Coco to school today,¡± Damien announced abruptly, changing the subject. ¡°I have meetings near her school.¡±


    Cora pouted but didn¡¯t argue. ra pushed her food around her te, appetite gone. The breakfast continued in awkward silence, broken only by Cora¡¯s asional chatter


    about school.


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 The Sprawling 90

    >


    90 A Calcted Distance, An Unavoidable Collision


    90 A Calcted Distance, An Unavoidable Collision


    ¡°ra.¡± Damien¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°Eleanor mentioned something about you needing help with Vivienne¡¯s uncle?¡±


    ¡°Soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex,¡± I corrected, ncing back at Damien¡¯s Bentley as it pulled away. it wasn¡¯t by choice. Eleanor orchestrated it.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I squared my shoulders. ¡°I won¡¯t let them dictate where I can and can¡¯t go.¡±


    ¡°And


    I sighed, hand still on the door. ¡°Alistair Dubois is blocking a potential partnership for YodaVision. I thought maybe you could talk to him, but I¡¯ve changed my mind. I¡¯ll figure it out.¡±


    ¡°Lunch? I¡¯m starving and we need to discuss the pitch for next week.¡±


    Julian chuckled. ¡°Ah, the meddling grandmother strikes again.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± Miranda said quietly, her words meant only for me, ¡°I always told you she was the superior daughter. Damien clearly agrees.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the ride,¡± I said, reaching for the door handle.


    As Julian and I entered the restaurant, I felt Vivienne¡¯s gaze boring into me, her smug expression barely masking the jealousy beneath. What I couldn¡¯t understand was why, when she had everything ¨C Damien, my mother¡¯s love, even Cora¡¯s adoration ¨C she still looked at me with such hostility.


    I slipped out of the car, shutting the door behind me. Through the window, I could see him smiling at whatever Vivienne was saying.


    The car¡¯s interior still held evidence of Vivienne¡¯s presence ¨C her perfume lingering in the air, her lipstick and purse tucked neatly in thepartment. All carefully preserved in her absence. All silent reminders that this space, like so many others in Damien¡¯s life, belonged to her.


    ¡°How¡¯s the divorce proceeding?¡± Julian asked carefully as we turned into the restaurant parking lot.


    Inside the lobby, several employees nced our way, their curiosity poorly disguised. Being the almost¨Cex¨Cwife of Damien Thorne made me the subject of constant


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    90 A Calcted Distance, An Unavoidablo Collision


    spection. Dating rumors about Julian and me circted despite our strictly professional rtionship.


    ¡°Ready for the Henderson meeting?¡± Julian asked as we entered the elevator.


    Vivienne cast me onest cold look, triumph glittering in her eyes. As they turned to enter the restaurant, my mother lingered behind.


    The jab was intentional, designed to wound. I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else,¡± he suggested again.


    The emphasis on ¡°family¡± was deliberate, a reminder that she had imed what was once mine ¨C Damien, my mother¡¯s approval, even my daughter¡¯s affection.


    Traffic slowed to a crawl as we approached downtown. Damien¡¯s phone buzzed again, and this time he picked it up, ncing at the message.


    I hesitated. ¡°She¡¯s¡­ adjusting. Vivienne¡¯s influence is strong.¡±


    The silence in the car was suffocating.


    ¡°It¡¯s on my way,¡± Damien replied curtly.


    ¡°ra,¡± she called, her voice dripping with false warmth. ¡°What a surprise.¡±


    I sat stiffly in the back seat, watching Cora¡¯s school disappear from view. Damien drove with one hand on the wheel, his posture rxed but his jaw tight.


    ¡°Damien,¡± Julian replied coolly. ¡°Business lunch?¡±


    Twenty minutester, we were in Julian¡¯s sleek Te, heading toward Blue Water, an upscale restaurant known for its business crowd.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t handle myself,¡± I replied quickly.


    ¡°I can still take a cab,¡± I offered, desperate to escape this confined space with him. ¡°YodaVision isn¡¯t far.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    The morning flew by in a flurry of meetings and coding reviews. By noon, Julian appeared at my office door.


    Nowork avable now<i>. </i>Please check yourwork.


    90 A Calcted Distance, An Unavoidable Collision


    ¡°Moving forward,¡± I replied. ¡°Thewyers are handling most of it.¡±


    When we finally pulled up to the YodaVision building, relief washed over me. The sleek- ss structure.


    everything I¡¯d reimed ¨C my independence, my passion,


    my self¨Cworth.


    His phone buzzed on the console. I caught Vivienne¡¯s name sh across the screen before he swiped it away. The tension in the car thickened.


    ¡°We can go somewhere else,¡± Julian murmured, noticing my difort.


    Vivienne spotted us first. Her perfect features hardened into a cold mask as her eyes met mine. She slipped her arm through Damien¡¯s possessively, whispering something in his ear. He nced our way, his expression impassive, but I knew him well enough to recognize the slight tension in his shoulders.


    ¡°Work?¡± I asked, regretting the question immediately.


    Damien¡¯s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly on the steering wheel. ¡°I¡¯m runningte this morning.¡±


    Damien¡¯s gaze flickered between Vivienne and me, his expression unreadable. ¡°Julian,¡± he acknowledged with a curt nod.


    ¡°You usually take Cora inside,¡± I remarked, keeping my tone casual. ¡°She likes when you


    walk her to ss.¡±


    I froze. I¡¯d asked Eleanor not to mention that to Damien, but clearly her matchmaking agenda had overridden my request.


    ¡°Mother,¡± I replied evenly, approaching the group with Julian beside me. ¡°Alistair. I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    Before I could respond, his phone rang. Vivienne¡¯s name appeared on the screen. He answered immediately, his voice shifting to a warmer tone I hadn¡¯t heard directed at me in years.


    The barb hit its mark. Seven years of marriage, and he still knew exactly where to


    strike.


    All I¡¯d wanted was to build my own path, separate from the Thorne name. Yet here I was, caught in their orbit once again, unable to escape the gravitational pull of the life <b>I </b>was trying to <b>leave </b>behind.


    14:55 O


    PD A Calcted Distance, An Unavoidable Collision


    ¡°Vivienne,¡± he answered without hesitation. ¡°She¡¯s meeting her uncle and your mother


    for lunch.


    ¡°Give me five minutes to finish this email,¡± I said, typing quickly.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like nothing if you¡¯re asking for my help.¡±


    ¡°And Cora?¡±


    Then I remembered my request to Damien about Alistair, and suddenly her anger made sense. She was marking her territory, reminding me that Damien was hers now ¨C his help, his influence, his power.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t need to leave the school,¡± he said finally, eyes fixed on the road. ¡°I would have waited while you said goodbye properly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised she has time for family lunches with her busy schedule,¡± I said, unable to keep the edge from my voice.


    The unspoken truth hung between us. He made time to escort Cora when Vivienne was with them ¨C the picture¨Cperfect family moment. With just me in the car, such efforts weren¡¯t worth his time.


    What caught my attention next made my blood run cold. Standing by the restaurant entrance, clearly waiting for them, were Alistair Dubois and my mother, Miranda


    Vance.


    She followed the others inside, leaving me standing there, Julian¡¯s supportive hand on my arm the only thing keeping me grounded.


    ¡°Getting dropped off by the ex? That¡¯s an interesting dynamic,¡± he said, falling into step


    beside me.


    I watched through the restaurant¡¯s ss doors as the hostess led them to a prime table. Vivienneughed at something Damien said, her hand caressing his arm. He smiled at her ¨C a real smile that reached his eyes, the kind I¡¯d spent seven years trying and failing to earn.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, more confidently than I felt some days. ¡°It¡¯s long overdue.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Among other things, Alistair interjected. ¡°Discussing Vivienne and Damien¡¯s future ns. They make such a perfect match, don¡¯t they?¡±


    90 A Calcted Distance, An Unavoidable Collision


    ¡°Family lunch,¡± Vivienne said sweetly, tightening her grip on Damien¡¯s arm. ¡°Just catching up.<b>¡± </b>


    As we exited the car, I froze. There, stepping out of a familiar ck Bentley just a few spaces away, was Damien. Vivienne emerged from the passenger side ¨C her side ¨C looking stunning in a deep blue dress that entuated her curves. My simple white blouse and tailored pants felt suddenly inadequate.


    ¡°How lovely,¡± I managed, my smile not reaching my eyes.


    Damien¡¯s eyes met mine briefly in the rearview mirror. ¡°She makes time for what


    matters.¡±


    Alistair and Miranda turned to see what had captured Vivienne¡¯s attention. Alistair¡¯s eyes narrowed with disdain. Miranda¡¯s lips curled into a smug smile that spoke volumes ¨C her golden child had won, again.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± I replied, grateful for the shift to work matters.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.


    My stomach clenched. Miranda Vance ¨C my mother only in the biological sense ¨C had made her preference for Vivienne abundantly clear since our childhood. The perfect daughter she¡¯d always wanted.


    Damien studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±


    ¡°We should head inside,¡± Damien said abruptly. ¡°Our table will be ready.¡±


    I was halfway to the building entrance when Julian Croft¡¯s voice caught my attention..


    ¡°I see.¡± I turned to look out the window, focusing on the passing buildings rather than the ache in my chest.


    ¡°No,¡± I said finally, straightening my spine. ¡°I won¡¯t run. Not anymore.¡±


    Julian parked the car and turned to face me. ¡°You know you¡¯re doing the right thing, right? Getting qut?¡±


    14:55 <b>( </b>

 The Sprawling 91

    91 Permission in the Quiet Night


    <b>ra¡¯s </b>POV


    ¡°You and Damien work too hard,¡± she said with a hint of disapproval. ¡°No wonder two barely see each other these days.¡±


    A muscle twitched in Damien¡¯s jaw. ¡°Alistair can be¡­ difficult.¡±


    ¡°Eleanor doesn¡¯t know about the divorce, does she?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You noticed.¡±


    you


    ¡°That¡¯s deliberate,¡± Julian continued. ¡°It¡¯s a power move. They¡¯re trying to make us feel insignificant.¡±


    I slid in, cing myptop bag at my feet. The car smelled like him ¨C expensive cologne with undertones of leather and sandalwood. No trace of Vivienne¡¯s perfume remained.


    I tore my gaze away from their table. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not being goodpany.¡±


    The small gesture surprised me. In the morning, I¡¯d been relegated to the back, like a business associate being chauffeured. Now he was offering me Vivienne¡¯s usual ce.


    I gathered my things quickly, hoping to escape before he arrived, but as I stepped out of the elevator into the lobby, I saw his Bentley already parked at the curb.


    The afternoon passed in a blur of coding and strategy meetings. By seven in the evening, the office had emptied except for me and the cleaning staff. I was deep in concentration when my phone rang. Eleanor Thorne¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    ¡°We¡¯re both busy people,¡± I said carefully.


    ¡°And my mother can be cruel,¡± I added quietly. ¡°They make quite a team.¡±


    I turned to look at him. ¡°You did?¡±


    ¡°Just finishing up some work.¡± I rubbed my tired eyes.


    ¡°We should go in,¡± he said, breaking the moment. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°It¡¯s working.¡±


    12:18


    91 Permission in the Quiet Night


    ¡°You may,¡± he said finally, his voice quiet.


    ¡°Grandmother insisted.¡± He opened the passenger door. ¡°Front seat this time.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°That means more to me than you know.¡±


    It was true. They had positioned themselves to face away from our table, as if we didn¡¯t


    exist.


    I bit my lip. Eleanor still didn¡¯t know about our impending divorce. Neither Damien nor I had found the courage to break her heart.


    <b>¡°</b>What about it?¡±


    ¡°We need to tell her soon, Damien. Before the papers are finalized.¡±


    ¡°I spoke with Alistair Dubois,¡± Damien said suddenly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin your finances to me.¡±


    As Damien parked in the circr driveway, I gathered my courage. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    We fell silent again as he turned onto the tree¨Clined street leading to the Thorne estate. The massive house loomed ahead, windows glowing warmly in the darkness. It had never felt like my home, despite the years I¡¯d lived there.


    Damien studied me silently, his expression inscrutable in the dim light. I waited, bracing myself for refusal. The vi was valuable coastal property, and my asking for it was bold.


    He turned off the engine and looked at me, waiting.


    ¡°Only if you let it.¡± Julian¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°Remember who you are, ra. You¡¯re not just Damien Thorne¡¯s soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Cwife. You¡¯re a brilliant mind who¡¯s rebuilding one of the most innovative AIpanies in the country.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t need toe,¡± I said, approaching reluctantly. ¡°I could have called a car.¡±


    ¡°Hard to miss the cold shoulder from her entire table.¡±


    Damien didn¡¯t respond, but I noticed his grip tighten on the steering wheel.


    12:18


    91 <b>Permission </b><b>in </b>the Quiet Night


    The lunch <b>at </b>Blue Water crawled by painfully. From our table across the restaurant, I could see Vivienneughing, her hand casually resting on Damien¡¯s arm. Alistair and <b>my </b>mother nked them like proud sentinels guarding royalty.


    ¡°The YodaVision partnership. He was blocking it because of a personal grudge against Julian Croft.¡± Damien¡¯s eyes remained on the road. ¡°It¡¯s been resolved.¡±


    Relief washed over me so intensely that I almost reached for his hand. I caught myself just in time.


    ¡°Eleanor, that¡¯s not necessary¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the office,¡± I said. ¡°We have the Henderson proposal to finish.¡±


    The waiter arrived with our check. As Julian reached for it, I caught Damien looking in our direction, his expression unreadable. Our eyes met for a brief moment before he turned back to Vivienne.


    ¡°How was your afternoon?¡± he asked as he pulled away from the curb.


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize.¡± Julian leaned forward. ¡°But I do want to point something out. Notice how Vivienne and Alistair haven¡¯t acknowledged us once? Not even a nce in our direction.¡±


    ¡°Eleanor, hello,¡± I answered, leaning back in my chair.


    Damien stood beside it, phone in hand, looking as immacte as he had at lunch. He nced up as I pushed through the revolving door.


    As we walked toward the house, I felt lighter than I had in months. The vi would be mine ¨C a sanctuary away from the Thornes, away from Vivienne, away from the constant reminders of everything I¡¯d failed to be.


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°I imagine not.¡± I gazed out the window again. ¡°She made that clear at lunch.¡±


    Surprise flickered across his face. ¡°Buy it?¡±


    Julian finished his salmon and set down his fork. ¡°They¡¯re putting on quite a show, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°ra, dear,¡± her warm voice came through. ¡°Are you still at the office? It¡¯s gettingte¡±


    91 <b>Permission </b>in the Quiet Night


    Yes. I¡¯d pay market value, of course. My share from YodaVision is growing, and-¡±


    Silence fell between us. I watched the city lights blur by, wondering how we had be such strangers after seven years of marriage.


    He nodded. ¡°I will. After her birthday next month.¡±


    For the first time since I¡¯d decided to divorce Damien, I could see my future taking shape- not as Mrs. Thorne, but as ra Vance, standing on her own.


    ¡°L¡­ what?¡± I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d heard correctly.


    ¡°The same.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s absolutely necessary. You¡¯re still family, ra.¡± Her tone softened. ¡°I worry about both of you.


    ¡°You want to keep it after we separate,¡± he said finally, his voice neutral.


    After we hung up, I dropped my head in my hands. Thest thing I needed was another awkward car ride with Damien.


    I took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯d like to buy it from you.¡±


    ¡°The vi by the coast,¡± I began, my heart beating faster. ¡°The one where we stayedst summer. I¡¯ve been thinking about it a lottely.¡±


    ¡°You may buy the vi.¡± Damien¡¯s eyes met mine, dark and unreadable. ¡°I¡¯ll have thewyers arrange it separately from the divorce settlement.¡±


    For a moment, something shifted in Damien¡¯s expression ¨C a softening around the edges, a flicker of the man I¡¯d once thought he could be. But it disappeared so quickly I wondered if I¡¯d imagined it.


    Damien nodded once, his profile illuminated by passing streetlights. ¡°Vivienne wasn¡¯t pleased.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, genuinely surprised. ¡°I appreciate that.¡±


    I fell silent, waiting. The seconds stretched painfully.


    ¡°Productive.¡± I kept my answer brief. ¡°Yours?¡±


    ¡°Well, not tonight,¡± Eleanor dered. ¡°I called Damien and asked him to pick you up.


    <b>Of </b><b>Permission </b>in <b>the </b>Quiet <b>Night </b>


    <b>No </b><b>arguments </b><b>from </b><b>either </b><b>of </b><b>you</b>. He should be there shortly.¡±


    <b>Yes</b><b>. </b>For myself. After the divorce. My voice grew stronger. ¡°I know it¡¯s <b>part </b><b>of </b><b>the </b>


    <b>Thorne </b>properties<b>, </b>but it¡¯s the one ce that felt like it could be mine. Somewhere ! <b>could </b><b>start </b>fresh<b>¡± </b>


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 The Sprawling 92

    12:18 C


    92 <b>The </b><b>Unforeseen </b>Gift <b>and </b>a Resolute Promise


    92 The <b>Unforeseen </b>Gift and a Resolute Promise


    The bedroom door opened, and Damien walked in, a ss of water in hand. He stopped when he saw me with the folder. *


    He nodded. ¡°I had some paperwork to finalize¡±


    ¡°Damien,¡± <b>I </b>began, trying to gather my thoughts. ¡°Thank you, but this isn¡¯t what I asked for. I wanted to buy the other vi, not receive one as a gift. And certainly not one this valuable.¡±


    Eleanor beamed when she saw us walking through the door together. Her eyes sparkled with hope, clearly pleased to see Damien and me arriving home at the same


    time.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t work too hard, dear,¡± Eleanor patted my arm. ¡°You always push yourself too


    much.¡±


    The house was quiet as I made my way upstairs. Eleanor had likely retired for the evening, and the staff moved silently through their evening routines.


    Damien nodded and returned to his reading. I slipped into the bathroom to change and prepare for bed. When I emerged, he was still reading, the blue light from his tablet illuminating his face.


    By the time I left the office, it was after nine. The drive to the Thorne estate gave me time to dpress, mentally shifting from work mode to the careful neutrality I maintained around Damien.


    When I arrived, I was surprised to see Damien¡¯s car already in the garage. He rarely came home before ten, often muchter. I wondered if Vivienne was busy tonight.


    I nodded and moved to my dresser, gathering my nightclothes. The atmosphere between us had shifted subtly since our conversation in the car. Not warmer exactly, but less frigid. His help with/Alistair and his agreement about the vi had cracked something in the wall between us.


    ¡°It makes no sense to take separate cars when you¡¯re going to the same area of the city,¡± she insisted.


    12:18


    92 The Unforeseen Gift and a Resolute Promise


    When I entered our bedroom, Damien was already there, sitting up against the


    headboard, reading something on his tablet. The softmplight cast shadows across his sharp features, reminding me of earlier days when I would watch him workte into the night, admiring his focus.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I said awkwardly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be here yet.¡±


    ¡°Well<b>, </b>perhaps tomorrow then,¡± Eleanor said, undeterred.


    But I couldn¡¯t let myself read too much into it. Seven years of marriage had taught me that pattern. A moment of kindness followed by weeks of indifference. This time would be no different. Our marriage was ending, and these small courtesies were just the civilized death throes of a rtionship that had never truly lived.


    I held up the folder. ¡°Is this what you were finalizing?¡±


    ¡°Everything okay with work?¡± he asked, breaking the silence.


    It was such a small gesture, yet it lingered in my mind as Iy there. When was thest time Damien had done something so simple for me? I couldn¡¯t remember. Perhaps it meant nothing. Perhaps it was just convenience since he was already putting his tablet


    down.


    The day rushed by in a flurry of meetings and development reviews. Julian and I were working against tight deadlines for our newest AI application, and I lost track of time. By the time I checked my watch, it was nearly eight in the evening.


    ¡°You¡¯re home early,¡± I said, my voice oddly strained.


    Julian shook his head. ¡°Always the perfectionist. Don¡¯t stay toote.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too much,¡± I said firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t have this much money right now. Give me some time, and I will-¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I need to decline, Eleanor. I still have work calls to make.¡±


    ¡°Just a little longer,¡± I replied, typing furiously. ¡°I want to finish this segment before I


    leave.¡±


    The next morning at breakfast, Eleanor suggested that Damien drive me to work again.


    ¡°No need to worry, Grandmother,¡± Damien said, his voice level. ¡°Traffic was heavier


    than usual.¡±


    12:10


    92 The Untorissen Caift and a Resolute Promise


    It wasn¡¯t entirely true, but I needed space. Damien¡¯s help with Alistair and the <b>vi </b>


    were debts I didn¡¯t want to umte. Each kindness from himplicated the clean break I was trying to make.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, surprised by his question. ¡°Just finalizing details with a potential


    investor.¡±


    I slid into my side of the bed, careful to maintain the invisible boundary that had existed between us for years. The mattress dipped slightly under my weight, but Damien didn¡¯t look up.


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± I said softly, reaching for mymp.


    And it was in my name. Not Damien¡¯s. Not the Thorne family¡¯s. Mine alone.


    I excused myself and headed upstairs to my room. The calls I mentioned weren¡¯t aplete fabrication. Julian had texted about a potential investor wanting to speak tonight. After two lengthy calls discussing YodaVision¡¯s growth projections, I finally


    finished around eleven.


    I turned on my side, facing away from him, and closed my eyes. Sleep came surprisingly quickly.


    I opened the bedroom door and stepped inside, expecting to find Damien working on hisptop as usual. Instead, the room was empty, but something on my makeup table caught my eye.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Damien nced up. ¡°I finished early tonight.¡±


    The fact that he remembered my desire for a studio space caught me by surprise. I¡¯d mentioned it years ago, in passing, when we¡¯d first toured coastal properties. He had seemed disinterested then.


    ¡°You should head home,¡± Julian said, stretching his arms overhead. ¡°We¡¯ve made good progress today.¡±


    ¡°This one is better suited for you,¡± he said simply. ¡°It has the studio space you always wanted, and it¡¯s closer to your father.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± he said, setting his tablet aside. He leaned across and switched off mymp before turning off his own, plunging the room into darkness.


    12:19


    92 The Unloveenen Gill and a fresh fryers


    I smiled politely but shook my head. ¡°I have a client meeting across town first thing, so it¡¯s more practical for me to drive myself.¡±


    A foldery there, ced deliberately in the center. I set down my bag and approached cautiously. Opening the folder, I found property documents inside ¨C a deed for a coastal vi. Not the one we had discussedst night, but a different one, more secluded and even more beautiful. Located just a short drive from Victor¡¯s home.


    My breath caught as I studied the papers. The vi was easily worth several million dors. Why would Damien-


    Damien watched this exchange silently over his coffee cup, his face unreadable as usual.


    The disappointment on Eleanor¡¯s face was evident, but I couldn¡¯t bear sitting through another meal pretending everything was fine. Damien¡¯s unexpected kindness about the vi had left me feeling off¨Cbnce.


    Eleanor looked between us, searching for signs of reconciliation. ¡°You both must be famished. I¡¯ve had dinner kept warm.¡±


    ¡°Besides,¡± I added, ¡°Damien has his own schedule to keep.¡±


    ¡°There you are, my dears!¡± She pped her hands together. ¡°I was beginning to worry.¡±


    Comment 0


    12:19

 The Sprawling 93

    * ¨¦s a Calle pine floordation


    <b>93 </b>A <b>Call¡¯s </b>Bitter Revtion


    I nodded, not trusting myself to speak further. Moving to the refrigerator, I began gathering Ingredients for Cora¡¯s dinner, needing the distraction of a routine task.


    The drive home was filled with Cora¡¯s animated chatter about her day. These moments <b>were </b>precious¨Cwhen she was just my daughter, not torn between loyalties.


    ¡°No,¡± I replied. ¡°Your grandmother wants me to bring dinner to your office. I thought I should check if that works for you.¡±


    The truth was that the vi documents, Damien¡¯s gesture that had seemed so generous yesterday, now felt like the final settlement it truly was. He was giving me property because he was giving me up. Making space in his life for Vivienne by clearing


    me out of it.


    Eleanor beamed. ¡°Wonderful idea.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, can we have spaghetti?¡± Cora asked, looking up from her homework.


    The pasta water boiled over suddenly, hissing as it hit the stovetop. I rushed to turn down the heat, wiping up the mess with a dishcloth.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eleanor,¡± I said. ¡°Damien already has dinner ns.¡±


    The vi wasn¡¯t a peace offering. It was a parting gift.


    ¡°You work too hard,¡± Eleanor patted my hand. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful to have you here. In fact, I was wondering if you might do me a small favor.¡±


    I hugged her tightly, breathing in her sweet, familiar sc¨¦nt. ¡°Hi, sweetheart. How was


    school?¡±


    The vi documents sat on my dresser, a reminder of Damien¡¯s unexpected generosity. After our conversationst night, I had reluctantly epted the property. Not because I wanted his charity, but because the fight wasn¡¯t worth having. The coastal vi would be the final thread connecting us before ourplete separation.


    I ended the call and stood motionless in the hallway. The conversation wasn¡¯t surprising¨CI knew about Vivienne, had known for years. And yet, hearing her voice in his office, sofortable, so intimate¡­ It drove home the reality of our situation in a


    12:19


    93 ACall¡¯s Gater Revtion


    way legal documents couldn¡¯t.


    <b>I </b>nced at Cora, who was focused on her homework. Eleanor was watching me expectantly. Refusing outright would create tension I didn¡¯t have the energy to navigate.


    <b>¡°</b><b>Yes</b><b>. </b>Goodbye, Damien.¡±


    The school parking lot buzzed with activity when I arrived. Parents chatted in small groups while children poured out of the building. I spotted Cora immediately, her dark hair bouncing as she ran toward me.


    And maybe that was exactly what I needed to move forward.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± he asked.


    ¡°ra, dear,¡± Eleanor said, approaching me as Cora settled at the table with her homework. ¡°What a lovely surprise to see you home this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± I said, working to keep my voice neutral. ¡°I¡¯ll let Eleanor know.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Damien said to me, his voice even. ¡°I already have dinner ns.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Damien, darling, I¡¯ve brought dinner from that new French ce you mentioned.¡±


    The words weren¡¯t cruel, just matter¨Cof¨Cfact. But theynded like a p nheless.


    ¡°That sounds wonderful. I can¡¯t wait to see it.¡±


    ¡°Let me call and check with him first,¡± I suggested, pulling out my phone.


    Morning sunlight streamed through the windows as I dressed for the day. Damien had left early for some business meeting, sparing me another tense breakfast with Eleanor¡¯s hopeful nces between us.


    As I stirred the sauce, I realized a strange sense of calm had reced the initial sting. There was rity in this moment¨Chearing Vivienne¡¯s voice, Damien¡¯s easy dismissal of Eleanor¡¯s dinner ns. The universe was confirming what I already knew: my marriage was over. Had been over long before I¡¯d asked for a divorce.


    As I chopped vegetables for the sauce, my thoughts drifted back to the call. Vivienne bringing Damien dinner wasn¡¯t new or shocking. They¡¯d been together through most


    12:19


    BSA Cal Ritmi Ropotm


    of my marriage to him. But today, it felt different. More final


    Taking a deep breath, I returned to the kitchen where Eleanor was helping Cora with her spelling worksheet.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea,¡± I said carefully. ¡°I have meetingster<b>, </b>and Damien probably has his own dinner ns.¡±


    <b>I </b>stepped into the hallway for privacy and dialed Damien¡¯s number. The line rang several times before he answered.


    I smiled politely. ¡°I wanted to spend some time with Cora before my evening meetings.


    ¡°Just fine,¡± I lied. ¡°Just a little distracted.¡±


    ¡°We made y animals in art ss!¡± Cora pulled back, eyes bright with excitement. ¡°Miss Bet said mine was very creative<b>.¡± </b>


    ¡°ra.¡± His voice was crisp, professional. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    While Cora recounted her day again for her great¨Cgrandmother, I moved to the kitchen to prepare a light snack. The normalcy of the moment felt deceptive¨Clike a beautiful painting with hairline cracks running through the canvas.


    Eleanor¡¯s face fell slightly. ¡°Oh, what a shame. Well, perhaps another time.¡±


    Something in her tone made me wary. ¡°What kind of favor?¡±


    ¡°Damien mentioned he¡¯d be workingte tonight. I¡¯ve had Mrs. Chen prepare his favorite pot roast.¡± She gestured to a package on the counter. ¡°Would you mind delivering it to him? He forgets to eat when he¡¯s busy.¡±


    My stomach tightened. This was exactly the kind of meddling Eleanor specialized in¡ª creating situations where Damien and I would be forced together.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± she called,unching herself into my arms.


    ¡°There are my two favorite girls!¡± She set down her shears and embraced Cora. ¡°And how was school today, darling?¡±


    Eleanor waved dismissively. ¡°Nonsense! You know how he gets wrapped up in work. A quick visit won¡¯t disrupt your schedule.¡±


    When we arrived at the Thorne estate, Eleanor was in the kitchen arranging flowers.


    12:19


    03 A CAP¡¯s Biter Revtion


    Her face lit up when she saw us.


    My grip tightened on the phone. Of course Vivienne would be there. Of course she would have already thought to bring him dinner.


    ¡°Of course, sweetie.¡± I forced a smile, grateful for the shift in conversation.


    ¡°Everything alright, dear?¡± Eleanor asked, concern in her voice.


    I checked my watch. Just enough time to pick up Cora from school before heading to my afternoon meetings at YodaVision. Julian had scheduled a crucial development review for our new AI interface, but family came first.


    There was a brief silence before I heard a woman¡¯s voice in the background. Vivienne¡¯s


    voice.


    Comment


    O

 The Sprawling 94

    94 Mr. Newman¡¯s Verdict, Damien¡¯s Game


    ¡°Well then, I suppose Mrs. Chen¡¯s pot roast will make a lovely lunch tomorrow,¡± she said, wrapping <b>the </b>container and cing it in the refrigerator,


    I shook my head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense. How would he even know-


    My blood ran cold. Julian¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°No¡± I said quickly. ¡°No problem at all. We¡¯ll send you the revised proposal by Friday.¡±


    I nodded, grateful she didn¡¯t press for details. ¡°Eleanor, Damien mentioned he might


    not be home tonight.¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Mr. Newman asked, his tone curious.


    ¡°He¡¯s recing me in every aspect of his life,¡± I whispered.


    Later that night, after putting Cora to bed, I checked my email onest time. Julian and I had submitted our project proposals to Me Newman yesterday, and I was anxious for his response. Mr. Newman was a legend in the Al world¨Cthe creator of the Chap programmingnguage that revolutionmed machine learning. His approval could make or break our project.


    My heart skipped. I put the phone on speaker and mouthed ¡°It¡¯s him¡± to Julian.


    I straightened in my chair, determination recing the initial shock. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ve been distracted, but no more. Thus as may feld, my passion. I won¡¯t let anyone¨Cnot Damien, not Wivienne¨Cpush me out of it¡±


    I shook my head. I¡¯m starting to think-


    The puzzle pieces clicked into ce. This wasn¡¯t just professional sabotage. This was Damien trying to hand Vivienne the keys to the kingdom,


    ¡°To be blunt, Ms. Vance, you¡¯re slipping The conceptual foundation is still strong, but the executioscks your usual ngor I remember your doctoral thesis¨Cit was meticulous. This proposal shows shes of that brilliance, but it¡¯s inconsistent.¡±


    My phone buzzed with a text from hulian: ¡°Any word from Newman?*


    54 Mr. Newman¡¯s Verdict, Damion¡¯s Game


    ¡°You look exhausted, he said, sliding one cup toward me.


    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>see,¡± I managed.


    ¡°I should have expected this,¡± I said. ¡°Vivienne has a PhD in behavioral psychology with a focus onputational models. Her thesis explored emotional response patterns in humanputer interaction.¡±


    Morning came, and Damien hadn¡¯t returned. I wasn¡¯t surprised.


    ¡°Work, I assume,¡± I replied, the lieing easily. I didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her that her beloved grandson was likely spending the night with my half¨Csister.


    After dropping Cora at school, I drove to YodaVision¡¯s offices. Julian was waiting for me in the conference room, two cups of coffee on the table.


    ¡°I understand,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate any specific feedback you can offer so we can strengthen the proposal.¡±


    After the call ended, I sat motionless, staring at nothing.


    Julian paced the small conference room. ¡°And Damien¡¯s pushing her career now? Using his connections to get her in front of Newman?¡± He stopped abruptly. ¡°Wait, Newman said Damien contacted him yesterday. Right after we submitted our proposal.¡±


    Julian and I exchanged excited nces.


    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t,¡± Mr. Newman agreed. ¡°This industry waits for no one. Talent wasted is opportunity lost.¡±


    I tried to sleep, but my mind kept spinning between thoughts of Damien with Vivienne and anxiety about Mr. Newman¡¯s verdict. When I finally, drifted off, my dreams were a jumbled mess of code and whispered conversations.


    ¡°That maniptive bastard,¡± Julian muttered.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware you knew Damien,¡± I said carefully.


    ¡°Ms. Vance? This is Edward Newman.¡±


    I stood in the kitchen, phone still warm in my hand after calling Damien. Eleanor¡¯s hopeful expression had faded when I told her he already had dinner ns, but she recovered quickly.


    12:19


    <b>94 </b><b>Mr. </b><b>Newman¡¯s </b>Verdict, <b>Damien¡¯s </b><b>Game </b>


    <b>Jun¡¯s </b><b>Jaw </b><b>tightened</b><b>. </b>¡°Did he mention <b>who</b><b>?</b>¡±


    <b>I¡¯m </b>not suggesting<b>, </b>I¡¯m stating: Damien knew about our submission to Newman. He¡¯s deliberately putting Vivienne in directpetition with you¡±


    ¡°I just realized¨CNewman created Cuap. The programmingnguage that Vivienne <b>has </b>been trying to incorporate into her research for years.¡± His eyes <b>met </b>mine, zing with anger. ¡°Motherfucker! Damien¡¯s not just introducing her to a potential investor¨Che¡¯s connecting her with the one person who could give her ess to proprietary code that would advance her research by years.¡±


    Her eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°Qh? Did he say why?¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Julian and I said almost in unison.


    ¡°Finish your homework first,¡± I said, smoothing her hair.


    ¡°Thanks for noticing,¡± I said dryly, taking a grateful sip.


    Julian¡¯s response came quickly: *He¡¯s thorough. Give him time.*


    Julian grinned. ¡°That¡¯s what friends are for.¡± His expression turned serious. ¡°Still nothing from Newman?¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± I answered.


    ¡°Think about it, ra. The timing is too perfect. We submit to Newman, and suddenly Damien arranges a dinner to introduce Vivienne? He¡¯s ying games.¡±


    Julian sat down beside me, his expression fierce. ¡°No, he¡¯s trying to. But he can¡¯t rece your talent, your insight. Newman called you because despite his criticisms, he recognizes your brilliance. We¡¯re going to fix this proposal, and we¡¯re going to blow Vivienne¡¯s ideas out of the water.¡±


    His words stung because they were true. I¡¯d let my personal life affect my work. Years of focusing on being Damien¡¯s wife had dulled my professional edge.


    ¡°I¡¯ve attached my notes to an email. Your core idea has merit, which is why I called personally rather than sending a standard rejection. Refine it, tighten the framework, and we can discuss potential coboration.¡±


    ¡°While I have you,¡± Julian added, ¡°we¡¯d like to invite you to dinner next week to discuss the revised approach. Are you avable?¡±


    12:19


    <b>04 </b>Mr. <b>Newman¡¯s </b>Verdict, Damien¡¯s Game


    The realization hit like a physical blow<b>. </b><b>This </b>wasn¡¯t just about Damien choosing Vivienne in our marriage¨Cnow he was actively working <b>to </b>elevate her in my professional sph¨¨re too.


    Heat crept into my cheeks. ¡°I appreciate your candor, Mr. Newman.¡±


    Cora tugged at my sleeve. ¡°Mom, can I have ice cream after dinner?¡±


    Julian¡¯s phone dinged with an email alert. He scanned it quickly. ¡°Newman¡¯s notes <b>are </b>here. Let¡¯s get to work.¡±


    I replied: *Nothing yet. Getting nervous.*


    Vivienne. Of course.


    ra¡¯s POV


    My phone rang, cutting me off. Unknown number.


    ¡°A Dr. Dubois, I believe. A researcher with a background in behavioral analysis and machine learning.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed your proposals,¡± Mr. Newman said, his voice crisp and authoritative. ¡°The neural mapping concept for emotional recognition in AI interfaces is brilliant. Your approach to reducing false positives in sentiment analysis solves a problem many have struggled with.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve crossed paths at various industry events. He reached out yesterday, quite insistent about this introduction. Said it was someone with innovative ideas in the AI


    space.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Newman,¡± Julian said.


    As we dug into the proposal revisions, Julian suddenly mmed his hand on the table. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡±


    No new emails. I sighed and set myptop aside.


    ¡°Mr. Newman, thank you for calling. I have my partner Julian Croft with me.¡±


    ¡°What are you suggesting?¡±


    There was a pause. ¡°Unfortunately, I already have ns. Damien Thorne has scheduled a dinner meeting for that evening. He¡¯s introducing me to someone he thinks I should


    12:19


    meet.


    98 Mr. <b>Newman¡¯s </b>Verdict, Damien¡¯s Game


    ¡°However,¡± Mr. Newman continued<b>, </b>and my stomach dropped, ¡°I¡¯m concerned about the implementation timeline. The framework seems rushed in ces. Ms. Vance, your earlier work showed more precision.¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyes widened at the direct criticism.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve been¡­ distracted. But that¡¯s no excuse.¡±


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 The Sprawling 95

    <b>95 </b><b>A </b><b>Rival¡¯s </b><b>Specter </b><b>and </b><b>a </b><b>Family </b><b>Mandate </b>


    95 A Rival¡¯s Specter and a Family Mandate


    <b>¡°</b><b>Yes</b>, darling. The whole family,¡± Eleanor emphasized, giving me a pointed look.


    What could possibly go wrong?


    to back


    Julian¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to rm you, but if she has the skills


    her credentials¡­ Zachary doesn¡¯t care about personal drama. He cares about advancing the field.¡±


    up


    ¡°I wish I were. Eleanor¡¯s orchestrated a family getaway, and somehow convinced Damien to agree.¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Are you going to ask him about the dinner with Zachary?¡±


    I sighed, setting my bag down. ¡°I don¡¯t know what his game is. But I do know we¡¯re all going to be trapped together at a hot spring resort this weekend, thanks to Eleanor.¡±


    Eleanor sighed as the front door closed. ¡°That boy works too hard. Just like his grandfather.¡± She turned to me. ¡°This weekend will be good for all of us.¡±


    The die was cast. In two days, I¡¯d be sharing a luxury suite with the husband who was actively undermining me and the grandmother¨Cinw who refused to see the truth of our broken marriage.


    I continued to my bedroom, my mind racing with questions that would remain


    unanswered.


    I sighed, feeling the weight of myplicated home life pressing down on me again.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I said, kissing the top of Cora¡¯s head.


    ¡°Zachary is principled, but he¡¯s also intrigued by genuine talent,¡± Julian said, leaning back in his chair, his fingers drumming nervously against the conference table.


    Julian looked unconvinced. ¡°Call me if you need an excuse to leave early.¡±


    My heart sank. ¡°And?¡±


    I hesitated in the hallway, torn between confronting him about Zachary and


    pretending I knew nothing. In the end, exhaustion won out. I climbed the stairs


    quietly, not wanting to initiate a conversation that would only lead to more frustration.


    12:19


    95 A Rival¡¯s Specter and a Family Mandate


    <b>¡°</b>It <b>is</b><b>! </b>Or <b>it </b>was, before Arthur sold it.¡± Eleanor <b>sighed </b>dramatically<b>. </b>¡°But <b>speaking </b><b>of </b><b>getaways</b>, I <b>was </b>thinking we should all go to the hot springs this weekend<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    <b>The </b>Arthur card. That exined Damien¡¯s capittion. For all his independence and authority in the business world, mention <b>of </b>histe grandfather still held power over


    him<b>. </b>


    ¡°Just Eleanor. Apparently Damien¡¯s gracing us with his presence tonight.¡±


    ¡°Did he now?¡± <b>I </b>asked, skepticism clear in my voice.


    ¡°When do we leave?¡± I asked, resigning myself to the inevitable.


    After breakfast, I drove Cora to school before heading to the office. Julian was waiting


    for me with news<b>. </b>


    ¡°ra? You still with me?¡± Julian¡¯s voice pulled me from my thoughts.


    ¡°Great.¡± Damien¡¯s tone was clipped. ¡°I need to head out. I have meetings all morning.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re homete,¡± he said, his voice neutral.


    The problem was, those ¡°old times¡± had never been as idyllic as Eleanor imagined. And now, with all the unspoken tensions between Damien and me, trapped together in a romantic mountain setting¡­.


    Relief flooded through me. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic!¡±


    ¡°Just did,¡± Eleanor replied cheerfully. ¡°She¡¯s looking forward to it, aren¡¯t you, dear?¡±


    My stomach twisted at the implication. ¡°You think he might take Vivienne as an apprentice?


    Damien entered the kitchen then, dressed impably in a charcoal suit. He nodded a greeting to me before epting a cup of coffee from Eleanor.


    I shuddered involuntarily. This weekend was going to be a disaster.


    But when Eleanor called that evening to confirm details, her voice so full of hope and excitement, I found myself softly saying, ¡°Okay.¡±


    I thought of Cora¡¯s excited face, of Eleanor¡¯s hopeful nning. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have much choice.¡±


    12.19


    96 A Rivals Specter and a Family Mandato


    ¡°It is! Or it was, before Arthur sold it.¡± Eleanor sighed dramatically. ¡°But speaking <b>of </b>getaways, I was thinking we should all go to the hot springs this weekend.¡±


    The Arthur card. That exined Damien¡¯s capittion. For all his independence and authority in the business world, mention of histe grandfather still held power over him.


    ¡°Just Eleanor. Apparently Damien¡¯s gracing us with his presence tonight.¡±


    ¡°Did he now?¡± I asked, skepticism clear in my voice.


    ¡°When do we leave?¡± I asked, resigning myself to the inevitable.


    After breakfast, I drove Cora to school before heading to the office. Julian was waiting for me with news.


    ¡°ra? You still with me?¡± Julian¡¯s voice pulled me from my thoughts.


    ¡°Great.¡± Damien¡¯s tone was clipped. ¡°I need to head out. I have meetings all morning.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re homete,¡± he said, his voice neutral.


    The problem was, those ¡°old times¡± had never been as idyllic as Eleanor imagined. And now, with all the unspoken tensions between Damien and me, trapped together in a


    romantic mountain setting¡­


    Relief flooded through me. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic!¡±


    ¡°Just did,¡± Eleanor replied cheerfully. ¡°She¡¯s looking forward to it, aren¡¯t you, dear?¡±


    My stomach twisted at the implication. ¡°You think he might take Vivienne as an apprentice?¡±


    Damien entered the kitchen then, dressed impably in a charcoal suit. He nodded a greeting to me before epting a cup of coffee from Eleanor.


    I shuddered involuntarily. This weekend was going to be a disaster.


    But when Eleanor called that evening to confirm details, her voice so full of hope and excitement, I found myself softly saying, ¡°Okay.¡±


    I thought of Cora¡¯s excited face, of Eleanor¡¯s hopeful nning. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have


    much choice.¡±


    12:20


    95 A Rival¡¯s Specter and a Family Mandate


    Damien¡¯s eyes met mine, challenging me to contradict his grandmother.


    As we dove into work, I tried to push thoughts of the uing weekend from my mind. But Eleanor¡¯s words kept echoing: ¡°It¡¯ll be just like old times.¡±


    <b>The </b>memory of ourst family trip shed through my mind ¨C Damien working the entire time, Cora disappointed, and me feeling like an unwee third wheel in my own marriage.


    ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± Julian hesitated. ¡°He also mentioned that he found Vivienne Dubois ¡®intellectually stimting¡± but ultimately unconvincing in her approach. Said her ideas were derivative.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I need to focus on our work, not on whatever games Damien and Vivienne are ying.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to go?¡±


    We workedte into the evening, refining the framework and tightening our


    implementation timeline. By the time I left the office, darkness had fallen over the city.


    ¡°Work,¡± I replied simply.


    The idea of spending an entire weekend with Damien, pretending to be a happy family for Eleanor¡¯s sake, made my chest tighten. But looking at Cora¡¯s excited face, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to refuse.


    ¡°Dad¡¯s taking us to the hot springs?¡± Cora asked, perking up.


    Before Damien stopped pretending to care about our marriage, she meant.


    A small, petty part of me celebrated this news, but I kept my expression neutral. ¡°Did he say anything else about their dinner?¡±


    I raised an eyebrow, surprised that Eleanor had confronted him. She usually treated


    Damien with kid gloves.


    ¡°Good night, Damien.¡±


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± Julian asked, noticing my expression.


    ¡°Damien already agreed,¡± Eleanor cut in, her tone triumphant. ¡°I caught himing intest night and gave him quite the lecture about family responsibilities.¡±


    12:20


    <b>95 </b>A Rivars Specter and a Family Mandato


    <b>ra¡¯s </b><b>POV </b>


    <b>¡°</b><b>What </b>would be the point? He¡¯ll either deny any ulterior motives or simply ignore the question.¡± I rubbed my temples. ¡°Let¡¯s finish the revisions, I want to send <b>this </b><b>to </b>Newman before I head home.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m not sure if-¡±


    Eleanor was at the stove, flipping pancakes while Cora sat at the ind counter, drawing on a piece of paper. Damien was nowhere in sight.


    ¡°And he loved our revised proposal. He wants to meet next week to discuss implementation strategy.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Oh yes. I told him that after he ruined ourst trip with his constant phone calls and emails, he owes us a proper family weekend.¡± Eleanor flipped another pancake with flourish. ¡°He tried to argue, but I reminded him that his grandfather would be very disappointed in how he¡¯s neglecting family traditions.¡±


    ¡°Mom, look! I¡¯m drawing Grandma¡¯s house in the mountains!¡± Cora held up her artwork proudly.


    ¡°Neither do <b>I</b>,¡± I admitted. ¡°But for Cora and Eleanor¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll try to make it through the weekend without major incident.¡±


    Eleanor turned, spat in hand. ¡°ra, darling, I¡¯m d you¡¯re up. I was just telling Cora about our old cabin in the mountains.¡±


    ¡°Friday afternoon. I¡¯ve already booked the Mountain View suite ¨C the one with the private onsen.¡± Eleanor beamed, obviously pleased with herself. ¡°It¡¯ll be just like old times, before¡­ well, before things got so busy.¡±


    My phone buzzed with a message from Eleanor: *Damien just called. He¡¯sing home tonight. Will you be joining us for dinner?*


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, sweetie.¡± I smiled at her enthusiasm.


    I poured myself a cup of coffee. ¡°It sounds lovely.¡±


    ¡°Did you tell ra about our weekend ns?¡± he asked his grandmother.


    ¡°It sounds¡­ nice,¡± I managed.


    12:20


    <b>05 </b><b>A </b>Rival¡¯s Spector and a Family Mandate


    <b>As </b>I passed Damien¡¯s study, the door <b>opened</b>. He stood there, still dressed in his <b>work </b><b>clothes</b><b>, </b><b>his </b>expression unreadable.


    I smiled gratefully at his concern. ¡°I will. But right now, let¡¯s focus on preparing for our meeting with Zachary. That¡¯s what really matters¡±


    I nodded, unconvinced but unwilling to dampen her enthusiasm.


    I stared at the revised proposal on my screen, trying to push away thoughts of Vivienne charming her way into Zachary¡¯s good graces. My half¨Csister had always possessed a maic quality that drew people in.


    ¡°I¡¯ll grab something at the office.¡± He kissed his grandmother¡¯s cheek, ruffled Cora¡¯s hair, and left without another nce in my direction.


    Julian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Besides, Newman reached out to us first. That¡¯s something.¡±


    He nodded, his eyes studying my face for a moment before he said, ¡°Good night, ra.¡±


    ¡°Zachary Newman called,¡± he said as soon as I walked in.


    No mention of his dinner with Zachary. No exnation for why he was introducing my rival to one of the most influential figures in my field.


    The next morning, I woke to the sound of voices downstairs. Eleanor¡¯sugh rang out, followed by Cora¡¯s excited chatter. I dressed quickly and made my way to the kitchen.


    ¡°Just that Damien Thorne seemed unusually invested in showcasing Vivienne¡¯s work.¡± Julian studied my reaction. ¡°ra, what¡¯s going on? Is Damien deliberately trying to sabotage your career now?¡±


    When I arrived home, the house was quiet except for soft musicing from Damien¡¯s study. Eleanor and Cora must have already gone to bed.


    Julian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re kidding.¡±


    Eleanor¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°You haven¡¯t even had breakfast.¡±


    Julian reached out, squeezing my hand. ¡°Just be careful. After this stunt with Zachary, I don¡¯t trust Damien¡¯s motives.¡±


    12:20

 The Sprawling 96

    96 The Seductive Red Bikini


    ¡°Where are Cora and Eleanor?¡± I asked, clutching my robe tighter.


    ¡°A little something from Damien.¡± Her eyes twinkled mischievously. ¡°He told me you needed a new swimsuit.¡±


    I quickly wrapped a resort¨Cprovided robe around myself, cinching it tightly at the waist. My heart was racing. This was Eleanor¡¯s n all along ¨C to put me in something revealing and throw me into an intimate setting with Damien.


    ¡°Well, perhaps I suggested it first,¡± Eleanor admitted with a wink. ¡°But he agreed! He even helped choose the color.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but remember the rules ¨C only an hour of screen time per day during our


    vacation,¡± I said, folding a light cardigan.


    Iid out my modest navy blue one¨Cpiece swimsuit on the bed, along withfortable lounge clothes for the hot spring retreat. The suitcase beside mine was conspicuously empty ¨C Damien hadn¡¯t even started packing yet. Typical.


    Damien watched me, one eyebrow slightly raised. ¡°Are youing in, or are you just going to stand there?¡±


    ¨C


    ¡°Wonderful! Now, I¡¯ve arranged for us all to use the private family spring in an hour. It¡¯s the most secluded one ¨C perfect for reconnecting.¡± The gleam in her eyes made it clear what kind of ¡°reconnecting¡± she was hoping for.


    ¡°A gift,¡± I replied softly. ¡°From your grandmother. Though she imed it was from you.¡±


    ¡°That old navy thing? Darling, you¡¯re still young and beautiful! You should show it off while you can.¡± She patted my hand. ¡°Trust me, Damien will appreciate the effort.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked cautiously.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Following Eleanor¡¯s directions, I made my way down a stone path lined withnterns. The private spring was smaller than I¡¯d expected, enclosed by natural rock formations and bamboo screens for privacy. Steam rose from the surface of the naturally heated water, creating a misty, dreamlike atmosphere.


    12:20 <ol start="96"><li>The Seductive Red Bikini </li></ol>


    Taking a deep breath<b>, </b>I stepped to the edge of the spring. With nervous fingers, I untied my robe and let it slide from my shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he does,¡± I cut her off gently. ¡°Pack your swimsuit too, sweetie.¡±


    After Damien¡¯s footsteps faded, I quickly gathered my things and headed to the changing room near the spring. It wasn¡¯t until I was alone in the small wooden cubicle that I finally pulled out the bottoms of the bikini.


    Damien¡¯s eyes widened almost imperceptibly. For the first time in years, I watched his gaze travel slowly down my body, lingering on the curves entuated by the seductive red bikini. In the steam rising from the hot spring, with the softntern light casting shadows across my skin, I knew exactly what he was seeing ¨C a version of his wife he hadn¡¯t bothered to notice in a very long time.


    When we arrived at the mountain retreat the next day, Eleanor was already waiting in the lobby, beaming with excitement. The resort was exactly as she¡¯d described elegant Japanese¨Cinspired architecture nestled among pine trees, with steam rising from numerous hot springs dotting the property.


    Of course she did. This was a setup ¨C Eleanor¡¯s transparent attempt at forcing intimacy between us.


    As the water rose to my waist, I caught Damien¡¯s gaze dropping to where the crimson fabric clung to my skin, and for the first time in longer than I could remember, his expression was anything but indifferent.


    Damien¡¯s eyes met mine, dark and suddenly intense. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ new,¡± he said, his voice rougher than usual.


    I frowned. ¡°Damien said that?¡± It seemed highly unlikely that my estranged husband had given any thought to my swimwear needs.


    When Damien knocked on the door forty minutester, I was still getting ready.


    A knock on the changing room door made me jump.


    Damien was handling check¨Cin, keeping his distance as usual. Cora had already discovered the koi pond in the garden and was watching the fish with fascination.


    I sincerely doubted that. Damien hadn¡¯t ¡°appreciated¡± anything about me in years. Still, refusing Eleanor¡¯s gift would only create more tension.


    12:20


    98 The Seductive Red <b>Bikini </b>


    <b>¡°</b>Thank you,¡± I said quietly, tucking the bikini back into the bag without examining it further. <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ll consider wearing it.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it magnificent?¡± Eleanor gushed, linking her arm through mine. ¡°This ce has been in business since Arthur and I were newlyweds.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be ready,¡± I replied, feeling a flutter of nervousness I hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    ¡°Mom, can I bring my new tablet?¡± Cora bounced into the bedroom, clutching the device Damien had bought herst week.


    I hesitated, considering putting on my navy one¨Cpiece instead. But I¡¯d left it in our suite, and there wasn¡¯t enough time to go back. With a deep breath, I slipped on the


    bikini bottoms.


    Seven years of marriage, and we couldn¡¯t be more disconnected. We now lived separate lives under the same roof, with his attention firmly fixed on Vivienne. The only thing keeping us tied together was Cora and, of course, Eleanor¡¯s stubborn refusal to acknowledge our failed marriage.


    My eyes widened.


    And there, already submerged to his chest in the water, was Damien.


    Damien looked up, his expression impossible to read in the dim light. ¡°Eleanor took Cora to the children¡¯s pool. She said they¡¯d join uster.¡±


    Once inside the luxuriously appointed room, Eleanor closed the bedroom door behind us and produced a small gift bag.


    ¡°Eleanor, I already packed a swimsuit.¡±


    Cora pouted. ¡°But Dad lets me¡ª¡±


    When I turned to face the full¨Clength mirror, shock rippled through me. Thebination of the revealing cut and the vibrant red against my fair skin created an undeniably erotic image. The bottoms rode high on my hips, exposing far more of my backside than I¡¯d ever shown in public, while the top pushed my breasts up in a way that couldn¡¯t be ignored.


    ¡°Come, dear. I have something special for you,¡± Eleanor said, practically dragging me toward our suite while Damien supervised the luggage.


    12:20


    On The Set boken Mij BRE


    With growing suspicion. I peered into the <b>bag </b>and pulled out a bikini top in a deep crimson color. The material was high¨Cquality, but considerably more revealing than anything I would have chosen for myself.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. I admitted. The mountain air was crisp and clean, and despite my reservations about this trip. I felt some tension leaving my shoulders.


    I looked¡­ desirable. Provocative, even. Nothing like the demure, proper wife Damien had grown ustomed to ignoring.


    After Eleanor left to show Cora around the resort, I unpacked my things methodically. When I reached the gift bag, curiosity got the better of me. I pulled out the bikini top again, examining it more carefully. It was certainly elegant ¨C simple but well¨Ccut, with adjustable straps and a sp in the back.


    With a sigh, I decided to at least try it on. The top fit surprisingly well, highlighting curves I usually kept hidden under conservative clothing. I hadn¡¯t looked at the bottoms yet, assuming they would match the rtively modest cut of the top.


    His throat worked as he swallowed, and something flickered in his eyes ¨C surprise, appreciation, or perhaps something deeper.


    While the top had been somewhat revealing but still tasteful, the bottoms were downright scandalous ¨C a Brazilian cut that would leave very little to the imagination. The deep red fabric contrasted starkly with the wooden walls of the changing room.


    I stepped into the hot water, the heat enveloping my legs as I slowly descended into the spring. The small size of the pool meant there was no way to maintain much distance between us, exactly as Eleanor had nned.


    After Cora skipped away, I finished packing methodically, keeping my things separate from where Damien would eventually ce his. There was something final about this arrangement ¨C like practice for the divorce that seemed increasingly inevitable.


    ¡°ra, dear?¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice came through. ¡°The spring is ready. Everyone¡¯s waiting.¡±


    Alone.


    ¡°Eleanor says we¡¯re expected at the private spring in twenty minutes,¡± he called through the door, his voice characteristically detached.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there,¡± I called back, my voice higher than normal.


    12:20


    86 <b>The </b>Soductive Red <b>Bikini </b>


    <b>I </b><b>stood </b>there<b>, </b>allowing him to look, feeling strangely powerful despite my <b>vulnerability</b>. The cool mountain air against my exposed skin made me acutely aware of just how revealing the bikini was, especially the bottoms that Eleanor had so cunningly included.


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 The Sprawling 97

    07 Unmoved by Temptation


    97 Unmoved by Temptation


    The red bikini clung to my skin, but its seductive purpose was wasted here. This wasn¡¯t a romantic getaway between lovers. We were two people enduring Eleanor¡¯s matchmaking schemes until we could politely escape.


    Eleanor squeezed my hand warmly before hurrying away, leaving Damien and me alone in the corridor. The awkwardness between us intensified without Eleanor¡¯s


    effervescent presence as a buffer.


    Eleanor looked between us, noting our distance and separate robes, and sighed. ¡°I see.¡±


    The question hung in the steam between us. Three years ago, I would have answered yes without hesitation. Now, I simply looked at him, my face carefullyposed.


    We climbed out of the spring, and I quickly reached for my robe, wrapping it tightly around my body. As we headed toward the elevator, Eleanor appeared, her smile faltering when she saw us both leaving.


    Damien¡¯s expression remained unreadable as he reached for the te of snacks, offering it to me again. ¡°You should eat something.¡±


    The steam rose from the water, creating a misty veil between us. I settled on the submerged stone bench, keeping a respectful distance from him. The silence between us was thick, broken only by the gentlepping of water against the rocky edges of the


    spring.


    I stepped into the hot spring, feeling the warm water envelop me. Despite my nervousness about wearing Eleanor¡¯s suggestive gift, I decided to embrace the moment. The red bikini bottoms were much more revealing than anything I would have chosen, but what did it matter? Damien and I were divorcing.


    ¡°We were just heading back,¡± Damien exined, his voice neutral.


    ¡°Eleanor seems determined to make this trip memorable,¡± I said, breaking the silence.


    ¡°Oh! You¡¯re both done already?¡± Eleanor¡¯s disappointment was palpable. ¡°I was justing to join you.¡±


    The truth was clear. No amount of seductive clothing could fix what was fundamentally broken between us.


    12:20


    97 Unmoved by Temptation


    I felt a twinge of guilt at the disappointment in her eyes. She had tried so hard to <b>create </b>a romantic moment, one that might somehow salvage a marriage that was


    beyond repair.


    We stood there in ufortable silence, water still dripping from our hair, waiting for the elevator that would take us back to a suite filled with Eleanor¡¯s romantic touches-


    a suite where we would continue the charade of politeness until this weekend mercifully ended.


    The elevator began its ascent, carrying us toward an evening of obligatory politeness and separate beds, despite Eleanor¡¯s best efforts. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever awkward dinner arrangement she had orchestrated for us.


    ¡°On schedule,¡± I answered. ¡°Julian has been instrumental in working out the technical challenges.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    Damien¡¯s eyes tracked the movement for a brief moment before he too stood up. ¡°I¡¯m


    finished as well.¡±


    ¡°How is the Henderson project progressing?¡± Damien asked, clearly desperate to fill the silence with safe, work¨Crted topics.


    ¡°I actually need to leave,¡± Eleanor announced suddenly. ¡°ra just called with an urgent matter. Old friend emergency.¡±


    His eyebrow raised slightly. ¡°Is that what this is about? The swimsuit?¡±


    Of course. Why would I expect otherwise? Damien had made it abundantly clear for years that he didn¡¯t desire me. The red bikini hadn¡¯t changed that fundamental truth.


    I knew immediately this was another of her transparent excuses. There was no emergency. She was simply giving us space, still hoping for a miracle.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t understand that some things can¡¯t be fixed with hot springs and revealing


    swimwear.¡±


    Damien¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Got it.¡±


    As the doors closed, sealing us in together, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much longer we needed to maintain this facade. The red bikini had confirmed what I already knew¨CDamien was unmoved by me. Whatever feelings he might have once had, if any,


    12:20


    <i>2/4 </i>


    97 Unmoved Ly Temptation


    by


    had long since evaporated.


    The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and I stepped in first, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor numbers above the door. Damien entered after me, his tall frame filling the small space with his presence.


    Before either of us could protest, she turned to her grandson, her voice dropping to a stage whisper that was clearly meant for me to hear. ¡°Don¡¯t be mean to ra. Get it?¡±


    Damien sighed. ¡°She means well.¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll head back to the room,¡± I announced, standing up. Water cascaded down my body, the red bikini clinging to every curve.


    I leaned forward to push the te back, and my hand identally brushed against his thigh under the water. My eyes instinctively dropped to the area beneath the water¡¯s surface, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice hisck of physical response to my presence or to my revealing attire.


    The realization was oddly freeing. I had worried about his potential misinterpretation of my outfit, but there was clearly no risk of that. I settled back against the stone edge, letting the hot water ease the tension in my muscles.


    The conversation drifted into work matters, each topic more impersonal than thest. We might as well have been discussing these things in a boardroom rather than a steamy hot spring with me in provocative swimwear.


    Damien¡¯s jaw tightened slightly at the mention of Julian¡¯s name. ¡°I¡¯m sure he has.¡±


    His eyes briefly traveled over my exposed shoulders and corbone before returning to my face with practiced indifference. I knew that look. Seven years of marriage had taught me to recognize when Damien was merely going through the motions of politeness.


    ¡°Would you like some snacks?¡± Damien asked, gesturing to a small te of fruit and cheese at the edge of the spring.


    I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m not very hungry.¡±


    After thirty minutes of this stilted exchange, fatigue began to wash over me. The heat of the spring,bined with the emotional strain of maintaining polite conversation with my soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband, was draining.


    12:20 <ol start="6"><li>Unmoved by Temptation </li></ol>


    <b>¡°</b>And <b>do </b>you want my attention, ra?¡±


    I shrugged, the water rippling around my shoulders. ¡°Your grandmother seems to think I just need to dress provocatively to capture your attention.¡±


    ¡°What I want is to get through this weekend with minimal awkwardness,¡± I replied honestly.


    I clutched my robe tighter, acutely aware of the revealing swimwear underneath. The red bikini that was supposed to ignite passion had only highlighted the vast emotional distance between us. Damien hadn¡¯t even blinked at the sight of me nearly naked. What clearer confirmation did I need that our marriage was truly over?


    ¡°You two enjoy the rest of your evening,¡± Eleanor continued, patting Damien¡¯s arm. ¡°The suite has a private dinner service. I¡¯ve already arranged everything.¡±


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    12:20

 The Sprawling 98

    98 Separate Agendas at the Springs


    ¡°Uncle Lacas!¡± she squealed,unching herself into his arms. ¡°Did you bring me


    something?¡±


    Our eyes met briefly before I closed the door, shutting out her smirking face and theplicated dynamics of the household below. In this room, with my work and my meal, I had created my own space¨Ca separate agenda entirely from whatever social games were ying out downstairs.


    Early, not unexpected. So this had been nned all along.


    ¡°Mom, can I show Uncle Lucas the gaming room?¡± Cora asked, already pulling Lucas


    toward the door.


    I closed the window, not wanting to hear their arrival or the inevitable warm greetings Damien would offer Vivienne. Instead, I called room service and ordered dinner to be delivered directly to my room.


    ¡°That¡¯s actually why I¡¯m calling,¡± I said, excitement building as I exined my idea. ¡°If webine their sensory feedback mechanism with our existing framework¡ª¡±


    ¡°Would you like me to set up in the dining area, Mrs. Thorne?¡± the staff member asked


    over the phone.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes flickered over me, taking in my robe and wet hair. ¡°ra,¡± he greeted, his smile calcted. ¡°Enjoying the springs?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± I said evenly. ¡°Cora will enjoy having everyone here.¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Lucas grinned. ¡°Damien invited me days ago.¡±


    The room felt different without Eleanor¡¯s determined optimism. I tucked a strand of wet hair behind my ear, acutely aware of how out of ce I felt in my robe while everyone else was fully dressed.


    I met Eleanor¡¯s eyes briefly, understanding passing between us. She hadn¡¯t known about this arrangement, which meant Damien had deliberately sabotaged her efforts


    to orchestrate our alone time.


    ¡°Of course,¡± I replied, relieved for an excuse to retreat. ¡°I¡¯m going to change.¡±


    12:20


    <b>on </b>Gepersha Agendas at the Signings


    I can have initial projections ready by Monday, Julian said. ¡°I¡¯m still in New York, but <b>I¡¯m </b>catching an earlier flight back tomorrow.


    <b>1 </b>smiled at his unnecessary rification. ¡°Obviously. Safe travels, Julian.¡±


    Eleanor appeared behind them, her expression failing to hide her disappointment at finding Lucas there. She nced between Damien and me, clearly realizing her ns for our romantic evening had been disrupted.


    Outside my door, footsteps passed by¨Clight and confident. Vivienne¡¯s walk. I remained still, waiting until the sound fadedpletely before taking my first bite of food,


    savoring the quiet independence of my solitary meal.


    We continued discussing the technical details, the conversation flowing easily between us as it always did when we talked about work.


    Once inside, I leaned against the closed door and exhaled slowly. Vivienne. Of course. This weekend was never about Eleanor¡¯s matchmaking attempts¨CDamien had nned his own gathering all along.


    ¡°Lucas,¡± she said, her voice tight with forced politeness. ¡°What a surprise.¡±


    The sound of maleughter drifted through my window¨CDamien and Lucas on the terrace below. I moved closer, not intending to eavesdrop but curious nheless.


    I sat at the desk, uncovering my dinner and turning back to myptop. The weekend stretched ahead, but I had my focus clear: Work, not Damien. Progress, not pretense. And certainly not the performance of a happy family for Eleanor¡¯s benefit or anyone


    else¡¯s.


    I stepped away from the window, not wanting to hear Damien¡¯s response. Lucas had it all wrong¨CI wasn¡¯t fighting against the divorce. I was fighting for my dignity, for a fair settlement, for Cora¡¯s well¨Cbeing. The divorce itself was inevitable and necessary.


    ¡°No, thank you. In my room will be fine.¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Damien acknowledged with a nod. ¡°You¡¯re early.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a date,¡± he replied, then added quickly, ¡°A work date, obviously.¡±


    He answered immediately. ¡°ra! I was just about to send you more information on that neural interface tech¡±


    12:21


    98 Separate Agendas at the Springs


    Spreading out the documents, I immersed myself in work, findingfort in theplex problems that required my full attention. The world of algorithms and innovation had always been my sanctuary, especially when my personal life felt


    chaotic.


    I changed quickly, peeling off the damp red bikini and recing it withfortable loungewear. As I hung the bikini to dry, I wondered if Eleanor knew about these additional guests. Her disappointment suggested not.


    He said this while looking directly at me, clearly gauging my reaction. I kept my face neutral, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me affected.


    Lucas¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly at myck of response, but I was already moving toward my room, my fingers clenched tightly around the ties of my robe.


    I froze. Lucas Sterling satfortably in one of the plush armchairs, lookingpletely at home. His unexpected presence caught me off guard, but theck of surprise on Damien¡¯s face told me everything I needed to know.


    Twenty minutester, a gentle knock announced the arrival of my dinner. I opened the door to find a server with a covered tray.


    Lucasughed, reaching into his pocket to produce a small trinket box. ¡°Would I ever forget?¡±


    The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out first, eager to create distance between Damien and myself. The corridor stretched before us, and I walked quickly, the plush carpet muffling my footsteps. I needed to change out of this ridiculous red bikini as soon as possible.


    Before I could respond, Cora came bounding into the room, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Lucas.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t seem bothered,¡± Lucas was saying. ¡°I expected at least some reaction when


    I mentioned Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°Perfect. Let¡¯s meet for lunch when you¡¯re back.¡±


    As I ended the call, I heard the distinctive sound of a car pulling up outside. Curious, I moved to the window again and saw Beck¡¯s luxury SUV stopping at the entrance. Vivienne emerged first, her tall figure elegant even in casual clothing. Beck followed, carrying several bags.


    12:21


    98 Separate Agendas at the Springs


    I thanked him with a generous tip, relieved to have food without needing to face the gathering downstairs. As he left, I caught a glimpse of Vivienne ascending the stairs, likely heading to her own room to freshen up.


    As we approached our suite, a familiar voice called out from the lounge area.


    returned to my work, letting the numbers and projections fill my mind. Below, I could hear the faint sounds of conversation andughter growing louder as Beck and Vivienne joined the others. Cora¡¯s excited voice asionally rose above the rest, her happiness evident even from a distance.


    As I turned to leave, Lucas called out, ¡°Oh, by the way, Beck and Vivienne are on their way too. Damien invited them.¡±


    I settled at the desk with myptop, determined to use this time productively. My emails showed several updates from Julian about the technology exposition he¡¯d attended yesterday. The innovations he described sparked an idea¨Csomething we could potentially integrate into our current project.


    An hour passed in focused concentration before I reached for my phone, dialing Julian¡¯s number.


    ¡°Damien! There you are.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°We could reduce the processing time by half,¡± Julian finished, his voice matching my enthusiasm. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant, ra. Absolutely brilliant.¡±


    ¡°Your dinner, Mrs. Thorne,¡± he said politely, wheeling the cart into my room.


    ¡°ra¡¯s not one for public disys,¡± Damien replied, his voice neutral. ¡°She never has been.¡±


    Eleanor sighed deeply. ¡°Well, I really must be going. ra needs me.¡± She kissed Cora¡¯s forehead and squeezed my hand. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what I said,¡± she whispered to Damien before departing.


    ¡°Still,¡± Lucas persisted, ¡°for someone who¡¯s supposedly fighting against a divorce, she¡¯s remarkably calm about you inviting your girlfriend to a family weekend.¡±

 The Sprawling 99

    12:21


    475


    99 A Summons to Lunch, A Daughter¡¯s Unease


    99 A Summons to Lunch, A Daughter¡¯s Unease


    Damien nced at the tray, his expression unreadable. ¡°Is that headed to suite 307?¡±


    Cora¡¯s smile faltered. She nced nervously at Vivienne, then back at her father. ¡°Does she have toe?¡±


    Cora nibbled her lower lip, a habit she¡¯d inherited from ra. ¡°I could stay with you if you want.¡±


    ra pushed her half¨Cfinished te away, her appetite gone. She¡¯d grown ustomed to eating alone, working alone, sleeping alone. But the ease with which Cora had epted her absence¨Chad preferred it¨Cstill cut deep.


    ra nced at her half¨Ceaten meal, then back at her daughter¡¯s ufortable expression. She understood immediately what was happening. This was Damien making a show of including her, likely for his mother¡¯s benefit, with no real desire for


    herpany.


    ¡°Yes, Daddy?¡± she asked, beaming up at him.


    ¡°I enjoy being alone sometimes,¡± ra said gently. ¡°It gives me time to think and work.¡±


    Her fork clinked against the china te as she speared a piece of grilled chicken. Below, she could hear the distant sounds ofughter as the group prepared to leave for the restaurant. Vivienne¡¯s melodicugh rose above the others, followed by Cora¡¯s


    delighted giggle.


    ¡°That would be lovely,¡± ra replied, knowing the dessert would never materialize.


    ¡°She¡¯s operating under the delusion that sharing a table might somehow salvage their marriage,¡± Lucas added with a smirk.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± ra confirmed with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°Go have


    fun.¡±


    For now, though, ra would finish her solitary lunch,plete her work, and prepare for whatever the rest of the weekend might bring. She was getting better at protecting herself from unnecessary pain. And declining Damien¡¯s empty gesture of inclusion was just another step in that process.


    12:21


    go A Summons to Lunch, A Daughter¡¯s Unease


    Cora shifted from one foot to the other. ¡°Dad asked me to tell you we¡¯re all going down for lunch. He said you shoulde too.¡±


    ¡°Go on,¡± Damien urged, giving her a gentle push toward the stairs.


    Damien nodded in agreement, then caught sight of his daughter emerging from the game room. ¡°Coco,e here.¡±


    Cora skipped over to her father, her dark curls bouncing. She was wearing the new dress Vivienne had bought her, a pink sundress with tiny butterflies embroidered along the hem.


    Cora trudged up the staircase, her earlier enthusiasm dampened. Behind her, she heard Lucas muttering something that made Vivienneugh. She walked slowly, dragging her feet along the plush carpet, hoping her mother might refuse the


    invitation.


    Beck cleared his throat. ¡°We should head down. The reservation is for noon.¡±


    With a quick wave, Cora darted out the door, her footsteps quickening as she raced back downstairs. ra listened to the fading sound, imagining her daughter¡¯s excited report that Mom wouldn¡¯t be joining them after all.


    She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. This was temporary. The divorce would finalize, boundaries would rify, and she would build a new rtionship with her daughter. One where Cora didn¡¯t feel torn between loyalties.


    The staff member assigned to the third floor carefully bnced the tray of food as he made his way down the corridor. He¡¯d been instructed to deliver lunch to Mrs. ra Thorne¡¯s suite, and he was determined not to spill a single drop of the soup he carried.


    ¡°Cora,¡± Damien¡¯s voice carried a warning note.


    ¡°My apologies, sir,¡± the young man replied, clutching the tray tighter.


    ra took a sip of water, her throat suddenly tight. She¡¯d made the right choice by declining. Why subject herself to another meal where she¡¯d be the outsider, watching her daughter blossom under Vivienne¡¯s attention while Damien looked on approvingly?


    Damien¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°My mother asked me to look after her this weekend.¡±


    ¡°Careful there,¡± Lucas said, stepping aside to let the staff member pass.


    12:21


    99 A Summons to Lunch, A Daughter¡¯s Unease


    Vivienne¡¯s shoulders rxed visibly at this exnation. ¡°Eleanor is quite persistent about family meals, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful of him,¡± ra replied carefully. ¡°But as you can see, I¡¯ve already started my lunch. Please thank him for the invitation, but I¡¯ll stay here.¡±


    Damien ced his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Go upstairs and invite your mother to join us for lunch.¡±


    She opened herptop again, determined to focus on something productive rather than dwelling on the family dynamic that excluded her. The project with Julian offered a wee distraction, a world where her intelligence and contributions were valued.


    Lucas chuckled. ¡°Well, I guess we won¡¯t need to invite her to lunch with us then.¡±


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, Damien shook his head. ¡°We should still invite her. It¡¯s only polite.¡±


    As he rounded the corner, he nearly collided with a small group heading toward the main staircase. He immediately recognized Damien Thorne, the hotel owner¡¯s grandson, alongside the stunning Vivienne Dubois. Behind them walked Lucas Sterling and Beck, engaged in quiet conversation.


    When she reached suite 307, she hesitated before knocking softly.


    ¡°That¡¯s sweet of you,¡± ra said, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind Cora¡¯s ear. ¡°But you should go enjoy lunch with your father. I¡¯m perfectly fine here with my work.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Vivienne interjected smoothly, crouching to Cora¡¯s level. ¡°Your grandmother would want your mom to join us. Family is important, right?¡±


    Relief shed across Cora¡¯s face before guilt quickly reced it. ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯ll


    be all alone.¡±


    Cora grinned, relief evident in her posture. ¡°Okay! Dad got Beck to bring those


    desserts you


    like from that shop in the city. I¡¯ll ask him to save you one.¡±


    As the sounds of departure fadedpletely, ra allowed herself a moment of honest reflection. The quiet of the room pressed in around her, emphasizing her solitude. It wasn¡¯t just lunch she was missing¨Cit was her daughter¡¯s childhood, her affection, her everyday moments that were now shared primarily with Vivienne.


    ¡°Since when do you care about politeness with ra?¡± Lucas asked once the staff


    12:21


    99 A Summons to Lunch. A Daughter¡¯s Unease


    member was out of earshot.


    Cora pushed the door open to find her mother sitting at the desk, her lunch tray beside herptop. ra looked up with surprise, her expression softening at the sight of <b>her </b>daughter.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Thorne. For Mrs. Thorne.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± ra called from inside.


    ¡°Hi, sweetie,¡± she said, closing herptop. ¡°Is everything okay?¡±


    ra¡¯s heart ached at her daughter¡¯s conflicted expression. Cora clearly didn¡¯t want her to join them¨Clikely worried about upsetting Vivienne¨Cyet felt obligated to show


    concern.


    Cor¨¤ nodded reluctantly, though her eyes showed her confusion. She¡¯d grown ustomed to lunches with just her father and Vivienne. Having her mother join them felt strange, like mixing two separate worlds.


    ra watched Cora¡¯s retreating figure before she closed the door and continued having lunch alone. The room fell silent except for the gentle hum of the air conditioner. She returned to her seat, pushing aside the sting of her daughter¡¯s transparent relief at her refusal.


    The offer was halfhearted; ra could see her daughter¡¯s eyes darting toward the door, eager to return downstairs where Vivienne awaited. For a moment, ra considered epting, selfishly wanting to spend time with her increasingly distant child. But forcing Cora to stay would only breed resentment.


    The staff member continued on his way, but not before noticing the startled expressions on the faces of Damien¡¯spanions. Vivienne in particr seemed taken aback, her perfectly manicured hand freezing mid¨Cgesture.


    ¡°You sure?¡± Cora asked, already backing toward the door.


    12:21

 The Sprawling 100

    100 Ideas Bloom in Istion


    <b>¡°</b><b>Of </b>course, darling,¡± Vivienne replied, squeezing the little girl¡¯s fingers.


    Her phone buzzed with an iing call from Julian.


    ra checked her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was slightly disheveled from running her hands through it while working, but otherwise, she looked presentable in her casual blue sweater and jeans. She doubted she¡¯d run into anyone significant- Damien and his group would likely be upied with whatever exclusive activity they¡¯d nned for the afternoon.


    On impulse, she grabbed her phone and room key, deciding a walk would be the perfect break. The hotel had beautiful grounds, and she remembered seeing an orchard nearby. Maybe she could bring back some apples for Julian and the team¡ªa small gesture of appreciation for their enthusiasm.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Julian interrupted. ¡°This sounds major. Can you share your screen? I need to see this.¡±


    After the call ended, Julian remained on the line.


    Four hourster, her eyes were burning from staring at the screen. She stretched, hearing her spine crack in protest. A nce at her watch showed it was nearly four in the afternoon. She¡¯d worked through lunch and beyond.


    ¡°ra, this is¡­ this is brilliant,¡± he finally said, shaking his head in wonder. ¡°Do you realize what you¡¯ve done? This could revolutionize our entire approach.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s the mountain air treating you?¡± Julian asked when she answered.


    ra smiled genuinely for the first time that day. ¡°It¡¯s been surprisingly productive. I¡¯ve had a breakthrough on the adaptive learning algorithm.¡±


    She felt a warm flush of pride. ¡°It still needs testing, but the theory is sound.¡±


    ra switched to video call and shared her work. For the next twenty minutes, she


    walked Julian through her innovations, watching his expression shift from interest to


    astonishment.


    ra winced slightly. ¡°Julian¡­¡±


    12:21


    (2*** 100 Ideas <b>Bloom </b>in Istion


    Damien watched the interaction with quiet approval before leading them to their reserved table.


    With renewed energy, she stepped out of her room, her first venture outside since retreating there after breakfast. The hallway was quiet, most guests out enjoying the day¡¯s activities. She felt a strange lightness as she walked toward the stairs, her mind still buzzing with ideas despite her physical fatigue.


    ra smiled and closed herptop. She stood up, stretching again, and walked to the window. The mountain view was spectacr, with sunlight glinting off distant peaks. She suddenly craved fresh air and movement.


    For the first time in years, ra¡¯s istion didn¡¯t feel like punishment or rejection. Instead, it had be a fertile ground where her long¨Cdormant talents could finally bloom again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t burn yourself out,¡± Julian cautioned. ¡°Take breaks.¡±


    A subtle smile curved Vivienne¡¯s lips. ¡°Well, that¡¯s perfectly fine. She¡¯s probably busy with¡­ whatever it is she¡¯s working on.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± he said casually, ¡°how¡¯s the family weekend going?¡±


    The team¡¯s excitement was infectious. They spent another hour discussing implementation details and potential applications. ra felt energized in a way she hadn¡¯t in years. Here, her ideas weren¡¯t just tolerated¨Cthey were celebrated.


    Cora shook her head quickly. ¡°No, she already has lunch in her room. She said thank you, but she¡¯ll stay there.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡± Julian grinned. ¡°Silver linings and all that.¡±


    ¡°Can I sit next to you, Vivi?¡± Cora asked, reaching for Vivienne¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he quickly backtracked. ¡°That was insensitive. But seriously, ra, this is genius¨Clevel work. I¡¯m setting up a call with the team right now. Yandel needs to see this immediately.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Julian¡¯s voice perked up. ¡°Tell me everything.¡±


    Meanwhile, upstairs in suite 307, ra sat alone at the desk, her half¨Ceaten lunch pushed aside. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, mind racing with newfound rity. The istion had provided unexpected focus. Without the strain of pretending


    12:21


    100 Ideas Bloom in Istion


    to befortable around Damien and Vivienne, her creativity flowed freely.


    ¡°Theory? The math checks out perfectly.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes were wide with excitement. ¡°God, I¡¯ve missed your brain. We lost seven years of this brilliance to that sham marriage¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she replied automatically. ¡°This is better, anyway. I¡¯ve aplished more in three hours than I would have in three days of pretending everything¡¯s normal.¡±


    Within minutes, ra found herself in a video conference with five eager faces from YodaVision Co., all leaning toward their screens in fascination as she exined her


    concept.


    Julian¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, El. That¡¯s rough.¡±


    After hanging up, ra threw herself back into her work. The hours flew by as she refined her algorithm, expanding its applications and addressing potential weak points. Each line of code felt like another step away from the woman who had spent years seeking Damien¡¯s approval.


    ¡°Let me guess¨CDamien¡¯s token gesture of inclusion?¡±


    Lucas chuckled beside her. ¡°Seems she¡¯s finally learned her ce.¡±


    ¡°Precisely.¡± She rubbed her temples. ¡°Probably trying to cate Eleanor. Cora looked relieved when I said no.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve figured out how to reduce the processing time by nearly forty percent while maintaining uracy,¡± ra exined, her voice growing animated. ¡°The key was in restructuring the data pipeline¡ª¡±


    ra sighed, her momentary joy dimming. ¡°About as expected. I just declined a lunch


    invitation.¡±


    Beck shifted ufortably but remained silent as they headed toward the restaurant.


    Damien Thorne was about to lead his group towards the hotel¡¯s restaurant when Cora came bounding down the stairs, her face bright with excitement.


    ¡°Nearly finished with the secondary functions,¡± she typed back. ¡°But I need a break.¡±


    ¡°This changes everything,¡± Yandel Sanchez dered after she finished. His normally reserved demeanor had given way to unbridled enthusiasm. ¡°I can start implementing


    12:21


    100 Ideas Bloom in Istion


    test scenarios tonight.¡±


    ¡°TAKE ONE,¡± came his immediate response. ¡°Two¨Chour minimum. Doctor¡¯s orders.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I care what day it is when you drop something like this in myp?¡± Yandelughed, ¡°I won¡¯t sleep until I see this running.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± she promised. ¡°Call you in a few hours with updates?¡±


    ¡°Is your mother joining us?¡± Damien asked, his tone neutral.


    ¡°Absolutely. The team and I will be ready.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Saturday,¡± ra pointed out.


    Her phone buzzed with a text from Julian: ¡°Progress update?¡±


    ra smiled back, grateful for his unwavering support. ¡°I should get back to work. I want to flesh out the secondary functions before dinner.¡±


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    12:21

 The Sprawling 101

    101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion


    <b>101 </b>Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion


    ra made her way down the winding path that led to the apple orchard. The <bte </b>afternoon sun cast long shadows across the mountainndscape, painting everything in warm golden hues. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the crisp mountain


    air.


    ¡°Daddy! I forgot to tell you about the frog we saw in the garden! It was THIS big!¡± The little girl¡¯s hands spread wide on the screen.


    Vivienne Dubois stood before them, wrapped in an elegant cashmere shawl. Her gaze darted between ra and Beck, her perfectly sculpted eyebrows rising in obvious


    surprise.


    ¡°Hello,¡± ra said, her voice automatically warming as it always did around children.


    raughed softly as Beck ended the call.


    Finally, a woman¡¯s voice called from somewhere off¨Cscreen. ¡°Shanice, time for bed!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be. She¡¯s delightful.¡±


    ra found a t boulder and sat down, letting the quiet seep into her bones. Noptops, no phones, no algorithm problems to solve. Just her and the mountains. Twenty minutester, she emerged onto a small teau. The view stole her breath away. The valley spread out below her like a painting, with the retreatplex looking like a miniature model amid the vast wilderness. Beyond, mountains stretched to the horizon, their peaks already catching the reddening light of the approaching sunset.


    Beck looked questioningly at ra, who nodded slightly. He turned the phone to show the panoramic view.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± she said, her voice silky. ¡°What an¡­ unexpected pairing¡±


    Something in ra softened slightly at the mention of his daughter. She¡¯d seen photos of the little girl around the office ¨C a bright¨Ceyed eight¨Cyear¨Cold with her father¡¯s


    smile.


    ra¡¯s eyes snapped open, She turned to find Beck standing a few feet away, a phone in his hand. Her peaceful expression immediately shut down into neutral politeness.


    101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion


    ¡°It was! And it was green and¡­¡± The child paused, peering at the screen. <b>¡°</b>Who¡¯s <b>that </b>with you, Daddy?¡±


    By the time they reached the bottom of the trail, darkness had nearly fallen. The retreat¡¯s lights glowed weingly in the twilight. They were approaching the main entrance when a figure stepped out onto the path.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize anyone else was up here,¡± she said, her voice cooling several degrees.


    ra¡¯s posture remained rigid. ¡°I should leave you to your call.¡±


    Beck seemed to sense her difort. ¡°Sorry to intrude. Ie up here for the cell signal when I call my daughter. The reception down at the retreat is spotty.¡±


    ¡°Hi, Ms. Vance!¡± Shanice waved enthusiastically. ¡°Are you on a mountain? That¡¯s so


    cool!¡±


    Sweet juice flooded her mouth. She couldn¡¯t remember thest time she¡¯d tasted something so simple yet delicious.


    ¡°Aww, Mom!¡± The little girl pouted. ¡°Bye, Daddy! Bye, Ms. Dragon Lady!¡±


    Behind her, she heard Beck exining, ¡°We just happened to be at the viewpoint at the same time. Nothing more.¡±


    The temperature dropped as the sun disappeared behind the distant peaks. ra shivered slightly in her light sweater.


    For once, being alone felt like a choice rather than a punishment.


    Beck nced at ra apologetically before angling the phone slightly. ¡°This is Ms. Vance. She works with me.¡±


    She closed her eyes, feeling the gentle breeze y with her hair. The silence was absolute, broken only by asional birdsong and the rustling of leaves.


    ra didn¡¯t break stride. She walked past Vivienne without acknowledging her presence, heading straight for the lobby doors.


    ¡°No need.¡± Beck gestured to the phone. ¡°I was just wrapping up. Shanice wanted to show me her science project before bedtime.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful view, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion


    Without overthinking it, she began climbing the trail. The path grew steeper, making her legs burn pleasantly with exertion. Work had consumed her mind for hours; this physical activity was exactly what she needed.


    After gathering a few more apples in the small bag provided by the retreat, ra noticed a narrow trail leading further up the mountain. A wooden sign indicated it led to a sunset viewpoint. She checked her watch ¨C still plenty of time before dusk.


    ra nodded, gathering her bag of apples. They began descending the trail, with Beck leading the way. The path was steeper going down, and in ces, loose gravel made footing treacherous. When ra slipped slightly, Beck instinctively extended his hand, but she caught herself against a tree instead, pointedly ignoring his offered help.


    ra clutched her bag of apples tighter and headed for the elevators. Let Vivienne think what she wanted. Let her whisper her suspicions to Damien and the others.


    Beck shrugged, smiling. ¡°She has a vivid imagination. Sorry about that.¡±


    The lobby doors swung shut behind ra, cutting off whatever usation Vivienne was about to make. Through the ss, she could see them standing together, Vivienne gesturing animatedly while Beck¡¯s posture grew increasingly defensive.


    An awkward silence fell between them. The sun had begun its final descent, casting deep orange light across thendscape. ra turned her attention back to the view, hoping Beck would take the hint and leave.


    ¡°We should head back,¡± Beck said, rising from his boulder. ¡°It gets cold quickly once the


    sun¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Can I see? Please, please, please?¡±


    For once, ra didn¡¯t care what stories they told about her. She had algorithms to perfect and dragons to find.


    ¡°Wooooow!¡± Shanice¡¯s voice was full of wonder. ¡°That¡¯s like in my storybooks! Are there dragons there?¡±


    The orchard was more beautiful than she¡¯d expected. Rows of apple trees stretched across the gentle slope, their branches heavy with ripe fruit. ra approached the nearest tree and reached up, plucking a perfect red apple. She polished it against her sweater and took a satisfying bite.


    <


    101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion


    Before she could respond, Beck¡¯s phone chimed. ¡°Actually, that¡¯s her calling back. She forgot to tell me something.¡±


    Neither spoke. ra was grateful for that. Beck seemed to understand that she hadn¡¯te seekingpany.


    Beyond them, further down the path, a group was gathering around a newly lit bonfire. ra could make out Damien¡¯s tall form among them, with Cora close by his side.


    ra¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen any yet, but I¡¯ll keep looking.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Vivienne¡¯s voice dripped with suspicion. ¡°Beck, you two¡­¡±


    The walk back was conducted inplete silence. The earlier moment of warmth during Shanice¡¯s call had evaporated, reced by ra¡¯s customary reserve. She kept several paces behind Beck, maintaining distance¡­


    They sat in silence as the sun sank lower, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange, pink, and purple. The retreating daylight transformed the valley below into a tapestry of shadows and golden highlights.


    ra hesitated, then nodded curtly. ¡°It¡¯s a free mountain.¡±


    They chatted for a few more minutes, with Shanice asking increasingly imaginative questions about mountain wildlife. ra found herself responding with equal enthusiasm, momentarily forgetting her difort around Beck.


    He answered the video call, and immediately a child¡¯s excited voice filled the mountain


    air.


    Despite herself, ra smiled. ¡°I am. I¡¯m watching the sunset.¡±


    ¡°Dragon Lady?¡± she asked, one eyebrow raised.


    Instead, he sat down on another boulder, keeping a respectful distance. ¡°Mind if I watch the sunset too? It¡¯s why I came up here after


    <i>my </i>call<i>.</i><i>¡± </i>


    Beck chuckled. ¡°That sounds like quite the frog, sweetheart.¡±

 The Sprawling 102

    102 Damien¡¯s Bonfire Plea


    ra closed herptop with a decisive click. She wouldn¡¯t join them, but she <b>wouldn¡¯t </b>let Damien¡¯s unexpected visit derail her evening either.


    ¡°Perhaps not,¡± ra conceded. ¡°But I prefer to work while my mind is clear.¡±


    Cora tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t.make Mome. We¡¯re having fun without her.¡±


    ¡°If Eleanor asks,¡± ra added, softening her tone slightly, ¡°you can tell her I wasn¡¯t feeling well. I¡¯ll back up your story.¡±


    A brief silence fell over the adults. Cora¡¯s face scrunched up in displeasure.


    Lucas nodded. ¡°Cora, would you like to go ask your mother to join us?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just doing it for Eleanor¡¯s sake,¡± she murmured to Lucas, though loud enough for others to hear. ¡°You know how his grandmother gets when ra is excluded.¡±


    ¡°One evening won¡¯t derail your project,¡± he said.


    Vivienne Dubois sat elegantly on a log bench, her cashmere shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She swirled the wine in her ss, watching as Cora chased <i>a </i>few other children around the perimeter of the gathering.


    ¡°Is that really your choice?¡± he asked, his voice dropping to a softer register that she hadn¡¯t heard in years. ¡°Or is it easier than facing everyone?¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Damien,¡± she said instead, her tone making it clear the conversation was


    over.


    at her


    Through her partially open window, she could hear distantughter from the bonfire. She imagined Damien returning to sit beside Vivienne, imagined Cora¡¯s reli boring mother hadn¡¯te to spoil their fun.


    ra stepped back slightly. ¡°Then I appreciate the invitation, but I have work to finish.¡±


    The sharp knock on her door came as an unwee interruption.


    Everyone turned in surprise as Damien rose to his feet, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the firelight.


    102 Damien¡¯s Bonfire Plea


    ra felt heat rise to her cheeks under his scrutiny. She couldn¡¯t read him <b>anymore</b><b>¨C</b><b>if </b>she ever truly could. The realization bothered her more than she cared to admit.


    Damien stood in the hallway, his imposing figure filling the doorframe. He was still dressed in his casual retreat attire¨Cdark jeans and a charcoal sweater that emphasized his broad shoulders.


    As Damien walked away toward the main building, Vivienne watched him go with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°Damien,¡± she said, unable to hide her surprise. ¡°Is something wrong with Cora?¡±


    To her surprise, Damien chuckled, the sound low and rich. ¡°Always <b>so </b>considerate <b>of </b>others¡® feelings,¡± he murmured, his gaze intensifying. ¡°Even now.¡±


    Cora immediately slowed down, shooting Vivienne an adoring smile. ¡°I won¡¯t!<b>¡± </b>


    Lucas looked around at the group and frowned slightly. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we invite ra down? I noticed she¡¯s not here.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he replied, his expression unreadable. ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°It can wait,¡± Damien said, his deep voice carrying a note of¡­ something. Not quitemand, but not a request either.


    An ufortable silence stretched between them. ra crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly conscious of her casual attire.


    ¡°Did Eleanor ask you to invite me?¡± she asked directly.


    ¡°But Dad,¡± Cora protested, ¡°if Momes, she¡¯ll just sit there being boring and quiet like always.¡±


    ¡°The stew is almost ready,¡± he announced, stirring therge pot suspended over one side of the fire. ¡°And the chicken should be perfect in about ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°Mom¡¯s probably working,¡± she said with the dismissive tone children often adopt when repeating adult phrases they¡¯ve heard. ¡°She¡¯s always working.¡±


    ¡°You still have a key to my room,¡± she observed, her tone carefully neutral.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back shortly,¡± he said, ignoring the questioning looks from the group.


    She was done trying to decipher Damien Thorn¨¦.


    <b>< </b>


    102 Damien¡¯s Bonfire Plea


    ¡°Was there something you needed?¡± she finally asked.


    Vivienne¡¯s lips curved into a barely concealed smirk. ¡°Perhaps someone should go invite her. For appearances, of course.¡± Her tone made it clear she expected the invitation to be rejected.


    ra stood motionless, staring at the closed door. What had just happened? What game was Damien ying now?


    ra frowned, wondering if room service had forgotten something. She set herptop aside and padded to the door, opening it without checking the peephole.


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she interrupted, surprising even herself with her firmness. ¡°My work is genuinely important to me, Damien. More important than socializing around a bonfire with people who would rather I wasn¡¯t there.¡±


    Lucas cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°I could go invite her myself.¡±


    Damien¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. In the past, that look would have made her immediately back down, desperate to avoid his disapproval. Now, she held his gaze steadily.


    Damien crouched down to his daughter¡¯s level. ¡°Cora, that¡¯s not a nice thing to say. Your mother deserves to be invited, even if she decides not to join us.¡±


    ra blinked, momentarily thrown by the unexpected invitation. ¡°I¡¯ve already ordered dinner,¡± she said, gesturing to the pasta dish.


    ¡°Cora,¡± Damien said, his tone carrying a gentle reprimand.


    uetted


    She expected him to leave immediately, to return to the gathering where Vivienne and Cora awaited him. Instead, he remained in the doorway, his tall figure s against the hallway light.


    The little girl¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want her toe down.¡±


    The crackle of the bonfire punctuated the night air asughter and conversation flowed among the gathered guests. Lucas Sterling tossed another log onto the mes, causing sparks to dance upward like fireflies.


    He studied her for a moment longer, his expression inscrutable. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, the door clicking shut behind him.


    375 4


    <


    102 Damien¡¯s Bonfire Plea


    Before ra could ask anything else, Damien slipped a key card back into his pocket. She realized he hadn¡¯t knocked after all¨Che¡¯d used his card to ess her room, and the sound had been the electronic lock disengaging.


    Upstairs in her room, ra had just settled on the bed with herptop bnced on her knees. Her room service dinner had arrived moments ago¨Ca simple pasta dish that sat steaming on the side table. She¡¯d changed intofortable loungewear, finally rxing after the tense encounter with Vivienne earlier.


    Something shifted in his expression¨Ca flicker of what might have been surprise. For a moment, she thought he might argue further. Instead, he gave a slight nod.


    ¡°Thank you foring up to ask me,¡± she said firmly, stepping back toward herptop, ¡°but I don¡¯t want to go


    down.¡±


    She pulled up her project files, diving back into theplex AI algorithm she¡¯d been refining. The work immediately absorbed her, providing the familiarfort of logic and clear problems to solve.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± he stated simply.


    Damien¡¯s gaze traveled past her to the openptop and the untouched dinner. ¡°We¡¯re having a bonfire party downstairs. Food, drinks, everyone¡¯s there.¡± His eyes returned to hers. ¡°You should join us.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about Vivienne¡ª¡± he began.


    ¡°You can order againter if you¡¯re still hungry.¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t, actually,¡± she countered, her resolve strengthening. ¡°I have a deadline.¡±


    The unexpected question caught her off guard. It struck too close to a truth she wasn¡¯t ready to examine.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡±


    She studied his face, trying to read his motivation. Was this another obligation he was fulfilling? Another task on his list?


    Vivienne¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Damien?¡±


    ¡°Cora, darling,¡± Vivienne called out. ¡°Be careful not to get too close to the fire.¡±


    102 Damien¡¯s Bonfire Plea


    She returned to her bed, but theptop screen now seemed to mock her with itsplex algorithms and coding. Her concentration was shattered.


    A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. ¡°No. My grandmother doesn¡¯t even know we¡¯re having a bonfire.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re still married,¡± he responded simply.


    She picked up her cooling pasta and took a bite, determined to reim her peace. Whatever Damien¡¯s motives had been¨Cobligation, maniption, or something else entirely¨Cshe refused to spend the night puzzling over them.


    She could feel his scrutiny like a physical presence, his dark eyes taking in every detail of her face. Once, she had dreamed of having his full attention like this. Now it made


    her uneasy.


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 The Sprawling 103

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    103 The Missus¡¯s Meal, The Husband¡¯s Intrusion


    103 The Missus¡¯s Meal, The Husband¡¯s Intrusion


    She sighed. This was typical Damien¨Cgrand gestures that looked considerate to outsiders but meant nothing. No doubt Eleanor would hear about how thoughtful <b>he¡¯d </b>been, sending dinner to his hardworking wife.


    ¡°I think we should wrap up for tonight,¡± Julian finally suggested, clearly sensing her difort. ¡°We can continue this discussion tomorrow when everyone¡¯s¡­.less


    distracted.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± she conceded. ¡°Let¡¯s reconvene tomorrow at nine.¡±


    After exchanging goodbyes with her team, she closed theptop and turned to face


    Damien.


    ¡°She is still my wife,¡± Damien replied simply, his eyes on the mes.


    That was impossible and they both knew it. His presence filled the room, demanding attention even in silence.


    ¡°The missus won¡¯t be joining us,¡± he announced, taking his seat beside Vivienne. ¡°Send up a selection of the barbecue, the grilled chicken, and some of that stew to her room.¡±


    ¡°Breakfast is at eight,¡± he said, his voice unexpectedly soft. ¡°I¡¯d like you to be there,


    ra.¡±


    Her team was trying valiantly to focus on the meeting, but their eyes asionally flicked to where they knew Damien was sitting just out of frame. The tension was palpable even through the video call


    Upstairs, ra had just opened her project files when a knock interrupted her. She opened the door to find a resort employee with arge cart full of cover dishes.


    ¡°Why are you in my room?¡± she demanded.


    ra wanted to protest, to insist they continue as nned, but she knew it was futile. Damien had effectively derailed her meeting just by being there.


    ¡°Enjoy your meal, Mrs. Thomme,¡± he said, leaving before she could correct him about her


    name.


    ¡°Finishing my chicken,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°Pretend I¡¯m not here.¡±


    103 The Missus¡¯s Meal, The Husband¡¯s Intrusion


    The door to her room suddenly opened.


    ¡°Thank you for the food,¡± she said tightly. ¡°I need to get back to my meeting now.¡±


    Tomorrow would be breakfast. With Damien, Vivienne, and Cora ying happy family


    while she sat on the sidelines.


    Damien made his way back to the bonfire, his expression unreadable. Everyone looked up expectantly as he approached.


    Damien shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s working.¡±


    Damien walked in without knocking, his tall figure immediately demanding attention. ra froze mid¨Csentence, acutely aware that herptop camera was pointing directly at the doorway, broadcasting Damien¡¯s entrance to her entire team.


    He stepped closer, close enough that she could catch the faint scent of his cologne mixed with the smokiness from the bonfire.


    She quickly adjusted herptop, angling it away from the door, but the damage was done. Her team had seen Damien walk into her bedroom at 10:30 at night.


    ¡°I came to check if the food was to your satisfaction,¡± he said, his gaze moving over the half¨Cempty dishes. ¡°I see it was.¡±


    ra¡¯s fingers curled into fists. This was deliberate¨Ca power y to remind her that he could invade her space whenever he wanted. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her flustered.


    As Julian shared his screen to show the updated code, ra found hers¡­ asionally taking another bite of food. The meal was too good to let it go cold, even as she typed notes and offered feedback.


    Her phone pinged with a notification. The video meeting with Julian and her team would start in fifteen minutes. She couldn¡¯t let the food go to waste, so she sat down


    and began to eat.


    ¡°I apologize,¡± she said, fighting to keep her voice professional. ¡°Could you give me just <b>a </b>


    moment?¡±


    Cora beamed. ¡°See? I told you she wouldn¡¯te.¡±


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    103 The Missus¡¯s Meal, The Husband¡¯s Intrusion


    ¡°So I observe.¡± Damien picked up a piece of chicken from one of the tes and took a bite. ¡°Don¡¯t let me interrupt.¡±


    Vivienne took a sip of her wine. It didn¡¯t matter what he called ra. After all, she was the one sitting beside him while ra hid away in her room. That was what truly


    counted.


    She regretted the words immediately as Julian¡¯s expression shifted to one of interest.


    ¡°Is she not feeling well?¡± Lucas asked, genuine concern in his voice.


    ra lifted the covers to find perfectly grilled chicken, tender barbecue ribs, Lucas¡¯s famous stew, and several side dishes. It was enough food for three people.


    ra refused to back away, though every instinct told her to create distance. ¡°Why? So you could disrupt my meeting and remind me that you still have a key to my room?¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile tightened at his use of ¡°the missus.¡± A servant nodded and hurried off to fulfill Damien¡¯s request.


    ¡°You could have called. Or texted. Or not checked at all.¡±


    Of course it was. ra stepped back, the spell broken. ¡°You should go. She¡¯s waiting for


    you.¡±


    Her words were appropriate, but the gleam in her eyes betrayed her satisfaction. She slid closer to Damien, cing her hand possessively on his arm.


    The vors were admittedly excellent. The stew was rich and hearty, the barbecue tender and smoky. Despite herself, she found she was hungrier than she¡¯d realized.


    Damien nced at herptop, seeming unbothered by the fact that he¡¯d interrupted her meeting.


    Then his phone buzzed, breaking the moment. He nced at the screen.


    ¡°Are you hosting a dinner party without us?¡± he teased.


    When she nced up fifteen minutester, he was still there, scrolling through his phone, apparently content to upy her space indefinitely.


    To show them all that ra Vance couldn¡¯t be intimidated by Damien Thorne anymore. Damien¡¯s dark eyes held hers for a moment longer than necessary. ¡°Of course.¡±


    103 The Missus¡¯s Meal, The Husband¡¯s Intrusion


    ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m in a meeting,¡± she said pointedly.


    Damien slipped the phone back into his pocket without replying to the message. He moved toward the door but paused with his hand on the handle.


    ra sighed deeply. She should decline, protect herself from more pain. But a part of her¨Ca stubborn, perhaps foolish part¨Cwanted to show up, head held high.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t order all this,¡± she said, confused.


    ¡°ra?¡± Julian¡¯s voice came through her speakers. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±


    She forced herself back into professional mode, exining theplex coding issue while acutely aware of Damien watching her from across the room. His presence was like a physical weight, making it difficult to concentrate.


    Julian¡¯s eyes were sharp with concern. ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    Instead of responding, Damien¡¯s gaze traveled over her face with an intensity that made her skin tingle. For a moment, she thought he might say something more, something meaningful.


    She turned back to the room, to the remnants of the meal he¡¯d sent up and the empty chair where he¡¯d sat watching her work. His presence lingered like a shadow, impossible to ignore.


    ¡°The missus,¡± she mused quietly so only he could hear. ¡°Such an old¨Cfashioned term.¡± ¡°Thenguage processing is still showing inconsistencies inplex emotional scenarios,¡± ra exined, sharing her screen to demonstrate the problem. ¡°See how it struggles with nuanced responses to griefbined with relief? We need-¡±


    ra was acutely aware of her team watching her muted conversation, their expressions ranging from confusion to curiosity. Julian looked particrly concerned.


    Thankfully, Julian took the hint. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ve made significa predictive algorithm¡­¡±


    rogress with the


    Damien stood, his height making the room feel suddenly smaller. ¡°We need to talk about tomorrow¡¯s schedule. I wanted to ensure you were included in the morning


    activities.¡±


    ¡°Did he now?¡± Julian leaned closer to his camera. ¡°That¡¯s quite the spread for one


    103 The Missus¡¯s Meal, The Husband¡¯s Intrusion


    person.¡±


    She turned back to herptop, unmuting herself. ¡°Sorry for the interruption. Let¡¯s


    continue.¡±


    ra stared at the closed door, her mind racing with questions. What game was Damien ying? Why this sudden interest in her presence? And why did his invitation make her heart beat just a little faster, despite everything?


    ra stared at him in disbelief. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Two other team members joined the call, both raising eyebrows at her feast. She briefly exined and then steered the conversation firmly back to work.


    The young man smiled politely. ¡°Compliments of Mr. Thorne, ma¡¯am. He insisted you have a selection from the bonfire.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± ra said firmly. ¡°Just leftover from their bonfire. Can we focus on the project?¡±


    But instead of leaving, he sat down in the armchair by the window, still eating the piece of chicken.


    Before she could protest, he wheeled the cart into her room. The savory aromas made her stomach growl despite the pasta dish she¡¯d already ordered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what this is about,¡± she replied honestly. ¡°And frankly, I don¡¯t care. Please leave so I can prepare for bed.¡±


    Something flickered in his eyes¨Camusement, perhaps, or something deeper. ¡°Is that what you think this is about?¡±


    ¡°You could have texted me that information.¡±


    Julian¡¯s face appeared on screen, his eyebrows rising at the sight of the food spread behind her.


    ¡°Vivienne,¡± he said simply.


    ¡°That¡¯s not an invitation to enter.¡±


    Before she could respond, he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.


    ra felt her cheeks warm. ¡°Damien had it sent up.¡±


    103 The Missus¡¯s Meal, The Husband¡¯s Intrusion


    Vivienne ced a gentle hand on Cora¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your mother is just very busy with her important project, darling.¡±


    ¡°The door wasn¡¯t locked,¡± he pointed out.


    ¡°Perhaps I wanted to deliver the message in person.¡±


    ¡°You knew I was in a meeting. You deliberately interrupted.¡±


    She muted her microphone and turned to Damien, not bothering to hide her irritation.


    Damien looked up from his phone, one eyebrow raised. ¡°With what? The chicken was excellent, by the way.¡±


    ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± she asked coldly.


    He moved further into the room, looking casually around as if he had every right to be there. ¡°I was passing by.¡±


    By the time herptop chimed with the iing video call, she had sampled most of the dishes. She quickly wiped her mouth and joined the meeting.


    The meeting stretched past nine, then ten o¡¯clock. Their progress was substantial¨Cthe Al response patterns were bing more natural with each iteration.


    ¡°Fine,¡± ra said firmly. ¡°Now, about the emotional response patterns¡­¡±


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    104 Vivienne¡¯s Doorway Arrival


    The subtle mockery wasn¡¯t lost on ra. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ll be there,¡± she said, the decision made in that instant. ¡°What time?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll implement these changes tomorrow,¡± she told her team, wrapping up the meeting. ¡°Let¡¯s reconvene at the same time tomorrow night.¡±


    She was stunning as always¨Cher blonde hair falling in perfect waves around her shoulders, wearing a silk pajama set that hugged her curves in all the right ces. Her red¨Cpainted lips curved into a smile that never quite reached her eyes when they


    ¡°Let¡¯s not celebrate yet,¡± she cautioned, though she couldn¡¯t help but feel a flush of professional pride. ¡°We still have inconsistencies inplex emotional scenarios.¡±


    After Cora left, ra gathered her toiletries and headed for the shower. As the hot water cascaded over her shoulders, she finally allowed herself to feel the full weight of what had just happened¨Cthe casual way Damien had walked out with Vivienne, the natural way they moved together, the unmistakable intimacy between them.


    Just as she was about to end the call, her hotel room door opened again. This time, Cora burst in, her expression animated and excited.


    ¡°Daddy! Can I have a sleepover with Vivi tonight? Please? She already said it¡¯s okay!¡±


    Cora barely nced at her, focused entirely on Damien. ¡°So can I, Daddy? Please?¡±


    The words dripped with false sweetness. ra merely nodded, refusing to engage in whatever game Vivienne was ying.


    The emphasis on ¡°family¡± was deliberate, a reminder that while ¡­ might be Damien¡¯s wife on paper, Vivienne considered herself the true female figure in his life.


    Cora burst back in momentster, a small backpack in hand. ¡°I¡¯m all packed!¡±


    ra felt the familiar sting. Better than mom, was what Cora had almost said. She kept her expression neutral, shutting down herptop with a deliberate click.


    Julian nodded on screen, his expression thoughtful. ¡°The breakthrough was your recalibration of the empathy metrics. That was brilliant, ra.¡±


    15


    104 Vivienne¡¯s Doorway Arrival


    ¡°Goodnight, sweetheart. Have fun with¡­¡± ra couldn¡¯t bring herself to say Vivienne¡¯s name. ¡°Have a good sleepover.¡±


    ra sat motionless, staring at the closed door. The room suddenly felt toorge, too empty, despite being filled with her belongings.


    Damien had emerged from the bathroom wearing a t¨Cshirt and lounge pants, his dark hair still damp from the shower. He looked down at Cora with a slight smile.


    ¡°Did you finish your reading assignment?¡±


    ra forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just tired from work.¡±


    ra¡¯s fingers flew across the keyboard as she led the video conference from her hotel room. Tonight¡¯s meeting was critical¨Cthe firstprehensive review of YodaVision¡¯s new emotional intelligence algorithm since she¡¯d rejoined thepany.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he replied, moving toward the door.


    ra quickly adjusted herptop angle, her cheeks burning. ¡°Sorry about that. Let¡¯s continue with the developmental timeline.¡±


    She pressed her forehead against the cool tile wall, letting the water mix with the tears she refused to acknowledge. Seven years of marriage, and she was still the outsider, the inconvenient wife who could be dismissed with a nce.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let us disturb you,¡± Vivienne continued, her handing to rest possessively on Damien¡¯s forearm. ¡°We have ns to discuss for tomorrow¡¯s activities. The resort manager has arranged something special.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± ra replied, her tone carefully measured as she organized her work materials.


    ra froze, acutely aware that her daughter¡¯s voice was audible to everyone on the


    call.


    ra focused on closing herptop. ¡°My face is my own business.¡±


    Before Damien could respond, another knock sounded at the door. ra looked up, expecting Cora to have returned. Instead, the door opened slowly, revealing Vivienne standing in the doorway.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to. Your face said it all.¡±


    104 Vivienne¡¯s Doorway Arrival


    Damien stood in the doorway, next to Vivienne, neither inside the room with ra nor fullymitted to following Vivienne. For a brief moment, his eyes met ra¡¯s, something unreadable flickering in their depths.


    Julian caught her eye through the screen and nodded subtly. ¡°We¡¯ll talk tomorrow, ra. Great progress today.¡±


    He disappeared into the bathroom, leaving ra to deal with her colleagues¡® curious expressions.


    But tonight, alone in the shower where no one could see, she allowed herself to wonder how much longer she could endure this borate charade they called a marriage.


    Maia, one of the junior developers, abruptly stopped mid¨Csentence, her eyes widening. Unfortunately, he walked directly into the camera¡¯s view, wearing only pajama bottoms that hung low on his hips. His bare chest and sculpted abs were clearly visible to everyone on the call.


    ¡°Did you remember your toothbrush?¡± ra asked automatically.


    ra watched as Damien¡¯s entire demeanor shifted. His posture straightened, his eyes softened, and a smile yed at the corners of his mouth¨Ca smile ra hadn¡¯t seen directed at her in years.


    She darted out of the room without acknowledging ra further. The silence left in her wake felt heavy, loaded with unspoken tensions.


    ¡°The adaptive response patterns are showing remarkable improvement,¡± she exined, pointing to the graph on her screen. ¡°We¡¯re seeing a 27% increase in contextual uracy.¡±


    ¡°Will you join us for breakfast tomorrow?¡± he asked, the question seeming oddly important.


    Cora epted this with a shrug. ¡°Okay. Goodnight, Mom.¡±


    A sh of irritation crossed Vivienne¡¯s perfect features before she smoothed it away. ¡°Eight o¡¯clock. Though you might find it dreadfully boring¨Cjust family conversation.¡± Damien nodded, then turned to leave. Side by side, he and Vivienne walked out, their shoulders nearly touching. Vivienne nced back once, her smile victorious as she


    104 Vivienne¡¯s Doorway Arrival


    pulled the door closed behind them.


    ¡°Sorry to interrupt,¡± Vivienne said, her tone suggesting she wasn¡¯t sorry at all. ¡°Damien, do you have a moment?¡±


    Tomorrow at breakfast, she would sit across from them<b>, </b>smile politely, and pretend it didn¡¯t tear her apart inside. She would do it for Cora, for appearances, for her own dignity.


    ¡°Eight works for me,¡± ra confirmed, her voice steady despite the familiar ache in her


    chest.


    She ended the call quickly, grateful for Julian¡¯s professional courtesy.


    The meeting continued for another forty minutes. ra heard the shower running, then stopping. She kept her eyes deliberately fixed on her screen, refusing to be distracted by Damien¡¯s presence in the room.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t mean anything by it,¡± Damien said, toweling his hair dry. ¡°Cora¡¯s just


    excited.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom,¡± Cora replied with the exaggerated patience of a child who feels they¡¯re being unnecessarily monitored. She paused, looking at ra more carefully. ¡°Are you okay? You look weird.¡±


    ¡°Cora,¡± she said, turning to her daughter. ¡°You should knock before entering a room.¡±


    ¡°Can we please focus on the project?¡± ra asked firmly, redirecting the conversation. ¡°The emotional recognition patterns still need refinement before next week¡¯s demonstration.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s your husband,¡± Maia said, clearly impressed. ¡°You¡¯ve been holding out on us,


    ra.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression shifted from professional to amused. ¡°I think we just met the famous Mr. Thorne.¡±


    As the team discussed technical solutions, ra heard the hotel room door open behind her. She tensed, knowing exactly who it was. Without turning, she continued her exnation, hoping Damien would simply pass through to the bathroom as he sometimes did during her calls.


    Vivienne¡¯s gaze drifted over to ra, a hint of triumph evident in her expression.


    <


    104 Vivienne¡¯s Doorway Arrival


    ¡°Workingte again, ra? Such dedication.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Damien conceded. ¡°But lights out by ten.¡±


    When the bathroom door opened again, she angled the camera further away, determined to maintain her privacy. Thest thing she needed was more of her colleagues seeing Damien in various states of undress.


    Cora squealed with delight. ¡°Thank you! I¡¯ll go pack my pajamas!¡±


    Before ra could respond, Vivienneughed lightly. ¡°Darling, you know ra never has time for leisurely breakfasts. She¡¯s far too important and busy¡±


    ¡°Yes! And Vivi helped me with my math. She exined fractions way better than-<b>¡® </b>Cora stopped abruptly, casting a quick nce at ra before continuing. ¡°She exined it really well.¡±


    1


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me,¡± Damien said, his voice carrying just enough to be picked up by the microphone. ¡°I need a shower.¡±


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 The Sprawling 105

    105 The Scent of His Deception


    ¡°I waited and waited, but she never came back,¡± Cora continued. ¡°And Daddy didn¡¯te check on me like he promised either.¡±


    ra nodded, uncertain how to respond to his unexpected interest. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re making progress, but there are still challenges.¡±


    ra paused, just out of sight.


    ¡°Just reading,¡± she replied, not looking up.


    ra stepped forward, her smile firmly in ce despite the storm raging within her. She would get through this breakfast. She would maintain her dignity.


    When morning came, ra woke to an empty bed. Damien¡¯s side was cold and neatly made, as though he¡¯d never been there. Only the faint indentation on his pillow suggested otherwise.


    ¡°But she promised!¡± Cora was saying, her voice high with indignation. ¡°Vivi said I could sleep in her room all night!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll solve them,¡± Damien said, returning to his own reading.


    Taking a deep breath, ra squared her shoulders and continued toward the dining area. She would sit through breakfast as promised. She would smile and make conversation. She would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her pain.


    She slipped into the bathroom, closed the door, and leaned against it. Taking deep breaths, she focused on the cool tiles beneath her feet. The mirror reflected a woman she barely recognized ¨C eyes too bright, face too pale, smile too practiced.


    As she rounded the corner, she caught sight of Damien and Vivi e seated side by side at the breakfast table. They weren¡¯t touching, but they didn¡¯t need to. The


    way Damien intimacy between them was palpable ¨C in their shared smiles, in the leaned slightly toward Vivienne as she spoke, in the easyfort of people who had spent the night in each other¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Still working?¡± he asked, his voice oddly casual.


    For one suspended moment, she stood frozen, observing this tableau of her life ¨C her


    105 The Scent of His Deception


    husband and her half¨Csister, wrapped in their private world of shared secrets and stolen nights. The family she had hoped for, the marriage she had believed in, the love she had yearned for ¨C all illusions, shattered by the cold light of reality.


    But as she took her seat across from Damien and Vivienne, catching another whiff of that damning perfume, she made a silent promise to herself.


    ¡°The emotional intelligence algorithm?¡± he asked, surprising her with his knowledge.


    In that moment, something crystallized within ra. A realization, a decision, a resolve that had been building for months, perhaps years.


    ra was already under the covers when she heard the door open. She didn¡¯t turn around, keeping her back to the entrance as she pretended to read her book. The soft footsteps told her that Damien had returned to their room.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to shower,¡± ra said abruptly, needing to escape before herposure cracked.


    It was time to end it.


    ra closed her eyes, feeling like a fool. She had actually believed, for one naive moment, that he had chosen to sleep beside her. Instead, he¡¯d merely stopped by their room before spending the night with her half¨Csister.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure she had her reasons, Miss Cora,¡± Mrs. Gable replied soothingly. ¡°Perhaps she wasn¡¯t feeling well.¡±


    ¡°Heavy reading for vacation,¡± hemented.


    She dressed quickly, checking her watch. Seven forty¨Cfive. Just enough time to reach breakfast by eight as promised.


    Vivienne turned, her perfect smile barely concealing her displeasure. ¡°Just in time. We were about to order.¡±


    at their marriage


    She couldn¡¯t live this lie anymore. She couldn¡¯t keep pretending was merely troubled rather than fundamentally broken. She couldn¡¯t keep hoping Damien would change when he had shown, time and again, where his heart trulyy.


    ¨C


    Damien looked up then, catching her eye. Something shed across his face ¨C surprise, perhaps, or guilt. But it disappeared so quickly she might have imagined it.


    105 The Scent of His Deception


    ¡°Goodnight, ra.¡±


    Eleanor sat across from them, chatting animatedly about the day¡¯s nned activities. None of them had noticed ra yet.


    ¡°It¡¯s not vacation for me,¡± she replied, sliding under the covers. ¡°I¡¯m still working on the YodaVision project.¡±


    Her stomach tightened. It wasn¡¯t enough that he spent all his time with Vivienne ¨C he had to return to their shared bedroom carrying evidence of their intimacy. Only Eleanor¡¯s presence at the resort exined why he was here at all. Always keeping appearances for his grandmother.


    ra¡¯s hand gripped the wall as realization crashed over her. If Vivienne had left Cora¡¯s room during the night, and Damien hadn¡¯t checked on his daughter as promised¡­


    When Damien moved closer to grab his own book from the nightstand, a familiar scent wafted toward her ¨C Vivienne¡¯s perfume. ra stiffened, fighting the urge to recoil. The floral notes with hints of jasmine were unmistakable. Vivienne¡¯s signature scent clung to him like a second skin.


    The hot water washed away her tears but not the knowledge of what had just happened. By the time she emerged, wrapped in her robe, she had rebuilt her walls.


    ¡°But they promised!¡± Cora¡¯s voice trembled with disappointment. ¡°Vivi said we¡¯d have a special girls¡® night.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± she said simply, switching off hermp.


    ¡°She was fine at bedtime,¡± Cora insisted. ¡°She even read me a story. But then she went back to her own room.¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± he called, his voice neutral. ¡°You made it.¡±


    subside. After all


    She pressed her palm against her chest, willing the sharp pain these years, his betrayals shouldn¡¯t hurt this much. But they did. Every single time.


    As Damien shifted to getfortable, ra caught sight of his pajama cor. There, barely visible, was a faint smudge of red lipstick ¨C the exact shade Vivienne had been wearing earlier.


    As she passed through the hallway, she heard Cora¡¯s voice from the kitchen area where Mrs. Gable, Eleanor¡¯s personal assistant, was preparing breakfast.


    105 The Scont of His Deception


    Eleanor beamed, genuinely pleased to see her. ¡°Come sit, dear. I¡¯ve been telling them about the wonderful spa treatments at the resort.¡±


    This would be thest time she sat across from them, pretending their betrayal didn¡¯t cut her to the core. This charade of a marriage had gone on long enough.


    Mrs. Gable made a sympathetic noise. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure they both had important things


    to attend to.¡±


    Damien was sitting up in bed, holding one of her books ¨C the one she¡¯d been reading about artificial intelligence theory. His eyebrows raised slightly as she approached.


    Thepliment, however casual, caught her off guard. She turned away, confused by this small moment of normalcy in their otherwise fractured rtionship.


    She closed her eyes, acutely aware of his presence beside her. The light from hismp cast shadows across the wall, and the asional turning of pages marked the passage of time. Eventually, exhaustion pulled her under, into fitful sleep.


    She hadn¡¯t expected him toe back tonight. Not after the way he¡¯d left with Vivienne.


    The pieces clicked into ce with brutal rity. Damien hadn¡¯t spent the night in their room at all. He hade back briefly ¨C perhaps to keep up appearances for his grandmother ¨C but hadter returned to Vivienne.


    The mattress dipped as Damien sat on his side of the bed. ra kept her eyes fixed on the page, though she hadn¡¯t read a single word since he entered.


    The perfume. The lipstick mark. The cold, empty bed this morning.

 The Sprawling 106

    106 An Abrupt Departure and an Entrusted Errand


    106 An Abrupt Departure and an Entrusted Errand


    ¡°But she stays with me,¡± Cora insisted. ¡°She doesn¡¯t leave in the middle of vacation.¡±


    ¡°The emotional intelligence algorithm needs adjustments before our investor presentation,¡± I said. ¡°Julian needs my input on the code.¡±


    Freedom. At least for a few days.


    The suggestion wasn¡¯t random. ra had mentioned weeks ago that the guest house could be mine if I ever needed space. A safe haven.


    ¡°But we were supposed to go hiking today!¡± Cora¡¯s bottom lip jutted out. ¡°Vivi said we¡¯d find pretty rocks for my collection.¡±


    The office was quiet when I arrived. Most of the team had already left for the day, but I preferred it this way. No distractions, just the work I¡¯de to love again.


    My stomach tightened. ¡°You want me to deliver these to Damien¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡°Mom?¡± Cora peeked in, her eyes widening at the packed luggage. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡±


    After the meal, as the boys cleared the table, ra pulled me aside.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte,¡± I said, epting ra¡¯s warm embrace. ¡°I got caught up at work.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you when you get home,¡± I promised, kneeling to her level. ¡°Maybe we could visit that new butterfly garden you wanted to see?¡±


    Dinner with them was everything the retreat wasn¡¯tfortable, genuine, filled withughter. No walking on eggshells, no painful reminders of betrayal.


    I took the envelopes, noting the names: ¡°The Thorne Family,¡± ¡°Mrs. Eleanor Thorne,¡± and ¡°Ms. Sabrina Thorne.¡±


    ¡°We certainly will,¡± Vivienne chimed in, leaning closer to Damien.


    Damien¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that it can¡¯t wait until we return?¡±


    ¡°I have a favor to ask,¡± she said, retrieving three elegant envelopes from a <b>drawer</b><b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>My </b>birthday banquet ising up next month, and I¡¯d like you to deliver these


    106 An Abrupt Departure and an Entrusted Errand


    invitations.¡±


    Victor and ra¡¯s home was warm and inviting, filled with the smell of ra¡¯s famous roast chicken. My cousins, Jamie and Hector, tackled me with hugs as soon as I walked through the door.


    Uncle Victor looked up from his newspaper, eyes crinkling with his smile. ¡°There she is. We were beginning to think you¡¯d stood us up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± I said softly.


    ¡°Of course,¡± I said, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before she darted away.


    Cora shrugged, already losing interest in our conversation. ¡°Can I go now? Vivi¡¯s teaching me how to skip stones at the pond.¡±


    ¡°You always have to work,¡± Cora muttered, crossing her arms. ¡°Vivi never has to work.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t force anyone,¡± I promised, hugging her goodbye.


    As I prepared to leaveter that evening, ra walked me to the door. Her expression turned serious as she handed me a small tin of her homemade cookies for Cora.


    ¡°About those invitations,¡± she said quietly. ¡°If the Thorne family doesn¡¯t want toe, don¡¯t force them. Whether theye or not, I don¡¯t really care!¡±


    As my car pulled away from their warm, light¨Cfilled home, I thought about ra¡¯s words. Don¡¯t force them. Don¡¯t care so much.


    The mention of Vivienne stung, but I kept my expression neutral. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. Julian called this morning. The team needs me.¡±


    The unfairness of theparison burned, but arguing would only upset her more.


    She didn¡¯t push, but her eyes held understanding. ¡°I¡¯ve started renovating the guest house on our property. It¡¯sing along nicely. You should take a look before you leave.¡±


    Maybe it was time I applied that wisdom to more than just party invitations.


    As I reached the lobby, I spotted Damien and Vivienne by the resort¡¯s main entrance, They stood close, his hand resting casually on the small of her back. Neither noticed me until I was a few feet away.


    106 An Abrupt Departure and an Entrusted Errand


    invitations.¡±


    Victor and ra¡¯s home was warm and inviting, filled with the smell of ra¡¯s famous roast chicken. My cousins, Jamie and Hector, tackled me with hugs as soon as I <b>walked </b>through the door.


    Uncle Victor looked up from his newspaper, eyes crinkling with his smile. ¡°There she is. We were beginning to think you¡¯d stood us up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± I said softly.


    ¡°Of course,¡± I said, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before she darted away.


    Cora shrugged, already losing interest in our conversation. ¡°Can I go now? Vivi¡¯s teaching me how to skip stones at the pond.¡±


    ¡°You always have to work,¡± Cora muttered, crossing her arms. ¡°Vivi never has to work.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t force anyone,¡± I promised, hugging her goodbye.


    As I prepared to leaveter that evening, ra walked me to the door. Her expression turned serious as she handed me a small tin of her homemade cookies for Cora.


    ¡°About those invitations,¡± she said quietly. ¡°If the Thorne family doesn¡¯t want toe, don¡¯t force them. Whether theye or not, I don¡¯t really care!¡±


    As my car pulled away from their warm, light¨Cfilled home, I thought about ra¡¯s words. Don¡¯t force them. Don¡¯t care so much.


    The mention of Vivienne stung, but I kept my expression neutral. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. Julian called this morning. The team needs me.¡±


    The unfairness of theparison burned, but arguing would only upset her more.


    She didn¡¯t push, but her eyes held understanding. ¡°I¡¯ve started renovating the guest house on our property. It¡¯sing along nicely. You should take a look before you leave.¡±


    Maybe it was time I applied that wisdom to more than just party invitations.


    As I reached the lobby, I spotted Damien and Vivienne by the resort¡¯s main entrance. They stood close, his hand resting casually on the small of her back. Neither <b>noticed </b>me until I was a few feet away.


    106 An Abrupt Departure and an Entrusted Errand


    ¡°Just tired,¡± I lied, ¡°The project at work is demanding¡±


    ¡°My car¡¯s waiting,¡± I said, stepping around them. ¡°Enjoy the rest of your stay<b>.</b>¡±


    ra studied my face for a moment. ¡°Are you alright, dear? You seemed quiet during


    dinner.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Damien replied, though his tone suggested he didn¡¯t believe me.


    ¡°There¡¯s no rush,¡± she added, squeezing my hand. ¡°Whenever you see them next.¡±


    I took a deep breath. ¡°That¡¯s not true. Vivi works too. Everyone has responsibilities.¡±


    I walked past them without another word, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me hurt. The driver took my luggage as I slid into the backseat, exhaling slowly as the resort disappeared from view.


    The question irked me. After years of his disinterest in my career, now he wanted details?


    Hours passed as I lost myself in code, fine¨Ctuning the algorithm that had be my pride over the past months. It wasn¡¯t until my phone buzzed that I realized howte it had gotten.


    Damien looked up first, his expression shifting from rxed to guarded in an instant. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s here!¡± Jamie called out, pulling me toward the dining room. ¡°Now can we eat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll probably see Eleanor at Cora¡¯s school event next week,¡± I said, tucking t¡­ invitations into my purse. ¡°I can give them to her then.¡±


    The morning sun filtered through the curtains as I zipped up my suitcase. The hot spring retreat was meant tost another three days, but staying was no longer an option. Not afterst night.


    ¡°Work emergency,¡± I replied simply.


    I smiled, gathering my things. Family that actually wanted to see me¨Cwhat a refreshing change.


    ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± ra said. ¡°Eleanor has been asking about <b>my </b><b>birthday </b><b>ns</b>,


    <


    106 An Abrupt Departure and an Entrusted Errand


    and I thought a personal invitation would be better than mail.¡±


    A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.


    I straightened, squared my shoulders, and wheeled my suitcase into the hallway. The sooner I left this ce, the better.


    ¡°You work too hard,¡± ra chided gently, leading me to the table. ¡°But we¡¯re d you¡¯re


    here now.¡±


    I envied that freedom more than she could know.


    The casual freedom in he


    words struck me. The ability to extend an invitation without desperately needing it to be epted. The confidence to be fine either way.


    Vivienne¡¯s lips curved into a knowing smile. ¡°How inconvenient. Eleanor will be disappointed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already exined to her,¡± I said, keeping my tone even. ¡°She understands.¡±


    I nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure they get them.¡±


    A text from Aunt ra: ¡°Are youing for dinner? The boys are asking for you.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    I nodded, smoothing my daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°I need to head back early, Coco. There¡¯s <i>an </i>


    my attention.¡± important project at YodaVision that needs


    No goodbye hug. No ¡°I¡¯ll miss you.¡± Just Vivienne¡¯s name on her lips as she left.


    107 The Invitation and a Familiar Sting


    107 The Invitation and a Familiar Sting


    The hypocrisy was breathtaking. ¡°Do you really want to have a conversation about parental absence, Damien?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Thorne called earlier. He and Cora should be home soon.¡±


    ¡°I should go,¡± I said, suddenly needing to escape. ¡°Tell Cora I¡¯ll read to her another night.¡±


    ¡°I have meetings scheduled all that week,¡± he said immediately.


    I started the engine, a small smile forming despite everything. ra was right. It was their loss. And maybe it was time I truly believed that.


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°But Mom just got here!¡± she protested.


    As I reached my car, my phone buzzed with a text from ra: ¡°Did


    you


    deliver the


    invitations?¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯ve heard. Julian seems to be working you hard.¡±


    It clung to his clothes, unmistakable.


    His jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯ve always provided for Cora.¡±


    ¡°Mommy?¡± Cora called out, her footsteps pounding up the stairs. ¡°Hannah said you¡¯re here!¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I typed back. ¡°But don¡¯t expect the Thornes to attend.¡±


    The vi came into view, its lights dim. I pulled into the driveway and noticed none of the cars were present. The house was empty.


    She huffed but obeyed, giving me a quick hug before leaving. ¡°Will you read me a story<b>, </b>Mom? Please?¡±


    ¡°Homeworkes before fun, Coco,¡± I reminded her gently. ¡°You know that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been busy at YodaVision.¡±

 The Sprawling 107

    107 The Invitation and a Familiar Sting


    Damien¡¯s eyes flicked to Cora, who was now bouncing on the edge of the bed. ¡°Cora, go brush your teeth. It¡¯s gettingte.¡±


    When Cora was out of carshot, Damien stepped into the room. ¡°What brings you


    here?¡±


    The divorce wasn¡¯t finalized yet, which meant that technically, Damien was still family. And ra had specifically asked me to deliver the invitation personally.


    ¡°ra specifically asked me to hand¨Cdeliver them,¡± I said stiffly. ¡°Apparently, Eleanor has been asking about it.¡±


    I straightened, maintaining my distance. ¡°I need to give you something*


    The sound of a car pulling up snapped me from my thoughts. Voices floated up from downstairs¨CCora¡¯s excited chatter, Damien¡¯s deeper responses.


    ¡°And Cora? How much time do you spend with her when you¡¯re so busy with work?¡±


    ¡°That sounds wonderful,¡± I interrupted, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Did you finish your homework?¡±


    ¡°Julian values my work,¡± I said pointedly. ¡°Thepany is growing faster than projected.¡±


    We stood in tense silence, the familiar dance of unspoken resentments swirling between us. As I moved to leave, I caught a whiff of Vivienne¡¯s signature perfume¨Cthe same scent I¡¯d detected on Cora, but stronger, more concentrated.


    The vi grew smaller in my rearview mirror as I drove away, leaving behind the invitations and the man who had never truly invited me into his heart.


    ¡°Something urgent came up.¡±


    ¡°Running away again?¡± he asked quietly.


    ¡°Providing isn¡¯t the same as being present.¡±


    Without waiting for his response, I walked out, each step more determined than thest. The scent of Vivienne¡¯s perfume seemed to follow me, a taunting reminder of everything I¡¯d never been to him.


    ¡°Sorry, I have an important meeting.¡±


    <


    107 The Invitation and a Familiar Sting


    I nodded, continuing upstairs. Our bedroom¨Chis bedroom now¨Cwas immacte as always. Nothing out of ce. No sign that I¡¯d ever lived here at all.


    ¡°I¡¯m just dropping something off,¡± I exined, moving toward the stairs. ¡°I won¡¯t be long.¡±


    Seven years, and nothing had changed. Not even now, when we were practically


    strangers.


    ¡°Now, Cora.¡±


    I ced the invitations on his nightstand, then paused. This room held so many memories. So many nights lying awake, wondering why I wasn¡¯t enough.


    ¡°No one¡¯s expecting you toe,¡± I replied coolly. ¡°I¡¯m just fulfilling ra¡¯s request.¡± For seven years, I¡¯d epted his rejections with a smile and attended alone, making excuses for his absence. But this year was different. This year, I wouldn¡¯t pretend. Perfect. I could leave the invitations on his desk and be gone before they returned. ¡°ra,¡± Damien¡¯s voice cut through our conversation. He stood in the doorway, expression guarded. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you wereing.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± Hannah, the housekeeper, greeted me with surprise when I entered. ¡°We weren¡¯t expecting you tonight.¡±


    Of course she did. Vivienne, the fun one. Vivienne, who made promises she didn¡¯t have to keep.


    ¡°Hi, sweetheart,¡± I said, hugging her tight. ¡°How was your day?¡±


    I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, recalling how Damien had missed every single one of ra¡¯s birthday celebrations over the years.


    107 The Invitation and a Familiar Sting-


    ¡°But Vivi said-¡±


    Damien set the invitations aside, studying me with that calcting gaze I¡¯d <be </b><b>to </b>know so well. ¡°You look tired.¡±


    The invitation envelopes felt oddly heavy in my purse as I drove toward Damien¡¯s <b>vi</b>. I hadn¡¯t nned on returning tonight, but ra¡¯s birthday was significant. Her seventieth deserved proper recognition from all family members¨Ceven those connected only by marriage.


    ¡°Sure,¡± I promised, smoothing her hair. ¡°Go get ready.¡±


    He took them, ncing at the names. ¡°You could have mailed these.¡±


    Cora¡¯s enthusiasm di


    ¡°Most of it. Vivi said I could finish the rest tomorrow.¡±


    ra¡¯s response came quickly: ¡°Their loss, not mine. Come by this weekend¨CI want to show you the finished guest house.¡±


    ¡°Amazing! Vivi took me shopping after school. She bought me three new dresses!¡± Cora twirled, showing off her outfit. ¡°And then we went for ice cream, and Daddy met us there, and-¡±


    She burst into the room, her face flushed with excitement. When she threw herself into my arms, I caught the distinct scent of Vivienne¡¯s perfume clinging to her clothes.


    I reached for the envelopes on the nightstand. ¡°My grandmother¡¯s seventieth birthday is next month. She asked me to deliver these invitations personally.¡±


    Something twisted in my chest¨Cnot jealousy exactly, but a familiar stir of being forgotten, reced. Seven years of marriage, and he couldn¡¯t even bother to shower beforeing home from her.


    ¡°The Beijing deal needs my attention.¡±


    I stopped at the door, my back to him. ¡°No, Damien. I¡¯m not running away. I¡¯m choosing not to stay where I¡¯m not valued.¡±


    There was something in his tone¨Cdisapproval? Judgment? I couldn¡¯t tell, and I didn¡¯t


    care.


    Always an excuse. Always work. Never a priority.

 The Sprawling 108

    108 Invitations Unanswered, Favors Unasked


    108 Invitations Unanswered, Favors Unasked


    ¡°Just think about it,¡± she squeezed my hand. ¡°It¡¯s for ra.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be staying in Cora¡¯s room tonight,¡± I informed him, keeping my voice neutral. ¡°I promised to help with her science project.¡±


    When I dropped her off, her goodbye was quick, her mind already on the school day ahead. I watched her disappear through the doors, wondering when exactly my little girl had started slipping away from me.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± I turned to leave but paused. ¡°Would you mind informing your parents? I¡¯ve tried reaching Sabrina, but she¡¯s not taking my calls.¡±


    I called Chloe during my lunch break.


    Chloe linked her arm through mine as we exited the third high¨Cend boutique. ¡°What


    spa weekend?¡± about an experience instead of a thing? Tickets to the theater? A


    ¡°Well, the offer stands if you change your mind.¡±


    I stood silently in the doorway, contemting whether this small favor was worth the inevitable reminder of my ce in his world. The charity auction, the perfect gift for ra, the possibility of rejection¨Call hung in the bnce as I watched him work, unaware of my presence or the request I couldn¡¯t bring myself to make.


    ra¡¯s POV


    I nced at her in the rearview mirror. ¡°Would you like me to help you study tonight?¡± When I arrived hometer that evening, I was surprised to find Damien¡¯s car in the driveway. He rarely returned before nine on weeknights.


    The thought of asking Damien for anything made my stomach knot. After years of being dismissed and overlooked, I¡¯d finally found my footing, my independence. Going to him now felt like a step backward.


    Hannah greeted me at the door. ¡°Good evening, Mrs. Thorne. Cora is already asleep. She was tired after her tutor session.¡±


    108 Invitations Unanswered, Favors Unasked


    ¡°Because Arthur asked me to deliver them personally,¡± I replied evenly. ¡°Just <b>like </b><b>ra </b>


    did.¡±


    ¡°In his study.¡±


    ¡°Damien could get you in.¡± She rushed on before I could protest. ¡°I know things are tense, but you¡¯re still legally his wife. The Thornes always receive invitations to these


    events.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± She looked out the window. ¡°Dad hired a tutor. He says she¡¯s the best


    in the city.¡±


    He nodded without looking up. ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°I know!¡± Chloe suddenly straightened. ¡°The charity auction next week at the St. Regis. There¡¯s always unique items there¨Cartwork, vintage jewelry, experiences you can¡¯t buy elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Perfect. Thank Chloe.¡±


    you,


    I texted her instead: ¡°I have Arthur¡¯s birthday invitation. Please let me know how I can get it to you.¡±


    ¡°That sounds perfect,¡± I agreed, relief washing over me. ¡°But isn¡¯t it invitation only?¡± ¡°Hey, stranger,¡± she answered cheerfully. ¡°To what do I owe this pleasure?¡± Damien¡¯s fingers stilled on the keyboard. ¡°I¡¯ll see that they get it.¡±


    The invitation for Arthur Thorne¡¯s seventieth birthday felt like a weight in my hands. I¡¯d already delivered ra¡¯s invitations yesterday, and now it was time to ensure the Thornes received theirs. Despite our impending divorce, maintaining cordial rtions ¨C with Damien¡¯s family remained important¨Cat least for Cora¡¯s sake.


    In the past, I would have lingered, trying to convince him to attend, to make an effort for family. I would have reminded him how important these gatherings were, how much his presence mattered. But those days were gone. <i>If </i>he chose not toe, <i>it </i>was no longer my burden to bear.


    Chloe grimaced slightly. ¡°Yes, but¡­¡± She hesitated.


    108 Invitations Unanswered, Favors Unasked


    I thanked her and hesitated at the bottom of the stairs. The charity auction invitation was my best chance at finding something meaningful for ra. But asking for Damien¡¯s help meant opening myself to his indifference once again.


    After hanging up, I tried Sabrina Thorne¡¯s number again. Arthur¡¯s wife had never warmed to me, always viewing me as beneath their family¡¯s status despite Eleanor¡¯s eptance. The call went straight to voicemail¨Cagain.


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why not mail it to them?¡±


    ¡°She just returned from a month¨Clong European cruise,¡± I reminded her. ¡°And she has a standing box at the opera house.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m running out of options,¡± I admitted, exhaustion creeping into my voice.


    Cora¡¯s excitement dimmed slightly. ¡°I know, Mom.¡±


    ¡°But what?¡±


    The next morning, I drove Cora to school, listening to her chatter about her uing ydate with Vivienne.


    With a deep breath, I made my way to his study. The door was partially open, warm light spilling into the hallway. Damien sat at his desk, jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up as he focused on hisputer screen. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to remember how I¡¯d once found that sight endearing¨Chis concentration, his dedication. The dismissal was familiar¨Chis signature goodbye. I closed the door quietly behind


    me,


    the interaction as cold and brief as most of our marriage had been.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Thorne?¡± I asked, setting down my purse.


    No response.


    Now I just felt the familiar ache of being an afterthought in his life.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Chloe.¡±


    Damien looked at it disinterestedly, then returned to hisptop. ¡°I¡¯ll check my schedule.¡±


    Of course he did. Another reminder that I was bing increasingly obsolete <b>in </b><b>both </b>


    108 Invitations Unanswered, Favors Unasked


    their lives.


    ¡°For you? Always. Meet at Westfield Mall at seven?¡±


    ¡°That sounds nice,¡± I managed, keeping my eyes on the road. ¡°Don¡¯t forget <b>your </b><b>math </b>test is Friday morning.¡±


    I found Damien in his study, engrossed in work as always. He barely nced up when <b>I </b>entered.


    At YodaVision, I buried myself in work, finding sce in the lines of code and project schedules that didn¡¯t reject my efforts. Around noon, my phone buzzed with a calendar reminder: ra Bellweather¡¯s birthday, two weeks away.


    ¡°I have something for you,¡± I said, cing the cream¨Ccolored envelope on his desk. ¡°<b>It¡¯s </b>an invitation to Arthur¡¯s birthday celebration next month.¡±


    We copsed onto a bench, shopping bags at our feet.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Vivi said we¡¯d make cookies after school on Friday,¡± she announced excitedly. ¡°She has a special recipe from her grandma in France.¡±


    We¡¯d been shopping for two hours, and nothing felt right for a woman turning seventy who already had everything money could buy.


    ¡°ra¡¯s birthday ising up, and I need to find her something special.¡± I sighed, picking at my sd. ¡°Any chance you¡¯re free this evening for some shopping?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Chloe dered, setting down the crystal paperweight I¡¯d been considering. ¡°ra doesn¡¯t need another dust collector¡±

 The Sprawling 109

    109 An Evening of Revtions and Solitude


    109 An Evening of Revtions and Solitude


    I smiled despite myself. Chloe¡¯s loyalty had been my anchor through these <b>difficult</b>.


    years.


    With a sigh, I set down my book and straightened my silk pajamas. I hadn¡¯t nned <b>to </b>speak with him tonight, but ra¡¯s birthday gift couldn¡¯t wait. The auction was in <b>just </b>a few days.


    I stretched out, relishing the freedom to spread across both sides of the mattress. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but for now, in this quiet moment of solitude, I found myself smiling into the darkness.


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Thought you should see this.¡±


    Damien had loosened his tie and was setting his briefcase down in the foyer when I approached. He looked tired, his normally perfect hair slightly disheveled.


    By the time I arrived home that evening, it was past eight. Hannah had already put Cora to bed, leaving me a te of dinner warming in the oven. The house was quiet- no sign of Damien.


    He disappeared upstairs without another word, leaving me alone in the kitchen. The conversation had been brief, painless even. No arguments, no coldness, just a simple request and a simple answer.


    I ate alone at the kitchen ind, scrolling through emails on my tablet. Afterward, I checked on Cora, who was sleeping soundly, clutching the stuffed rabbit Vivienne had given her for her birthday.


    After getting dressed, I headed downstairs to find Hannah preparing breakfast for


    Cora.


    The grandfather clock in the hallway chimed eleven times. I remained in the guest bedroom, reading a book but not absorbing a single word. My mind kept drifting to Damien¡¯s study downstairs. I needed to ask him about that invitation.


    Damien studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable in the dim kitchen lighting. ¡°And you need my invitation to get in.¡±


    109 An Evening of Revtions and Solitude


    I pulled out my phone and texted Chloe: <b>¡°</b>Got two invitations <b>to </b><b>the </b><b>auction</b><b>. </b><b>Care </b><b>to </b>join me<b>?</b>¡±


    The easy acquiescence caught me off guard. ¡°Thank you,¡± <b>I </b>said, uncertain if I should


    say more.


    Strange how that knowledge no longer tore at my heart. Instead, as I slipped between the cool sheets of our king¨Csized bed, I felt an unexpected sense of peace. Tonight<b>, </b><b>I </b>wouldn¡¯t lie awake listening to Damien¡¯s breathing, wondering if he was dreaming of her. I wouldn¡¯t feel the weight of his presence beside me¨Cso close physically, yet emotionally unreachable.


    ¡°The charity auction at the St. Regis this weekend,¡± I began, leaning against the counter. ¡°I was hoping to attend.¡±


    For the first time in years, Damien¡¯s absence felt not like abandonment, but like freedom.


    So much for meetings all day. The board meetingst night had likely been a lie too<b>. </b>Morning arrived with sunlight streaming through my bedroom window. I¡¯d moved back to our shared room after speaking with Damien, but found myself alone when I woke. The other side of the bed remained untouched¨Che must have slept elsewhere.


    ¡°He left early this morning,¡± Hannah answered before I could. ¡°Said he had meetings all


    day.¡±


    He handed me an envelope containing two invitations to the charity auction. Two, not one. I stared at them, momentarily confused.


    Damien nodded and moved past me, our shoulders nearly brushing. ¡°Is there anything else?¡±


    ¨C¡°No,¡± I replied, watching him head for the stairs. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±


    I stared at the image, waiting for the familiar stab of pain. It didn¡¯te. Instead, I felt


    a strange detachment, as if I were observing someone else¡¯s life falling apart. Perhaps it was because I¡¯d grown numb to their rtionship, or perhaps because I¡¯d finally epted that Damien would never be mine.


    I texted Chloe back: ¡°Thanks for letting me know. Auction is Saturday at 7. Still want to


    109 An Evening of Revtions and Solitude


    The doorbell rang just as I was finishing breakfast. Hannah returned momentster with Mr. Finch, Damien¡¯s personal assistant.


    In our bedroom, I changed into my nightgown and sat at my vanity, methodically removing my makeup. The clock on the nightstand read 10:45 PM. Damien still wasn¡¯t


    home.


    Her response was immediate: ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯ll wear something fabulous and we¡¯ll show them all what they¡¯re missing.¡±


    He nced up, momentarily surprised to see me still awake. ¡°Board meeting ran long.¡± ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± he greeted me formally. ¡°Mr. Thorne asked me to deliver these to you.¡± After dropping Cora at school, I immersed myself in work at YodaVision. Julian and I spent most of the day reviewing the progress on ourtest AI project, and I weed the distraction.


    I prepared myself for his dismissal, for some excuse about why it wasn¡¯t possible or convenient. Instead, he shrugged.


    He took a long drink before responding. ¡°Why?¡±


    Attached was a screenshot from Vivienne¡¯s Instagram. The photo showed her and Damien at what appeared to be a fireworks festival, his arm casually draped around her shoulders. Both were smiling¨CDamien with rare rxation, Vivienne with triumphant happiness.


    Of course he did. I sipped my coffee, not bothering to hide myck of surprise.


    Why did that feel so strange?


    ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Thorne,¡± she greeted me. ¡°Would you like some coffee?¡±


    The caption read: ¡°Perfect evening with perfectpany. Nothing beats summer fireworks! #datenight #summernights¡±


    Damien opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Around four o¡¯clock, my phone buzzed with a message from Chloe. But it wasn¡¯t a response to my invitation.


    I examined the embossed invitations¨Celegant cream cardstock with gold lettering


    109 An Evening of Revtions and Solitude


    announcing the Eleventh Annual St. Regis Children¡¯s Hospital Charity Auction. Damien had given me two invitations without my asking. Did he expect me to bring someone? Or was he nning to attend as well?


    Posted just thirty minutes ago.


    I knew where he was. With Vivienne, undoubtedly. The Instagram post had made that clear enough. They were probably still together, enjoying each other¡¯spany far more than he had ever enjoyed mine.


    Thetter seemed unlikely. Damien rarely apanied me to social events unless they directly benefited his business interests.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll have Finch deliver it tomorrow.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a question, but I nodded anyway. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Finch.¡±


    He nodded and left promptly, never one for unnecessary conversation.


    I heard the front door open and close downstairs. Damien was finally home. Taking a deep breath, I descended the stairs, my bare feet silent against the plush carpet.


    An ordinary exnation for an ordinary absence. How many nights had I waited up like this, hoping for just a few minutes of his attention?


    Cora nodded, her mouth full of pancakes. ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡±


    The house was quiet as I padded down the hallway. I checked on Cora first, finding her fast asleep, her small face peaceful in the glow of her nightlight. I resisted the urge to smooth her hair back from her forehead, not wanting to wake her.


    ¡°I need to ask you something,¡± I said, following him as he moved toward the kitchen.


    ¡°You¡¯re homete,¡± I said, keeping my tone neutral.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± I replied. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up at 6:30.¡±


    ¡°I want to find a birthday gift for ra,¡± I exined. ¡°Something special.¡±


    109 An Evening of Revtions and Solitude


    ¡°Yes, please.¡± I kissed the top of Cora¡¯s head. ¡°Sleep well, sweetheart?¡±


    Tonight, the bed was mine alone. The spacious room felt like a sanctuary rather than a reminder of our failed marriage.


    Comment 1

 The Sprawling 110

    110 Whispers of Wealth and Neglect


    Her words died as a noticeable hush fell over the room. All heads turned toward the


    entrance,


    ¡°Do you think he even knows we¡¯re here?¡± Chloe asked during a brief intermission, echoing my thoughts.


    Chloe frowned. ¡°You¡¯re still ra Vance, brilliant Al developer and co¨Cfounder of YodaVision. That¡¯s who you are, not just someone¡¯s wife.¡±


    The usher led Damien and Vivienne to prime seats in the center of the front row. Vivienne¡¯sughter carried through the room as she settled beside him, her hand possessively on his arm. Damien¡¯s lips curved in a smile I rarely saw directed at me. A murmur ran through the crowd. People were noticing our quiet battle now. Damien leaned closer to her, saying something I couldn¡¯t hear. Vivienneughed, cing her hand on his chest in a gesture of intimate familiarity.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said to Chloe as the auctioneer announced the end of the evening. ¡°I¡¯ve got what I came for.¡±


    ¡°That was deliberate,¡± Chloe fumed. ¡°She outbid you just because she could.¡±


    Vivienne turned again, this time making deliberate eye contact before announcing, ¡°Two hundred thousand dors.¡±


    He stood tall andmanding in his perfectly tailored tuxedo. But it wasn¡¯t just his presence that silenced the crowd¨Cit was the woman on his arm.


    I shrugged, feigning indifference. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where we s¨¬t.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s probably just wondering what Damien Thorne¡¯s wife is doing in the cheap seats while her husbandvishes attention on another woman,¡± I said, unable to k the bitterness from my voice.


    But it did matter. Not the books themselves, but what they represented. Vivienne had the means¨CDamien¡¯s means¨Cto take whatever she wanted, including things she knew I desired. The casual cruelty of it stung more than I cared to admit.


    ¡°I heard he bought her the matching earrings too,¡± herpanion added.


    110 Whispers of Wealth and Neglect


    ¡°Custom¨Cdesigned by Cartier.¡±


    The auction began with a series of exotic vacation packages. I half¨Clistened as the auctioneer¡¯s rapid¨Cfire delivery drove up prices. Vivienne¡¯s red dress remained a bright spot in my peripheral vision, impossible to ignorepletely.


    ¡°Did you see that ne?¡± a woman behind us whispered loudly. ¡°Must have cost at least half a million.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t mention he would be here,¡± Chloe hissed.


    The auctioneer announced a rare first¨Cedition collection of ssic literature. I sat straighter, my interest piqued. ra had mentioned wanting to expand her antiquarian book collection. This could be perfect.


    The auction continued. I bid on and won a vintage Art Deco jewelry box for ra, though itcked the significance of the books. Throughout the evening, I felt Damien¡¯s absence of acknowledgment like a physical weight. Not once did he nce in my direction, not once did he seem aware of my presence.


    Once, I had dreamed of being that woman beside him. Now, I just wanted to finish what I came for and leave.


    I focused on my auction catalog, pretending not to hear as they continued discussing Damien¡¯s extravagant gifts to Vivienne. I¡¯d long ago stopped expecting such gestures for myself.


    I hesitated, paddle halfway raised. She must have known I wanted this lot. But how? ¡°The man two rows ahead keeps looking at you,¡± Chloe whispered.


    I nced around discreetly. Several guests were indeed watching us with curious eyes. Some recognized Chloe¨Cher family name carried weight in these circles¨Cbut their gazes lingered on me with obvious question.


    ¡°That man is looking at you again,¡± Chloe noted, nodding discreetly toward the gentleman she¡¯d pointed out earlier.


    I was a ghost in my own marriage, and it was time to move on.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± I heard someone murmur. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Damien Thorne¡¯s wife?¡±


    Chloe squeezed my arm. ¡°ra, that¡¯s getting steep for some books.¡±


    110 Whispers of Wealth and Neglect


    ¡°Ex¨Cwife soon,¡± another voice corrected.


    I smiled at her loyalty but knew better. In gatherings like this, I was defined by my connection to Damien Thorne¨Ca connection that was fraying with each passing day.


    ¡°One hundred thirty thousand,¡± I said, keeping my voice steady.


    Chloe looked unconvinced but dropped the subject as the auctioneer approached the podium. My gaze drifted back to Damien and Vivienne. They made a striking couple- both beautiful, powerful,manding attention without effort. The kind of couple people envied and aspired to be.


    ¡°Not for much longer,¡± I reminded her. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m only here to find something for


    ra.¡±


    My fingers tightened around my clutch. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Or appreciating how gorgeous you look tonight,¡± Chloe countered.


    ¡°Next item: aplete first¨Cedition set of Jane Austen novels, leather¨Cbound and in pristine condition. We¡¯ll start the bidding at fifty thousand dors.¡±


    As we stood to leave, I felt a peculiar sense of resolution washing over me. Seeing Damien and Vivienne together tonight¨Cso openly, so naturally¨Cmade one thing abundantly clear: in Damien¡¯s world, I had be invisible. Not even worth the courtesy of acknowledgment.


    Vivienne looked stunning in a scarlet gown that clung to her curves before cascading to the floor in a dramatic train. Diamonds glittered at her throat and wrists, catching the light with every graceful movement. She was radiant, confident, everything I was


    not.


    ¡°This is bullshit,¡± Chloe muttered. ¡°We¡¯re stuck in mediocre seats while they hold court like royalty.¡±


    This time when our eyes met, he inclined his head slightly in greeting. I returned the gesture automatically, then turned away.


    The jump was excessive, designed to intimidate. Around us, people murmured and stared. This was no longer about the books¨Cit was a power y.


    I watched as Damien bent to whisper something in Vivienne¡¯s ear, his hand resting casually on her lower back. ¡°If he does, he doesn¡¯t care.¡±


    110 Whispers of Wealth and Neglect


    ¡°Probably trying to ce who I am,¡± I said.


    ¡°One hundred ten thousand,¡± I countered.


    ¡°They¡¯re for ra,¡± I exined. They were also now a matter of principle.


    Chloe rolled her eyes. ¡°We could have been front row if your husband had bothered to


    ¡°One hundred twenty thousand,¡± Vivienne responded immediately.


    ¡°Two hundred thousand going once, going twice¡­¡± The auctioneer¡¯s gavel fell. ¡°Sold to Ms. Dubois!¡±


    I nced up briefly, catching the eye of a distinguished¨Clooking gentleman in his fifties. He smiled politely before turning back to the auction.


    The St. Regis ballroom sparkled with crystal chandeliers and polished marble. I smoothed down my midnight blue gown, elegant but understatedpared to the opulence surrounding us.


    Vivienne¡¯s triumphant smile burned into my vision as she epted congrattions from those around her. Damien¡¯s expression remained impassive, but he nodded approvingly at her victory.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Vivienne.


    ¡°They¡¯re staring,¡± Chloe whispered beside me.


    I lowered my paddle.


    An usher guided us to our seats in the middle section, several rows from the front. The location was decent but clearly not premium. The most influential attendees would be seated at the front, where everyone could see them¨Cand their generous bide


    Somehow, that realization didn¡¯t hurt as much as it once would have. It simply confirmed what I already knew in my heart. <ul><li></li></ul>


    I raised my paddle at sixty thousand, setting off a brief bidding war. When it reached ny thousand, mostpetitors dropped out. Just as I thought I¡¯d secured the prize, a voice from the front called out, ¡°One hundred thousand.¡±


    110 Whispers of Wealth and Neglect


    Whispers rippled through the crowd as Damien guided Vivienne through the room. He hadn¡¯t told me he was attending. Of course, why would he? We barely spoke beyond necessities regarding Cora or household matters.


    I kept my expression neutral. ¡°Let them look,¡± I told Chloc. ¡°We¡¯re here for the auction, not the gossip.¡±


    ¡°These seats are fine,¡± I said, settling into my chair.


    Damien had arrived.


    ¡°It¡¯s the principle,¡± she insisted. ¡°You¡¯re still his wife. You deserve better than this.¡±


    Her words were meant tofort, but they highlighted the painful reality of my situation. In this room, surrounded by the elite of society, I was defined by my rtionship to Damien. A rtionship that existed now only on paper, a hollow shell of legal obligations and shared property.


    She turned slightly, scanning the room until her eyes found mine. The small smile on her lips wasn¡¯t friendly¨Cit was calcting, deliberate.


    My throat felt tight. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll find something else for ra.¡±


    As the final items came up for auction, I watched Damien ce the winning bid on a rare vintage sports car. The price was astronomical, the kind of impulsive purchase that wouldn¡¯t dent his fortune. Vivienne pped delightedly as he won, and he rewarded her with a smile that transformed his usually stern features.


    Comment 0


    Leave the firstment for this chapter.

 The Sprawling 111

    111 High Stakes at the Auction


    As expected, her paddle shot up immediately.


    The woman in cream considered for a moment, then shook her head. The auctioneer¡¯s hammer came down. ¡°Sold to Ms. Dubois for eight million dors!¡±


    I shook my head. During our marriage, Damien had given me jewelry on appropriate asions¨Cbirthdays, anniversaries, Christmas¨Cbut they were selected by his assistant. Beautiful pieces, certainly. Expensive, yes. But never chosen with personal consideration, and never presented with the warmth I now witnessed.


    The room fell silent. Even at such elite auctions, bids rarely escted so dramatically.


    Damien remained stoic beside her, his hand now resting on her lower back.


    Jorge barely hesitated. ¡°Twenty¨Cfive million.¡±


    ¡°Twenty million,¡± she called, her voice less confident.


    Vivienne¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°Ten million,¡± she countered quickly.


    Vivienne¡¯s smile faltered. She turned to Damien again, whispering urgently. Without hesitation, he nodded.


    ¡°Going twice¡­¡±


    ¡°Five million from Ms. Dubois,¡± the auctioneer acknowledged.


    ¡°Eight million,¡± called a deep voice from the right side of the room.


    Gasps echoed through the room. The bid was wildly extravagant, even for a piece with royal provenance.


    The room collectively held its breath. Whatever happened next would be talked about in elite circles for months toe.


    ¡°Eight million for a bracelet,¡± Chloe muttered beside me. ¡°Did he ever spend that much


    on you?¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s confidence wavered. She turned to Damien, her expression questioning. He leaned in, whispering something that made her nod and raise her paddle again.


    111 High Stakes at the Auction


    And I<b>, </b>his soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Cwife, watched from the shadows<b>, </b>suddenly <b>desperate </b>to <b>know </b>what decision Damien Thorne would make in this unexpected test of <b>wealth</b><b>, </b><b>pride</b>, and devotion.


    Chloe gripped my arm. ¡°This is getting out of hand.¡±


    ¡°Fifteen million,¡± she announced, her voice carrying a hint of strain.


    I turned to see a middle¨Caged man with silver¨Cstreaked hair. Jorge Robinson<b>¨C</b><b>a </b>notorious collector known for his determination and deep pockets.


    She was right. The bidding had transcended the object itself. This was now about power, prestige, and perhaps something deeper that I couldn¡¯t quite name.


    A sh of red caught my eye. Vivienne was whispering to Damien, her crimson¨Cpainted nails resting on his sleeve. He nodded slightly, and she raised her paddle.


    The auctioneer¡¯s voice cut through the tension. ¡°Fifty million dors from Mr. The auctioneer¡¯s voice cut through the te


    Robinson. Going once¡­¡±


    The ballroom buzzed with excited whispers. I sat in my middle¨Crow seat, watching the auction unfold with detached interest. After the first¨Cedition book defeat, I¡¯d been more observer than participant.


    Paddles rose immediately. The wealthy saw not just jewelry but a piece of history connected to royalty. The price climbed rapidly to five million.


    Damien¡¯s expression was impossible to read. The entire room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his decision.


    ¡°Next item: a Cartier diamond bracelet from the private collection of Duchess Eleanor of Westbrook,¡± announced the auctioneer.


    ¡°Maybe¡­ We should just forget it?¡± I heard her whisper, her voice carrying in the hushed room.


    The pronouncement fell like a boulder in still water. Shocked murmurs spread through the crowd. Fifty million for a single vase¨Cit was unprecedented.


    Several other paddles rose. The vase was genuinely rare and beautiful. At seven million, most bidders dropped out.


    I found myself leaning forward, unexpectedly invested in his response. Would he


    111 High Stakes at the Auction


    concede defeat? Or would his pride push him to continue this extravagant battle?


    ¡°Thirty million,¡± Vivienne announced, her voice steady but thin.


    Vivienne¡¯sposure cracked visibly. She turned to Damien, genuine uncertainty in her expression. Even from my distance, I could see her distress.


    ¡°The next item,¡± announced the auctioneer, ¡°is a Ming dynasty cdon vase, circa 15th century. An exceptional example of imperial craftsmanship with perfect provenance. We¡¯ll start the bidding at five million dors.¡±


    Except for one woman in a cream pantsuit who called, ¡°Six point five million.¡±


    The crowd was utterly silent now, collectively holding their breath. Such sums were staggering even in this room of billionaires and heirs.


    Apuse filled the room as Vivienne beamed triumphantly. Damien¡¯s expression remained impassive, but he ced his hand over hers in a gesture that spoke volumes.


    Jorge Robinson smiled slightly. ¡°Twelve million.¡±


    ¡°Eight million,¡± Vivienne announced loudly.


    ra¡¯s POV


    The auctioneer could barely contain his excitement. ¡°Forty million dors,dies and gentlemen! Do I hear more?¡±


    Chloe nudged me. ¡°This is getting interesting.¡±


    The crowd quieted. The remaining bidders hesitated, evaluating whether the bracelet was worth pursuing further. One by one, they lowered their paddles.


    Still, he nodded once more, his jaw set.


    I watched Vivienne straighten in her seat. Her grandmother collected antique Chinese ceramics¨Ca passion I¡¯d learned about during one of the few family gat¡­.ings I¡¯d attended with her. This vase would be the crown jewel of any such collection.


    Vivienne turned fully to Damien, their heads close together in urgent consultation. His expression remained unreadable, but I recognized the slight tightening around his eyes¨Ca tell I¡¯d learned during our years together. The price was pushing even hisfort zone.


    111 High Stakes at the Auction


    ¡°Eighteen million,¡± Jorge countered calmly.


    Vivienne¡¯s smile falteredpletely now. She whispered frantically to Damien, who frowned slightly but nodded again.


    I watched Damien¡¯s face, searching for clues to his thoughts. In our marriage, I¡¯d be adept at reading the subtle shifts in his expression, the almost imperceptible tells that signaled his moods. But now, as Vivienne awaited his decision, I realized that even I couldn¡¯t predict what he would do next.


    Damien remained motionless, his gaze fixed on some middle distance. Vivienne¡¯s fingers tightened visibly on his sleeve.


    ¡°Six million from Ms. Dubois,¡± the auctioneer called.


    I watched Vivienne¡¯s shoulders tense. She clutched Damien¡¯s arm, whispering again. The exchangested longer this time, but eventually Damien gave a curt nod.


    Jorge Robinson looked directly at her now, assessing. Then he smiled. ¡°Thirty¨Cfive million.¡±


    It was. I found myself riveted by the unexpected drama unfolding. The vase itself was exquisite, but the brewing battle of wills added ayer of tension that electrified the


    room.


    ¡°Forty million,¡± Vivienne called.


    Jorge Robinson didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Fifty million.¡±


    Murmurs rippled through the crowd. The bracelet glittered on its velvet disy as it was carried to the podium. Even from my seat, I could see the exquisite craftsmanship.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start the bidding at two million dors.¡±


    112 Auction Rivalry Ignites Anow

 The Sprawling 112

    112 Auction Rivalry Ignites Anew


    Damien¡¯s voice rang clear through the hushed room. The collective gasp that followed was almost theatrical. Jorge Robinson¡¯s confident expression faltered slightly as he turned to look at Damien, who held his gaze with cool indifference.


    My stomach twisted. In seven years of marriage, Damien had never once referred to my grandmother ra in such terms. The subtle elevation of Vivienne¡¯s family above mine stung with surprising intensity.


    ¡°Going twice,¡± the auctioneer continued, his gavel poised.


    The casual intimacy of their exchange made me look away. I focused instead on the auctioneer announcing the next lot, willing my heartbeat to slow.


    ¡°Going once, going twice¡­ Sold! To Ms. Dubois for eighty¨Cfive million dors!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll start the bidding at three million dors,¡± the auctioneer announced.


    Vivienne¡¯s delight was palpable as she gazed up at Damien. ¡°That was quite extravagant, even for you,¡± she teased.


    The room collectively inhaled. The jump was deliberately provocative¨Cmore than doubling the previous bid. Several potential bidders immediately lowered their paddles, effectively removing themselves from contention.


    Chloe grabbed my wrist. ¡°ra, what are you doing?¡± she hissed. ¡°You can¡¯t afford this.¡±


    Jorge hesitated, his fingers tapping the edge of his paddle. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a barely perceptible shake of his head.


    Now Damien looked up, his attention caught by the escting amounts. His eyes scanned the room, finallynding on me. For a brief moment, something fled across his face¨Csurprise, perhaps, or curiosity. Then his expression shuttered once more into cool indifference.


    He leaned toward Vivienne, whispering something in her ear. She nodded, a slow smile spreading across her face.


    Several paddles rose immediately. I hesitated, calcting rapidly. I couldfortably


    finances, go to five million from my personal funds. Beyond that would strain my


    112 Auction Rivalry Ignites Anow


    especially with the divorce proceedings still ongoing.


    Vivienne, who had been whispering something to Damien, turned sharply <b>at </b>the <b>sound </b>of my voice. Her eyes narrowed as she found me several rows behind her. <b>For </b><b>a </b>moment, our gazes locked.


    The bidding climbed steadily to four million. As it reached four and a half, I made my decision and raised my paddle.


    Without breaking eye contact, she raised her paddle.


    The auctioneer, barely containing his excitement, repeated, ¡°Eighty¨Cfive million dors from Mr. Thorne! Do I hear more?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t just outbid me for a piece of art¨Cshe had demonstrated herplete confidence in Damien¡¯s backing. While I sat weighing financial consequences, she casually tossed out millions of his dors without hesitation or concern.


    My grandmother ra had a small collection of antique embroidery. I¡¯d grown up admiring these pieces, listening to her stories about the women who created such masterpieces centuries ago. This particr work would be perfect for her uing eightieth birthday.


    ¡°She¡¯s important to you,¡± Damien replied, loud enough for nearby ears. ¡°Which makes


    my elder too.¡± her important to me as well. After all, I consider her


    ¡°Twenty¨Cfive million dors from Ms. Dubois,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Do I hear more?¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, our next item is an exquisite example of Ming dynasty silk embroidery. Thisndscape scene dates to the early 15th century and represents the finest imperial craftsmanship of its era.¡±


    My heart raced. The sudden esction confirmed my fears¨CVivienne wasn¡¯t just bidding on a piece she wanted; she was directlypeting against me. And with Damien¡¯s resources behind her, she could easily outspend me on anything interest in.


    owed


    I bit my lip, calcting frantically. If I liquidated some investments and dipped into my emergency funds, I could potentially reach eighteen million. It would be financially irresponsible, but I suddenly couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Vivienne winning so easily. She was right. I was being foolish, allowing Vivienne to bait me into apetition <b>I </b>


    275


    112 Auction Rivalry Ignites Anew


    couldn¡¯t win. But something in me refused to back down immediately.


    ¡°Worth every penny to see you smile like that,¡± he replied.


    Vivienne smirked, her back now fully turned toward me. Without ncing back, shezily raised her paddle. ¡°Fifteen million.¡±


    She was right. This had be a power y, with Vivienne flexing Damien¡¯s wealth like a weapon against me. Twenty¨Cfive million was beyond excessive for the piece¨Cit was a deliberate statement that she could take anything I wanted, simply because she could.


    ¡°Twenty¨Cfive million going once, the auctioneer called, his eyes scanning the room for anyst¨Cminutepetition.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Chloe¡¯s hand covered mine, gently but firmly pushing the paddle down to myp. ¡°Let it go,¡± she whispered. ¡°This isn¡¯t about the embroidery anymore.¡±


    Apuse erupted throughout the room. Vivienne¡¯s face transformed with delight as she threw her arms around Damien¡¯s neck. He allowed a rare smile to grace his features, his hand resting possessively on her waist.


    Despite knowing better, I raised my paddle again. ¡°Twelve million.¡±


    ¡°Four point five million from thedy in blue,¡± the auctioneer acknowledged.


    The room fell silent. The auctioneer¡¯s eyes widened at the astronomical jump. Even he seemed momentarily speechless before recovering his professional demeanor.


    Vivienne beamed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you did that for her,¡±


    ¡°Eighty¨Cfive million,¡± Chloe whispered beside me, shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°For a


    vase.¡±


    I nced at Damien, wondering if he would intervene or show any reaction to this open hostility. His expression remained neutral, almost bored, as he scrolled through something on his phone. He hadn¡¯t even looked up to see who Vivienne was bidding


    against.


    I sat frozen, my paddle clutched tightly in my hand. The rational part of my brain screamed that this was insanity¨CI couldn¡¯t possibly match that bid. Yet my fingers


    <


    112 Auction Rivalry Ignites Anew


    tightened on the paddle, pride warring withmon sense.


    ¡°Seventeen million,¡± I called, my voice steadier than I felt.


    The message was brutally clear: I might have been Damien¡¯s wife for seven years, but I never held the position in his life that Vivienne now upied. The realization sat like ice in my stomach as the auctioneer¡¯s voice rang out through the silent room.


    As he prepared to call ¡°going twice,¡± Vivienne finally turned her head slightly, casting a victorious nce in my direction. Her satisfied smile said everything words couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Your grandmother will be pleased,¡± I heard him say to her. ¡°I know how much she values these pieces.¡±


    I nodded numbly, unable to form a response. The price wasn¡¯t the issue¨CDamien¡¯s wealth was well known. It was his public deration of allegiance to Vivienne¡¯s family that cut deep.


    Without turning around, without even acknowledging me as her opponent, Vivienne called out in a clear, confident voice: ¡°Twenty¨Cfive million.¡±


    My attention snapped back to the stage as the assistants revealed the piece¨Ca delicate silk embroidery depicting mountains shrouded in mist, with tiny figures crossing a bridge. The artistry was breathtaking, each stitch creating depth and movement that seemed impossible for thread alone.


    ¡°Eighty¨Cfive million.¡±


    ¡°Ten million,¡± she called out, her voice/ringing with challenge.


    I forced my fingers to rx their grip on the paddle. The embroidery was beautiful, but no physical object was worth financial ruin. I would find another gift for my


    grandmother.

 The Sprawling 113

    13 An Auction Lost, A Call Unanswered


    He nced at the screen, frowned at the unfamiliar number, and declined the call.


    Vivienne immediately responded without consulting Damien. ¡°One hundred and fifty million.¡±


    ¡°That was insane,¡± Chloe muttered. ¡°One hundred and fifty million for an embroidery? She must really hate letting anyone else win.¡±


    ¡°Forty million,¡± Vivienne announced, her voice carrying an edge of irritation.


    ¨C


    As I watched them, I felt strangely hollow. The embroidery had been beautiful, but no object was worth that price. Vivienne hadn¡¯t won it because she valued it more ¨C she¡¯d won because Damien¡¯s money made her untouchable.


    The room erupted in whispers. The auctioneer looked like he might faint from


    excitement.


    a


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± Chloe whispered, reading my thoughts. ¡°That vi is your


    security.¡±


    Vivienne leaned over to whisper something in Damien¡¯s ear. He frowned slightly but gave a curt nod.


    ¡°Sixty million,¡± Jasper countered, his voice still steady.


    ¡°One hundred million dors for the Ming dynasty embroidery! Do I hear more?¡±


    I sat motionless, still holding my silent phone. The disconnected call screen mocked me ¨C a perfect symbol of my rtionship with Damien. Even when I reached out directly, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer.


    Vivienne looked up at Damien, who was watching the proceedings with growing interest. His previous boredom had vanished, reced by the sharp focus he usually reserved for business negotiations.


    The phone rang once, twice, three times as I watched Damien on the other side of the room. His phone lit up in his hand.


    The thought made my pride sting. But for Grandmother ra¡­ perhaps it was worth swallowing my pride.


    113 An Auction Lost, A Call Unanswered


    ¡°You could call Damien,¡± Chloe suggested hesitantly. ¡°Ask him directly for help with this one purchase.¡±


    Some losses cut deeper than others.


    Jasper¡¯s jaw tightened. He seemed to be calcting something, perhaps reaching the limits of what his family was willing to spend.


    Chloe squeezed my hand. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here. I think we¡¯ve seen enough.¡±


    Apuse broke out across the room. Vivienne beamed triumphantly while Damien nodded, seemingly satisfied with the oue despite the exorbitant price tag.


    ¡°One hundred and fifty million going once,¡± the auctioneer called, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. ¡°Going twice¡­ Sold! To Ms. Dubois for one hundred and fifty


    million dors!¡±


    The auctioneer¡¯s voice rang through the room, but before his gavel could fall, another voice cut through the tension.


    I nodded silently. The bidding had transcended value and entered the realm of ego.


    She was right. I¡¯d already decided the vi would go toward Cora¡¯s education fund. I couldn¡¯t risk that on an impulse purchase, no matter how much I wanted to challenge


    Vivienne.


    ¡°Going twice!¡±


    The crowd murmured as the price climbed. Even the seasoned collectors seemed shocked by the aggressive bidding war.


    ¡°Thank you for letting us have it,¡± Damien said, extending his hand to Jasper. His voice carried just far enough for nearby ears to hear. ¡°Vivienne¡¯s grandmother will treasure


    it.¡±


    The strain in his voice was evident, but Damien either didn¡¯t notice or chose to ignore it. I recognized that tone ¨C the polite veneer over wounded pride. I¡¯d used it myself countless times during my marriage to Damien.


    ¡°One hundred and twenty million,¡± he finally said.


    My heart sank. Even that small hope extinguished, I watched as he returned his attention to Vivienne,pletely unaware he¡¯d just rejected a call from his soon¨Cto¨Cbe


    <b>17:47 </b>


    113 An Auction Lost, A Call Unanswered


    And I¡¯d lost more than just an auction. I¡¯d lost thest shred of hope that Damien might ever notice me again, even just enough to answer a phone call from an unknown number. In his world, I had be truly invisible ¨C while Vivienne stood in the spotlight, backed by his limitless resources.


    Jasper forced a smile as he epted the handshake. ¡°Mr. Thorne, don¡¯t mention it.¡±


    ¡°Seventy million,¡± Vivienne announced, her voice loaded with determination.


    I slipped my phone from my purse, heart pounding. Damien¡¯s number was no longer saved in my contacts ¨C I¡¯d deleted it after filing for divorce ¨C but I knew it by heart. My fingers trembled slightly as I dialed.


    I watched as Damien stood, cing a possessive hand on Vivienne¡¯s lower back as they moved toward Jasper Robinson.


    The amount hung in the air like an explosion. For several seconds, absolute silence reigned. Even the auctioneer seemed stunned.


    I released a breath I didn¡¯t know I was holding. My financial ceiling had been reached, but a strange relief washed over me. At least Vivienne wouldn¡¯t win so easily.


    Vivienne¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Fifty million.¡±


    Jasper didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Forty¨Cfive million.¡±


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 The Sprawling 114

    114 Emeralds Won. Esteem Weighed


    114 Emeralds Won, Esteem Weighed


    Mrs. Livingston turned her attention to me, her eyes quickly assessing my appearance. ¡°Vance? Are you rted to Victor Vance by an hance?¡±


    Two more hours dragged by before the final gavel fell. People began filing out, their excited chatter about acquisitions and astronomical bids filling the grand hall.


    Outside, the cool evening air provided temporary relief from the suffocating atmosphere inside.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said to Chloe, finding my voice again.


    Vivienne noticed our brief exchange. Her eyes darted between Damien and me, perceiving what had transpired. A slow, satisfied smile curved her lips as she pressed herself closer to Damien, iming her territory.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Chloe asked, noticing my expression.


    ¡°You did. That old bat Livingston waspletely out of line bringing up your mother.¡±


    ¡°He was my uncle,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Let¡¯s slip out now,¡± Chloe suggested, gathering her purse. ¡°Before we run into the happy couple.¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    ¡°Still, one hundred and twenty million is-¡±


    Chloe cursed under her breath. ¡°Delete it. Block the number. She¡¯s trying to get a


    reaction.¡±


    I forced a smile. ¡°Did I? It doesn¡¯t feel like it.¡±


    My phone dinged with a message notification. I nced down, expecting it to be from Julian about tomorrow¡¯s meeting.


    I managed a nod, though we both knew it was a lie. ¡°Just waiting for this to end so we can leave.¡±


    We turned to find an elegant older woman approaching us, her silver hair styled


    114 Emeralds Won, Esteem Weighed


    impably, diamonds glittering at her ears and throat.


    Mrs. Livingston¡¯s gaze flicked between Chloe and me. ¡°Well, it¡¯s wonderful to see young women attending these events. Cultural appreciation is so important.¡±


    But it was toote. Damien looked up, and ours met across the crowded room. For a brief, suspended moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his gaze¨Crecognition, difort, perhaps even guilt. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, reced by that familiar cold indifference.


    ¡°I¡¯m proud of you,¡± Chloe said as we waited for the valet to bring our car. ¡°You held your head high in there.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t about the emeralds,¡± I replied quietly. ¡°It was about winning.¡±


    Chloe smiled politely. ¡°I had a priormitment. May I introduce my friend? This is


    ra Vance.¡±


    Her words were pleasant, but I caught the subtle shift in her demeanor¨Cthe slightly patronizing tone, the way her eyes no longer quite met mine. I¡¯d seen it countless times before. In her mind, my family history had already categorized me: damaged goods from a failing dynasty.


    My spine stiffened. My mother¡¯s battle with mental illness had been fodder for gossip columns for years. Some wounds never fully heal, especially when strangers insist on prodding them.


    ¡°You know what the worst part is?¡± I continued, surprising myself with my candor. ¡°I still care. I still let it hurt me. After everything, I should be immune by now.¡±


    Her smile dimmed slightly. ¡°I see. I knew Victor quite well in the past. Such a brilliant mind. Such a shame what happened to the Vance Corporation after his passing.¡±


    Chloe reached over to squeeze my hand. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re human, ra. And humans feel pain when they¡¯re treated badly.¡±


    We drove in silence for several minutes before Chloe spoke again. ¡°Do you regret filing


    for divorce?¡±


    As we turned to leave, I caught sight of them¨CDamien and Vivienne emerging from a side door, likely after finalizing payment for their purchases. Vivienne looked radiant, clutching a velvet box that undoubtedly held the emeralds that should have belonged


    (


    114 Emeralds Won, Esteem Weighed


    to my grandmother.


    ¡°We should be going,¡± Chloe said, sensing my difort. ¡°It was lovely seeing you,


    Mrs. Livingston<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    That dismissal hurt more than it should have. I n after everything, some foolish part of me still hoped for¡­ what? Acknowledgment? Regret? I wasn¡¯t sure anymore.


    I thought about it carefully. ¡°No. I regret staying as long as I did. I regret believing things might change.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Livingston,¡± Chloe greeted warmly, epting the woman¡¯s air kisses. ¡°How lovely to see you<b>.¡± </b>


    The familiar sting of family shame pricked at me. Our family¡¯spany had crumbled after Uncle Victor¡¯s death. Poor management and market changes had reduced what was once a technological powerhouse to a struggling mid¨Csize business.


    Instead, it was from an unknown number. I opened it to find a photo of the emerald jewelry setid out on what appeared to be Vivienne¡¯s dressing table.


    But like everything else, they now belonged to Vivienne.


    ¡°Indeed! The Gardenia Charity Ball was simply not the same without youst month.¡±


    ¡°And your mother was Caroline Bellweather, wasn¡¯t she?¡± Mrs. Livingston continued, her voice dropping. ¡°I remember reading about her¡­ condition.¡±


    He looked away first, deliberately turning his attention back to Vivienne as if I were nothing more than a stranger he¡¯d identally made eye contact with.


    We rose from our seats and made our way toward the exit. The emerald jewelry set weighed on my mind. Grandmother ra had mentioned those emeralds so many times, describing how they had once belonged to our family before financial hardship forced her mother to sell them. I¡¯d hoped to surprise her by bringing them back to the Bellweather collection.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I answered simply, refusing to borate.


    ¡°Keep walking,¡± Chloe urged quietly.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to be.¡±


    114 Emeralds Won, Esteem Weighed


    As we drove through the night, I made a silent promise to myself: this was thest time Vivienne would see me retreat. Thest time I would allow myself to be outbid, outmaneuvered, or outshone without a fight.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Chloe whispered, concern etched across her face.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Without a word, I turned the phone so she could see.


    As we walked toward the exit, I could feel Mrs. Livingston¡¯s curious gaze following us. I imagined her mental calctions: ra Vance, from the failing Vance family, with a history of maternal mental illness, now apparently on bad terms with her powerful husband. Another tick in the column of my inadequacies.


    ¡°Chloe Grant? Is that you?¡±


    ¡°The emeralds weren¡¯t worth that much,¡± Chloe said after a while. ¡°Vivienne overpaid drastically.¡±


    When we married, Damien had never been extravagant with me. Every purchase required justification, every expense ounted for. But with Vivienne, money flowed


    like water.


    The valet pulled up with Chloe¡¯s car, and we slid inside. As we drove away from the elegant auction house, I stared out the window at the glittering city lights.


    I stared at the screen, my chest tightening.


    The auction continued, but I barely registered the items being presented. My mind kept reying Damien¡¯s dismissal of my call. I¡¯d been reduced to a stranger in his contacts list¨Csomeone not even worth answering.


    A message followed: ¡°They match my eyes perfectly, don¡¯t you think? Thank you for dropping out of the bidding so graciously. Some things are simply meant to be with their rightful owner.¡±


    I froze, momentarily unable to move. Damien¡¯s tall framemanded attention even in this crowd of elites. His hand rested possessively on Vivienne¡¯s lower back, guiding her through the throng of people.


    Next time, I wouldn¡¯t be so easy to dismiss.


    <


    114 Emeralds Won, Esteem Weighed


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing to Damien,¡± I interrupted. ¡°That¡¯s what makes it so unfair. He can drop that amount without blinking, just to make Vivienne happy.¡±


    I did as Chloe suggested, but the damage was done. The image of those emeralds¨Cmy grandmother¡¯s emeralds¨Cdisyed like trophies on Vivienne¡¯s table, burned in my


    mind.


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 The Sprawling 115

    115 Whispers and a Cold nce


    115 Whispers and a Cold nce


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said quietly.


    ¡°Back off,¡± she snapped. ¡°She¡¯s not interested¡±


    For a long, ufortable moment, we simply stared at each other across the crowded ballroom. The background noise seemed to fade away as our silent confrontation


    stretched on.


    Despite everything, I couldn¡¯t help but smile at her fierce loyalty. ¡°My knight in shining


    Louboutins.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    Before I could respond, the sound of maleughter caught my attention. Two men stood behind arge floral arrangement, unaware we were on the other side.


    After the auction debacle, I hadn¡¯t wanted to attend another social event so soon. But Chloe insisted this charity g would be good forworking. She was right, of course. Several potential investors for YodaVision were here tonight.


    As if summoned by her name, I suddenly spotted her across the room. Vivienne Dubois stood near the entrance, stunning in a deep emerald gown that matched her newly acquired jewelry set. Several admirers surrounded her, hanging on her every word as she gesticted elegantly, clearly in the middle of an entertaining story.


    ¡°Vivienne doesn¡¯t make it easy for him either,¡± his friend chuckled. ¡°She keeps him on his toes. Men like Damien need that challenge.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, El. You¡¯re brilliant! You helped develop one of the most sophisticated AI algorithms in the industry before you gave it up for that ungrateful-¡±


    I took a step back. ¡°Thank you, but-¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± I replied, my voice calmer than I felt.


    ¡°Now Vivienne,¡± Jorge continued, lowering his voice conspiratorially, ¡°that woman is a firecracker. Smart, challenging, beautiful. You can see why Damien prefers her. The man has taste.¡±


    ¡°The hell it doesn¡¯t!¡± Chloe hissed.


    115 Whispers and a Cold nce


    I turned to find a man I didn¡¯t recognize standing ufortably close. His breath reeked of alcohol, and his eyes had trouble focusing on my face.


    Then, deliberately, Vivienne¡¯s eyes traveled from my face down to my simple ck dress, then back up again. Her lips curled into a cold, disdainful smile that spoke volumes: You¡¯re nothingpared to me.


    The man ¨C I recognized his voice now as Jorge Mendez, a business associate of Damien¡¯s ¨C let out a shortugh. ¡°Not my type. She¡¯s¡­ boring. No personality. Just sits th¨¨re looking pretty but has nothing interesting to say.¡±


    But I did care. That was the problem. After years of trying to be perfect for Damien¡ª the perfect wife, mother, hostess¨Chearing I was considered boring cut deeper than I


    wanted to admit.


    ¡°What about ra Vance?¡± one of them asked.


    ¡°Damien Thorne¡¯s wife?¡± the second man responded. ¡°She¡¯s pretty, I suppose, in that


    quiet way.¡±


    ¡°Did you see that?¡± Chloe hissed.


    Boring. No personality. The words echoed in my mind.


    Moreughter followed. I stood frozen, unable to move. Each word felt like a small cut.


    For seven years, I had dimmed myself to fit into Damien¡¯s world. I¡¯d buried my intelligence, my passions, my opinions¨Call in a futile attempt to be what I thought he wanted. And in the end, it hadn¡¯t been enough. I hadn¡¯t been enough.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I whispered, gripping her arm. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    I pulled her away from the arrangement before she could confront them. ¡°They¡¯re just being stupid men. I don¡¯t care what they think.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m just telling you to get lost before I call security,¡± Chloe replied, her voice dangerously low.


    But as I approached Jenkins from StarTech Capital with Chloe by my side, I made a silent promise to myself: This was thest time I would allow anyone¨CVivienne, Damien, or some random man at a party¨Cto make me feel small.


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯m Martin Hopkins,¡± he said, swaying slightly<i>. </i>¡°And you¡¯re absolutely gorgeous.<b>¡± </b>


    115 Whispers and a Cold nce


    Martin blinked, confused by the sudden obstacle. ¡°I was just asking for a dance.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I interrupted softly. ¡°But it¡¯s fine. Really.¡±


    ¡°El, are you okay?¡± Chloe asked, her anger giving way to concern.


    Chloe¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°This night is turnin to a disaster. First those jerks, now this drunk idiot.¡± She downed the rest of her champagne in one gulp. ¡°Why are all the decent men gravitating toward women like Vivienne? It¡¯s not fair.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this charity event is still going on,¡± Chloeined, swirling her champagne. ¡°Do they really need three hours to raise money for hungry children?¡±


    Then, as if sensing our attention, Vivienne¡¯s gaze drifted across the room until it locked with mine. Her animated expression froze momentarily. Something shed in her eyes¨Crecognition, then calction.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find that investor,¡± I said, forcing determination into my voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t spend two hours getting ready for this event just to let Vivienne ruin it.¡±


    ¡°She definitely heard those jerks talking about you. Look at how smug she is.¡±


    Before I could respond, Chloe stepped between us, her five¨Cfoot¨Cfour frame somehow towering with righteous anger.


    ¡°Well, hello there, beautiful,¡± a slurred voice interrupted our conversation.


    ¡°Would you go for her? I heard they¡¯re divorcing.¡±


    Chloe didn¡¯t believe me¨CI could see it in her eyes. But she knew me well enough not to push.


    The satisfied smirk that spread across her face told me everything I needed to know. She had overheard Jorge¡¯sments. Of course she had. Vivienne never missed an opportunity to witness my humiliation.


    It wasn¡¯t fine, but what was the point of admitting that? The truth was, Jorge¡¯s assessment wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. I had dimmed my own light for so long that sometimes even I forgot it was there.


    ¡°There¡¯s Jenkins from StarTech Capital,¡± Chloe whispered, nodding toward a balding man near the bar. ¡°He¡¯s been looking to invest in Al startups. I could introduce <b>you</b>.<b>¡± </b>


    115 Whispers and a Cold nce


    Chloe was still fuming as we moved toward a quieter corner of the ballroom. ¡°Those idiots wouldn¡¯t know an interesting woman if she hit them with a physics textbook. Which I¡¯m tempted to do.¡±


    ¡°Dance with me,¡± he insisted, reaching for my arm. ¡°Just one dance.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Why settle for vani when you can have the whole dessert cart?¡±


    I froze at the sound of my name. Chloe¡¯s eyes widened, and she grabbed my arm, clearly ready to pull me away. But curiosity kept my feet nted firmly on the marble floor.


    As we moved through the crowd, I could feel Vivienne¡¯s eyes tracking me. She was probably enjoying this, knowing I¡¯d heard myself being unfavorablypared to her. Knowing that yet again, in the eyes of society, she had won.


    The ballroom sparkled with crystal chandeliers and elegant decor. Women in designer gowns mingled with men in tailored suits. Soft ssical music yed in the background, barely audible over the constant hum of conversations.


    The man scowled but retreated, muttering something about ¡°stuck¨Cup bitches¡± as he disappeared into the crowd.


    Without a word, she turned away, tossing her perfect hair over one shoulder, and


    continued her conversation as if I didn¡¯t exist.


    I nodded, taking a small sip from my ss. ¡°At least the champagne is good.¡±


    Chloe¡¯s face had transformed from shock to rage. ¡°Those absolute-


    My cheeks burned. I¡¯d met Jorge exactly twice atpany events. We¡¯d barely exchanged ten words.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The words came automatically, the same response I¡¯d given countless times over the years when I was anything but fine.


    Tomorrow, at the investor meeting, I would remind everyone, including myself, exactly who ra Vance really was, And she was anything but boring.


    ¡°Speak of the devil,¡± Chloe muttered.


    ent taunt affect me. But inside, <b>my </b>


    I took a deep breath, refusing to let Vivienne¡¯s stomach churned with a mixture of humiliation and anger.

 The Sprawling 116

    116 The Rival¡¯s Entourage and Veiled Offerings


    While waiting for Cora, I realized I¡¯d left my favorite silk scarf in the master bedroom closet. Since Damien wasn¡¯t home, I decided to retrieve it.


    ¡°Mom! You promised toe get me!¡±


    My phone rang, jolting me from my thoughts. It was Cora again.


    After a brief conversation filled with Cora¡¯sints about being left with the nanny, I hung up and caught Chloe¡¯s sympathetic gaze.


    They were beautiful¨Chandcrafted brocade boxes with intricate patterns in deep burgundy and gold. I approached cautiously, puzzled by their presence. These weren¡¯t here thest time I¡¯d visited.


    I stared at the boxes, heart hammering. What did this mean? Why would Damien leave something for me now, when we were in the final stages of our divorce?


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Cora¡¯s voice echoed from downstairs. ¡°Are you up there? I¡¯m ready to go!¡±


    ¡°Dad had to go to work,¡± Corained. ¡°And Vivienne went shopping with her


    friends.¡±


    The weight of Damien¡¯s card felt heavy in my pocket, filled with unspoken words I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to hear.


    The next morning, I drove to Damien¡¯s vi to pick up Cora. Hannah, the housekeeper, greeted me at the door.


    After assuring Cora I¡¯d be there first thing tomorrow, I headed to my apartment, the gift for Grandma still unfound.


    I nodded, grateful I wouldn¡¯t have to face Damien today. Our brief encounters were always strained, filled with polite words that masked deeper emotions.


    ¡°And look at thements,¡± Chloe continued, scrolling down. ¡°Even Crawford from legal is drooling over her. Isn¡¯t he married with three kids?¡±


    The bedroom remained unchanged¨Cthe same elegant furniture, the same cool <b>color </b>


    116 The Rival¡¯s Entourage and Veiled Offerings


    palette. I moved toward the walk¨Cin closet, then stopped short at the sight of two ornate boxes on my old vanity table.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading out early,¡± I told Chloe. ¡°Need to buy Grandma¡¯s gift before picking up


    Cora tomorrow.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I warned before she could speak. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    I closed my eyes briefly. ¡°I¡¯ll see it tomorrow, I promise. Did you finish your


    homework?¡±


    I reached out to touch one, then hesitated. Why were they on my vanity? Had Damien


    left them? Or were they Vivienne¡¯s things, mistakenly ced here?


    Chloe set her phone down, her eyes softening. ¡°That must have been tough.¡±


    The group moved toward a real estate office,ughing and talking animatedly. My stomach tightened with realization. They were looking at properties. The Dubois family was nning to move here.


    ¡°Everyone falls for her charm.¡± I kept my voice steady, not wanting to reveal how much it still hurt. ¡°It started when we were children. Our parents, our teachers, even our grandparents. Vivienne was always the favorite.¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Cora called again, impatience clear in her voice.


    As I greeted my daughter, her pink sparkly dress indeed reminiscent of something Vivienne would wear, I couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over me. The Dubois family moving to Baumond, Cora¡¯s growing attachment to Vivienne, and now these strange gifts¨Ceverything seemed to be shifting, realigning into a pattern I couldn¡¯t quite decipher.


    her smile I nced at the photo¨CVivienne leaning against Damien¡¯s newest sports car, radiant under the sunlight. Damien stood beside her, his hand casually resting on her waist. They looked perfect together.


    Therger box had a small card tucked under its gold ribbon. With trembling fingers, I pulled it out.


    ¡°I simply adore Baumond in the summer. Theke is divine for swimming.¡±


    116 The Rival¡¯s Entourage and Veiled Offerings


    ¡°Thank you, Hannah.¡± I stepped into the familiar foyer, memories washing over me. This had been my home for years, yet now I felt like a visitor.


    ¡°Oh, Mr. Thorne left early for a meeting,¡± Hannah added. ¡°He said to tell you he¡¯ll drop off Cora¡¯s science project materials on Sunday.¡±


    ¡°Coming, sweetheart!¡± I called back, taking onest look at the mysterious boxes before heading downstairs.


    My phone buzzed with an iing call from Cora. I answered immediately, heart lifting at the sound of my daughter¡¯s voice.


    ¡°But I want to show you my new dress now! Dad got it for me. It¡¯s pink with sparkles,


    like Vivienne¡¯s!¡±


    Vivienne stood across the street, surrounded by a small entourage. Her father, Alistair Dubois, nodded along with whatever she was saying. Next to him stood Erin, Vivienne¡¯s


    mother, looking elegant as always.


    As I exited an antique store, a familiar voice made me freeze.


    Of course. I was only the first choice when Vivienne wasn¡¯t avable. I swallowed the familiar sting of rejection.


    ¡°Miss Popr strikes again,¡± Chloe fumed, showing me her phone screen with Vivienne¡¯stest social media update. ¡°Four thousand likes in twenty minutes! For what? Standing next to a fancy car?¡±


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m booooored,¡± she whined. ¡°When are youing to get me?¡±


    ¡°Sweetheart, that¡¯s tomorrow,¡± I reminded her gently. ¡°Friday, remember?¡±


    The upscale shopping district buzzed withte afternoon energy. I wandered from store to store, nothing catching my eye as special enough for ra. She¡¯d been my rock through everything¨Cshe deserved something meaningful.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you with your father today?¡±


    I ducked behind a disy window, not wanting to be seen. Why were they all here? Alistair and Erin didn¡¯t live in Baumond¨Cthey resided in the capital, where Alistair¡¯s business headquarters were located.


    ¡°I got used to it.¡± The lie came easily after years of practice. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m too <b>busy </b><b>for </b>


    116 The Rival¡¯s Entourage and Veiled Offerings


    social media drama.¡±


    I watched them disappear into the building, my mind racing. Vivienne was already a constant presence in Damien¡¯s life¡ªand by extension, Cora¡¯s. If her entire family relocated here, their influence would only grow stronger.


    I slipped the card into my pocket without reading it. Whatever game Damien was ying, I wasn¡¯t ready to find out. Not yet.


    The handwriting was unmistakably Damien¡¯s.


    The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and emails. <i>By </i>Thursday afternoon, I realized I¡¯dpletely forgotten to find a birthday gift for Grandma ra. Her celebration was this weekend, and I needed something special.


    b


    I shrugged, turning my attention back to myptop. ¡°That¡¯s just how it¡¯s always been


    with Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m working too, sweetheart. But I¡¯ll see you tomorrow as nned, okay?¡±


    ¡°Miss Cora is finishing her breakfast, Mrs. Thorne. She¡¯ll be down shortly.¡±


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 The Sprawling 117

    117 A Grandmother¡¯s True Delight


    117 A Grandmother¡¯s True Delight


    ra¡¯s POV


    Cora¡¯s face fell. ¡°But I want to y more!¡±


    <b>e </b>


    ¡°For Eleanor¡¯s birthday. Present as if we selected together. -D¡±


    ¡°ra, you won¡¯t believe what I just heard,¡± she said, her voice tight with controlled excitement.


    Yet here it was.


    ¡°For my grandmother,¡± I replied. ¡°Something meaningful.¡±


    I answered, curious about why she was calling sote in the afternoon.


    Cora¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Oh! Daddy brought them yesterday. He said they¡¯re for Great¨CGrandma¡¯s birthday.¡±


    I quickly closed both boxes. ¡°Just a minute, sweetheart!¡±


    With shaking hands, I opened the second box. Inside was the embroidered painting scroll¨Canother item I¡¯d lingered over at the auction, this one depicting cranes in flight over mountains. The detail was breathtaking, each stitch ced with master craftsmanship.


    In the past, I would have given in immediately. Today felt different. I was reiming something¨Cmy time, my choices.


    My confusion must have shown on my face.


    ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± I said, feeling a sense of certainty. This gift would mean more to her than any expensive jewelry set.


    ¡°Mom, can we stay longer?¡± Cora asked as we prepared to leave the yground.


    Walking back to my car, I felt lighter than I had in months. This small act of choosing something meaningful represented more than just a gift¨Cit was a statement about the person I wanted to be again. Someone who made choices based on genuine connection rather than obligation or appearance.


    117 A Grandmother¡¯s True Delight


    ¡°The green jewels are from you and Daddy,¡± Cora exined matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°And the bird picture is from Great¨CGrandma Eleanor. Daddy said it¡¯s important everyone thinks you picked them out together.¡±


    I stood frozen in my bedroom, staring at the two elegant boxes on my vanity. Therger burgundy one with gold trim looked va ely familiar. Curiosity got the better of me, and I carefully lifted the lid.


    My modest writing set might cost a fraction of the emerald jewelry, but I knew which one would bring my grandmother true joy.


    She nodded knowingly and brought out a wooden case from beneath her counter. ¡°Perhaps this?¡±


    I remembered pointing it out to Damien, mentioning how much Eleanor would love it. He had merely nodded, seemingly disinterested.


    Tucking the card into my pocket, I hurried downstairs to find Cora twirling in her sparkly pink dress.


    The antique market was less crowded inte afternoon. I wandered through stalls filled with treasures from another era, searching for something that would speak to my grandmother¡¯s heart.


    I traced my fingers along the inkstone, feeling its smooth surface. ra had always loved calligraphy¨Cshe had taught me the art when I was young, spending hours guiding my hand through the graceful movements.


    The pieces clicked into ce. These weren¡¯t gifts for me¨Cthey were props for maintaining appearances. Damien wanted everyone to believe we were still a united front for his grandmother¡¯s birthday.


    I thought of the card still in my pocket¨Cthe one that had been attached to Damien¡¯s gifts. I hadn¡¯t read it yet, fearing whatever instructions or exnations it contained would diminish this small victory.


    ¡°She is,¡± I said simply. ¡°She taught me the value of thoughtfulness.¡±


    ¡°We can do whatever you¡¯d like,¡± I said, taking her hand as we walked outside. ¡°But first, I need to ask you something. Do you know about those boxes in my old room?¡±


    As promised, our day was filled with Cora¡¯s favorite activities. We spent hours at the


    <


    117 A Grandmother¡¯s True Delight


    park, had ice cream, and


    toy store where Cora picked out a new doll. By was finally waning.


    ¡°It belonged to a respected schr during the Ming Dynasty,¡± the vendor exined. ¡°The craftsmanship is exceptional.¡±


    Leaning against my car, I finally pulled it out a


    unfolded it.


    ¡°Mom? Are youing?¡± Cora¡¯s voice drifted up from downstairs.


    I wasn¡¯t sure what I had expected¨Cperhaps a birthday wish for Eleanor, or even an acknowledgment that the items were connected to my observations at the auction. Instead, it was purely transactional.


    ra had always appreciated thoughtful gifts over extravagant ones. Unlike Eleanor Thorne, who enjoyed disying her wealth, ra.valued items with history and meaning.


    Cora looked stunned at my refusal, but I remained firm. After giving her a quick hug, I spoke quietly with the bodyguards, instructing them to bring her home in an hour.


    My breath caught. Insidey the emerald and diamond jewelry set I¡¯d admired at the Baumond Charity Auctionst month. The exquisite ne featured a stunning emerald pendant surrounded by diamonds that caught the light perfectly. Matching earrings nestled beside it.


    A small booth near the back caught my eye. The elderly vendor smiled as I approached.


    No pleasantries. No personal message. Just cold instructions, confirming exactly what


    Cora had said.


    The schr¡¯s writing set was beautiful in its simplicity¨Ca carved inkstone, bamboo brushes with jade handles, and a small seal carved from stone. Each piece rested in its own velvet¨Clinedpartment.


    For once, I didn¡¯t automatically say yes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart, but I need some time this afternoon. I still have to find a special gift for Great¨CGrandma ra.¡±


    ¡°Do you


    like it?¡± she asked, spinning again. ¡°Vivienne helped Daddy pick it out.¡±


    ¡°Looking for something special?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s very pretty,¡± I said, forcing a smile. ¡°Ready for our day together?¡±


    117 A Grandmother¡¯s True Delight


    The vendor handed me the carefully wrapped package. ¡°Your grandmother must be


    very special.¡±


    ¡°You can stay with Matthew and Lisa,¡± I said, gesturing to her bodyguards waiting nearby. ¡°But I need to go shopping for Great¨CGrandma¡¯s gift. It¡¯s important to me.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± I said quietly, unlocking my car.


    Cora nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Can we go to the park? And get ice cream? And visit the toy store?¡±


    My phone rang, startling me from my thoughts. Chloe¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    As the vendor wrapped my purchase, I thought about Damien¡¯s gifts waiting at the house. They were undeniably beautiful and costly¨Cbut impersonal. Selected because they were impressive, not because they held meaning.


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 The Sprawling 118

    118 An Unexpected Encounter and Lingering Shadows


    ¡°We¡¯re acquainted,¡± I managed to say, my voice betraying nothing of my inner turmoil.


    Vivienne turned at the sound of her name, her eves narrowing slightly when she spotted me. Her red lips curved into a practice smile as Oscar approached.


    Oscar, oblivious to my distraction, continued discussing potential partnerships. I forced myself to focus on him rather than the table across the room.


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s wise?¡± Julian whispered.


    I watched them drive away, myposure intact but my insides churning.


    ¡°I can have the documents ready by-¡± I stopped mid¨Csentence.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, pressing the phone closer to my ear as I settled into my car.


    As I got into my car, I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror. Despite the encounter, my eyes were clear, my expressionposed. The woman looking back at


    me wasn¡¯t broken or defeated.


    Oscar proved to be not just a potential investor but a delightful dinnerpanion. His enthusiasm for our work was infectious, and by the time we finished dessert, I had almost forgotten about the other table.


    The next day passed in a blur of meetings and development sessions. Our new AI security system was progressing well, and investor interest was growing. By evening, I felt a genuine sense of aplishment as I changed into a sleek navy dress for dinner


    with our client.


    ¡°Where is Damien?¡± Julian asked, his tone deliberately casual. ¡°I thought I saw him


    earlier.¡±


    ¡°This has been extraordinarily productive,¡± Oscar said as he signed the check. ¡°I¡¯d like to move forward with the partnership. Have your legal team send over the paperwork


    tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°One ss won¡¯t affect my judgment,¡± I replied quietly. ¡°Besides, I need something to steady my nerves.¡±


    Julian followed my gaze and frowned. ¡°We can leave if you¡¯d prefer.¡±


    118 An Unexpected Encounter and Lingering Shadows


    ¡°Soon to be ex¨Cwife,¡± Vivienne corrected smoothly before I could respond. Her smile remained perfect, but her eyes held a glint of triumph.


    Vivienne¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°He had to take an important call. Business never stops for him, you know.¡±


    I was exining our privacy safeguards when vement at the entrance caught my eye. My words faltered as I recognized the group being seated across the restaurant.


    I managed a small smile. ¡°Not at all, Oscar. Some encounters are simply unavoidable in


    Baumond.¡±


    ¡°Something we understand well at YodaVision,¡± I replied evenly. ¡°Speaking of which, we should be going. We have early meetings tomorrow.¡±


    Oscar nodded, still looking slightly confused. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll call you tomorrow to


    finalize details.¡±


    My smile faded. The news shouldn¡¯t have affected me, yet it did.


    ¡°ra? You still there?¡± Chloe asked after my prolonged silence.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said, starting the engine. ¡°Thanks for letting me know.¡±


    The night air felt refreshing after the warmth of the restaurant. Julian and I discussed next steps with Oscar as we walked toward the parking lot.


    She was surviving. And someday, perhaps soon, she would be thriving.


    ¡°Our new client is extremely impressed with the prototype,¡± he said, falling into step


    beside me as we walked to the conference room. ¡°Oscar Fletcher wants to discuss


    expansion possibilities over dinner tomorrow.¡±


    Throughout dinner, I maintained myposure. When Damien¡¯s gaze briefly met mine across the restaurant, I simply looked away without expression. I wouldn¡¯t give him¡ªor Vivienne¨Cthe satisfaction of seeing me affected.


    After ending the call, I drove home with my mind churning. One more reminder that Damien was building a new life¨Cone that didn¡¯t include me.


    Oscar looked between us, suddenly sensing the tension. ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Julian asked quietly as we walked to our own cars.


    <


    118 An Unexpected Encounter and Lingering Shadows


    The thinly veiled reference to my mother¨Cand by extension, our shared bloodline- made my skin crawl. Julian¡¯s hand tightened on my back, a silent warning not to


    engage.


    ¡°You okay? I thought you should hear it from me rather than be blindsided.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Indeed! I didn¡¯t expect to see you here tonight,¡± Oscar replied, then turned to me with a beaming smile. ¡°ra, you didn¡¯t mention you knew the Dubois family!¡±


    As we stood to leave, I deliberately avoided looking in Damien¡¯s direction. I wouldn¡¯t give him power over this moment of sess.


    I considered turning around, but before I could suggest an alternate route, Oscar¡¯s face lit up with recognition.


    Still, I couldn¡¯t help noticing how attentive Damien was being to Vivienne¡¯s family. He pulled out chairs for both Vivienne and Erin, his hand lingering on Vivienne¡¯s shoulder. Heughed at something Alistair said, his expression more rxed than I¡¯d seen in years of marriage. O


    1


    I smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s hope this one is less handsy than thest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pass along any sincere wishes,¡± I replied, emphasis on ¡®sincere.¡¯


    Vivienne¡¯s eyes hardened slightly, but her smile remained fixed. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re quite sincere. Family is everything, after all.¡±


    Julian muttered something under his breath, cing a supportive hand on my back.


    The valet arrived with their car, breaking the moment. As they moved to leave,


    Vivienne cast onest nce at me over her shoulder. ¡°Enjoy your evening, ra. Don¡¯t


    work too hard.¡±


    ¡°I heard ra¡¯s birthday celebration is this weekend,¡± she said, her voice honey¨Csweet. ¡°Send her my regards, won¡¯t you? I¡¯ve always admired her resilience¡­ especially considering her family circumstances.¡± 1


    Chloe¡¯s voice came through with barely contained excitement. ¡°The Dubois family is officially settling in Baumond. They¡¯re nning some extravagant housewarming


    soon.¡±


    118 An Unexpected Encounter and Lingering Shadows


    The restaurant Julian had chosen was upscale butfortable. Oscar Fletcher turned out to be surprisingly down¨Cto¨Cearth for someone with his wealth and influence- asking thoughtful questions about our technology and vision.


    Oscar approached cautiously. ¡°I feel I¡¯ve stumbled into somethingplicated. My apologies if I caused any difort.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Fletcher, what a pleasant surprise,¡± she said smoothly, extending her manicured


    hand.


    ¡°The applications for healthcare alone could transform patient oues,¡± he said, leaning forward with genuine interest.


    Julian met me in the lobby. ¡°Ready to charm another investor?¡±


    When our waiter returned, I ordered another ss of wine.


    The next morning, I focused on preparations for my grandmother¡¯s birthday celebration. I carefully ced the two brocade boxes from Damien in my bag. Despite myplicated feelings about them, they were gifts for my grandmother, and she deserved to receive them.


    Alistair Dubois stepped forward, his keen eyes assessing me. ¡°Ms. Vance, isn¡¯t it?


    Damien¡¯s wife?¡± 1


    Standing near the valet station was Vivienne¡¯s family. Damien was nowhere to be seen, but Alistair, Erin, Lilian, and Vivienne were waiting for their car.


    Damien stood tall andmanding in a perfectly tailored suit. Beside him was Vivienne, radiant in emerald green. They were apanied by Alistair Dubois, Vivienne¡¯s father, along with her stepmother Erin and sister Lilian.


    I shook


    my


    head. ¡°No. I won¡¯t be chased away.¡±


    I nodded, grateful for the distraction of work. ¡°Send me his background information. I¡¯ll review it before the meeting.¡±


    Before I could make my escape, Vivienne took a step closer to me.


    At YodaVision¡¯s offices, Julian greeted me with a stack of documents.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said automatically, then paused. ¡°Actually, no. But I will be.¡±


    118 An Unexpected Encounter and Lingering Shadows


    I appreciated her concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It was inevitable, wasn¡¯t it? Vivienne getting exactly what she wanted.¡±


    Julian and I exchanged pleased nces. This was a significant win for YodaVision.


    My throat tightened. Of course, Oscar would know them¨Cthey moved in the same


    social circles.


    ¡°Ms. Dubois! Mr. Dubois!¡± he called out enthusiastically, already moving toward them.


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 The Sprawling 119

    119 Echoes of Judgment


    By the time I was a teenager, I had stopped trying. The rejection had hurt too much.


    Taking a deep breath, I gathered my purse and stepped out of the car. I was no longer that vulnerable child or that insecure teenag I was a grown woman building a life on


    her own terms.


    ¡°You¡¯re so much like your mother,¡± Erin had continued, her voice soft but pointed. ¡°So stubborn. So unwilling to forgive.¡±


    I started the engine, needing to escape the weight of these memories. As I drove through the darkened streets of Baumond, my mind continued its relentless journey


    backward.


    As I unlocked my front door, my phone chimed with a text from Julian: ¡°You handled yourself perfectly tonight. Don¡¯t let them make you doubt yourself.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Who do you want to live with, sweetheart?¡± my father had asked, his voice gentle.


    My father had knelt before me. ¡°No, sweetheart. That¡¯s not possible anymore.¡±


    ¡°Half¨Csister,¡± I had corrected automatically, parroting words I¡¯d heard my mother say.


    ¡°Your father misses you terribly,¡± she had said. ¡°It breaks his heart that you won¡¯t visit.¡±


    As I climbed the stairs to my bedroom, her words echoed in my mind once more: ¡°So stubborn. So unwilling to forgive.¡±


    His simple support brought a small smile to my face. At least now, I wasn¡¯t facing my ghosts alone.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said automatically.


    I had chosen my mother. Not because I loved her more, but because she had seemed more fragile, more in need of me. My father had resources, strength. My mother had only me.


    The hurt in my father¡¯s eyes had haunted me for years.


    119 Echoes of Judgment


    For a while, I had believed her. But as months passed, I noticed how she subtly created distance between my father and me. How conversations would end when I entered rooms. How ns would change when I was supposed to visit.


    Erin¡¯s smile had frozen. ¡°Family is family, dear. Blood is blood.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not them. It¡¯s the memories the bring up.¡±


    Erin¡¯s words from all those years ago still had the power to wound: ¡°So stubborn. So unwilling to forgive.¡±


    I pulled into my driveway and sat in the silent car, struggling to regain myposure. I had promised myself I wouldn¡¯t let these people affect me anymore. Yet here I was, shaken by a brief encounter in a parking lot.


    Was she right? Was I really just an ungracious child?


    Erin¡¯s attention had shifted immediately, her face transforming with genuine warmth. ¡°Of course he will, darling. He can never say no to you.¡±


    I nodded politely but offered no verbal response.


    A yearter, he had brought Erin and nine¨Cyear¨Cold Vivienne to visit. I had hidden in my room, refusing toe out. My mother had eventually coaxed me into the living


    room.


    He understood, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze before walking toward his own


    vehicle.


    Sitting behind the wheel, I didn¡¯t immediately start the car. Instead, I stared at my reflection in the rearview mirror. The woman looking back at me seemedposed, professional¨Cnothing like the confused little girl who had once agonized over impossible choices.


    Yet inside, that girl¡¯s doubts still echoed. Had I been unfair to my father? Had my loyalty to my mother cost me a rtionship I should have treasured?


    I remembered sitting in my grandmother ra¡¯s living room after my parents¡® divorce was finalized. I was eight years old, clutching a stuffed rabbit, as my parents stood on opposite sides of the room.


    Before Alistair could respond, movement caught my eye. Erin Dubois approached with measured steps, Lilian Shaw trailing behind her.


    119 Echoes of Judgment


    As she stepped back, memories flooded my mind¨Cunwee and sharp. Lilian had always maintained the perfect appearance of a stepmother trying to bridge difficult family rtionships. Yet there had always been something distant in her manner, something that made it clear I was an unwanted reminder of my father¡¯s previous life.


    Lilian stepped forward, her gaze sharp and assessing. The elegant woman who had reced my mother in my father¡¯s life had al s been perfectly polite and utterly


    cold.


    I shook my head. ¡°Not tonight. I need to process some things alone.¡±


    I blinked, realizing I¡¯d been lost in thought. Oscar and Alistair were now discussing something about mutual investments. Vivienne had joined her father, her arm possessively linked through his.


    ¡°ra, dear,¡± Erin called out, her voice carrying that familiar false warmth.


    The contrast had been stark and painful. Was I really just an ungracious child?


    I remembered the day my father had introduced me to Lilian. She had been beautiful, poised, and perfectly cordial. She had brought me a gift¨Ca delicate silver bracelet that I had loved immediately.


    I had looked between them, my young heart breaking. ¡°Can¡¯t we all live together?¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied simply.


    ¡°How lovely to see you again, ra,¡± she said, her voice smooth as ss. ¡°You¡¯re looking


    well.¡±


    Later, when my father and mother were discussing logistics in the kitchen, Erin had found me alone.


    ¡°ra,¡± Erin had said, her smile practiced and perfect. ¡°Vivienne has been so excited to


    meet her sister.¡±


    ¡°I hope we can be friends, ra,¡± she had said.


    I had remained silent, picking at a loose thread on my dress.


    Her wordsnded like small daggers. To anyone listening, she sounded reasonable and kind. Only I could feel the calction behind them,


    119 Echoes of Judgment


    ¡°ra?¡± Julian¡¯s voice pulled me back to the present. ¡°We should go.¡±


    My mother¡¯s face had been pale with anxiety. My father looked equally strained.


    My father had never seen it. Or perhaps he simply hadn¡¯t wanted to.


    ¡°Some pasts are harder to leave behind than others,¡± I said quietly.


    Alistair and Vivienne Dubois stood conversing with Oscar Fletcher in the parking lot. Julian remained a few steps away from me, his posture rigid with tension.


    Lilian¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s a choice we make, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Had I truly been stubborn and unforgiving as Erin imed? Or had I simply been a child protecting herself from more pain?


    We reached my car, and Julian paused. ¡°Want to talk about it over coffee?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I agreed, relieved for the interruption. ¡°We have that early meeting.¡±


    I had stared at the floor, ufortable and wishing I could disappear.


    Erin touched my arm as I turned to leave. ¡°Do give ra my regards at her party. We were friends once, you know.¡±


    Lilian¡¯s perfectly manicured hand touched my arm briefly. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t let old family grievances color your rtionship with Alistair and Erin. The past should remain there, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Alistair nced between Julian and me with interest. ¡°Not working together tonight, Ms. Vance? Unusual for business partners.¡±


    As Julian and I walked away, I could feel Lilian¡¯s calcting gaze on my back. The past never truly stayed where it belonged. It followed, lingering like a shadow, coloring every present moment.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Julian asked once we were out of earshot.


    I nodded stiffly. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her.¡±


    Vivienne had appeared then, twirling in a new dress. ¡°Mom, do you think Daddy will buy me that ne we saw?¡±


    Inside my quiet house, I kicked off my shoes and poured a ss of water. The evening¡¯s


    119 Echoes of Judgment


    encounter had dredged up painful questions I had avoided for years.


    Now, yearster, seeing Lilian again reopened wounds I thought had scarred over. The- familiar ache of not being enough¨Cnot enough for my father to fight for, not enough for Lilian to ept, not enough for Damien to love¨Cwashed over me with surprising


    force.


    Vivienne had rolled her eyes, clearly not excit


    at all.


    Julian¡¯s expression made it clear he didn¡¯t believe me. ¡°Those people have a gift for getting under your skin.¡±


    ¡°Different responsibilities require different approaches,¡± I replied evenly.


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 The Sprawling 120

    120 The Weight of a Sigh


    120 The Weight of a Sigh


    Starting the car, I pulled out of the parking space. In the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of Erin watching me from the entrance.


    I gently but firmly removed her hand. ¡°My father chose his path years ago. As did I.


    I didn¡¯t look back again. She might think her sigh still held power over me. But today I had faced her maniption and walked away stronger.


    The night air felt cool against my heated skin. ¡°Thank you for stepping in.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I just need a moment.¡±


    ¡°ra, you¡¯re being ridiculous,¡± Erin said, her voice hardening. ¡°That was decades ago.¡±


    That sigh had been a weapon wielded with precision throughout my childhood. Itmunicated volumes without saying a word: I was being unreasonable. I was the problem. I was making things difficult for everyone, especially my father.


    Erin¡¯s mouth opened slightly. ¡°That was a simple mistake-¡±


    ¡°Darling,¡± Erin reached for my hand, which I subtly moved away. ¡°Maybe this divorce is for your own good. You deserve someone who truly loves you.¡±


    Mr. Fletcher cleared his throat. ¡°Perhaps we should-¡®


    ¡°It was the first time I visited after you married my father,¡± I continued. ¡°You bought ice


    cream for Vivienne and me.¡±


    Erin¡¯s mouth thinned into a tight line. ¡°You¡¯ve always been so difficult to reach, ra. So much like your mother-¡±


    Lilian shifted ufortably beside Erin.


    That sigh. Such a simple sound. Yet it carried the weight of years of psychological maniption. It was designed to make me question my reality, to make me feel like the unreasonable one for setting boundaries and speaking my truth.


    ¡°Of course you are,¡± I said, unable to keep the edge from my voice. ¡°Just like that time


    when I was nine.¡±


    20:23


    120 The Weight of a Sigh


    ¡°We¡¯ve never wanted to hurt you,¡± Lilian interjected smoothly.


    The memory surfaced with startling rity. ¡°You don¡¯t remember? That summer at father¡¯s beach house.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°That¡¯s not-¡± Erin began.


    As he walked to his own car, I leaned against mine, taking deep breaths. The encounter had drained me more than I wanted to admit.


    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right,¡± I said calmly. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t justify your actions or Vivienne¡¯s.¡±


    The weight of that sigh would not follow me anymore.


    His response was immediate: ¡°Need backup?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I cut her off. ¡°A mistake would have been forgetting. But you specifically asked me earlier that day what vors I liked. I told you chocte was my favorite. Yet you handed me strawberry and gave Vivienne chocte.¡±


    ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± Mr. Fletcher said quietly as we stepped outside, ¡°I thought you handled that admirably.¡±


    ¡°We should go,¡± Mr. Fletcher interrupted, looking at his watch. ¡°Our colleagues are


    waiting.¡±


    ¡°ra?¡± Mr. Fletcher¡¯s voice pulled me back to the present. ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    We continued toward the exit in silence. Behind us, I could hear Lilian murmuring something to Erin, their voices too low to distinguish the words.


    *¡°Take all the time you need. I¡¯ll inform the others we¡¯re runningte.¡±


    I closed my eyes, feeling the evening breeze against my face. I had confronted Erin and Lilian more directly than ever before. I had named their maniptions aloud. That was


    progress.


    ¡°It is,¡± I said firmly. ¡°You¡¯ve facilitated her affair with my husband for years. You¡¯ve weed him into family events. You¡¯ve orchestrated opportunities for them to be


    together.¡±


    Lilian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°We¡¯re simply concerned about ra¡¯s wellbeing.¡±


    20:23


    120 The Weight of a Sigh


    I realized I¡¯d stopped walking. My hands were clenched into fists at my sides.


    I opened my eyes and straightened my shoulders. No more. I refused to let their maniptions control my emotions any longer.


    ¡°Then why say the same things over and over?¡± I asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been telling me variations of ¡®it¡¯s for your own good¡® since I was a child. Words mean nothing when your actions say the opposite.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Erin asked, her brow furrowing in perfectly practiced confusion.


    Mr. Fletcher and I began walking away. I felt lighter somehow, having finally confronted the years of subtle maniption and gaslighting.


    A smile tugged at my lips. ¡°Already handled. Tell youter.¡±


    I almostughed at the absurdity. ¡°That¡¯s your justification? That you¡¯re hurting me for


    my own good?¡±


    But I wasn¡¯t fine. That single sound had punched through the armor I¡¯d so carefully constructed. It reminded me how deeply conditioned I was to doubt myself when confronted with their maniptions.


    Erin¡¯s expression shifted to one of practiced sympathy. ¡°Perhaps if Damien truly loved you, none of that would have mattered.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not hard to see when you¡¯re not emotionally involved.¡± He gave me a sideways nce. ¡°But it can be nearly impossible when you are.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Vance has no interest in empty titudes,¡± Mr. Fletcher said firmly. His .unexpected defense warmed me, though my face remained impassive.


    I looked between these two women who had shaped so much of my childhood pain. ¡°You im to care about me, yet you¡¯ve actively helped Vivienne interfere in my


    marriage.¡±


    Then I heard it¨CErin¡¯s sigh. That familiar, weighted exhtion designed to make me feel disobedient, ungrateful, and fundamentally wrong.


    I remembered how my father would look at me then¨Chis expression a mixture of disappointment and resignation¨Cbefore suggesting I try harder to ¡°get along¡± with


    everyone.


    20:23


    15h the Weigh


    ¡°Will you be okay to drive? he asked, gemine concern in his voice.


    But that sigh¨Cthun weaponized exhale of breath¨Chad shown me how far I still had to go. The fact that it could still affect me so deeply proved that Erin still held some


    power over me.


    His perception surprised me. ¡°You noticed that quickly<i>. </i>


    ¡°Such a difficult child, she would say afterward to my father. ¡°So much like ra. Always seeing slights where none exist.¡±


    I typed back: ¡°On my way. Had an encounter with Erin and Lilian.¡±


    I nodded, grateful for the exit. ¡°Yes, we should.¡±


    The sound froze me mid¨Cstep. Suddenly, I was eight years old again, standing in my father¡¯s living room as Erin sighed over my ¡°behavior, making me question my own perceptions.


    Erin¡¯s expression remained nk.


    We reached my car, and I unlocked it with trembling hands.


    As I turned to leave, Erin caught my arm. ¡°ra, please. Can¡¯t we move past this family discord? For your father¡¯s sake?¡±


    A flicker of recognition crossed her face.


    ¡°Those women¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve known their type my whole career. They twist everything to maintain control.¡±


    ¡°Chocte for Vivienne. Strawberry for me. I kept my voice steady. ¡°You knew I was allergic to strawberries. My father had told you.¡±


    ¡°No, let her speak,¡± Lilian interrupted, her eyes calcting. ¡°Clearly she has things to get off her chest.¡±


    The words were designed to wound, but I refused to flinch.


    ¡°Yes, it was. But nothing¡¯s changed, has it?¡± I looked directly at her. ¡°You¡¯re still trying to hurt me. Only now, you¡¯re using Vivienne to do it.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t eat it,¡± I said. ¡°But that was the first time I realized you¡¯d changed. Before, when you visited mother¡¯s house, you were always kind to me. But once you had my


    120 The Weight of a Sigh


    father, that kindness disappeared.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I managed, forcing my feet to move again.


    As I slid into the driver¡¯s seat, my phone chimed with a text from Julian: ¡°Everything okay? Meeting¡¯s starting soon.¡±

 The Sprawling 121

    675


    121 A Mother¡¯s Call, A Husband¡¯s Detachment


    121 A Mother¡¯s Call, A Husband¡¯s Detachment


    ¡°Is that all?¡± His dismissive tone made it clear he was done with the conversation.


    Of course she did. I closed my eyes briefly. ¡°That sounds nice, honey. Is Daddy nearby?


    need to talk to him about something important.¡±


    Damien made a nomittal sound¨Cbarely an acknowledgment.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you tomorrow,¡± I texted back. ¡°Coco would love to see you too.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°And¡­ thank you for making sure she attends. I know Coco would rather be with Vivienne and her new puppy, but this means a lot to my grandmother. And to


    me.¡±


    Julian shot me a quick nce, clearly gauging my reaction. I kept my face impassive.


    ¡°Goodbye, Damien,¡± I said, ending the call before he could dismiss me further.


    ¡°The Dubois have considerable influence,¡± Oscar continued, oblivious to the absurdity. ¡°And Damien Thorne seems quite¡­ devoted to Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll pick her up on Friday evening to prepare for the event.¡±


    The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside, pressing the button for the parking level. My reflection stared back at me from the mirrored wallsposed, professional, put¨Ctogether. No one looking at me would guess the emotional gymnastics I¡¯d just performed during that brief phone call.


    There was a brief pause before Damien¡¯s deep voice filled my ear. ¡°ra.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± I said. ¡°But ra specifically asked for Coco to be there. You know how important these family traditions are.¡±


    My heart lightened instantly. ¡°Hi, sweetheart. It¡¯s Mom.¡±


    That was something, at least. Seven years ago, a conversation like that would have left me in tears. Now, I could negotiate my daughter¡¯s time with my husband without breaking stride.


    ¡°This weekend is my time with Cora,¡± he replied, using her full name as he always did.


    20:24


    121 A Mother¡¯s Call, A Husband¡¯s Detachment


    I set my phone down and exhaled slowly. These interactions always left me feeling hollow, yet strangely relieved. There had been a time when every word from Damien affected me deeply¨Cwhen I¡¯d analyze his tone for hours, searching for even the tiniest hint of affection.


    ¡°Of course, Grandma. Coco will be there.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°ra, dear,¡± ra¡¯s warm voice answered. ¡°I was beginning to worry.¡±


    Now, I felt nothing but a dull ache. The sharp pain of his indifference had faded into something more manageable over time.


    I typed back: ¡°Still breathing. He agreed.¡±


    ¡°Saturday afternoon, two o¡¯clock. At the Vance residence.¡±


    Setting my phone aside, I gathered my belongings. The afternoon sun nted through the office windows, painting golden rectangles on the floor. Outside, people hurried along the sidewalks, wrapped in their own concerns.


    And I would continue building this new life¨Cpiece by piece, day by day.


    After ending the call, I stared at my phone. I needed to call Damien, but the thought made my fingers feel heavy.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just finalizing ns for my birthday gathering this weekend.¡± Her voice brightened. ¡°You¡¯ll bring Coco, won¡¯t you? I haven¡¯t seen my


    great¨Cgranddaughter in ages.¡±


    Progress came in strange forms sometimes.


    I gripped the phone tighter. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°My grandmother¡¯s birthday is this weekend,¡± I exined. ¡°I need to make sure Coco


    attends.¡±


    I couldn¡¯tpete with puppies and constant entertainment. I was just the mother who enforced bedtimes and homework, who insisted on vegetables before dessert.


    Just my name. No greeting, no warmth.


    Oscar looked like he wanted to say more, but Julian intervened.


    20:24


    121 A Mother¡¯s Call, A Husband¡¯s Detachment


    The meeting wrapped up shortly after. As everyone filed out, I checked my phone. Three missed calls from my grandmother, ra. I stepped away to return her call.


    ¡°YodaVision operates independently,¡± Julian stated firmly. ¡°We appreciate your input, but our business strategies are our own.¡±


    Tomorrow, I would call Eleanor. I would prepare for ra¡¯s birthday. I would work on YodaVision¡¯stest project.


    I hesitated. ¡°Actually, I need to make sure you understand something else.¡±


    As I headed toward the parking garage, my phone chimed with an iing email. A notification from Coco¡¯s school¨Cparent¨Cteacher conferences next week. I made a mental note to coordinate with Damien. Another awkward conversation to look


    forward to.


    This silence was peaceful. It was mine.


    ¡°Coco needs to stay for the entire celebration. She can¡¯t leave halfway through to visit Vivienne,¡± I said firmly. ¡°My grandmother deserves her full attention for one afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Hi, Mom.¡± Her tone shifted, bing slightly guarded.


    ¡°What is it?¡± His tone sharpened with impatience.


    By the time I pulled into my driveway, the sky had darkened to deep indigo. My house -my new house, purchased after moving out of the Thorne mansion¨Cweed me with warm lights I¡¯d set on timers. No one waited inside for me, but it was mine. Every piece of furniture, every color on the walls¨Call chosen by me, for me.


    My thoughts drifted to Coco¡¯s excitement about Vivienne¡¯s puppy. It was just another small reminder of how Vivienne had seamlessly inserted herself into every aspect of my family life. The perfect girlfriend, the fun ¡°almost stepmother¡± with morous surprises and no responsibilities.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll have her ready.¡±


    If she could do it in an era when divorced women were social pariahs, surely I could navigate my own path forward now.


    Julian approached, coffee in hand. ¡°Everything alright?¡±


    My stomach tightened. This weekend was supposed to be Damien¡¯s time with Coco,


    20.24


    121 A Mother¡¯s Call, A Husband¡¯s Detachment


    andtely, those weekends inevitably included Vivienne.


    ¡°Crystal,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°I assume you¡¯ll want me to deliver your gift to ra?¡± I added, knowing he wouldn¡¯t attend himself but would send something expensive and impersonal.


    Inside, I kicked off my heels and padded to the kitchen. The house was quiet, but not lonely. There was a difference, I¡¯d learned. Loneliness was what I¡¯d felt in a mansion full of people who either ignored me or wished I didn¡¯t exist.


    ¡°He¡¯s right here.¡± I heard shuffling, then Coco¡¯s voice again, further away. ¡°Dad, Mom wants to talk to you.¡±


    My phone buzzed with a text from Julian: ¡°Survived?¡±


    Another wordless hum was his only response.


    ¡°Is that clear?¡± I pressed when he didn¡¯t respond.


    Julian replied instantly: ¡°That¡¯s something, at least. Drinkster? You look like you


    could use one.¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond immediately, and I could almost see him weighing his options.


    Once Julian left, I dialed Damien¡¯s number, steeling myself. After three rings, it wasn¡¯t


    his voice that answered.


    I pushed past the sting. ¡°How are you? Are you having fun?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Grandma. I was in a meeting. Is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Julian nodded, understanding my predicament. ¡°Need me to hang around for moral support?¡±


    I stared at the message. Eleanor had always been kind to me, even as her grandson broke my heart repeatedly. She and ra had been friends for decades, a friendship that had survived despite the fractured rtionship between their grandchildren.


    As I unlocked the door, my phone buzzed again. A text from Eleanor Thorne, Damien¡¯s grandmother: ¡°Heard you¡¯re taking Cora to ra¡¯s birthday. Would love to see you both before or after. We miss you.¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°I can handle this.¡±


    20:24


    121 A Mother¡¯s Call, A Husband¡¯s Detachment


    ¡°Uh¨Chuh. Dad and I are about to go to Vivienne¡¯s ce. She got a new puppy!¡±


    Oscar leaned back in his chair, a knowing smirk ying on his lips. ¡°I¡¯d advise against provoking the Dubois family, Ms. Vance.¡±


    As I drove home through the evening traffic, I thought about ra¡¯s birthday celebration. She would be eighty¨Cthree, still sharp as a tack and fiercely independent. She had survived her own painful divorce decades ago, rebuilding her life with grace and determination.


    ¡°What time?¡± he finally asked.


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Mr. Fletcher,¡± I said evenly. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of the dynamics at y.¡±


    The silence that followed felt weighted. I could sense his annoyance, even through the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have Maria pack her things,¡± he said, referring to his housekeeper.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Coco¡¯s sweet voice came through.


    I smiled slightly at his perception. Even through text messages, he could read my


    mood.


    ¡°Damien,¡± I matched his tone. ¡°My grandmother¡¯s birthday celebration is this weekend. I need Coco to attend.¡±


    I maintained my neutral expression, though his words stung with irony. Here was a stranger counseling me about avoiding conflict with my husband¡¯s mistress¡¯s family- who also happened to be my own estranged family.


    ¡°Maybe tomorrow,¡± I responded. ¡°Have to prepare for ra¡¯s birthday.¡±


    20:24

 The Sprawling 122

    122 The Unspoken Judgment


    122 The Unspoken Judgment


    Cora shifted from foot to foot. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± she started, then nced at me with panicked eyes. ¡°Mom, I didn¡¯t bring a present for Great¨CGrandma.¡±


    ¡°Careful on the stairs, Coco,¡± I cautioned automatically.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see it,¡± I smiled, then noticed Maria appearing with Cora¡¯s overnight bag. ¡°Thank you, Maria.¡±


    ¡°What a beautiful girl you are, Cora,¡± ra said warmly. ¡°Thank you foring to celebrate with an olddy like me.¡±


    ¡°Maria has prepared everything.¡± He slipped his phone into his pocket. ¡°She¡¯s included the dress Cora will wear tomorrow.¡±


    Of course he had. Damien Thorne never missed an opportunity to fulfill social obligations with expensive presents that required zero personal involvement.


    Mr. Finch reappeared from the direction of the dining room. ¡°Mr. Thorne, dinner will be served in twenty minutes. Will Ms. Vance and Miss Cora be joining you?¡±


    Mr. Finch, the butler, greeted me at the door with his usual formality. ¡°Good evening, Ms. Vance. Pleasee in. Miss Cora is just gathering her things.¡±


    The next morning dawned bright and clear¨Cperfect weather for ra¡¯s garden party. Cora woke early, bouncing with energy as she helped arrange flowers and set up decorations in the backyard.


    ¡°Did she mention Damien?¡± I asked, keeping my voice low.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be attending ra¡¯s birthday celebration.¡±


    The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth, sharper than the champagne I sipped to wash it away.


    Just two weeks ago, I¡¯d overheard Cora on the phone with Damien, excitedly discussing the handmade bracelet they were crafting for Vivienne¡¯s birthday. She¡¯d spent hours selecting beads, practicing the pattern, insisting on perfection <b>for </b><b>¡°</b><b>Auntie </b>Vivi<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    Later, after tucking Cora into bed in the guest room, <b>I </b>joined my <b>parents </b><b>for </b><b>a </b><b>ss </b><b>of </b>


    <


    122 The Unspoken Judgment


    wine in the kitchen.


    I nodded, knowing better than to check the suitability of whatever outfit had been chosen. Any suggestion that I might want to review it would only create tension.


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize for him,¡± she replied firmly. ¡°Never that.¡±


    I bit back a wryment. ¡°That¡¯s sweet of him.¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± he acknowledged, finally looking at me. His eyes swept over me briefly. ¡°Cora will be down in a moment.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± I answered automatically. ¡°Work is busy. YodaVision is growing faster than expected.¡±


    Without further pleasantries, the call ended. I stared at my phone screen, noting the call duration: one minute and seventeen seconds. Our conversations had be efficient, if nothing else.


    ¡°Yes, her favorite¨Clemon with raspberry filling,¡± I replied, parking the car. ¡°Are you excited to see her?¡±


    ¡°Thank you,


    Mr. Finch.¡± I stepped into the foyer, instantly noticing small changes since myst visit: New artwork adorned the walls. The fragrance in the air was different- jasmine and sandalwood instead of the lily scent I had preferred.


    ¡°Ready to go, sweetheart?¡± I asked Cora, taking the bag from Maria.


    ¡°Is she packed for the weekend?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, the politeness automatic after years of practice.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Finch,¡± I said softly. ¡°But even if invited, we wouldn¡¯t be able to stay. We have ns this evening.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t expected anything different, yet disappointment still pricked at me. Not for


    in life¨Cbut for


    my


    my grandmother, myself¨CI¡¯d long stopped hoping for his presence who still held a fondness for him despite everything.


    She hadn¡¯t.


    Heavy footsteps on the marble staircase announced Damien¡¯s arrival before <b>I </b><b>saw </b><b>him</b>. He descended with his characteristic confidence, phone in hand<b>, </b><b>barely </b><b>ncing </b><b>up </b><b>as </b>


    122 The Unspoken Judgment


    he reached the bottom step.


    If Mr. Finch was surprised by Damien¡¯s curt response, he didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Very good, sir. I¡¯ll inform the kitchen.¡±


    Before I could politely decline, Damien answered for us. ¡°No. ra is taking Cora to the Vance residence tonight.¡±


    ¡°I missed you,¡± I whispered against her head.


    And the truth was, I¡¯d known this would happen. I had deliberately chosen not to remind Cora about preparing something for ra. A small, hurt part of me had wanted to see if my daughter would remember on her own, if she would show the same enthusiasm she demonstrated for Vivienne without prompting.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s set,¡± ra assured me. ¡°Eleanor called earlier¨Cshe¡¯s bringing her famous elderflower punch.¡±


    Inside, my mother greeted us warmly, fussing over Cora immediately. ¡°Look how much you¡¯ve grown since I saw youst month! Are you hungry, darling? I¡¯ve made your favorite chicken pasta.¡±


    Sure enough, we found Dad dozing in his recliner, a documentary about ancient Rome ying softly on the television. He startled awake when Cora bounded over to him.


    ¨C For ra¨Cmy grandmother who had been present at every milestone in Cora¡¯s life,


    who sent thoughtful gifts for every asion, who never missed a school performance -there hadn¡¯t even been a card.


    ¡°We should get going,¡± I said, gently guiding Cora toward the door. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Finch, Maria.¡±


    Cora¡¯s face lit up. ¡°With the cheesy bread?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pick her


    up


    then.¡±


    He bent down to ept her quick hug, hisrge hand patting her back awkwardly. The gesture was brief but genuine¨Cone of the few times Damien¡¯s emotional walls seemed to crack even slightly.


    The evening passed pleasantly, with Cora delighting in being the center of attention. After dinner, she helped Mom frost cookies for tomorrow¡¯s celebration while I called ra to confirm final arrangements.


    <


    122 The Unspoken Judgment


    ¡°There¡¯s my favorite girl!¡± he eximed, pulling her into a bear hug.


    ¡°And the divorce proceedings?¡± Dad asked bluntly.


    ¡°How are things?¡± Mom asked, her question loaded with unspoken concern.


    As I watched Coraughing with rtives, seemingly recovered from her momentary distress, I acknowledged the unspoken judgment I¡¯d passed¨Cnot just on my


    seven¨Cyear¨Cold daughter, but on myself. What kind of mother tests her child this way? What was I hoping to prove?


    I heard the patter of small feet upstairs, and secondster, Cora appeared at the top of the staircase, her dark hair pulled into a messy ponytail. Her eyes lit up when she saw <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    ¡°Mom!¡± she called out, rushing down the stairs with a small backpack clutched in her hands.


    ra, overhearing, smoothly interjected. ¡°Absolutely! Having you here is all I wanted, darling.¡±


    Cora¡¯s shoulders rxed slightly, but the shadow of embarrassment remained on her face. As she was pulled away by a second cousin eager to show her the dessert table, I found myself watching her with a strange heaviness in my chest.


    ¨C ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for a gift to be delivered,¡± he added, his tone businesslike. ¡°It should


    arrive tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Is Great¨CGrandma going to have a big cake?¡± Cora asked as we pulled into my parents¡® driveway.


    Vivienne¡¯s touches, no doubt.


    Cora nodded enthusiastically, then turned to Damien. ¡°Bye, Dad! See you on Sunday!¡±


    ¡°Uh¨Chuh,¡± Cora nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt. ¡°Dad said I should give her a big hug from him.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you. We should get going soon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said reflexively!


    Damien¡¯s words came through my phone speaker with typical finality. No apology. No


    <


    122 The Unspoken Judgment


    exnation: Just a statement of fact delivered in his usual detached manner.


    She slowed marginally beforeunching herself into my arms once she reached the bottom. I hugged her tightly, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.


    Damien¡¯s expression softened fractionally as he looked down at our daughter. ¡°Be good for your mother, Cora. I¡¯ll see you after the weekend.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    A brief silence stretched between us before he spoke again. ¡°Cora will be ready at six on Friday.¡±


    ra sighed. ¡°No, dear. But I didn¡¯t expect him toe.¡±


    Friday evening arrived faster than I¡¯d anticipated. The Thorne mansion loomed ahead as I drove through the gates, its imposing facade gleaming in the fading sunlight. Once, I¡¯d lived behind those walls, desperately trying to transform a cold house into a warm home.


    Mr. Finch offered a small, kind smile. ¡°Of course, Ms. Vance.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Mom smiled, winking at me over Cora¡¯s head. ¡°Your grandfather is in the living room, probably falling asleep in front of the history channel again.¡±


    The housekeeper nodded. ¡°Everything she¡¯ll need is packed, Ms. Vance.¡±


    That Cora cared more about Vivienne than her own family? That Damien¡¯s influence was turning her away from me? Or perhaps more truthfully, that I had reason to feel the growing resentment that sometimes threatened to consume me?


    Of course he wasn¡¯t. Damien Thorne didn¡¯t fight for things he didn¡¯t want.


    Just before two o¡¯clock, ra made her entrance, elegant in a pale blue dress that highlighted her still¨Cvibrant eyes. Cora rushed to greet her with a hug, but I noticed her fidgeting nervously as ra bent to kiss her cheek.


    ¡°Good evening, Ms. Vance,¡± Mr. Finch replied. ¡°Miss Cora.¡±


    She pulled back, her expression bright. ¡°I drew you a picture at school! It¡¯s in my bag.¡± As we walked to my car, I felt Damien¡¯s eyes on us from the doorway. I didn¡¯t look back. I swirled the wine in my ss. ¡°Moving forward. Damien isn¡¯t contesting anything.¡±


    122 The Unspoken Judgment


    As guests began arriving around noon, I noticed Cora growing increasingly quiet. She kept ncing at the gifts table, her expression troubled.


    The realization dawned on her face, morphing from confusion to embarrassment. Her voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I forgot to make something.¡±


    ¡°Would you care for some tea while you wait?¡± Mr. Finch offered.


    The drive to the Vance residence was filled with Cora¡¯s animated chatter about school and thetest video game Damien had bought her. I listened attentively, asking questions at the right moments, while part of my mind wandered to tomorrow¡¯s celebration.


    I kept my expression neutral, though her words stirred something deep inside me. ¡°It¡¯s okay, sweetheart. Your hug is the best gift Great¨CGrandma could ask for.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± I replied evenly. ¡°I¡¯ll let her know.¡±


    Comment 1

 The Sprawling 123

    123 The Sabotaged Celebration¡¯s Sting


    123 The Sabotaged Celebration¡¯s Sting


    ¡°Deliberately scheduled today?¡± I asked, though I already knew the answer.


    The Shaw family had orchestrated a perfect social slight, leveraging Damien¡¯s influence to draw people away. And Damien¨Cmy soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband¨Chad allowed it, perhaps even encouraged it.


    ¡°Everything alright, dear?¡± she asked when I approached. ¡°You look concerned.¡±


    ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have arrived,¡± the event coordinator informed me. ¡°Table


    three.¡±


    ra¡¯s knowing gaze saw right through me. ¡°People have other ces to be. It¡¯s quite alright.¡±


    ¡°Need a hand?¡± I offered, tying my robe more securely.


    ¡°Look how it catches the light, Grandma,¡± Mom said diplomatically, moving the vase to


    a sunny spot.


    ra¡¯s fingers traced the iid initials. ¡°You¡¯ve always noticed the small things, ra. Unlike some people.¡± Thest part was murmured softly, but I caught it.


    Mrs. Lawrence at least had the grace to look embarrassed. ¡°Another engagement, I¡¯m afraid. Please give ra our best.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s putting it mildly,¡± I murmured, thinking of my own fractured marriage.


    Chloe frowned. ¡°Not that I¡¯ve heard of. Society calendar was clear except for ra¡¯s


    milestone.¡±


    When my turn came, I handed ra a slender package wrapped in cream paper. She unwrapped it carefully to reveal a handcrafted wooden writing box with her initials iid in mother¨Cof¨Cpearl.


    ¡°Great¨CGrandma, you¡¯re so old today!¡± Cora announced with childish frankness.


    ¡°Coco!¡± admonished gently.


    But as I watched more guests discreetly check their watches, I knew the <b>damage </b><b>was </b>already done. ra was <b>too </b>perceptive not to notice, too proud <b>to </b><b>acknowledge </b><b>it</b>.


    123 The Sabotaged Celebration¡¯s Sting


    ¡°She misses Miranda,¡± Dad said quietly, joining me by the window while ra showed Cora her collection of antique music boxes. ¡°More than she lets on.¡±


    An awkward silence followed her innocentparison. ra¡¯s smile tightened slightly, but she recovered quickly. ¡°Indeed it is. Now, who wants a scone?¡±


    Cora shuffled forward, her expression uncertain. ¡°I forgot to make something,¡± she admitted, ¡°but I can sing you the birthday song!¡±


    Robert Langley, usually jovial, looked ufortable. ¡°Your father was asking about the guest situation.¡±


    Robert cleared his throat. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say anything, but since Victor asked directly¡­ There¡¯s a housewarming party tonight. At the Shaw estate.¡±


    And as I watched Cora yawn disinterestedly beside ra, clearly finding her great¨Cgrandmother¡¯s celebration tediouspared to the exciting events at the Thorne mansion, I wondered if the damage extended beyond tonight¡¯s party to the very foundations of our family itself.


    Next came arge, ostentatious package¨CDamien¡¯s contribution. ra unwrapped it with noticeably less enthusiasm, revealing an extravagant crystal vase from a renowned French designer.


    The morning of ra¡¯s birthday dawned with golden sunlight streaming through the curtains. I found my father already in the kitchen, carefully arranging a breakfast tray with ra¡¯s favorites: freshly baked scones, clotted cream, and strawberry preserves.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked, sliding into an empty chair.


    The pieces fell into ce with sickening rity. The timing was no coincidence. This was a deliberate move to undermine ra¡¯s celebration¨Cto show where true power in our social circle nowy.


    But the exodus continued. By nine o¡¯clock, nearly a third of the confirmed guests had made polite excuses and departed. The remaining crowd was mostly family and ra¡¯s closest friends¨Cloyal, but noticeably smaller than anticipated.


    ¡°Breakfast in bed was Victor¡¯s idea,¡± Mom exined, adjusting ra¡¯s pearl earrings.


    By evening, we had moved to the Grand Willow Hotel for the formal celebration. <b>ra </b>looked resplendent in midnight blue silk, greeting her guests with practiced <b>grace</b>. I


    123 The Sabotaged Celebration¡¯s Sting


    stood nearby, clipboard in hand, ensuring everything ran ording to n.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± I lied smoothly. ¡°Just checking if you need anything.¡±


    ¡°Happy birthday, Grandma,¡± I said, bending to kiss her cheek.


    Dad squeezed my shoulder. ¡°Family isplicated, sweetheart.¡±


    Insidey a fountain pen of polished rosewood, alongside matching stationery embossed with her monogram.


    ¡°I know,¡± I sighed. ¡°I miss her too, sometimes. The person she used to be, at least.¡±


    Over the next hour, a disturbing pattern emerged. One by one, prominent guests would arrive, offer perfunctory congrattions, present their gifts, and then discreetly slip away. Each cited ¡°anothermitment¡± with remarkable consistency.


    Cora¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s even older than Dad¡¯spany!¡±


    ¡°Later, sweetheart. It¡¯s not polite to use phones during a party.¡±


    Dad¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°Tell her what you told me, Robert.¡±


    ¡°Open it,¡± I¨Cencouraged.


    We made our way to ra¡¯s suite, where Mom was already helping her dress. My grandmother sat regally at her vanity, her silver hair swept into an elegant knot.


    I didn¡¯t defend Damien¡¯s choice as I once would have. Some battles weren¡¯t worth


    fighting anymore.


    ¡°For all those letters you write to your friends,¡± I exined. ¡°I noticed your old pen was wearing out.¡±


    ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± I asked, intercepting them near the exit.


    As Cora skipped away, I noticed my father in deep conversation with Robert Langley, one of his oldest friends. Their expressions were serious, heads bent close together. Dad¡¯looked up, caught my eye, and gestured for me to join them.


    As the morning progressed, I found myself watching ra closely. Despite being surrounded by family, there was a shadow of loneliness about her that I hadn¡¯t noticed before¨Cor perhaps had simply chosen not to see.


    123 The Sabotaged Celebration¡¯s Sting


    ra¡¯s POV.


    ra¡¯s eyes crinkled with delight as we gathered around her. Even Cora, still in her unicorn pajamas, had woken early to join the celebration.


    ra patted my hand. ¡°Thank you, dear. What a lovely surprise.¡±


    I found ra at her table, surrounded by well¨Cwishers but clearly aware of the dwindling attendance.


    The name hit me like a physical blow. Shaw¨CVivienne¡¯s maternal family.


    I nodded, mentally checking them off my list. The Lawrences had been business associates of my father¡¯s for over thirty years. Their presence was expected.


    ra merely nodded, already turning her attention to Cora. ¡°And what about you, my little one? Just having you here is gift enough.¡±


    Dad¡¯shook his head. ¡°And she won¡¯t¨Cnot tonight. This is still her birthday.¡±


    ¡°Victor,¡± ra whispered, visibly moved. ¡°I thought this was lost decades ago.¡±


    Her dignified eptance only made me feel worse. I squeezed her hand before moving away to check on Cora, who was growing restless at the children¡¯s table.


    ¡°Found it in a safety deposit box Mom left. Took some detective work,¡± Dad exined, looking pleased with himself.


    ¡°Well, technically breakfast at vanity,¡± Dad joked, setting down the tray. ¡°But the sentiment stands.¡±


    ¡°Is there some other event tonight I don¡¯t know about?¡± I asked Chloe when she arrived. ¡°Half the guests are treating this like a drop¨Cby.¡±


    Dad looked up with a smile. ¡°Just finished. Thought we¡¯d start the day right for her.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± I prompted.


    After breakfast, we gathered in the sunroom for the gift exchange. Dad presented ra with a vintage brooch that had belonged to her mother, carefully restored to its former glory.


    ¡°When can I call Dad?¡± she asked, tugging at my dress. ¡°I want to tell him about the cake.¡±


    123 The Sabotaged Celebration¡¯s Sting


    ¡°How¡­ predictable,¡± she remarked coolly, setting it aside without furtherment.


    ¡°He¡¯s the guest of honor, from what I¡¯ve heard,¡± Robert confirmed. ¡°Along with Vivienne- Dubois, of course. The Shaws are treating it as something of an unofficial engagement


    celebration.¡±


    What wasn¡¯t expected was their departure barely forty¨Cfive minutester.


    But raughed, a sound like wind chimes. ¡°Yes, darling, I am. Eighty¨Cfive years old today. Can you imagine?¡±


    Her impromptu performance lifted the mood, though I couldn¡¯t help noticing how ra¡¯s gaze lingered on the empty chair where Miranda, my estranged sister, should have been sitting. Some absences were impossible to ignore, no matter how festive the


    asion.


    Robert nodded reluctantly. ¡°Invitations went outst week. Very exclusive. Everyone who¡¯s anyone in business circles received one.¡±


    The innocentment stung more than it should have. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go see if Great¨CGrandma has started opening her presents?¡± I suggested, redirecting her


    attention.


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± Dad said, his voice tight with controlled anger. ¡°Damien Thorne is attending.¡±


    ¡°Does ra know?¡± I asked, ncing toward my grandmother. She was smiling as she opened gifts, maintaining perfect poise despite the half¨Cempty room.


    Before I could respond, they hurried away.


    Cora pouted. ¡°But I miss Auntie Vivi. She would make this party more fun.¡±


    The realization burned like acid in my chest. This wasn¡¯t just about social climbing or petty rivalries. This was a calcted move to publicly diminish my family¡¯s standing¡ª to show that aligning with Damien Thorne and Vivienne Dubois was more beneficial than honoring decades¨Clong rtionships with the Vance family.

 The Sprawling 124

    124 A Birthday Betrayal Unfolds


    ¡°You okay?¡± she asked quietly.


    As the waiter walked away, Dad turned to me. ¡°No, we don¡¯t tell her. Not tonight. Let¡¯s salvage what we can of this evening.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s precisely why we won¡¯t give them the satisfaction of seeing us affected,¡± ra said firmly. ¡°Now, I believe we were about to cut the cake?¡±


    I found Cora at the dessert table, piling her te with more cake than she could possibly eat.


    Her innocent observation stung. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. People have to go home.¡±


    As Julian turned away to join ra and my father, I found myself wondering what¨Cor who¨Ccould possibly counter the social coup Damien had engineered tonight. The Shaw celebration was clearly designed to establish a new social order, with Damien and Vivienne at its center.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Dad nodded stiffly. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Her directness was startling but oddly refreshing.


    I sat, taking her hand in mine. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m so sorry about this.¡±


    ¡°Of course it would,¡± Dad muttered. ¡°Makes the statement even clearer, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± I asked.


    Before Dad could answer, one of the waiters approached our table.


    ¡°Thank you, Julian,¡± ra said warmly. ¡°And please, both of you, sit down. I assume you have news to share?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Vance, Mrs. Thompson and the Wilsons are leaving. They asked me to convey their applogies.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± I asked, suddenly alert.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t about you, you know,¡± she said. ¡°This is Damien trying to flex his muscles-


    124 A Birthday Betrayal Unfolds


    showing everyone that he controls the social hierarchy now.¡±


    ¡°Coco, that¡¯s enough sweets for tonight,¡± I said, gently taking the te from her.


    ra¡¯sugh¨Cheld no bitterness. ¡°Perfect is for fairy tales, ra. I¡¯m eighty¨Cfive years old. Do you think this is the first social slight I¡¯ve weathered?¡±


    ¡°None of that now,¡± she said firmly. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time the Dubois family has attempted to undermine us, nor will it be thest. But we endure, ra. We always


    endure.¡±


    As the evening wound down, I found myself standing near the windows, watching as


    my waist. thest guests departed. Chloe joined me, slipping an arm around


    Dad rubbed his forehead, a gesture I recognized as his attempt to contain anger. ¡°This goes beyond poor manners. This is a calcted insult.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I replied. ¡°But it hurts ra, which means it hurts me.¡±


    So Damien had told her about the Shaw event. Of course he had.


    I nodded, a cold feeling settling in my stomach. ¡°The timing is too perfect to be coincidental.¡±


    ra straightened in her chair, her posture suddenly regal, ¡°Absolutely not. The Vances do not retreat. Those who¡¯ve chosen to stay¨Cthose are the people who matter. We¡¯ll continue as nned.¡±


    I shot Dad an rmed look, but he gave a small shrug.


    She waved away my apology. ¡°For what? That the Shaws and Dubois family have no shame? That your husband-¡± she paused, correcting herself, ¡°-soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband uses his influence for petty vendettas? None of that is your doing.¡±


    Chloe sighed. ¡°Men like Damien don¡¯t think about coteral damage. They only see targets and victories.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s noticed,¡± I said softly. ¡°She¡¯s not saying anything, but she knows.¡±


    Walking through the half¨Cempty hall felt like navigating a battlefield after retreat. Small clusters of guests remained, their conversations hushed, as though the very air had been sucked out of the celebration.


    124 A Birthday Betrayal Unfolds


    ¡°They deliberately scheduled it tonight,¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°Knowing full well it was Mother¡¯s 85th birthday.¡±


    ¡°By which she means she drove past the Shaw estate on her way here,¡± Julian exined, bending to kiss ra¡¯s cheek. ¡°Happy birthday, Mrs. Bellweather. You look radiant as always.¡±


    ¡°Should we tell her outright?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Can I go home too?¡± she asked hopefully. ¡°Maybe Dad can pick me up!¡±


    He looked up, a slow smile spreading across his face. ¡°Just got an interesting text. Very interesting, actually.¡±


    He gave me a cryptic smile. ¡°It means I¡¯ll bring someone in to help¡­ You¡¯ll seeter.¡±


    Robert Langley shifted ufortably in his seat. ¡°If it helps, quite a few people expressed regret about¨Cleaving early. The Shaw invitation apparently specified that arriving after ten would be¡­ frowned upon.¡±


    Perhaps the game wasn¡¯t over yet. Perhaps it was just beginning.


    ¡°There you are, ra,¡± ra said as I approached. ¡°I was just telling your father not to worry about our dwindling guest list.¡±


    ¡°Loyalty is always in short supply among the social climbing set,¡± ra observed dryly. ¡°The worst part,¡±. Chloe continued, her voice rising with indignation, ¡°is that people are still arriving! Half of Boston¡¯s elite showing up to ast¨Cminute housewarming rather than honoring their RSVP to the birthday of one of the city¡¯s most respected matriarchs.¡±


    Dad followed my gaze. ¡°Mother has always been perceptive. Nothing gets past her.¡± ¡°Care to share with the ss?¡± Chloe prompted.


    Before I could ask, the doors to the hall opened, and Chloe burst in, her expression thunderous. Julian followed close behind, looking equally grim.


    There was something in her tone¨Ca hint of old pain¨Cthat made me wonder what historyy between our families that I didn¡¯t know about.


    Her strength was humbling. I squeezed her hand, wordlessly apologizing for the tears


    124 A Birthday Betrayal Unfolds.


    threatening to spill.


    I nodded, absorbing the blow. Even knowing what Damien was capable of, part of me had hoped he wouldn¡¯t actually attend¨Cthat he would draw some line at deliberately humiliating ra on her birthday.


    Victor Vance¡¯s face turned ashen as more details about the Shaw party emerged. His hands clenched the edge of the table, knuckles white with strain.


    ra smiled. ¡°Hello to you too, Chloe dear. I¡¯m so d you could make it.¡±


    I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.


    Julian pocketed his phone. ¡°Not yet. But I have a feeling the Shaws¡® victory celebration might be short¨Clived.¡±


    The eagerness in her voice was like a knife to my heart. I knelt down to her level, forcing a smile. ¡°Not tonight, sweetheart. You¡¯re staying with me at Grandpa¡¯s house, remember? It¡¯s Great¨CGrandma¡¯s special day.¡±


    ¡°And Damien?¡± I couldn¡¯t help asking, hating the way my voice caught on his name.


    I stood up, smoothing down my dress. ¡°I should check on Cora.¡±


    ra patted the seat beside her. ¡°Sit down, dear. No need to hover like I might break.¡± ¡°Maybe another time,¡± I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.


    Julian approached us, his phone in hand. He had a curious expression on his face¨Cpart surprise, part satisfaction.


    Cora¡¯s face fell. ¡°But Dad said there would be fireworks at the party tonight.¡± Chloe had the grace to look momentarily chastened. ¡°Mrs. Bellweather, happy birthday. I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte¨CI was gathering intelligence.¡±


    But something in Julian¡¯s confident smile gave me pause. For the first time that evening, I felt a flicker of hope.


    ¡°Have you heard?¡± Chloe demanded, not bothering with pleasantries as she reached our table. ¡°The absolute nerve of those people!¡±


    Chloe didn¡¯t need to be asked twice. She dropped into a chair, her designer handbagnding with a thud. ¡°It¡¯s worse than we thought. The Shaws have transformed their


    entire estate into some bizarre winter wondend. Lights everywhere, valet parking, champagne fountains¨Cthe works.¡±


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s your birthday,¡± I insisted. ¡°It should have been perfect.¡±


    She pouted. ¡°But I¡¯m bored! Everyone¡¯s leaving.¡±


    +155


    Her calm dignity silenced our protests. The cake ceremony proceeded with fewer guests than anticipated, but those who remained sang with genuine affection. ra blew out her candles with a wish she declined to share, though the determined gleam in her eye suggested it might involve some form of retribution.


    I nced across the room to where ra sat, still opening gifts with a gracious smile. Despite the thinning crowd, she maintained her poise, thanking each gift¨Cgiver as though they were the most important person in the room.


    Dad cleared his throat. ¡°We could make an announcement, Mother. Say you¡¯re feeling unwell. End the evening with dignity rather than watching this slow exodus.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression softened with sympathy. ¡°He arrived about an hour ago. With


    Vivienne.¡± <ul><li></li></ul>


    ¡°Mother figured it out,¡± he said simply.


    When I returned to my father, he was speaking with ra. Her expression was serene, but I could see the knowing look in her eyes.

 The Sprawling 125

    125 Calcted Celebrations and Coveted Treasures


    125 Calcted Celebrations and Coveted Treasures


    Patricia saw her opening. ¡°I heard you acquired three pieces at the auction. The vase must have been quite special to stand out among your purchases.¡±


    As she gazed around their empty mansion, surrounded by the detritus of their social triumph, Patricia couldn¡¯t shake the nagging feeling that somewhere, someone else was about to be the beneficiary of Damien Thorne¡¯s mysterious generosity ¨C and the thought left her feeling oddly hollow despite the evening¡¯s sess.


    Ruby nodded enthusiastically. ¡°The mighty have fallen indeed. First ra¡¯s marriage implodes, and now this social disaster. The Vance family isn¡¯t what it once was.¡±


    ¡°Your sess speaks for itself,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°Enjoy your new home.¡±


    The subtle dig was not lost on Patricia, but she maintained herposure. ¡°When something is meant to be, everything falls into ce naturally.¡±


    The statement drew knowing chuckles from those nearby. Patricia savored the moment, imagining ra¡¯s humiliation and ra¡¯s distress. The thought was sweeter than the chocte truffles being served.


    ¡°Nothing more than a hundred thousand dors,¡± someone muttered, followed by appreciativeughter.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Damien agreed. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse us, there are several people I need to speak with.¡±


    Patricia beamed at what she perceived as apliment. ¡°Thank you, Damien. We couldn¡¯t have done it without your support.¡±


    ¡°Mason,¡± she whispered, touching her husband¡¯s arm. ¡°I think it¡¯s time we circted. The Hendersons just arrived, and they¡¯ve been trying to secure that contract with Montgomery Industries.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Shaw, these canap¨¦s are divine,¡± gushed Mrs. Holloway, one of Boston¡¯s most prominent socialites. ¡°And the orchid arrangements! Simply breathtaking.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Damien responded, his arm settling around Vivienne¡¯s waist. ¡°Speaking of which, I believe congrattions are in order for your acquisition of this estate. It¡¯s quite a step up from your previous home.¡±


    20:14


    125 Calcted Celebrations and Coveted Treasures.


    Patricia nodded absently, but doubt had crept in where certainty once resided. If not for them, then who was the recipient of Damien¡¯s third treasured acquisition? And why had he gone to such lengths to support their party if not to make a grand gesture of alliance?


    ¡°Damien has exquisite taste,¡± Vivienne confirmed, her voice carrying just enough to ensure others heard. ¡°He knows how much Mother appreciates fine porcin. The vase was a thoughtful gesture, nothing more.¡±


    Patricia stood frozen at the doorway, watching as Damien¡¯s car disappeared down the driveway. The third gift ¨C the precious treasure she had been certain was meant for them ¨C remained a mystery.


    ¡°That bracelet must have cost a fortune,¡± whispered Mrs. Peterson to herpanion. ¡°Damien Thorne certainly knows how to keep his woman happy.¡±


    As they made their way through the crowd, Patricia couldn¡¯t help but notice how all eyes seemed drawn to one corner of the room. There, Vivienne Dubois held court, resplendent in a midnight blue gown thatplemented her striking features. The diamond bracelet on her wrist caught the light with every graceful movement of her


    hand.


    Patricia felt a stab of envy. An antique vase for Erin Dubois? What had the woman done to deserve such avish gift? Then she remembered something Vivienne had mentioned during their lunchst week ¨C that Damien had sessfully bid on three items at the auction, not just one.


    Damien Thorne entered the room with his characteristicmanding presence. Every head turned, conversations briefly paused, then resumed with increased energy. This was the effect he had ¨C making an ordinary housewarming feel like a state dinner simply by his attendance.


    Patricia¡¯s POV


    Patricia nodded, a warm glow of satisfaction spreading through her chest. ¡°It makes perfect sense. The vase went to Erin, the bracelet to Vivienne, and whatever remaining treasure he acquired must be intended for us ¨C likely as a housewarming gift.¡±


    Patricia slowed her steps, lingering within earshot as Vivienne smiled at thepliments.


    20:14


    217


    125 Calcted Celebrations and Coveted Treasures


    ¡°Vivienne was just telling everyone about the magnificent vase you purchased for Erin. Such a thoughtful gift.¡±


    The soft melody of ssical music filled the air as Patricia Shaw surveyed her crowded living room with satisfaction. Guests mingled, champagne sses in hand, admiring the exquisite d¨¦cor of the newly renovated Shaw estate. The housewarming was aplete sess ¨C even better than she had dared to hope.


    Damien nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been a memorable evening, but we have an early start tomorrow.¡±


    Perfect timing, too. As Mason approached with fresh drinks, Patricia couldn¡¯t help but exchange a knowing nce with her husband. They had nned this event meticulously, deliberately scheduling it to coincide with ra Bellweather¡¯s birthday


    celebration.


    ¡°I heard the Vance gathering is practically empty, Linda said, her red¨Cpainted lips curving into a smirk. ¡°Can you imagine ra¡¯s embarrassment?¡±


    Patricia feigned sympathy. ¡°How unfortunate. Age catches up with everyone eventually, I suppose.¡±


    The thought sustained Patricia throughout the remainder of the party. Each time Damien nced her way, she felt a thrill of anticipation. Every announcement made her heart skip, thinking this might be the moment of revtion.


    ¡°Sometimes I wonder if Damien orchestrated the whole thing just to put ra in her ce,¡± Mason said, his voice low.


    Patricia smiled graciously. ¡°Thank you. We wanted everything to be perfect for our special guests.¡±


    The realization lifted Patricia¡¯s spirits immediately. If one gift went to Vivienne¡¯s mother, and presumably another to Vivienne herself, then the third¡­


    ¨C


    Patricia¡¯s heart raced with anticipation. This was it surely one of those precious items was intended for the Shaws. Why else would Damien have gone to such lengths to ensure their party¡¯s sess? The timing was perfect for a grand gesture that would cement their new social standing.


    ¡°Mason,¡± she said, squeezing her husband¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go greet Damien. He¡¯s just


    arrived.¡±


    20:14 GER


    377


    125 Calcted Celebrations and Coveted Treasures


    ¡°Patricia,¡± Vivienne greeted with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°What a lovely event. Though I¡¯m surprised you managed to pull it together so quickly,¡±


    ¡°Support that we deeply appreciate,¡± Mason added meaningfully. ¡°Your investment in our future means everything to us.¡±


    ¡°Mason,¡± she said urgently when she found him by the bar. ¡°It¡¯s nearly midnight. Most of our guests will be leaving soon. When do you think Damien ns to make his presentation?¡±


    Damien offered a polite smile. ¡°The pleasure is mine. You¡¯ve done an impressive job


    with the renovations.¡±


    Across the room, Linda Fairchild and Ruby Winters huddled together, their voices carrying just enough for Patricia to catch snippets of their conversation.


    ¡°Did you hear about the antique vase he bought for her mother at the auctionst week?¡± replied the other woman. ¡°Apparently it¡¯s a museum¨Cquality piece from the Ming dynasty.¡±


    Something flickered in Damien¡¯s eyes ¨C amusement, perhaps? ¡°Each item I acquired has a specific purpose and recipient in mind,¡± he said carefully.


    Mason frowned slightly. ¡°Perhaps we misunderstood. The gift mighteter, or be delivered privately.¡±


    Damien merely nodded, his expression unreadable. Patricia rushed to fill the awkward


    silence.


    Patricia clinked her ss against his. ¡°Indeed. Who would have thought ra¡¯s little attempt to sabotage us would turn out so beautifully in our favor?¡±


    Mason nodded. ¡°Strategicworking at its finest. This party is an investment, my


    dear.¡±


    But as the clock struck midnight and guests began making their farewells, Patricia¡¯s confidence wavered. Damien and Vivienne were among those preparing to depart, with no indication of any special gift forting.


    ¡°We had an excellent architect,¡± Mason said, pping Damien on the shoulder with forced familiarity. ¡°Your rmendation was spot on.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Patricia said, pausing significantly. ¡°Thank you again for everything you¡¯ve


    20:14


    125 Calcted Colebrations and Coveted Treasures


    done to make tonight special.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s waiting for the right moment to present it,¡± Mason suggested. ¡°Something dramatic to end the evening with.¡±


    ¡°How mysterious,¡± she remarked lightly. ¡°Though I suppose the best gifts are those given with careful thought rather than random extravagance.¡±


    Patricia pretended not to hear, but inwardly she glowed with triumph. This was exactly what they had hoped for ¨C a definitive shift in the social hierarchy with the Shaws ascending while the Vance family¡¯s influence waned.


    Her husband shrugged. ¡°Patience, dear. Damien moves ording to his own timetable.¡±


    ¡°Damien! We¡¯re so honored you could join us,¡± Patricia gushed, air¨Ckissing his cheeks. ¡°The party wouldn¡¯t be the same without you.¡±


    As the evening progressed, Patricia found herself growing anxious. Damien had made no move to present any gift, special announcement, or further endorsement of the Shaws. Perhaps he was waiting until the very end?


    Vivienne touched the diamonds with delicate fingers. ¡°A small token of affection. Damien is incredibly generous.¡±


    ¡°And what you value clearly has excellent taste,¡± Patricia said, her eyes lingering on Vivienne¡¯s bracelet. ¡°That piece is simply exquisite.¡±


    Fighting rising panic, Patricia approached them at the door. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± she asked, her voice artificially bright.


    Patricia watched as Vivienne glided across the room to join them, fitting herself perfectly against Damien¡¯s side. The diamond bracelet sparkled under the chandelier light.


    The party continued in full swing, guest after guest approaching topliment the Shaws on their spectacr home and impable taste. Patricia epted eachpliment with rehearsed humility, all while keeping one eye on Damien.


    She still remembered how smugly ra had informed them that Damien would be attending ra¡¯s birthday celebration instead of their housewarming. What ra hadn¡¯t anticipated was Damien¡¯s own intervention ¨C calling them personally to suggest


    ¡ª


    20.14 ¨C


    125 Calcted Celebrations and Coveted Treasures


    rescheduling to the same evening as ra¡¯s party, promising his attendance and influence.


    It was the perfect opening ¨C an invitation for him to reveal whatever magnificent gift he had been saving for the grand finale. Instead, Damien merely inclined his head.


    Patriciaughed softly. ¡°Whatever his reasons, I¡¯m grateful. Look around ¨C half of Boston¡¯s elite is here instead of at that tired old birthday party.¡±


    ¡°Quite a turnout,¡± Mason murmured as he handed her a flute of champagne. ¡°I¡¯d say we¡¯ve sessfully made our statement.¡±


    ¡°Did you hear?¡± Linda whispered as she passed Patricia near the dessert table. ¡°Apparently ra Bellweather¡¯s party ended early. Most guests had already left by nine.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Patricia insisted. ¡°The whole point would be the public acknowledgment.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it will arrive tomorrow,¡± Mason suggested weakly as they closed the door on thest departing guests. ¡°A delivery service, maybe.¡±


    ¡°I know what Erin values,¡± Damien replied simply.


    As Damien and Vivienne moved away, Mason leaned close to Patricia¡¯s ear. ¡°Did you see how he avoided borating? He¡¯s nning something big for us.¡±


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    126 Vivienne¡¯s Cominand Amidst Dy


    126 Vivienne¡¯s Command Amidst Dy


    It was smart, calcted, I could respect the strategy even if I found the execution somewhatcking in subtlety,


    ¡°Miss Dubois, a moment?¡± Mason asked, his expression concerned.


    Patricia preened at thepliment. ¡°We believe in proper hospitality. It¡¯s a family


    tradition.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Patricia nodded vigorously. ¡°The demands of an empire like his must be constant. How fortunate he has you to represent him so capably.¡±


    The relief on Mason¡¯s face was immediate. He needed this dinner to be perfect¨Chis family¡¯s social standing depended on it.


    The chiming sound of a fork against crystal interrupted our conversation. Mason Shaw stood at the head of the room,manding attention.


    Polite apuse rippled through the room.


    I sipped my champagne slowly, observing the scene with mixed feelings. Beck and Miler were my friends¨Cequals I respected. Yet watching Linda Shaw flutter her eyshes at Beck for the tenth time made my stomach turn.


    The unspoken question hung between us: What would Damien want?


    ¡°Speaking of golden tickets,¡± Miler nced around the ballroom. ¡°Where¡¯s Damien? I was looking forward to discussing the Singapore proposal with him.¡±


    I clinked my ss against his empty one, smiling. ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Patricia¡¯s smile tightened almost imperceptibly. ¡°How modern. Well, please do let him know he was missed when you speak with him next.¡±


    ¡°I want to thank you all for your patience earlier,¡± she said graciously. ¡°The brief disruption has been resolved, and I¡¯m grateful for your understanding. It¡¯s moments like these that remind us what truly matters¨Cthe people we choose to surround


    ourselves with.¡±


    ¡°Are you really?¡± I asked, arching an eyebrow.


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    126 Vivienne¡¯s Command Amidst Dy


    The question I¡¯d been fielding all evening. I kept my expression neutral despite the growing knot of concern in my stomach. Damien was neverte¨Cnot to important events like this.


    Across the room, Patricia Shaw was making her rounds, stopping to speak with each important guest. Her path was calcted, working her way toward Beck. The woman was nothing if not methodical in her social maneuvers.


    ¡°Thank you, Vivienne. I¡¯ll instruct the staff to begin service.¡±


    ¡°Everything is excellent,¡± Miler replied graciously. ¡°The Shaws know how to wee guests.¡±


    As we entered the dining room, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder about the other dinner happening across town. ra Bellweather would be concluding her birthday celebration by now. Had that event gone as nned, or had there been unexpected developments there as well?


    I knew what wasing next. The same question everyone had been asking all


    evening.


    ¡°They want what they want,¡± I murmured, finishing my champagne. ¡°And they see Beck as their golden ticket into the upper echelons.¡±


    I hesitated. With Beck, I could be more honest than with others. ¡°To tell you the truth, I¡¯m a little concerned. It¡¯s unusual for him to be out of contact for this long.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to check about dinner,¡± Mason said quietly. ¡°We¡¯ve held the start time as long as possible, but the chef is concerned about the quality of certain dishes if we dy


    further.¡±


    Beck nodded to us both and moved away, giving us privacy.


    Beck reappeared at my side as we began moving toward the dining room. ¡°Decisive leadership suits you,¡± he remarked quietly.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, it¡¯s my great pleasure to wee you all to this special gathering in honor of our distinguished guests, Mr. Beck and Mr. Miler.¡±


    Beckughed softly. ¡°Is it that obvious? I admire your poise¨Cyou make these events look effortless.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s handling some urgent business overseas. The situation required his personal


    20.14


    126 Vivienne¡¯s Command Amidst Dy


    attention,¡± I exined smoothly. ¡°He sends his deepest apologies and assures me he¡¯ll join us as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Seeking asylum?¡± I asked, smiling.


    ¡°He would want us to proceed,¡± I said firmly. ¡°If he arrives during dinner, he¡¯ll join us without disruption. That¡¯s how he would handle it.¡±


    Miler excused himself to refill his drink, leaving me momentarily alone. I scanned the room, taking in the carefully orchestrated social dance. The Shaws had invited exactly the right people to impress Beck and Miler¨Cinfluential business leaders, minor celebrities, and old¨Cmoney families whose presence legitimized their own rtively


    recent wealth.


    ¡°Miss Dubois.¡±


    I recognized the moment for what it was¨Ca test of my authority, my position. Mason wasn¡¯t merely asking about dinner timing; he was asking if I had the right to make


    decisions in Damien¡¯s absence.


    As she moved away, I checked my phone discreetly. Still no message from Damien. This wasn¡¯t like him. Even when emergencies pulled him away, he remained in contact


    with me. The knot of concern in my stomach tightened.


    I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. The Shaws¡® desperation was palpable, their eagerness to forge a connection between Linda and Beck transparent to everyone except, perhaps, themselves.


    ¡°Speaking of Damien,¡± Beck continued, ncing around. ¡°I was surprised not to see him. This seems like exactly the type of event he¡¯d ensure he attended, especially with


    the Meridian deal on the horizon.¡±


    Mason Shaw materialized beside them, his attention fixed on Beck like a predator eyeing prey. ¡°My daughter has excellent taste in travel destinations. Perhaps you could advise her on the best amodations in Monaco? She¡¯s nning a trip this summer.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± I replied.


    Miler nodded, epting my exnation without question. That was the benefit of the position Damien and I had established. When I spoke for him, people listened.


    People began to move, but Mason¡¯s eyes found me across the crowd. He excused


    20:14 2


    126 Vivienne¡¯s Command Amidst Dy


    himself from the well¨Cwishers surrounding him and made his way directly to where


    Beck and I stood.


    ¡°I was hoping to discuss the Asian markets with Damien,¡± Patricia said, ncing around. ¡°Will he be joining us soon?¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s POV


    ¡°You¡¯re certain?¡± Mason pressed. ¡°He might arrive at any moment.¡±


    Beck nodded, his expression softening. ¡°You always did understand. That¡¯s why Damien and I get along so well, too. No pretense.¡±


    As Mason hurried away, I felt eyes on me from around the room. Everyone had witnessed our exchange, noted my confident directive given without hesitation. They¡¯d seen Mason Shaw¨Ca man who prided himself on his connections to power¡ª defer to my judgment regarding Damien¡¯s wishes.


    Her words were honeyed, but I detected the curiosity beneath. Everyone wanted to know exactly what my role was in Damien¡¯s absence¨Cwas I merely a ceholder or something more authoritative?


    Beck¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°That is unlike him. Have you-


    ¡°Shall we?¡± I said to Beck, gesturing toward the dining room. The gathered elite of Boston followed our lead, conversations buzzing with spection about Damien¡¯s absence and, more tellingly, about my evident authority in his ce.


    ¡°Vivienne!¡± Patricia eximed when she reached us, her voice too loud, too eager. ¡°Are you enjoying yourself? And Mr. Miler¨CI hope everything is to your satisfaction?¡±


    I maintained my practiced smile. ¡°He¡¯s dealing with an urgent matter overseas. Business waits for no one, as I¡¯m sure you understand.¡±


    Meanwhile, across town, ra Bellweather stood at the head table of her birthday celebration, addressing her guests.


    ¡°You prefer authenticity,¡± I finished for him. ¡°I remember.¡±


    I straightened my shoulders, meeting Mason¡¯s gaze directly. ¡°We should begin dinner as scheduled. Damien would prioritize thefort of his guests and the quality of their experience over protocol.¡±


    20:14


    126 Vivienne¡¯s Command Amidst Dy


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re certainly a worthy representative in his absence,¡± Miler said, raising his ss to me. ¡°To partnerships that withstand distance.¡±


    I turned to find Beck approaching, relief evident in his expression as he escaped Linda¡¯s clutches.


    ¡°Years of practice,¡± I replied. ¡°Though I must admit, the Shaws¡® particr brand of hospitality can be¡­ overwhelming¡±


    Miler chuckled, his eyes darting to where Linda was nowughing too loudly at something Beck said. ¡°Point taken. Social climbing is rarely subtle.¡±


    ¡°Vivienne,¡± Miler appeared at my side, a wee distraction. ¡°This is quite the reception. I¡¯m surprised the Shaws went to such lengths.¡±


    Warm apuse followed her words. At the edge of the gathering, Victor Vance caught the eye of the head server and gave a subtle nod. It was time for dinner to be served.


    ¡°We¡¯ve prepared an exquisite dining experience to follow our reception. If you¡¯ll all begin making your way to the adjacent ballroom, our servers will guide you to your assigned seating¡±


    ¡°Like being smothered in expensive perfume,¡± Beck agreed, lowering his voice. ¡°I appreciate their efforts, but-¡±


    Beck smiled politely. ¡°It¡¯s quite the spectacle, though I prefer the quieter corners of


    Europe.¡±


    The atmosphere in the Baumond Hotel¡¯s Grand Ballroom was electric. The Shaws had outdone themselves with the wee reception for Beck and Miler. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the gathering of Boston¡¯s elite, all eager to impress the distinguished visitors.


    ¡°Mr. Beck, you simply must tell me more about your adventures in Monaco,¡± Linda cooed, touching his arm. ¡°I¡¯ve always dreamed of visiting the Grand Prix.¡±


    ¡°Damien and I are partners in all things,¡± I said simply, letting the implication hang in


    the air.


    I smiled, though my thoughts remained with Damien. Where was he? What urgent situation had demanded his attention sopletely that he¡¯d gone silent?

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    127 The Tycoon¡¯s Esteemed Presence


    127 The Tycoon¡¯s Esteemed Presence


    ¡°Like the nuances of human rtionships?¡± he asked pointedly.


    ¡°But the marriage¨C¡± Grandmother began, concern etching her features.


    A weight seemed to lift from Grandmother¡¯s shoulders. She reached across the table and patted my hand. ¡°Good, good. That¡¯s all I needed to know.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    We took our seats beside him. My grandmother beamed at us from across the table, looking more animated than I¡¯d seen her all evening. The other guests resumed their conversations, though I noticed many eyes still darting toward our table.


    ¡°I wanted to,¡± he replied simply.


    ¡°Was her choice,¡± Mr. Newman finished firmly. ¡°And now her choice to end it shows strength, not failure.¡±


    The divorce papers waiting to be finalized, the challenges at YodaVision, theplicated rtionship with Cora¨Call of it seemed suddenly more manageable under the approving gaze of a man whose opinion carried the weight of entire industries.


    I stiffened at the mention of my mother¡¯s name. Miranda Vance had abandoned our family when I was just a child, leaving behind a legacy of broken promises and heartbreak.1


    ¡°Julian Croft,¡± he acknowledged with a slight nod. ¡°Your recent work on predictive algorithms is impressive.¡±


    ¡°Traditional methods were too limiting,¡± I replied, finding my v¨°ice. ¡°They couldn¡¯t


    ount for nuance.¡±


    ¡°ra Bellweather. Radiant as ever, even on your seventy¨Cfifth birthday.¡±


    The room fell silent. Every head turned toward him as if pulled by maic force. Even the waitstaff froze mid¨Cstep/drinks in hand.


    I turned slowly, disbelieving. Standing at the entrance was Zachary Newman himself- tech visionary, billionaire innovator, and one of the most elusive figures in our


    industry.


    20.16


    127 The Tycoon¡¯s Esteemed Presence


    In that moment, I understood something profound about my grandmother¡¯s concerns all these years. It wasn¡¯t just about my happiness in marriage¨Cit was about her fear that my potential would be squandered, that I might follow my mother¡¯s path of


    abandoned dreams.


    Grandmother¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°We nearly did.¡±


    Grandmother sighed. ¡°I just worry. She paused her brilliance once for that man. All those years¡­


    My heart hammered against my ribs. ¡°You¡¯ve seen my work?¡±


    Whatever it was, his presence at this dinner had shifted something fundamental. In my grandmother¡¯s eyes, in the other guests¡® perception of me, and perhaps most importantly, in my own understanding of my path forward.


    Mr. Newman nodded solemnly. ¡°Her research on emotional response patterns in AI is groundbreaking. What YodaVision is developing under her guidance could transform how we approach artificial intelligence altogether. Her talents aren¡¯t going to waste, ra. They¡¯re finally being properly utilized.¡±


    Mr. Newman walked forward,manding the space without effort. ¡°I promised I would. Have I ever broken a promise to you, ra?¡±


    Mr. Newman approached my grandmother, taking her hands in his. ¡°Happy birthday, old friend.¡± He ced a small, elegantly wrapped package on the table before her. ¡°Something to remind you of simpler days.¡±


    I met his gaze. ¡°Exactly like that.¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± Julian whispered urgently. ¡°Come on.¡±


    My father nodded quickly and signaled to the waitstaff. The servers sprang into action, the momentary spell of inaction broken.


    Mr. Newman looked directly at me then. ¡°Sometimes we need detours to appreciate the main road, ra. ra¡¯s talents didn¡¯t diminish during those years¨Cthey matured. Her recent work shows a depth of understanding thates only with life


    experience.¡±


    Mr. Newman considered his response carefully. ¡°ra, your granddaughter has surpassed any shadow that might have been cast. She¡¯s forged her own path.¡±


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    127 The Tycoon¡¯s Esteemed Presence


    ¡°Yes, I know who you are,¡± Mr. Newman replied without borating. He gestured to the seat across from him. ¡°Please, join us. I believe dinner is waiting to be served.¡±


    I nodded, smoothing down my dress as I prepared to meet whoever this mystery attendee might be. Before Julian could say more, a distinct voice cut through the ambient chatter.


    And somehow, it was Zachary Newman¡¯s assessment¨Cnot Julian¡¯s encouragement or my own assurances¨Cthat finally set her mind at ease.


    Julian nudged me forward. We were meant to join them, yet my feet felt rooted to the floor. This was THE Zachary Newman¨Cthe man whose innovations had changed the techndscape, whose approval could make or break careers. And he was here, at my grandmother¡¯s birthday dinner, speaking to her like an old friend.


    Julian nodded enthusiastically. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯ve been saying. Her algorithm for emotional pattern recognition is revolutionary precisely because of her unique perspective.¡±


    As the first course was served, Grandmother leaned toward Mr. Newman. ¡°Thank you foring, Zachary. It means more than


    you know.¡±


    That voice. Deep,manding, unmistakable.


    I blinked in surprise. ¡°You were there?¡±


    Then Mr. Newman turned to me. ¡°And ra Vance. Your breakthrough on cognitive recognition patterns has stirred up quite the conversation in certain circles.¡±


    Mr. Newman¡¯s lips curved slightly¨Cnot quite a smile, but close. ¡°Indeed you are. And making quite an impact, I might add. Your presentation at the Singapore conferencest month caught my attention.¡±


    I willed myself forward, Julian close beside me. As we approached, Mr. Newman¡¯s gaze


    shifted to us.


    My father¡¯s mouth hung slightly open. I¡¯d never seen Victor Vance speechless before. Other guests whispered furiously to each other, recognizing the significance of having Zachary Newman in attendance.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have missed it, he replied. His voice softened when he spoke to her, revealing a warmth I hadn¡¯t expected from such a formidable figure.


    20:15


    127 The Tycoon¡¯s Esteemed Presence


    ¡°You¡¯re certain?¡± Grandmother asked, her voice revealing a vulnerability I rarely witnessed.


    ¡°But we didn¡¯t,¡± Mr. Newman countered. ¡°Her talents remained dormant, not dead. And now they¡¯re flowering again, perhaps more vibrantly for having been temporarily


    constrained,¡±


    Victor approached hesitantly. ¡°Mr. Newman, it¡¯s an honor to have you join us. I¡¯m Victor Vance, ra¡¯s son¨Cinw.¡±


    Mr. Newman stood tall in an impably tailored charcoal suit that somehow made him look both powerful and approachable. His silver hair was neatly styled, and behind his designer sses, his sharp green eyes surveyed the room with calm authority.


    ¡°I make it a point to follow promising innovations,¡± he replied, his expression giving away nothing. ¡°Please, sit.¡±


    Grandmother¡¯s eyes misted over. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡±


    As the main course was cleared away, Mr. Newman turned to Grandmother again. ¡°ra, I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on ra since she first showed promise at MIT. When she stepped away from her studies, I wondered if we¡¯d lost a brilliant mind.¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Thank you, sir. That¡¯s¨Cthat means a lot.¡±


    ¡°Zachary,¡± my grandmother whispered, herposure momentarily shaken. ¡°You actually came.¡±


    ¡°How is ra really doing?¡± Grandmother asked him directly, as if I weren¡¯t sitting right there. ¡°Miranda¡¯s shadow has always worried me.¡±


    Julian touched my arm gently. ¡°ra, our special guest has arrived.¡±


    I nearly dropped my fork. How did he know about my divorce proceedings? I¡¯d been careful to keep that information contained.


    ¡°Not physically. But I have my ways of staying informed.¡± He took a sip of water. ¡°Your approach to Al emotional intelligence is unorthodox. Effective, but unorthodox.¡±


    I felt warmth creep into my cheeks at their discussion of me. ¡°I¡¯m sitting right here, you know.¡±


    The conversation shifted as dinner progressed. Mr. Newman spoke of global tech


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    127 The Tycoon¡¯s Esteemed Prosence


    trends, Julian contributed insights about market projections, and my father attempted to steer the discussion toward potential business opportunities. Through it all, Grandmother watched with quiet satisfaction.


    As dessert was served, I caught Mr. Newman studying me thoughtfully. What did he see when he looked at me? A promising talent? A reflection of my grandmother¡¯s influence? Or perhaps something entirely different?

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    128 Unexpected Guests and Shifting Fortunes


    128 Unexpected Guests and Shifting Fortunes


    ¡°Mr. Bellweather,¡± he greeted my grandfather with practiced charm<b>, </b>shaking his hand. ¡°Mrs. Bellweather.¡± He presented my grandmother with an elegantly wrapped package. ¡°Happy birthday.¡±


    ¡°Zachary Newman,¡± my grandmother said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡¯ve met my


    granddaughter¡¯s husband, Damien Thorne.¡±


    The evening took an unexpected turn as Zachary Newman and Julian engaged in animated conversation about Al advancement. For once, I felt perfectly in my element, contributing insights that Mr. Newman acknowledged with approving nods.


    Grandmother beamed with pride from across the table.


    Damien shook his hand firmly. ¡°The pleasure is mine. Your innovations have revolutionized multiple industries.¡±


    Linda Shaw¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You seem well¨Cinformed, Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°This changes the dynamics considerably,¡± Linda finally said. ¡°If the Vances have Newman¡¯s ear, not to mention continued connections to Damien despite the rumored


    divorce¡­¡±


    The waitstaff hurried to amodate another guest, bringing an additional ce setting. I tensed as Damien approached our section of the table.


    ¡°Both Newman and Thorne,¡± Linda mused, her earlier irritation transforming into calction. ¡°The Vances are certainly pulling out all stops tonight.¡±


    The conversation shifted as dessert was served. Throughout the remainder of the evening, I was acutely aware of Damien beside me. He engaged seamlessly with both Julian and Mr. Newman, disying the business acumen and charm that had built his empire. Yet every


    few minutes, I felt his eyes on me.


    ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± Michael added hesitantly. ¡°Damien Thorne arrived shortly after.¡±


    Across town at the Shaw residence, the mood was decidedly less festive.


    The statement hung in the air, ufortable and challenging. For years, the Shaws had dismissed ra as Victor Vance¡¯s unremarkable daughter who¡¯d made a fortunate marriage. Now, as news of Zachary Newman¡¯s presence at the Bellweather dinner


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    128 Unexpected Guests and Shifting Fortunes


    circted, earlier assumptions were being rapidly reassessed.


    ¡°I should be.¡± Vivienne¡¯s perfect lips curved into a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Uncle Alistair was furious with ra for making me miss the chance to meet him at a conference three years ago.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>Or perhaps,¡± Vivienne suggested softly, ¡°we¡¯ve been underestimating ra all along.¡±


    Heat crept into my cheeks. For years, I¡¯d downyed my work around Damien, trying not to bore him with technical details he showed no interest in. Now here was Zachary Newman, a legend in our industry, praising that very work directly to my soon¨Cto¨Cbe


    ex¨Chusband.


    Grandmother¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Damien! What a lovely surprise.¡±


    Vivienne set down her ss. ¡°He¡¯s not just rich,¡± she exined, her voice smooth as silk. ¡°He pioneered the architectural framework that most advanced AI systems run on today. His algorithms form the backbone of everything from smart homes to military ?? defense systems.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Zachary Newman is at ra Bellweather¡¯s birthday dinner?¡± Linda Shaw demanded, her voice rising with each word.


    ¡°The very same.¡± Vivienne sipped her champagne delicately. ¡°Newman rarely grants private audiences. Having him at a family birthday dinner¡­¡± She let the implication hang in the air.


    ¡°Julian,¡± he acknowledged coolly before turning to me. ¡°ra.¡±


    ¡°Who exactly is Zachary Newman?¡± asked one of the younger Shaws. ¡°I mean, besides being rich.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Damien¡¯s eyes never left my face.


    ¡°Markets respond to genuine innovation,¡± Mr. Newman replied. ¡°Something your wife understands quite well.¡±


    Linda stared at her. ¡°Wait¨Cthat was Zachary Newman? The connection your uncle was so upset about?¡±


    My father immediately stood to offer Damien a seat. I caught Julian¡¯s barely concealed eye roll.


    17:57


    128 Unexpected Guests and Shifting Fortunes


    ¡°Then we need to recalibrate our approach,¡± Vivienne finished, her tone practical and measured. Beneath herposed exterior, a storm of emotions churned¨Cparticrly at the thought of Damien and ra sharing an evening with someone of Newman¡¯s


    caliber.


    Damien¡¯s hand came to rest casually on the back of my chair. The gesture wasn¡¯t intimate, yet it carried a distinct air of possessiveness. ¡°Indeed,¡± he murmured. ¡°ra has many talents.¡±


    The room fell silent. Every eye turned to Vivienne Dubois, who sat elegantly on the chaise lounge. Her expression remained carefully neutral, though her fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around her champagne flute.


    Linda Shaw sank into a nearby chair. ¡°ra Bellweather must have more¨Cinfluence than we thought. Or perhaps it¡¯s Julian Croft¡¯s doing. Hispany has been making


    waves<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°I apologize for arrivingte,¡± Damien said smoothly: ¡°Business matters dyed me.¡±


    The messenger, a young associate named Michael who had been tasked with keeping tabs on the rival gathering, shifted ufortably. ¡°It¡¯s confirmed, ma¡¯am. He arrived about an hour ago. Greeted Mrs. Bellweather like an old friend.¡±


    Linda¡¯s perfectly manicured nails dug into her palm. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Zachary Newman doesn¡¯t attend private functions. He barely appears at major industry events.¡±


    Damien Thorne stood there,manding attention without effort. His tall frame was perfectly outlined by his custom Italian suit, his presence maic as always. My heart performed its usual traitorous flutter before I forced it to steady.


    ¡°Still showing off,¡± Julian muttered beside me.


    The atmosphere shifted suddenly. Whispers rippled through the gathering. All eyes


    turned toward the entrance.


    When Grandmother opened her gifts, Damien¡¯s proved to be an antique jewelry box containing a rare sapphire pendant that matched her eyes. The gesture drew appreciative gasps from the guests.


    His gaze swept the table, pausing briefly on Zachary Newman. Something flickered in


    17:57


    128 Unexpected Guests and Shifting Fortunes


    his eyes¨Crecognition, calction, I couldn¡¯t tell which. When his eyes found <b>me, </b><b>they </b>lingered a moment longer than necessary.


    ¡°<b>Her </b>work at YodaVision has caught significant attention,¡± Mr. Newman continued. ¡°Particrly her emotional recognition patterns in AI development.¡±


    ¡°By reputation only,¡± Mr. Newman replied, extending his hand. ¡°Your work with Thorne Industries¡® expansion into Southeast Asia has been noteworthy.¡±


    ¡°ra has always been brilliant,¡± Julian interjected smoothly. ¡°We¡¯ve been fortunate to


    have her back at YodaVision.¡±


    ¡°The market response to yourtest software release has been impressive,¡± Damien said to Mr. Newman, smoothly inserting himself into the conversation.


    ra¡¯s POV


    His tone revealed nothing of our impending divorce or the tension between us. To outsiders, we might have seemed like any normal married couple attending a family


    function.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be livid when he hears about tonight,¡± Viviennepleted the thought, her expression darkening as she recalled her uncle¡¯s rage directed at ra¡ªa rage that, given this new development, was likely to reignite with even greater intensity.


    Linda nodded slowly, her mind already working through the implications. ¡°Indeed we do. If Uncle Alistair was that furious about a missed opportunity with Newman three


    years ago¡­¡±


    ¡°Damien,¡± I responded with equal neutrality.


    He nced at the seating arrangement, then deliberately took the empty chair between me and Zachary Newman. The move was calcted¨CI could tell from the barely perceptible tightening around his eyes.


    ¡°Still effective,¡± I whispered back, watching my grandmother¡¯s delighted expression.


    Damien¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. He turned to me, genuine surprise flickering across his features. ¡°Does she?¡±

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    129 The Rival¡¯s Rising Tide


    129 The Rival¡¯s Rising Tide


    ¡°Hardly strange at all,¡± Vivienne countered. ¡°The Vances clearly hoped topete. But look around you-¡± she gestured to the crowded room, ¡°-who¡¯s winning?¡±


    ¡°Why would he do this?¡± she whispered, forgetting herself for a moment.


    ¡°Actually,¡± a female voice interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s urate.¡±


    Vivienne epted the drink with a practiced smile. ¡°He¡¯s finishing up at the office. You know how he is about work.¡±


    The implied insult hung in the air. Linda Shaw¡¯s smile froze in ce.


    ¡°They still look quite cozy for a couple supposedly getting divorced,¡± someone


    remarked.


    ¡°Our party is going splendidly,¡± she insisted. ¡°One or two absences hardly matter.¡±


    ¡°This was taken twenty minutes ago,¡± Marissa continued, enjoying the stunned silence. ¡°At ra Bellweather¡¯s birthday dinner.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t exin why he¡¯s not answering your calls,¡± Linda whispered urgently in her ear.


    ¡°And Zachary Newman is there too?¡±


    Linda had no answer. Neither did Vivienne herself.


    Her finger hovered over Julian¡¯s number next. If anyone knew what was happening at the Bellweather dinner, it would be him. But pride stopped her. She wouldn¡¯t give him the satisfaction of knowing she cared.


    The photo was unmistakable. Damien Thorne sitting at an elegantly set table, engaged in conversation with Zachary Newman. And beside him¨Cra.


    The implication was clear. The tide was turning, and quickly.


    ¡°Damien Thorne chose the Vance event over this one?¡±


    Beck¡¯s phone buzzed in his/pocket. He checked the screen, and his expression changed instantly. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he muttered. ¡°I need to make a call.¡±


    17:57


    120 The Rival¡¯s Rising Tide


    The whispers began immediately, spreading through the party like wildfire.


    ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s been a misunderstanding,¡± she suggested smoothly. ¡°Damien likely stopped by ra¡¯s birthday dinner out of courtesy beforeing here.¡±


    The Shaws¡® stately grandfather clock chimed ten. Vivienne¡¯s smile remained fixed in ce as she greeted more guests, eptedpliments on her dress, and deflected questions about Damien¡¯s absence.


    ¡°My friend just sent me this,¡± she exined, turning the screen toward the small gathering that had formed. ¡°It seems Damien chose a different party tonight.¡±


    Instead, she stood alone at an increasingly anxious gathering, while across town, Damien sat beside ra at what was rapidly bing the event of the season.


    ¡°Did you know?¡± a voice asked directly. Vivienne turned to find several guests staring at her expectantly. ¡°Did you know Damien was attending the other event tonight?¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t bother lowering his voice. ¡°Riding on Damien¡¯s coattails for years, and now even that¡¯s ending. Without the Thorne name, she¡¯s nothing¡±


    ¡°Did we back the wrong horse?¡±


    ¡°Damien still hasn¡¯t arrived?¡± Linda Shaw asked, appearing at Vivienne¡¯s side with two champagne flutes.


    ¡°He¡¯s on his way,¡± she repeated for what felt like the hundredth time to Harrison Wells, a major investor in Thorne Industries.


    Vivienne felt the blood drain from her face. With remarkable self¨Ccontrol, she kept her expression neutral even as her heartbeat thundered in her ears.


    Vivienne noticed Beck¡¯s hasty departure. Something about his abrupt exit triggered a flicker of concern. She pulled out her phone again and tried calling Damien. Straight to


    voicemail.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Vivienne responded automatically, her social training taking over while her


    mind raced.


    Vivienne felt her carefulposure beginning to crack. For years, she had methodically positioned herself as Damien¡¯s naturalpanion, the sophisticated counterpart to his power. Tonight was meant to be another triumph in that campaign.


    17:57


    129 The Rival¡¯s Rising Tide


    <b>years</b><b>. </b>ra


    ¡°Not surprising,¡± Lucas snickered. ¡°Their influence has been waning for Bellweather¡¯s connections are outdated, and Victor¡¯s recent investments have been disasters<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Linda asked, appearing at her side again.


    But it wasn¡¯t one or two absences. As Vivienne nced around the room, she noticed several guests discreetly checking their phones, whispering to theirpanions, some even making excuses to leave early.


    ¡°Most of the usual crowd chose this party,¡± Lucas was saying loudly enough for nearby guests to hear. ¡°The Vance gathering is practically empty. Victor must be fuming.¡±


    ¡°And with Newman there too? The Vances must have more pull than we thought.¡±


    Vivienneughed softly. ¡°ra? Please. She may work at YodaVision now, but she¡¯s hardly influential. Julian is the real power there.¡±


    Beck nodded. ¡°I heard they barely filled half their tables.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Marissa agreed. ¡°Especially with Zachary Newman there. I heard he never attends private functions.¡±


    Beck returned, his expression grave as he pulled Linda aside. Vivienne couldn¡¯t hear what he said, but the way Linda¡¯s face fell told her everything.


    Across the room, Lucas Sterling was engaged in animated conversation with Beck Shaw, Linda¡¯s husband.


    ¡°And ra?¡± Beck asked, ncing cautiously in Vivienne¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Did he?¡± Vivienne kept her tone light. ¡°Julian must have pulled some strings. Those tech types always stick together.¡±


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Vivienne lied. ¡°Just checking if Damien sent an update.¡±


    Another guest joined their circle. ¡°Did you hear? The Bellweather dinner isn¡¯t nearly as empty as we thought. Several major yers showed up after word spread about


    Newman¡¯s attendance.¡±


    Vivienne felt the room closing in on her. The perfect evening she had orchestrated was unraveling thread by thread.


    17:57


    129 The Rival¡¯s Rising Tide


    The evening progressed with Vivienne periodically checking her phone. She¡¯d saved the chair beside her for Damien, and with each passing hour, it became more conspicuously empty.


    Vivienne turned to face Marissa Chen, one of the city¡¯s most notorious gossips. Marissa held up her phone, her smile razor¨Csharp.


    In that moment, Vivienne Dubois faced a truth she had desperately tried to ignore<b>: </b>despite all her careful maneuvering, she didn¡¯t control Damien Thorne. And tonight, he had made that painfully, publicly clear.


    Vivienne Dubois stood at the center of the Shaws¡®vish housewarming party. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead as waiters with silver trays circted through the crowd. Everything was perfect¨Cexcept for the most important detail.


    More guests gathered around Marissa, who was now disying multiple photos from the Bellweather dinner. Each new image was like a dagger. Damien speaking with ra. Damien presenting a gift. Damien with his hand on the back of ra¡¯s chair.


    ¡°The Kempler group just canceled,¡± Linda admitted. ¡°Apparently they received an invitation to join the Bellweather party for after¨Cdinner drinks.¡±


    All eyes turned to her, waiting for her response. The question hung in the air,den with implications about her rtionship with Damien, her social standing, her very ce in their world.


    Linda seemed satisfied with this answer. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. Still, it¡¯s strange that both events were scheduled for the same night.¡±


    ¡°And now Damien¡¯s there too,¡± someone else added. ¡°Makes you wonder which party is actually the ce to be tonight.¡±


    Harrison Wells cleared his throat again. ¡°Perhaps I should check in at the Bellweather event. Purely for business reasons, you understand.¡±


    Linda nodded sympathetically, though her eyes held a hint of doubt. ¡°Of course. Though I heard Zachary Newman made quite an entrance at ra Bellweather¡¯s


    dinner.¡±


    ¡°Problems?¡± Vivienne asked when Linda rejoined her.


    Harrison Wells cleared his throat. ¡°I see. Well, that¡¯s¡­ unexpected.¡±


    17:57


    129 The Rival¡¯s Rising Tide


    ¡°You don¡¯t think ra had anything to do with it?¡± Linda pressed.


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 The Sprawling 130

    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    Sheughed at something Julian Croft said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. The sound carried across the room, genuine and unrestrained. Damien couldn¡¯t remember thest time he¡¯d heard herugh that way.


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying what I saw,¡± Lucas shrugged, clearly enjoying the drama he¡¯d created.


    Back at Vivienne¡¯s party, the guests were beginning to depart. She stood by the door, thanking each one with perfect poise. The bracelet on her wrist caught the light with every movement, a constant reminder of Damien¡¯s absence and his attempt to make up for it.


    Linda sighed. ¡°He received an urgent call. Said he needed to handle something immediately.¡±


    ¡°Waiting for someone important?¡± Miranda Phillips, a society columnist, slid up beside her with a calcting smile.


    Lucas smirked. ¡°More like a romantic emergency, if you ask me. Beck¡¯s been sneaking off a lottely. I saw himst week at The Grand with a very attractive redhead.¡±


    She held up her wrist, letting the diamonds speak for themselves. The gesture worked its magic. Whispers spread through the room, and the questioning nces transformed into admiring ones.


    Thirty minutester, a courier arrived at the door. The young man carried an elegant box wrapped in silver paper.


    She tilted her head slightly, a question in her eyes.


    Vivienne Dubois¡¯s smile faltered as she stood near the window of her penthouse apartment. Conversations swirled around hervish gathering, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She checked her phone for the third time in fifteen minutes. Still no message from Damien.


    Before Vivienne could respond, Charles Freeman joined their conversation. ¡°Speaking of absences, people are starting to talk, Vivienne. When your boyfriend chooses another event over yours¡­


    ¡°Enjoy your evening. I¡¯ll be there when I can. ¨C D¡±


    17:57


    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± she finally asked, her voice carrying just far enough for him to hear.


    As thest guest left, Vivienne closed the door and leaned against it. Her apartment felt toorge suddenly, too quiet. She looked at her phone. Still no message from Damien. The diamonds on her wrist sparkled, beautiful and cold.


    ¡°From Damien?¡± Linda Shaw asked, eyeing the sparkling jewelry.


    Vivienne epted the package with curious eyes following her every move. She unwrapped it carefully, revealing an exquisite diamond bracelet nestled in ck velvet. A small cardy beside it.


    ra turned, perhaps sensing his attention. Their eyes met across the crowded room. For a moment, neither looked away. A silent acknowledgment passed between them- recognition of their shared past and the distance that now existed.


    Meanwhile, across town at the Vance estate, ra Bellweather¡¯s birthday celebration was reaching its peak. Damien Thorne sat at his assigned table, observing the room with measured interest.


    Nothing at all, he told himself. Yet as the evening continued, his gaze kept finding its way back to her, drawn by some force he couldn¡¯t¨Cor wouldn¡¯t¡ªname.


    ¡°He¡¯s there on behalf of his mother,¡± Vivienne exined smoothly. ¡°Eleanor Thorne and ra have been friends for decades. It would be rude not to send a representative.¡±


    Vivienne felt a strange unease at Lucas¡¯s words. She nced down at her bracelet, then at her phone. Still no message from Damien beyond the note with the gift.


    Vivienneposed herself quickly. ¡°Just checking the time. The night is still young.¡±


    Vivienne felt herposure slipping. She excused herself and moved to the center of the room, clinking her ss to gather everyone¡¯s attention.


    Relief washed over her. She slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, allowing the diamonds to catch the light.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Charles smiled, unconvinced. ¡°Though I find it interesting that he chose ra Bellweather¡¯s party over yours.¡±


    ¡°Delivery for Ms. Dubois,¡± he announced.


    17:58


    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    As the evening progressed, Vivienne circted among her guests with renewed energy. Sheughed at the right moments, made witty remarks, and ensured everyone¡¯s sses remained full.


    ¡°And yet Damien Thorne is noticeably absent,¡± Miranda observed, sipping her champagne. ¡°I heard he¡¯s attending ra Bellweather¡¯s birthday celebration instead.¡±


    Linda¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°That¡¯s absurd. Beck would never-¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression remained neutral. He looked away, breaking whatever momentary


    connection had formed between them.


    She walked to the balcony for a moment of privacy. The night air felt cool against her skin as she stared out at the city lights. Beck¡¯s mysterious departure and Lucas¡¯s insinuations bothered her more than they should. It reminded her too much of her own situation¨Cthe uncertainty, the whispers, the need to maintain appearances.


    ¡°It is,¡± Vivienne confirmed. ¡°Damien always had excellent taste.¡±


    His gaze drifted across the tables until itnded on ra Vance. She wore a simple


    navy


    dress that contrasted with her fair skin. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant updo, revealing the delicate curve of her neck. Something about herposure caught his attention.


    With a deep breath, she pushed these thoughts aside and returned to her guests. She was Vivienne Dubois. She didn¡¯t show weakness.


    When had that changed? When had her smiles around him be so careful, so measured?


    The exnation seemed to satisfy most guests, but Vivienne caught the skeptical nces exchanged between Miranda and Charles. She maintained her smile despite the uncertainty gnawing at her.


    ¡°Nothing¡± he replied curtly.


    Miranda¡¯s eyebrow arched. ¡°A representative? Is that what he is tonight?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vivienne confirmed, unable to hide her smile. ¡°He may bete, but he hasn¡¯t forgotten.¡±


    ¡°I want to thank everyone foring tonight,¡± she announced, her voice clear and confident. ¡°Some of you have asked about Damien. He¡¯s attending ra Bellweather¡¯s


    17:58


    130 A Thoughtful Gesture, A Distant Gaze


    birthday dinner on behalf of the Thorne family. Eleanor would have gone herself, but she¡¯s in Monaco this week.¡±


    ¡°Business emergency?¡± Vivienne asked.


    The mood of the party shifted. Vivienne felt her confidence returning. Damien had publicly acknowledged her importance with this gesture. The bracelet wasn¡¯t just jewelry¨Cit was a statement.


    She wondered what was happening at the Bellweather celebration, who Damien was talking to, what had kept him there all night. Most of all, she wondered if he had seen ra, and what had passed between them if he had.


    She touched the diamonds on her wrist. Damien¡¯s gift had saved her from embarrassment tonight, but how long could she continue like this? Always waiting, always exining his absences?


    Vivienne straightened her shoulders. ¡°If you must know, Damien is attending an important family obligation. He¡¯ll be joining uster.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me,¡± she murmured, stepping away.


    ¡°Shame Beck had to leave so suddenly,¡± Lucas Sterling remarked as they stood near the bar. ¡°Everything alright with him?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite a way to say ¡®I¡¯ll bete,¡± Mirandamented, examining the bracelet. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s from the new Cartier collection?¡±


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    17:58

 The Sprawling 131

    131 The Invisibility Proposition.


    131 The Invisibility Proposition


    The conversation gradually shifted to other topics, but the impact of what had transpired lingered. Damien had transformed from an unwee intruder to the most captivating presence in the room.


    Later, as guests began to depart, I found myself alone near the garden doors. The cool evening air provided a wee respite from the emotional turmoil inside.


    ¡°Yes. She sends her regards to ra.¡±


    All eyes turned to me. I forced a smile. ¡°The technology certainly sounds impressive.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± I studied his face, trying to discern his motivation. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize our work so closely.¡±


    you


    Damien smiled. ¡°Wednesday would be perfect. I¡¯ll make all the arrangements.¡±


    followed


    Damien nodded. ¡°Beyond military use, we¡¯re exploring medical applications. Imagine targeted drug delivery systems invisible to the body¡¯s immune response.¡±


    ¡°Doing what?¡±


    For forty minutes, we discussed theoretical applications, potential limitations, and future developments. I found myself engaged in the most stimting technical conversation I¡¯d had in months ¨C with thest man on earth I wanted to impress.


    I blinked in surprise. I hadn¡¯t expected Damien to be familiar with Mr. Newman¡¯s academic work.


    ¡°As is your colleague. Julian Croft, correct? Co¨Cfounder


    YodaVision with you?¡±


    ¡°The applications would be revolutionary,¡± Mr. Newman said, his eyes wide with excitement.


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it so hard to believe that I might genuinely value scientific exchange with brilliant minds? Or is it just difficult to ept that I might have more depth than you¡¯ve allowed yourself to see?¡±


    I found myself drawn into the discussion despite my determination to maintain emotional distance. This side of Damien ¨C the brilliant innovator, the visionary technologist ¨C had always fascinated me.


    17:58


    131 The Invisibility Proposition


    Something flickered across his face ¨C too brief to identify. ¡°Not officially. Not yet.¡±


    I felt a strange twist in my stomach. Damien had effectively charmed my mentor and colleague in less than an hour, potentially creating an ongoing connection to my professional world.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in a rush,¡± he replied smoothly, his eyes never leaving mine.


    The conversation suddenly shifted. The tension in the room dissolved as Damien began exiningplex technical concepts with surprising depth and rity.


    Damien¡¯s expression remained neutral, but I caught a glimmer of something in his eyes ¨C satisfaction, perhaps? Had this been his intention all along?


    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to arrange a meeting to discuss it in more detail,¡± Damien replied. ¡°Perhaps next week at my office? I could show you the actual prototypes.¡±


    My fourteen¨Cyear¨Cold cousin Emma inched closer to me, whispering, ¡°Is he always this¡­ intense?¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Damien agreed, ¡°until we developed a newpound that operates at the quantum level.¡±


    Julian joined our small circle, his curiosity evident. ¡°The new TI shield system? I heard rumors it achievedplete invisibility in testing.¡±


    Uncle Victor nodded curtly. ¡°I understand. Eleanor mentioned you¡¯d be representing her tonight.¡±


    Without waiting for my response, he nodded politely and walked away, leaving me with questions I couldn¡¯t answer and a proposition that would potentially draw him deeper into my carefully separated professional world.


    Damien turned to him with genuine interest. ¡°Dr. Newman, I¡¯ve read your papers on cognitiveputing. Your theories on neuralworks have been influential in some of our recent projects.¡±


    ¡°It was¡­ illuminating,¡± I admitted. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were so directly involved in TI¡¯s research division.¡±


    The formality between them was cial. Uncle Victor had never forgiven Damien for how he¡¯d treated me throughout our marriage. The protective glint in his eyes spoke volumes.


    17:58 10449


    131 The Invisibility Proposition


    Julian leaned forward,pletely engrossed. ¡°That¡¯s theoretically impossible with current materials science.¡±


    ¡°The quantum absorption matrix presents significant heat dispersion challenges,¡± Julian pointed out.


    ¡°Your exploration of mimetic learning patterns,¡± Damien replied without hesitation. ¡°We¡¯ve been applying simr principles to our adaptive security systems.¡±


    Damien¡¯s eyes locked with mine, a flicker of appreciation in them. ¡°That¡¯s actually one of our current research directions. The invisibility property could allow for seamless integration with neural tissue.¡±


    Before I could respond, Mr. Newman approached us, his eyes bright with excitement. ¡°Mr. Thorne, about that meeting ¨C would Wednesday work? I¡¯m eager to explore the invisibility technology further.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help myself. ¡°What about neural interfacepatibility?¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Mr. Newman¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Which aspects particrly?¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant contact you to arrange the details.¡±


    Mr. Newman, my former professor and mentor, approached us with interest. ¡°Mr. Thorne, I¡¯ve been following Thorne Industries¡® recent innovations. Fascinating work in the AI sector.¡±


    Damien¡¯s gaze found mine across the room. I refused to look away first, maintaining myposure despite the unwee flutter in my chest. After seven years, his presence shouldn¡¯t affect me anymore. Yet somehow, it still did.


    ¡°I make it a point to stay informed about significant developments in the AI field.¡± His voice was casual, but his eyes were intense. ¡°Especially when they involve people connected to me.¡±


    ¡°The traditional approach has been to deflect scanning waves,¡± he exined, his voice steady and confident. ¡°Our breakthrough came when we created materials that absorb and neutralize detection signals instead.¡±


    ¡°Your mentor is quite brilliant,¡± Damien¡¯s voice came from behind me.


    ¡°That would be extraordinary,¡± Mr. Newman agreed enthusiastically. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it,


    17:58


    ra?¡±


    131 The invisibility Proposition


    ¡°I apologize for beingte,¡± Damien said, his voice carrying through the room. ¡°Business matters required my attention.¡±


    Damien shook his hand firmly. ¡°Mr. Vance. Thank you for the invitation.¡±


    I observed them from across the room, nursing a ss of wine. The gathering had been pleasant until Damien¡¯s arrival. Now the atmosphere had shifted, bing heavy with unspoken tension.


    ¡°This¡­ sudden interest in my professional circle.¡±


    Damien¡¯s mouth curved into a slight smile. ¡°More than rumors. We¡¯ve developed technology that renders objects effectively invisible to all current detection methods.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Thorne.¡± Uncle Victor¡¯s greeting was stiff, barely concealing his animosity. The muscles in his jaw tightened as he extended his hand. ¡°Wee to our home.¡±


    Mr. Newman shook his head in amazement. ¡°The implications for the entire field are staggering. I¡¯d be very interested in seeing your research.¡±


    The divorce papers remained unsigned between us, a fact we both acknowledged without speaking it aloud.


    Damien Thorne had that effect on people.


    As Mr. Newman walked away, Damien turned back to me. ¡°You¡¯re wee to join, of course. Your expertise would be valuable to the discussion.¡±


    I met his gaze steadily. ¡°Why are you doing this, Damien?¡±


    Uncle Victor watched from across the room, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. He¡¯d never seen this side of my interaction with Damien ¨C two intellectual equals challenging and building on each other¡¯s ideas.


    ¡°We¡¯re hardly connected anymore, Damien.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot about me you¡¯ve chosen not to see, ra.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    The statement hung between us, loaded with implications I wasn¡¯t prepared to


    examine.


    17:58


    131 The Invisibility Proposition


    The tension in Uncle Victor¡¯s living room was palpable. My younger cousins, usually boisterous and lively, had retreated into uncharacteristic silence. Their wide eyes darted nervously toward the tall figure whomanded the space without effort.


    I smiled tightly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    I crossed the room, determined to take control of the situation. ¡°You didn¡¯t have toe, Damien. If you have other matters to attend to, don¡¯t feel obligated to stay.¡±


    Damien nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve developed a revolutionary cooling system to address that issue.¡±


    ¡°Did you enjoy the technical discussion?¡± he asked, changing the subject.


    I turned, maintaining myposure. ¡°Yes, he is.¡±


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 The Sprawling 132

    132 An Exhausted Mother¡¯s Comfort


    132 An Exhausted Mother¡¯s Comfort


    The stairs seemed steeper than usual as I made my way to the second floor. I found Coco and Emma huddled around a tablet, their faces illuminated by the screen¡¯s glow. My daughter¡¯sughter ¨C bright and uninhibited ¨C sent a pang through my chest. How long had it been since I¡¯d heard herugh like that around me?


    Her observation hit harder than any adult critique could have. Children saw the truth


    without filters.


    Emma grinned. ¡°You can try.¡±


    Coco grinned. ¡°Okay, Uncle Victor. Can I y video games next time too?¡±


    ¡°Coco is upstairs with Emma. They¡¯ve been ying video games for the past hour.¡±


    I bit my lip. What else had Damien been saying about me?


    She hung up, looking pleased. ¡°Daddy said fifteen minutes. He¡¯s bringing me a


    surprise!¡±


    ¡°She said you¡¯ve been quiettely,¡± he finally said.


    I watched as the car pulled away, taking my daughter with it. The weight of her absence settled over me immediately, heavier than her physical presence had been in my arms. I stood there long after the taillights had disappeared, alone in the cold, too


    exhausted to even move.


    Before I could respond, Coco¡¯s delighted squeal erupted from the car. ¡°A unicorn plushie! It¡¯s so big!¡±


    I set her down carefully, my arms aching from the exertion. Damien¡¯s sleek ck car pulled up to the curb. The engine hummed to silence, and he stepped out, tall and imposing in his tailored suit. Not a hair out of ce, not a sign of the fatigue that seemed to permeate my very bones.


    Damien¡¯s words lingered in the air between us. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The conversation about his ¡°invisibility technology¡± had left me drained. I watched as he turned away, his tall figure moving with practiced grace toward the exit.


    ¡°Damien.¡± I matched his tone ¨C neutral, detached.


    17:58


    132 An Exhausted Mother¡¯s Comfort


    She nodded. ¡°Will you carry me, Mom? Please?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pick Coco upter this evening.¡±


    We said our goodbyes to the remaining guests and stepped outside to wait for Damien. The evening air had turned sharp, carrying the bite of approaching winter. <i>Coco </i>shivered beside me.


    He smiled again. ¡°Let¡¯s get you home. It¡¯s past your bedtime.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    I nced at my watch. ¡°I should get her. Damien will be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Daddy?¡± Coco¡¯s voice brightened instantly. ¡°When are youing?¡­ Fifteen minutes?¡­ Okay!¡­ Love you too!¡±


    Beck, Uncle Victor¡¯s assistant, appeared beside me. ¡°He certainly knows how to make an exit,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°Just tired,¡± I replied. The excuse was bing my standard responsetely. Tired. It covered so much while revealing nothing.


    Uncle Victor stepped forward, offering Damien a formal handshake. ¡°Mr. Thorne.¡± The


    coolness in his voice was unmistakable.


    ¡°Coco,¡± I called softly. ¡°It¡¯s time to go. Your father¡¯sing to pick you up soon.¡±


    She wrapped her arms around my neck as I lifted her. Her weight settled against me, familiar and yet somehow foreign. When had she gotten so big? It seemed like just yesterday she had been a tiny bundle in my arms.


    I faltered. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    The question caught me off guard ¨C so ordinary, yet so unexpecteding from him. When was thest time Damien had asked about my wellbeing?


    I managed a weak smile. ¡°Years of practice.¡±


    As Coco scrambled into the car, Damien turned to me. For a moment, we stood in silence, two strangers who had once shared everything.


    ¡°Daddy, Mom carried me even though I¡¯m heavy now,¡± Coco announced proudly.


    17:58


    132 An Exhausted Mother¡¯s Comfort


    Coco turned to my cousin. ¡°Thanks, Emma! Next time I¡¯ll beat your high score.¡±


    ¡°ra, are you alright?¡± Uncle Victor¡¯s concerned voice broke through my thoughts.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered. My arms strained with her weight, but I held her close, savoring the warmth of her small body against mine. These were the moments I lived for the simple, quiet connections that reminded me why I kept going each day.


    ¡°Are you going to be less tired soon? I miss when you weren¡¯t tired.¡±


    ¡°I know her schedule, ra.¡± A hint of irritation crept into his voice.


    The question broke something inside me. I tightened my hold on her, blinking back sudden tears. ¡°I hope so, Coco. I really hope so.¡±


    The remaining hour of the banquet passed in a blur. I made polite conversation,ughed at appropriate moments, and sipped sparingly from my wine ss. All the while, my mind kept circling back to Damien¡¯s words: ¡°There¡¯s a lot about me you¡¯ve chosen not to see, ra.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, bending down. ¡°Just until your father arrives.¡±


    She nodded, seeming to ept this. ¡°That¡¯s what Daddy said. He said you work a lot


    now.¡±


    I crossed my arms, a defensive gesture. ¡°Did she?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s my surprise?¡± she demanded.


    ¡°ra,¡± he acknowledged me with a nod.


    He caught her in his arms with practiced ease, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. ¡°There¡¯s my girl.¡± His smile ¨C genuine and warm ¨C was reserved for her alone.


    ¡°Not for you,¡± Coco said confidently. ¡°You¡¯re super strong.¡±


    I stood back, suddenly aware of my rumpled clothes and tired eyes. The contrast between us had never felt so stark ¨C Damien, polished and energetic even at the end of the day, and me, barely holding together.


    ¡°Yes, sweetheart?¡±


    As we made our way down the hallway, Coco looked up at me. ¡°Mom?¡±


    17:58


    132 An Exhausted Mother¡¯s Comfort


    ¡°Mr. Vance.¡± Damien¡¯s response was equally detached.


    Damien¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°I should get her home.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quiet. You used to talk all the time, asking about my day and stuff.¡± She said it matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, without usation. ¡°Now you¡¯re just¡­ quiet.¡±


    ¡°Damien¡¯s picking her up in a few minutes,¡± I replied.


    Of course he did. Damien never forgot details ¨C except when they involved my feelings, my needs, my existence.


    As if I hadn¡¯t spent seven years looking. Seven years searching for any sign that he might eventually see me.


    ¡°Cold?¡± I asked, pulling my own coat tighter.


    Heughed. ¡°Anytime.¡±


    She pulled back slightly to look at me, her small fingers touching my cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Mom.¡±


    Of course he was. Damien never missed an opportunity to be the parent who brought gifts and surprises. I forced a smile. ¡°That¡¯s nice. Let¡¯s go downstairs to wait.¡±


    ¡°Tired,¡± he finished. ¡°Yes, I can see that.¡±


    ¡°In the car,¡± he replied, setting her down. ¡°Go look in the back seat.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ra Bellweather, my grandmother, stood near the doorway. Her posture stiffened as Damien approached. Their exchange was brief and cold- a curt nod from him, a tight¨Clipped smile from her. She had never approved of him, even less so after witnessing years of his indifference toward me.


    ¡°You smell nice,¡± she murmured, nestling her head against my shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I replied automatically. ¡°Just-¡±


    He hesitated, seeming on the verge of saying something more. Then he nodded once and turned away, sliding back into the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    17:58


    132 An Exhausted Mother¡¯s Comfort


    His gaze flicked to me, something unreadable passing through his eyes. ¡°Did she?¡± He turned back to Coco. ¡°You


    are getting big. Soon you¡¯ll be too heavy for anyone to carry.¡±


    She looked up, her smile fading slightly. ¡°Already?¡±


    I nodded, stepping back. ¡°Have her in bed by nine, please. She has school tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Heading out?¡± he asked.


    ¨C


    I hesitated. Coco was nearly six, tall for her age, and getting heavier by the day. My back had been bothering metely ¨C too many hours hunched over myputer at YodaVision. But her eyes were pleading, and these moments had be increasingly


    rare between us.


    Coco nodded, pulling out the phone Damien had given her for ¡°emergencies.¡± At not quite six years old, my daughter already had a smartphone. Another decision Damien had made without consulting me.


    We reached the bottom of the stairs. Uncle Victor appeared from the living room.


    ¡°Yes, sweetie. Say thank you to Emma for letting you y.¡±


    Uncle Victor knelt down to Coco¡¯s level. ¡°It was good seeing you, kiddo. Don¡¯t be a stranger, okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sad,¡± I lied. ¡°Just-¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, then,¡± I said quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯m just tired, sweetheart.¡± There was that word again. Tired. It had be my shield.


    ¡°Tired,¡± she finished for me. ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Mom?¡± Coco¡¯s voice was soft in my ear.


    ¡°You¡¯re different now.¡±


    And then he was gone, leaving behind a room that somehow felt both emptier and lighter. I exhaled slowly, only then realizing I¡¯d been holding my breath.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± Coco ran to him.


    Headlights appeared at the end of the driveway, and Coco squirmed in my arms. ¡°Daddy¡¯s here!¡±


    17:58


    132 An Exhausted Mother¡¯s Comfort


    I waited as Coco gathered her small backpack. ¡°Call your father and check when he¡¯s


    arriving.¡±


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 The Sprawling 133

    133 An Unsettling Scent, A Calcted Offer


    133 An Unsettling Scent, A Calcted Offer


    ¡°ra.¡±


    ¡°Why would you help with my uncle¡¯s project?¡± I asked bluntly.


    One thing was clear: I couldn¡¯t trust any of them. Not Damien, not Vivienne, and certainly not Beck Fairchild with his calcted smile and convenient offer of help.


    The casual use of my first name grated on my nerves. This man had been Damien¡¯s employee for years, always keeping a respectful distance. Now he spoke as if we were old friends.


    ¡°Is Cora gone already?¡± she asked, looping her arm through mine.


    ¡°Yes. Damien just picked her up.¡±


    ¡°Mom?¡±


    My guard went up instantly. Uncle Victor¡¯s project was still in its early stages, not something that should be on Beck Fairchild¡¯s radar.


    I didn¡¯t believe him for a second. Nothing in Damien¡¯s orbit operated independently of


    him.


    My throat tightened. ¡°I love you too, Coco. So much.¡±


    We walked back inside, where the party had dwindled to just family and a few close friends. Uncle Victor was deep in conversation with a colleague by the firece. Beck hovered nearby, his attention seemingly fixed on their discussion, though his eyes


    flicked toward me as I entered.


    And more importantly, what was Damien¡¯s role in all this?


    She wrapped her arms around my neck, surprising me with a fierce hug. Her soft hair tickled my cheek, smelling of the strawberry shampoo she loved. I held her close, greedy for these precious seconds.


    ¡°Have a good evening, Mrs. Thorne.¡± He turned and walked away, his posture rxed as if he¡¯d aplished exactly what he¡¯d intended.


    ¡°Coco? What are you doing here? I thought-¡±


    17:58


    133 An Unsettling Scent, A Calcted Offer


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    The request was odd. If Shanice wanted to give me something, she could have done so- when I picked up or dropped off Cora. Why involve Beck?


    I paused. Shanice was Damien¡¯s housekeeper, a kind woman who had always been friendly to me, even when things between Damien and me were at their worst.


    She nodded solemnly, as if we¡¯d made an important pact. Then she turned and scampered away, unicorn dragging behind her.


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Mr. Fairchild,¡± I acknowledged coolly.


    ¡°I forgot my backpack,¡± she said, looking sheepish. ¡°Daddy¡¯s waiting outside.¡±


    ¡°I should head inside. It¡¯s cold out here,¡± I said, turning away.


    The sound of approaching footsteps made me turn. My grandmother emerged from


    the house, concern etched across her face.


    He held out a business card. I stared at it for a moment before reluctantly taking it, if


    only to end this conversation.


    ¡°I have some connections that might be useful. People who would be interested in providing resources, funding¡­¡± He let the implication hang in the air.


    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but my uncle has his own contacts.¡± I took a step toward the


    door.


    ¡°Think about it,¡± Beck said quickly. ¡°This could be beneficial for everyone involved. The project needs connections your uncle doesn¡¯t have.¡±


    ¡°Did Damien send you?¡± I asked directly.


    ¡°And you¡¯re offering this out of the goodness of your heart?¡± The skepticism in my voice was unmistakable.


    ¡°I love you, Mom,¡± she whispered.


    My phone buzzed. A text from Julian about tomorrow¡¯s meeting at YodaVision. Work never stopped. I slipped the device back into my pocket without responding. It could wait until morning.


    17:58


    133 An Unsettling Scent, A Calcted Offer


    I slipped the card into my pocket, my mind racing. The scent of Vivienne¡¯s perfume on Damien, Beck¡¯s unexpected offer ¨C they felt connected somehow, pieces of a puzzle I couldn¡¯t quite se¨¨.


    I stood frozen, the card cold between my fingers. The interaction left me with a sense of foreboding. Beck wasn¡¯t acting on his own that much was certain. But what was the real motivation behind this sudden interest in my uncle¡¯s work?


    Vivienne¡¯s perfume.


    I walked back into the house, the weight of distrust settling over me like a heavy cloak.


    ¡°Please, call me Beck.¡± He stepped closer, his voice lowering. ¡°I wanted to catch you before you left.¡±


    ¡°ra? Come inside, dear. It¡¯s freezing out here.¡±


    ¡°This will only take a moment,¡± he persisted. ¡°Shanice wanted me to tell you she has something for you.¡±


    I watched the car pull away, my nails digging into my palms. Some things never


    changed.


    I forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±


    Beck shrugged. ¡°She didn¡¯t say, just asked me to arrange for you two to meet. Coffee, perhaps?¡±


    I turned to find Damien¡¯s driver, Beck, standing behind me. His expression was carefully neutral, but something calcting lurked in his eyes.


    Beck¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I recognize a good opportunity when I see one. Your uncle¡¯s work has potential, but he needs the right backing.¡±


    I followed her to the front door, watching as she ran down the path to where Damien stood waiting by his car. The porch light illuminated his tall figure, casting sharp shadows across his face. He looked up as Cora approached, his expression softening in that way it only did for her.


    Cora¡¯s voice startled me. I spun around, heart racing, to find her standing in the doorway, clutching her unicorn plushie.


    My stomach clenched. My earlier suspicion had been correct. After our conversation


    17:58


    133 An Unsettling Scent, A Calcted Offer


    at the banquet, he¡¯d gone to her. The evidence clung to him like an invisible mark only I could detect.


    She squeezed my arm gently. ¡°You look exhausted. Why don¡¯t you stay the night? Your old room is always ready.¡±


    ¡°Great.¡± Beck¡¯s smile didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s something else, actually.¡±


    ¡°I might take you up on that,¡± I admitted.


    Heughed softly. ¡°I¡¯m a businessman, ra. I see mutual benefit.¡±


    ¡°Think about it, ra,¡± he continued, his tone softening. ¡°I¡¯m offering help with no strings attached. Just consider it and call me when you¡¯ve decided.¡±


    She pulled back, her small hands framing my face. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call her,¡± I said cautiously.


    ¡°What about it?¡± I kept my voice even.


    The thought was tempting. My empty apartment held no appeal tonight.


    Beck¡¯s expression faltered slightly. ¡°Mr. Thorne has nothing to do with this.¡±


    As she moved away, I headed toward the kitchen, craving solitude more than anything else. The house staff had cleared most of the party debris, but a few wine sses remained scattered on countertops. I filled a kettle for tea, findingfort in the


    mundane task.


    I stood alone in the cold night air, watching the space where Damien¡¯s car had been moments ago. The weight of Cora¡¯s absence felt heavier than her body had in my arms. I closed my eyes briefly, savoring the lingering warmth where she had pressed against <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    The certainty in his voice unsettled me. How much did he know about Uncle Victor¡¯s


    work? And how had he obtained that information?


    Of course. The backpack she¡¯d so carefully packed with her tablet and treasured trinkets. I spotted it hanging on a chair near the dining room entrance.


    ¡°I heard about your uncle¡¯s project. The sustainable energy initiative?¡±


    I waited, my suspicion growing.


    17:58


    133 An Unsettling Scent, A Calcted Offer


    I tensed. Beck had been Damien¡¯s driver for years, but we¡¯d rarely exchanged more than pleasantries. His sudden desire for conversation made me uneasy.


    My grandmother patted my hand. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Emma to prepare your room. Get something warm to drink¡±


    He lifted her effortlessly, settling her into the car seat. After buckling her in, he straightened and turned toward the house. Our eyes met across the distance. He gave a slight nod before walking around to the driver¡¯s side.


    ¡°Here it is, sweetheart.¡± I retrieved it and knelt to help her put it on.


    Just as he opened his door, a gust of wind carried a familiar scent to me ¨C not Damien¡¯s cologne, but something else. Something distinctly feminine and floral.


    I nodded, though I barely felt the cold. Numbness had its advantages.


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    17:59

 The Sprawling 134

    134 Resolutions Before Sunrise


    The room quieted. My cousins exchanged nces before tactfully excusing themselves to ¡°check on dessert.¡± That left just Uncle Victor, Grandmother, and me¨Cthe core of the Bellweather family.


    The car pulled up to the professor¡¯s sprawling vi at 8:50 AM. Through the windows, I¡® could already see Julian gesturing animatedly as he spoke with someone.


    ¡°He mentioned your sustainable energy project. Said he had connections who might be


    interested.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m handling it.¡± I kept my voice steady. The truth was, I hadn¡¯t fully decided how to approach that battle. Damien had resources I couldn¡¯t match, but I had documentation of his neglect over the years. It would be ugly if contested.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Uncle Victor finally said. ¡°If Damien is making moves on my project through his people, he¡¯s nning something.¡±


    But I straightened my shoulders and focused on the screens before me. This was my choice¨Creiming my career, proving my worth beyond being Mrs. Thorne. The path forward wouldn¡¯t be easy, but I¡¯d walk it anyway.


    The coffee helped, but couldn¡¯t fully dispel the fog of exhaustion. I reviewed my notes during the drive, preparing for the presentation as best I could. Julian¡¯stest text warned me that Professor Weber was in ¡°rare form¡± this morning. Great.


    Beck¡¯s parting words echoed in my head as I stood on the porch, watching him walk away. Something about that phrase tugged at my memory. It was almost identical to what Damien had said to me earlier this evening.


    ¡°Don¡¯t keep us in the dark, ra,¡± Grandmother said. ¡°We¡¯re your family. Whatever you need¨Clegal support, testimony about Damien¡¯s behavior toward you and Cora¨Cwe¡¯re


    here.¡±


    I shook off the unsettling feeling and went back inside my grandmother¡¯s house. The remaining family members looked up as I entered the living room. Uncle Victor raised his eyebrows in silent question.


    ¡°Which means Damien has everything to do with it,¡± Grandmother concluded dryly.


    17:59


    134 Resolutions Before Sunrise


    I typed back: *Final testing now. Should be ready by 4:30.*


    ¡°I¡¯ll have breakfast waiting,¡± she promised, squeezing my hand.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Her straightforward support loosened something tight in my chest. I¡¯d expected more resistance, more questions about trying to make it work for Cora¡¯s sake.


    ¡°ra, finally. We need to recalibrate the response parameters. The algorithm¡¯s prediction uracy is off by 3.4%.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I assured her with a quick kiss on her cheek.


    I rubbed my temples, fighting off a headache. Three hours of sleep. It would have to be enough.


    Professor Weber stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by digital disys. He barely looked up as I entered.


    ¡°My thoughts exactly.¡± I pulled out the business card. ¡°He was very insistent that Damien had nothing to do with the offer.¡±


    Her words followed me out the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right down.¡±


    I nodded, summoning what little energy I had left. ¡°Let me see what he wants.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going through with the divorce,¡± I stated firmly. ¡°My mind is made up.¡±


    My phone chimed with an iing message. I checked it and sighed.


    I nodded, pocketing Beck¡¯s business card. ¡°Just a work matter.¡± The lie came easily. I¡¯d discuss Beck¡¯s strange offer with Uncle Victorter, in private.


    Uncle Victor¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Did he now? Interesting timing.¡±


    ¡°At least stay here tonight,¡± Grandmother said. ¡°Work in your old room. I don¡¯t like the thought of you driving home this tired.¡±


    Grandmother waited downstairs with a travel mug of coffee and a small bag.


    ¡°The night wind is chilly. You should head inside.¡±


    17:59


    715


    134 Resolutions Before Sunrise


    Grandmother frowned. ¡°At this hour? Can¡¯t it wait until morning?¡±


    Grandmother ra watched me with shrewd eyes. Even at eighty, nothing escaped her notice. She patted the seat beside her on the sofa.


    Uncle Victor shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re pushing yourself too hard. Divorce proceedings, custody concerns, this new research position¨Cit¡¯s a lot for anyone to handle.¡±


    The lie hung between us, acknowledged but unchallenged.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡± Her eyes were concerned. ¡°But you will be. Remember, divorce is just a word. Freedom is whates after.¡±


    I set down my bag and coffee, shrugging off my coat. There was no time to rest, no moment to gather myself. Just the immediate demands of the work.


    Grandmother nodded slowly. ¡°Good. It¡¯s long overdue.¡±


    My eyes burned as I stared at the lines of code on myptop. The clock on the wall showed 3:47 AM. I¡¯d been working for hours, fueled by coffee and determination.


    I smoothed down my blouse, took a deep breath, and walked to the door on legs that felt like lead. Julian opened it before I could knock.


    The sleekpany car idled in the driveway. The driver opened the door as I approached, and I sank gratefully into the backseat.


    ¡°Breakfast,¡± she exined, handing me both. ¡°You look exhausted, ra.¡±


    Julian gave me an apologetic look as he pulled up the disy.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I insisted, though the bone¨Cdeep fatigue suggested otherwise.


    The persistent buzzing of my phone dragged me back to consciousness.


    I shouldn¡¯t have been surprised that Uncle Victor had noticed. He missed nothing, especially when it came to business.


    ¡°I tested it extensivelyst night,¡± I began.


    The algorithm finally cooperated at 4:10 AM. I sent it off to Julian with a note


    exining the changes, then copsed onto my old bed without bothering to change. Sleep imed me instantly.


    17:59


    134 Resolutions Before Sunrise


    I nodded, grateful for the suggestion. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll need to leave early though.¡±


    ¡°Not good enough,¡± he cut me off. ¡°These investors expect perfection. Julian, bring up- the neuralwork visualization.¡±


    *You¡¯re a lifesaver. Mecting at Weber¡¯s vi at 9 AM. I¡¯ll send a car.*


    I took the offered seat, suddenly feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me.


    ¡°Not if we want to keep our department funding,¡± I replied with a tired smile. ¡°The joys of academia.¡±


    ¡°The car¡¯s outside,¡± Julian said. ¡°Sorry, but Weber moved the meeting up.¡±


    I nced at the clock: 7:30 AM. I¡¯d slept for barely three hours.


    We fell silent, each lost in thought. The Thornes and Bellweathers had aplex history¨Cbusiness rivals turned reluctant allies through my marriage. Now that alliance was crumbling.


    ¡°What about custody arrangements?¡± Uncle Victor asked, his brow furrowed with


    concern.


    A coincidence? Perhaps. But in my experience, coincidences around Damien Thorne


    were rare.


    Julian squeezed my arm in silent support as we dove into the work, racing against the clock and my dwindling reserves of energy.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± he asked.


    As I moved to Professor Weber¡¯s side, the exhaustion hit me in waves. Three hours of sleep after an emotional day and night of intensive work. The divorce decision hanging over me. Cora¡¯s face as she left with Damien. Beck¡¯s strange offer. It all swirled together, threatening to overwhelm me.


    I reached for her hand. ¡°I know. But right now, I need to handle this my way.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Julian. Professor Weber/sent over an assignment that needs to bepleted by 6 AM for some government presentation.¡± I stood up. ¡°I should head home and get


    started.¡±


    17:59


    17:59


    134 Resolutions Before Sunrise


    The familiar desk in my childhood bedroom hadn¡¯t changed. The samemp cast its warm glow over the polished wood as I worked through the night. Julian had sent over aplex Al algorithm that needed tweaking for Professor Weber¡¯s presentation to potential investors.


    ¡°Come sit, ra. Tell us what¡¯s truly on your mind.¡±


    I sshed cold water on my face, changed into fresh clothes from my emergency bag, and applied minimal makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes. A quick brush through my hair and I was presentable, if not refreshed.


    ¡°Hello?¡± My voice was rough with sleep.


    ¡°Thank God you¡¯re here,¡± he whispered, pulling me inside. ¡°Weber¡¯s been impossible. The investors are arriving in thirty minutes, and he¡¯s changing everything.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started,¡± I said, my voice stronger than I felt. ¡°We have thirty minutes to perfect this.¡±


    Uncle Victor leaned forward. ¡°Beck Fairchild approached you just now, didn¡¯t he? What did he want?¡±


    My phone buzzed with a text from Julian: *Almost done? Weber¡¯s having a meltdown.*


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 The Sprawling 135

    135 Important Matters and Hidden Meetings


    135 Important Matters and Hidden Meetings


    A knock at the door announced Mrs. Henderson¡¯s arrival. After brief instructions,


    Vivienne and I prepared to leave.


    *Guess who I spotted at Silver Peak Resort? Your soon¨Cto¨Cbe¨Cex and his girlfriend. With Coco. Want to join me for some afternoon skiing? Might do you good to get out.*


    Julian looked skeptical but didn¡¯t push. ¡°If you say so.¡±


    Zachary nodded. ¡°Apparently he has some interest in our department¡¯s research. I was surprised when his office called.¡±


    Cora didn¡¯t look convinced. Her eyes darted to Vivienne, who was applying the finishing touches to her makeup in the suite¡¯srge mirror.


    Cora¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°Is it about your new job?¡±


    ¡°I think we¡¯ve got it,¡± I said, reviewing the final algorithm parameters. ¡°The prediction model is running at 97% uracy now.¡±


    A few years ago, this sight would have crushed me. Now, I felt oddly detached.


    I epted it gratefully. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m running on fumes at this point.¡±


    I considered her question. ¡°It¡¯s a necessary step.¡±


    ¡°No, no. Just a dinner engagement that might runte.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°With Damien Thorne, actually.¡±


    I knelt to her level in the resort suite¡¯s living room. ¡°This is grown¨Cup business,


    sweetheart. Very important m


    atters.¡±


    Zachary adjusted his sses with a smile. ¡°Fair point. Actually, I wasing to let you know I won¡¯t be avable for tomorrow morning¡¯s meeting.¡±


    ¡°Just checking a message.¡± I opened Chloe¡¯s text.


    As I started the engine, Vivienne ced her hand on mine. ¡°Tonight is about securing our future,¡± she said, her eyes glittering with anticipation. ¡°Our future together.¡±


    Damien¡¯s POV


    17:59


    1/6.


    135 Important Matters and Hidden Meetings


    ¡°Rx, Damien,¡± Vivienne said, her breath forming clouds in the winter air. ¡°Everything is falling into ce exactly as we nned.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s trying to interfere with your work here?¡±


    Julian nodded approvingly. ¡°Much better than this morning¡¯s 93%.¡±


    I opened the car door for her, my mind racing with the implications of tonight¡¯s meeting. Vivienne was right about one thing¨Cthis dinner could change everything. But whether for better or worse remained to be seen.


    Cora sighed dramatically. ¡°Fine. But tomorrow we¡¯re going to the chocte factory, right?¡±


    Vivienne squeezed my arm. ¡°Don¡¯t be so hard on yourself. You¡¯re doing what needs to


    be done.¡±


    ¡°You should go home and rest,¡± Julian said, concern evident in his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve been here for twelve hours straight.¡±


    I clicked on the attachment and stared at the images. Damien, dressed in his sleek ck ski outfit, standing next to Vivienne in her designer red ensemble. Between them stood Cora, bundled up in a matching red jacket and looking thrilled. The perfect little family portrait.


    ¡°We won¡¯t be toote,¡± I assured Mrs. Henderson.


    The elevator doors opened to the lobby. ¡°We should take my car,¡± I said, effectively changing the subject.


    The office buzzed with activity as I focused on the screen in front of me. Numbers blurred together after hours of staring at code. We¡¯d been working non¨Cstop since the morning presentation, which had gone surprisingly well despite Professor Weber¡¯sst¨Cminute changes.


    I watched their interaction with interest. Vivienne had a way with Cora that sometimes surprised me. Despite theirck of biological connection, they shared mannerisms and expressions that were eerily simr.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted. ¡°But I doubt it¡¯s coincidence.¡±


    Julian ced my phone down with more force than necessary. ¡°You don¡¯t have to


    17:59


    136 Important Matters and Hidden Meetings


    pretend it doesn¡¯t bother you.¡±


    ¡°Want some coffee?¡± Julian rolled his chair over to my desk, offering a steaming mug.


    I shook my head. ¡°We need to finish this algorithm before tomorrow¡¯s meeting¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s getting used to disappointment,¡± I replied, feeling another pang of guilt.


    ¡°That¡¯s not an answer,¡± she pressed.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± I said, turning back to my work. ¡°Cora looks happy. That¡¯s what


    counts.¡±


    After he left, Julian turned to me. ¡°What do you think that¡¯s about?¡±


    My phone buzzed with a notification. I nced down to see a message from Chloe with an attachment.


    I handed him my phone. ¡°Just Damien and Vivienne taking Cora skiing.¡±


    Vivienne slipped her arm through mine as we walked toward the elevator. ¡°That went


    better than expected,¡± she murmured.


    I felt a twinge of guilt. I had promised her dinner after skiing. ¡°I know, and I¡¯m sorry. How about tomorrow we do something special to make up for it?¡±


    I considered this possibility. ¡°Maybe. Or maybe he just sees a valuable investment opportunity.¡±


    She gave me a knowing look. ¡°About what we¡¯re discussing with him.¡±


    The room went silent. Julian shot me a concerned nce.


    I maintained myposure, though internally my mind raced. First Beck Fairchild approaching me about Uncle Victor¡¯s project, now Damien showing interest in our AI research?


    I guided Vivienne toward the exit, keeping my expression neutral. ¡°We¡¯re being observed.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± I promised, ruffling her hair.


    I nodded silently and pulled away from the resort, leaving Cora behind as we headed


    17:59


    135 Importani Matters and Hidden Meetings.


    toward our ndestine meeting with Zachary Miller¨Ca mecting that would set irreversible events in motion.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ interesting timing,¡± Julian remarked, echoing my thoughts.


    ¡°But we were supposed to have dinner together,¡± she protested, crossing her arms. ¡°You promised.¡±


    Chloe replied immediately: *At least look at the photos. Know thy enemy and all that.*


    We fell back intofortable silence, the clicking of keyboards filling the space between us. After another hour, I leaned back and rubbed my eyes.


    ¡°Taking a break?¡± Julian asked hopefully.


    I hesitated before responding. *Can¡¯t. Swamped with work. Have fun though.*


    Julian frowned. ¡°You barely sleptst night. This isn¡¯t healthy, ra.¡±


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± I asked.


    Julian studied the photo, his jaw tightening. ¡°They¡¯re really unting it, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    Meanwhile at Silver Peak Resort¡­


    ¡°But why can¡¯t Ie with you?¡± Cora pouted, her lower lip trembling slightly as she looked up at me.


    Vivienne pursed her lips but didn¡¯t push further. As we walked through the resort¡¯s grand entrance, I caught a glimpse of someone familiar in the distance. Chloe Grant, ra¡¯s best friend, was watching us from near the ski equipment rental desk.


    ¡°Mrs. Henderson will be here any minute to stay with you,¡± I said, checking my watch. ¡°She¡¯ll order whatever you want for dinner.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not pretending,¡± I replied honestly. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ tired. Too tired to care about what Damien does anymore.¡±


    As we descended in the elevator, Vivienne¡¯s excitement became palpable. ¡°Are you


    nervous?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Coco, darling,¡± Vivienne said, turning toward her with a practiced smile. ¡°This meeting is very important for me. You understand that, don¡¯t you?¡±


    17:59


    135 Important Matters and Hidden Meetings


    ¡°I see,¡± I said, keeping my voice neutral. ¡°Business matters?¡±


    Zachary looked between us, clearly sensing the tension. ¡°I suppose it is. Anyway, I¡¯ll let you two finish up. Don¡¯t stay toote.¡±


    I nodded, suddenly feeling even more exhausted than before. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this up. I need to go home and sleep.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Vivienne replied smoothly. ¡°It could change everything¡±


    Our concentration broke when Zachary, the head of our department, popped his head into our office. ¡°Still here? You two need lives outside this building.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I¡¯m concerned about,¡± I muttered as we stepped outside into the cold evening air.


    Vivienne followed my gaze and smirked. ¡°Let her look. Soon she can tell ra everything.¡±


    ¡°Either way, be careful,¡± Julian warned. ¡°Zachary doesn¡¯t know the full history between you two.¡±


    ¡°Bad news?¡± Julian asked, noticing my expression.


    Julian chuckled. ¡°Says the man who¡¯s also still here at 7 PM.¡±


    ¡°About dinner with Zachary Miller? No.¡±


    ¡°Professor Weber will be pleased,¡± I said, sending him the updated files.


    17:59

 The Sprawling 136

    136 Judgment by the AI Luminary


    ¡°By all means,¡± Zachary said with a nod.


    Zachary nodded, his expression revealing nothing. ¡°Continue.¡±


    I had been dismissed. Rejected. Found wanting by the very person whose validation I had coveted.


    ¡°Dr. Dubois,¡± he amended without apology. ¡°You clearly possess a solid foundational knowledge of AI systems. Your academic achievements aremendable.¡±


    I took a deep breath, forcing my features into a neutral expression. ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡±


    I nodded absently, my mind still reeling from Zachary¡¯s assessment. Derivative. Not innovative. Just above average.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± he asked, looking between us.


    Iunched into my prepared analysis, detailing my research on split¨Csecond ethical decision algorithms. I exined my theories on weighted value systems for autonomous vehicles and the implementation challenges in real¨Cworld scenarios.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said with a small smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°Mr. Thorne mentioned you¡¯re interested in my mentorship program.¡±


    We both stood to greet him.


    ¡°Zachary, thank you for joining us,¡± Damien said, shaking his hand.


    Zachary regarded me with clinical detachment. ¡°Original thought. Everything you¡¯ve presented is skillful regurgitation of existing frameworks. I need minds that create


    frameworks others will follow.¡±


    I straightened my posture. ¡°Excited, not nervous. This is my moment.¡±


    Just above average.


    ¡°We should go,¡± I said suddenly, standing up. ¡°There¡¯s no point staying.¡±


    I stopped, surprised. Had I impressed him already?


    The private dining room at Le Ciel exuded exclusivity. Crystal chandeliers cast a


    17:59


    136 Judgment by the Al Luminary


    golden glow over mahogany tables and plush seating. I¡¯d chosen my outfit carefully¨Ca tailored burgundy dress that conveyed both professionalism and subtle allure. The perfectbination for tonight¡¯s meeting.


    His handshake was firm but brief. ¡°ttery noted, but unnecessary. I¡¯m familiar with your academic background.¡±


    The words hung between us as Damien¡¯s phone continued to ring. I gestured toward it.. ¡°Answer it. Cora needs you.¡±


    I leaned forward slightly. ¡°More than interested. I believe I would be an ideal candidate for your advanced research team. My doctoral thesis on predictive behavioral


    algorithms in autonomous systems-¡±


    Damien moved to my side. ¡°Vivienne¡±


    ¡°The pleasure¡¯s mine,¡± Zachary replied, his gaze analytical as he turned to me. ¡°And you must be Vivienne Dubois.¡±


    But as I stood there, I couldn¡¯t ignore the voice in my head wondering if Zachary Newman had seen something fundamental about me¨Csomething others had missed or been too kind to mention.


    I barely acknowledged him, focused entirely on impressing Zachary, who was listening with unnerving intensity. I discussed technical specifications,putational models, and my innovative approach to machine learning parameters.


    As he took the call, I walked to the window, staring out at the city lights below. One rejection shouldn¡¯t matter this much. I¡¯d faced setbacks before.


    I found my voice again. ¡°What exactly am Icking?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t matter,¡± I interrupted, the reality sinking in. ¡°He¡¯s made his judgment.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the oue we expected,¡± Damien said carefully.


    Relief flooded through me. This was going well.


    I extended my hand, maintaining steady eye contact. ¡°Dr. Vivienne Dubois. Your work on neural pathway optimization in learning systems has been revolutionary. It¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Just water for now,¡± he said. ¡°I prefer rity of mind during first meetings.¡±


    17:59


    136 Judgment by the Al Luminary


    ¡°I appreciate your time, Mr. Thorne,¡± Zachary continued, turning to Damien. ¡°The restaurant choice is excellent. Perhaps another time, under different circumstances.¡±


    My heart rate quickened as Zachary Newman entered. Tall and lean with silver¨Cstreaked dark hair, he carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone who didn¡¯t need to prove his brilliance to anyone. The world¡¯s leading authority on autonomous Al systems¨Cand hopefully, my future mentor.


    ¡°However,¡± he continued, ¡°you¡¯re not at the level I require for my students.¡±


    ¡°Dr. Dubois,¡± I corrected again, a slight edge to my voice this time.


    The subtle implication wasn¡¯t lost on me. I set my wine ss down untouched.


    Damien¡¯s expression hardened slightly. ¡°Perhaps you should reconsider. Vivienne is brilliant-¡±


    ¡°Is derivative,¡± he finished, his tone matter¨Cof¨Cfact rather than cruel. ¡°You¡¯ve memorized the right terminology and can discuss concepts intelligently, but there¡¯s no true innovation in your approach.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s POV


    Damien returned briefly, ced his hand on my shoulder, and whispered, ¡°Need to take another call. You¡¯re doing great.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just any opinion,¡± I said, gathering my purse. ¡°It¡¯s Zachary Newman¡¯s. And he just confirmed what I¡¯ve always feared.¡±


    Just above average? I maintained my smile while recalibrating my approach.


    ¡°That was merely my starting point,¡± I said smoothly. ¡°My current focus has expanded to ethical decision¨Cmaking frameworks in autonomous vehicles, particrly regarding the trolley problem variables in urban environments.¡±


    He nodded politely to me. ¡°Dr. Dubois, I wish you well in your endeavors. There are many excellent programs that would value your skills.¡±


    Zachary set down his water ss and stood. The abruptness of the gesture left me momentarily speechless.


    ¡°We can approach this differently,¡± he suggested. ¡°Perhaps through the foundation, or


    17:59


    6330


    136 Judgment by the Al Luminary


    The words hit me like a physical blow. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. My research-¡±


    The door opened as Damien returned. He paused, sensing the tension immediately.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± he said firmly.


    After speaking for over ten minutes without interruption, I was mid¨Csentence when Zachary raised his hand.


    Damien sat beside me, impable as always in his charcoal suit. His presence provided the ess I needed, but tonight¡¯s oue rested entirely on my shoulders.


    Damien¡¯s phone buzzed. He checked the screen and frowned. ¡°I apologize, but I need to take this call. Business emergency.¡±


    Damien studied me, concern evident in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t let one man¡¯s opinion¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ms. Dubois-¡±


    ¡°Yes, I reviewed it,¡± he interrupted. ¡°Above average work.¡±


    And worse, I couldn¡¯t help wondering if this was how everyone truly saw me. Not as extraordinary. Not as exceptional.


    ¡°Nervous?¡± Damien asked, noticing my finger tracing the rim of my water ss.


    ¡°Perfectly fine,¡± Zachary replied. ¡°I was just exining to Dr. Dubois that while I appreciate her interest, she doesn¡¯t meet the requirements for my mentorship


    program.¡±


    ÎÒ


    I looked at Damien, vulnerability breaking through my careful facade for just a moment. ¡°That I¡¯m not special. Just adequate. Just¡­ second best.¡±


    Each word sliced through my carefully constructed self¨Cimage. My hand trembled slightly as I reached for my water.


    I struggled to maintain myposure. ¡°If you¡¯d let me exin mytest project¡ª¡±


    The waiter had just poured our wine when the ma?tre d¡® appeared at the door. ¡°Mr. Zachary Newman has arrived, sir.¡±


    ¡°Awarded you a PhD, yes. And you deserve it. But my program isn¡¯t about collecting another credential. It¡¯s about pushing boundaries that terrify most academics.¡±


    17:59


    136 Judgment by the Al Luminary


    ¡°Dr. Dubois,¡± I corrected gently.


    With that, he turned and left the private dining room, leaving a deafening silence in his- wake.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t change my assessment,¡± he said, gathering his coat. ¡°Your foundational knowledge is decent, but you¡¯re not at the level for me to take you on as a student.¡±


    Damien¡¯s phone buzzed again. He nced at it and sighed. ¡°Cora¡¯s calling. Mrs. Henderson says she won¡¯t go to bed until she speaks with us.¡±


    We took our seats as the waiter approached to take Zachary¡¯s drink order.


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I said sharply, raising my hand. I needed a moment to process what had just happened.


    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt her general intelligence,¡± Zachary interrupted. ¡°But brilliance in my field requires something she hasn¡¯t demonstrated.¡±


    As Damien stepped out, Zachary turned his full attention to me. ¡°So, Ms. Dubois-¡±


    I felt heat rising to my face. ¡°With all due respect, my doctoralmittee-<b>¡± </b>


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 The Sprawling 137

    137 A Mentor¡¯s Unvarnished Truth


    137 A Mentor¡¯s Unvarnished Truth


    ¡°Even geniuses need breaks,¡± he insisted. ¡°Besides, Julian and ra are there with their


    Al mentor.¡±


    Newman shook his head. ¡°Not one of them showed the spark I¡¯m looking for.¡±


    Damien ced a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Vivienne?¡±


    ¡°So, what did you think of the candidates today?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s staying there for the next few days while visiting potential students.¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. ¡°Is that what you want? To be like him? Like


    Julian Croft or ra?¡±


    Newman nced at me, his expression neutral. ¡°Dr. Dubois, good evening.¡±


    The news sent a jolt through me. A second chance? Perhaps if I could speak with him again, show him how serious I was¡­


    By afternoon, I had created a n to catch up on thetest research and innovations. I would start my own project¨Csomething truly innovative that would make Zachary Newman regret his dismissal.


    I turned to him. ¡°Do you agree with him?¡±


    His words hit me like a p. These past few months, I¡¯d been focused on car racing, social events, even shopping for Cora, My research had taken a backseat.


    I frowned. ¡°I should keep working.¡±


    While Damien spoke softly to Cora, I stepped out of the car, needing fresh air. The night was cool, and the sky was surprisingly clear for the city. I looked up at the stars, thinking about Zachary Newman¡¯s assessment.


    Maybe this rejection was exactly what I needed. A wake¨Cup call.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said, suddenly energized.


    ¡°Vivienne, dear,¡± Eleanor said, ¡°would you like some wine?¡±


    I approached the group carefully, not wanting to seem eager after yesterday¡¯s


    21:15


    176


    137 A Mentor¡¯s Unvarnished Truth


    rejection. Julian noticed me first.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying I¡¯m not dedicated enough?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Almost seven,¡± he replied, looking amused. ¡°You¡¯ve been at it for nearly ten hours straight.¡±


    ¡°Probably,¡± Damien agreed. ¡°You have the talent, Vivienne. But maybe Newman saw that you haven¡¯t been immersed in cutting¨Cedge researchtely.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good sign,¡± he said, setting a sandwich beside me. ¡°Eat. Then we can head


    over to the vi. Eleanor invited us for after¨Cdinner drinks.¡±


    Damien joined me outside a few minutester. ¡°Cora says goodnight. She wants us


    both toe tuck her in tomorrow.¡±


    ra nodded and followed Julian inside without another word.


    The drive back was silent. Damien kept ncing at me, but I stared out the window, watching the city lights blur together. When we finally reached the parking lot outside his office building, he killed the engine.


    ¡°I want respect,¡± I finally said. ¡°I want to be recognized for my mind, not just as your girlfriend or ra¡¯s half¨Csister.¡±


    Damien didn¡¯t answer immediately. ¡°ra was different back in university. She would forget to eat when she was working on a project.¡±


    An hourter, Newman emerged from the house with Julian and ra. Their conversation seemed animated, filled with technical terms I struggled to follow. They had clearly moved beyond the basics I had studied today.


    The words stung, but I maintained myposure. ¡°And how does one develop this spark?¡±


    Julian turned to Newman. ¡°Shall we continue our discussion inside? I¡¯d like to show


    you the prototype.¡±


    I felt a familiar twinge of jealousy. CUAP¨CContextual Understanding and Anticipatory Processing¨Cwas ra¡¯s breakthrough algorithm that had catapulted her to academic fame at just twenty¨Ctwo.


    Hourster, I heard Damien return.


    21:15


    137 A Mentor¡¯s Unvarnished Truth


    As Eleanor served dessert, I tried again to engage Newman in conversation about Al ethics, a topic I felt confident discussing.


    I stood motionless as Zachary Newman walked away. My carefully crafted image of myself as a brilliant AI prodigy crumbled with each step he took.


    And there was ra, looking effortlessly elegant in a simple white dress, observing their discussion with quiet intelligence. She always managed to seem perfectly at home in these settings, despite her humble origins.


    It wasn¡¯t praise, but it wasn¡¯t dismissal either.


    ¡°Then what is it about?¡± I demanded.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying Newman works with people who are obsessed. People who would cancel dinner with the Queen to finish coding a new neuralwork.¡±


    Newman listened, his expression unreadable. When I finished, he simply nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve done your homework.¡±


    ¡°He was harsh,¡± Damien said finally.


    I looked up, surprised to see that it was already dark outside. ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Answer it,¡± I said. ¡°I need a moment anyway.¡±


    ¡°You do agree,¡± I said tly.


    It was a test, and I knew it. Iunched into a detailed analysis of his methodology, citing specific examples from his paper. I had spent three hours studying it this


    afternoon.


    head


    His confidence in me helped soothe the sting of Newman¡¯s rejection. I rested my against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. ¡°I will,¡± I promised. ¡°Starting tomorrow.¡±


    I felt a flicker of hope. ¡°So it¡¯s not about my ability. It¡¯s about my focus.¡±


    ¡°I can change that,¡± I said with renewed determination.


    *You haven¡¯t moved since I left. That¡¯s the focus Newman was looking for. Proud of you.*


    ¡°There is if you want to be exceptional,¡± I countered. ¡°Newman was right about that. The truly revolutionary minds don¡¯t care about bnce.¡±


    21:15


    137 A Mentor¡¯s Unvarnished Truth


    ¡°Vivienne,¡± he said with a nod. ¡°We were just discussing the limitations of current naturalnguage processing systems.¡±


    Before I could respond, Julian reappeared on the terrace. ¡°ra, could you join us? Zachary has questions about the neural pathway integration.¡±


    ¡°Your career matters to you,¡± Damien said, ¡°but so does the rest of your life. There¡¯s nothing wrong with bnce.¡±


    The Thorne family vi was lit up when we arrived. The housekeeper led us to the garden terrace where everyone was gathered. Eleanor greeted us warmly, but my eyes immediately found Zachary Newman, deep in conversation with Julian Croft.


    I pulled away from his touch. The rejection stung more than I wanted to admit.


    I was so engrossed in my research that I barely noticed when Damien left for a meeting. My phone buzzed with a text from him around noon:


    Vivienne¡¯s POV


    My head snapped up. ¡°Newman¡¯s at the vi?¡±


    I forced a smile. ¡°He didn¡¯t reject me outright this time.¡±


    Newman nodded and followed Julian into the house, leaving me with ra and


    Damien.


    ¡°Yes, and that¡¯s impressive. But when was thest time you spent a weekend working on a new algorithm instead of at the racetrack?¡±


    ¡°That went better,¡± Damien said encouragingly.


    I had just been reading about this. ¡°The contextual understanding is still problematic,¡± I offered. ¡°Especially with cultural nuances.¡±


    The next morning, I woke up early and immediately went to myptop. I spent hours researching thetest developments in AI that I¡¯d missed while focusing on other things. The technology had evolved rapidly, and I had fallen behind.


    The revtion was both painful and relieving. If the problem was my recent distractions rather than some fundamentalcking, then it was fixable.


    Damien sighed. ¡°Zachary Newman doesn¡¯t just want smart people. He wants


    21:16


    137 A Mentor¡¯s Unvarnished Truth


    innovators who eat, sleep, and breathe AI.¡±


    Damien¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced at it. ¡°It¡¯s Cora again.¡±


    I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my shoulders. ¡°I lost track of time.¡±


    Before I could answer, Julian chuckled. ¡°Zachary, don¡¯t be too harsh. Not everyone can be ra at twenty¨Ctwo.¡±


    ¡°Is she?¡± Newman asked, his tone neutral.


    His eyebrow lifted slightly. ¡°Which aspect did you find mostpelling?¡±


    The question made me pause. Did I want to be that consumed by my work? Did I want to be the kind of person who forgot meals because an algorithm was more interesting?


    His message made me smile. This was just the beginning. I would prove myself worthy not just to Newman, but to everyone who doubted me.


    ¡°Not at the level I require,¡± his words echoed in my mind.


    Julian nodded. ¡°CUAP was revolutionary. I still remember when she first exined the


    concept to me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about your intelligence,¡± he said carefully. ¡°You¡¯re brilliant, Vivienne. You know


    that.¡±


    The conversation moved on, but the implication hung in the air. At twenty¨Cfive, I still couldn¡¯t evene close to what ra had achieved years ago with CUAP.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go,¡± I said, reaching for my purse.


    ¡°The spark?¡± I asked, unable to help myself.


    ¡°Mr. Newman,¡± I replied, keeping my tone professional. ¡°I¡¯ve been reviewing your paper on ethical frameworks in decision¨Cmaking algorithms. Your approach to the trolley problem is particrly interesting.¡±


    He listened politely, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere. When there was a lull in the conversation, Julian turned to him.


    ¡°I have a PhD in artificial intelligence!¡±


    I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere. ¡°I¡¯ve been distracted,¡± I admitted. ¡°Racing,


    21:16


    137 A Mentor¡¯s Unvamished Truth


    socializing, ying stepmother. I neglected what really matters.¡±


    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± he asked, poking his head into the study.


    ¡°Vivienne is working on some innovative concepts as well,¡± Damien interjected, his hand finding mine under the table.


    I leaned back against the headrest. ¡°Like ra,¡± I said bitterly.


    Damien pulled me closer. ¡°Then show them what you¡¯re capable of.¡±


    Newman considered me for a moment. ¡°Some people have it innately. Others cultivate it through years of obsessive work and genuine curiosity.¡± He nced briefly at ra. ¡°Your sister had it from the first day of my undergraduate seminar.¡±


    ra watched me with those careful, observant eyes of hers. ¡°Zachary values persistence,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But more than that, he values honest self¨Cassessment.¡±


    ¡°Just water, thank you,¡± I replied, remembering how Newman had opted for water at our dinner. Details mattered.


    Newman turned to me. ¡°Yes, Dr. Dubois. That indefinable quality that separates the truly innovative from the merelypetent.¡±


    Damien hesitated just long enough for me to know the truth.


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 The Sprawling 138

    138 Converging Paths at InnovaTech


    138 Converging Paths at InnovaTech


    ¡°Brilliant!¡± Jorge eximed, his admiration obvious. ¡°I¡¯ve followed your research on predictive response patterns. Exceptional work.¡±


    ra straightened, maintaining herposure. ¡°I could say the same.¡±


    ra nced sideways at her half¨Csister, surprised by thement and theck of obvious mockery.


    ¡°Ms. Vance?¡± Jorge¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise.


    All eyes turned to ra, including Vivienne¡¯s. For once, her half¨Csister¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t dismissive but contemtive.


    Xavier joined the conversation. ¡°We didn¡¯t expect to see so many familiar faces today. Ourpany, CodeFlux Inc., was brought in to coborate on implementing this security protocol.¡±


    Jorge cleared his throat. ¡°We didn¡¯t realize-¡±


    An InnovaTech staff member who had been escorting them looked confused. ¡°Yes, Ms. Vance is one of the tech specialists from YodaVision consulting on this project.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Julian said, ncing at ra with pride. ¡°It was primarily ra¡¯s creation.¡±


    ¡°Newman speaks highly of you,¡± Vivienne said quietly, so only ra could hear. ¡°He says you have a spark.¡±


    ¡°This is Julian Croft and ra Vance from YodaVision,¡± Albert exined. ¡°They¡¯ve developed the core architecture we¡¯re integrating¡±


    Jorge¡¯s demeanor transformed instantly, his posture straightening as he extended his hand to Vivienne. ¡°Ms. Dubois! What a pleasure to see you again. Are you consulting here too?¡±


    Julian stood, extending his hand professionally. ¡°Nice to meet you all officially.¡± He nodded toward Vivienne. ¡°Ms. Dubois.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s well,¡± Vivienne replied smoothly. ¡°Always busy, of course.¡±


    Before Jorge could respond, the door opened again. This time, Vivienne Dubois walked


    21:16


    138 Converging Paths at InnovaTech


    in, her confident stride faltering slightly when she spotted Jorge and Xavier.


    ¡°YodaVision¡¯s CUAP algorithm forms the foundation,¡± Albert continued. ¡°ra and Julian will oversee that integration. CodeFlux provides the security framework, and InnovaTech¡¯s team, including Vivienne, handles the specialized adaptation for client


    needs.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile tightened slightly. ¡°Yes. Different paths with different results.¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± Vivienne said, her tone perfectly professional with just the slightest edge that only ra would detect. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±


    ¡°You two know each other?¡± Albert asked, looking between them.


    ra felt Julian¡¯s hand touch her arm briefly¨Ca silent show of support and understanding.


    ¡°Jorge?¡± Vivienne looked surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t know CodeFlux was involved with this


    project.¡±


    ¡°Zachary is generous with his praise when he believes it¡¯s deserved,¡± ra replied carefully.


    The early afternoon sunlight filtered through the high windows of InnovaTech¡¯s main conference room. ra Vance rubbed her tired eyes, grateful that Zachary had allowed her and Julian to leave early yesterday after their exhausting day. Now, she was back and fully focused on the technical issues they were troubleshooting.


    As everyone gathered their materials, Jorge approached ra. ¡°Ms. Vance, I owe you an apology for our previous interaction. I had no idea you were behind CUAP.¡±


    He guided Jorge, Xavier, and Vivienne toward where El¨¢ra and Julian were working.


    Vivienne¡¯s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve noticed.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s eyes met hers, that familiar mix of challenge and superiority evident in her


    gaze.


    Albert Stafford, another project leader, entered the room. ¡°Good, you¡¯re all here. Let¡¯s get everyone acquainted properly since we¡¯ll be working closely together.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Thorne¡¯s wife,¡± Jorge finished, his tone somewhere between embarrassment and


    disbelief.


    21:10 284743


    138 Converging Paths at InnovaTech


    <b>+105 </b>


    ra smiled thinly. ¡°I¡¯m a co¨Cfounder of YodaVision. Julian and I established it during our final year at university. Her voice was calm but cool. She turned back to the tablet, deliberately dismissing them.


    Albert nodded eagerly. ¡°Excellent suggestion. Let¡¯s start with the overview of what each team brings to the project.¡±


    Albert checked his watch. ¡°Speaking of which, let¡¯s break for lunch now and reconvene in an hour¡±


    The tension in the room thickened instantly. Julian shifted slightly closer to ra, a subtle gesture of solidarity.


    Before either woman could respond, Xavier jumped in. ¡°Of course they do! Ms. Dubois is Mr. Thorne¡¯s partner, and Ms. Vance is-¡±


    ¡°Perhaps over lunch,¡± Julian suggested smoothly. ¡°We¡¯ll all be working together for several weeks. Plenty of time to share insights.¡±


    ra maintained herposure, nodding politely. She recognized them from the charity auction¨Cthe men who had dismissed her so readily when she tried to discuss AI technologies.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± ra said, her voice level. ¡°Though we¡¯ve taken different paths.¡±


    Xavier¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°YodaVision? I thought you were just¡ª¡±


    A flicker of something¨Crecognition? respect?-crossed Vivienne¡¯s face before she masked it. ¡°How calcting of you.¡±


    Before ra could respond, they reached the hallway where the others waited. Julian caught her eye with a questioning look, clearly wondering how she was handling this unexpected proximity to Vivienne.


    As they walked toward thepany cafeteria, ra couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had prompted Vivienne¡¯s almost civil approach. The woman who had taken such pleasure in unting her rtionship with Damien now seemed focused on something else entirely.


    Jorge leaned forward, suddenly all business. ¡°Our security protocol should mesh perfectly with YodaVision¡¯s architecture. I¡¯ve studied CUAP extensively- groundbreaking work.¡±


    21:15


    138 Converging Paths at innova Tech


    Julian nodded, making a note. ¡°Worth it for a ten percent efficiency gain.¡±


    ra paused, unsure how to respond to this unexpected interest from Vivienne. Was it sincere or a setup for another subtle jab?


    What game was Vivienne ying now?


    ¡°If we adjust the neural pathways here¡± Julian pointed to a section of code on his tablet, ¡°we might eliminate that processingg¡±


    The subtle dig hung in the air. Julian cleared his throat, redirecting the conversation. *Shall we discuss how our teams will coordinate? The integration points need careful nning


    They were deep in discussion when the conference room door opened. ra nced up to see forge and Xaxter entering, both men stopping short when they spotted her.


    ¡°<b>Not </b>calcting Observant,¡± ra corrected, gathering her tablet. ¡°Shall we join the others for lunch? i imagine we all have much to discuss about this project.¡±


    ¡°I would love to hear more about the mitial concept development, Vivienne said, her voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity that surprised ra. ¡°The paper you published didn¡¯t dele deeply into your thought proceISS,¡±


    As Albert began exining the project structure, re noticed Vivienne watching her intently. There was something different in her half¨Csister¡¯s gaze today¨Cless mockery,


    more assessment.


    At the name ¡°Dubois,¡± ra¡¯s head snapped up. She hadn¡¯t seen Vivienne enter the room, having been focused on her work while deliberately ignoring forge and Xavier. Now, finding herself face to face with her half¨Csister, ra felt her heart rate quicken.


    ra gave him a subtic nod. She could manage this situation professionally. After all, if she¡¯d survived seven years married to a man who didn¡¯t love her, she could certainly endure working alongside her half¨Csister for a few weeks.


    ¡°Being underestimated has its advantages, ra replied calmly. ¡°People reveal more when they think you don¡¯t matter¡±


    ¡°My half¨Csister, Vivienne finished smoothly, her smile not reaching her eyes. ¡°And a


    former colleague


    Jorge looked fascituated by this revtion, bis gaze darting between the two women. ¡®i


    ?


    138 Converging Paths at InnovaTech


    had no idea you were rted. Both brilliant in the same field. How remarkable.¡±


    ra leaned closer, studying theplex algorithm. ¡°That could work, but we¡¯d need to recalibrate the entire decision matrix afterward.¡±


    Jorge lowered his voice, though not enough to prevent ra from hearing. ¡°Ms. Dubois, I understand you¡¯re close with Damien Thorne. How is he? We¡¯ve been hoping to arrange a meeting with him about a potential investment.¡±


    ra nodded, neither epting nor rejecting his apology. ¡°People often make assumptions. It happens frequently.¡±


    Vivienne, who had been listening, gave a shortugh. ¡°Don¡¯t feel too bad, Jorge. Even my own sister is frequently underestimated.¡± Her eyes locked with ra¡¯s. ¡°Aren¡¯t you,


    ra?¡±


    Thement hovered betweenpliment and challenge.


    ra continued working, keeping her focus on the tablet while listening to their conversation. She didn¡¯t need to look up to know how this scene would y out¨Cshe¡¯d watched it happen countless times before.


    Vivienne shook his hand, offering a dazzling smile. ¡°I¡¯m part of InnovaTech¡¯s algorithm specialization team. I¡¯ve beening here to learn and improve my skills.¡±


    As they walked toward the door, ra felt Vivienne fall into step beside her.


    ¡°That I had a brain?¡± ra looked up, her expression cid but her eyes sharp.


    The InnovaTech staff member nodded. ¡°Yes, we have several teams coborating. YodaVision, InnovaTech, and CodeFlux are all working together on this project.¡±

 The Sprawling 139

    139 Whispers of Jealousy¡¯s Sting


    139 Whispers of Jealousy¡¯s Sting


    ¡°Did you know I have full ess to Damien¡¯s office at Thorne Industries?¡± Vivienne continued, changing tactics. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the proposals YodaVision submitted. Very thorough.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression cooled noticeably. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile tightened marginally at the mention of ra. ¡°Of course. Though I understand you¡¯ve developed quite a following in the industry yourself.¡±


    Jorge nodded slowly, his gaze calcting as he observed ra¡¯s professional demeanor. ¡°Indeed it has.¡±


    Jorge leaned forward slightly. ¡°When you were talking with Croft. She came over right after and gave you quite a look.¡±


    ¡°Julian,¡± she said warmly, ignoring rapletely. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you about the neuralwork approach you mentioned earlier.¡±


    Outside the conference room, ra continued working, oblivious to the whispers and misinterpretations that would soon threaten her hard¨Cwon professional reputation.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Vivienne asked, her voice carefully neutral.


    Vivienne sighed dramatically. ¡°ra has always been¡­ sensitive. Especially when ites to men she¡¯s interested in.¡±


    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s very good at maintaining appearances,¡± Vivienne said smoothly. ¡°It¡¯s what


    she does.¡±


    Vivienne stepped closer, lowering her voice. ¡°I was thinking something more one¨Con¨Cone. Your expertise is exactly what I¡¯ve been looking for.¡±


    Xavier nced up from his tablet. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help noticing¡­ what was that about with


    -Ms. Vance earlier?¡±


    Julian scrolled through the data, nodding. ¡°This is excellent. If we implement these changes across all modules, we¡¯ll exceed the project requirements significantly.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Xavier said finally, ¡°this project just got a lot more interesting than I expected.¡±


    21:16


    35


    139 Whispers of Jealousy¡¯s Sting


    Julian¡¯s interest visibly diminished. ¡°I see. Well, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to check on our progress with ra.¡±


    From across the room, Jorge approached them, offering his hand to Julian. ¡°Mr. Croft, I wanted to properly introduce myself. Jorge Mendez, Head of Security Architecture at CodeFlux.¡±


    ra nodded, pulling up another screen of data. ¡°I¡¯ve mapped out the critical junctures here.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vivienne smiled sweetly. ¡°Damien has no secrets from me. I often review


    materials with him.¡±


    ¡°And gave you that cold look¡­¡± Jorge continued.


    Julian leaned closer, his brow furrowed in concentration. ¡°Good catch. The neural


    pathway reconfiguration makes much more sense now.¡±


    ¡°She was jealous,¡± Xavier concluded, his eyes widening slightly. ¡°She thought you were making a move on Croft.¡±


    Jorge sat back, processing this new information. ¡°I had no idea. She seemed so professional earlier.¡±


    ¡°We should review the integration timeline,¡± he said, his voice all business now. ¡°The security protocols need to align precisely with our core architecture.¡±


    Julian straightened, shaking the offered hand. ¡°Good to meet you. Your reputation precedes you.¡±


    Julian maintained his professional demeanor. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s been a team effort, with ra¡¯s innovations leading the way.¡±


    Jorge frowned, looking through the ss partition at where ra and Julian were still working together. ¡°But isn¡¯t she married to Damien Thorne?¡±


    Across the room, Vivienne stood watching them, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she turned to Jorge and Xavier, engaging them in conversation while asionally ncing toward Julian and ra.


    ¡°Interested in?¡± Xavier repeated, eyebrows rising. ¡°You mean she and Croft are¡­?¡±


    Julian nodded politely. ¡°Certainly. Our teams should coborate closely on this


    21:16


    215


    139 Whispers of Jealousy¡¯s Sting


    project.¡±


    ra remained engrossed in her work, fingers flying across her tablet as she refined the algorithm. The cafeteria lunch had been a tense affair, with Jorge and Xavier attempting awkward small talk while Vivienne kept throwing nces her way. Now back in the project room, ra weed the distraction ofplex code.


    ¡°The neural pathway adjustments increased efficiency by twelve percent,¡± she continued smoothly. ¡°Better than we projected.¡±


    ¡°I found it fascinating,¡± Vivienne continued, her voice carrying a hint of admiration that made ra¡¯s fingers pause imperceptibly on her tablet. ¡°Perhaps we could discuss it further? I have some ideas that mightplement your approach.¡±


    ¡°Need anything else?¡± Jorge asked as Vivienne entered.


    Jorge and Xavier exchanged quick nces, clearly noting Vivienne¡¯s interested tone.


    Julian made his way back to ra, who had witnessed the exchange while pretending


    to be absorbed in her work.


    Through the ss, they watched as ra pointed something out to Julian on the screen, their heads close together,pletely absorbed in their work.


    ¡°For now,¡± Vivienne murmured, just loud enough for them to hear.


    Julian turned slightly. ¡°Yes?¡±


    Vivienne watched their interaction for another moment before turning away with a barely perceptible huff. She walked toward a small conference room at the back of the workspace where Jorge and Xavier were reviewing documents.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking into YodaVision¡¯s work for some time,¡± Vivienne added, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Yourpany¡¯s growth has been impressive.¡±


    Xavier joined them, his demeanor more respectful than it had been earlier. ¡°Your CUAP algorithm is revolutionary. We¡¯re honored to be working alongside YodaVision.¡±


    ¡°Did she?¡± Vivienne¡¯s tone was innocent, but a small, satisfied smile yed at her lips.


    ¡°These integration points need additional securityyers,¡± she muttered to herself, making another annotation.


    23:10


    315


    139 Whispers of Jealousy¡¯s Sting


    ra angled the tablet toward him. ¡°I¡¯ve isted that processingg. We need to restructure this section.¡±


    Vivienne shrugged delicately. ¡°I couldn¡¯t possiblyment on my sister¡¯s personal


    affairs.¡±


    They fell into their familiar rhythm of coboration, heads bent close together over the tablet, discussing technical details with the easy shorthand of longtime colleagues.


    Xavier nodded, looking thoughtful. ¡°It seemed¡­ territorial. Like she didn¡¯t appreciate you chatting with him.¡±


    Twenty minutester, ra approached Julian with a stack of reports. ¡°I¡¯vepiled the data from yesterday¡¯s test. The results are promising.¡±


    As she handed him the tablet, she noticed Vivienne watching them intently, her gaze cold and assessing. ra met her half¨Csister¡¯s stare directly, returning an equally frigid nce before turning back to Julian.


    Neither man noticed the satisfied gleam in Vivienne¡¯s eyes as she watched her


    half¨Csister,pletely unaware that her innocent interaction with Julian had just been twisted into something far more damaging.


    ¡°So when she interrupted your conversation with Croft¡­¡± Xavier began.


    The door swung open. Julian walked in, his tall framemanding attention as he entered. He nodded to the InnovaTech staff before making his way toward ra.


    ra noticed the dramatic shift in their attitude now that they knew her credentials. She kept her face neutral, continuing her work while Julian engaged them in conversation about coding architecture.


    The door opened again, and Vivienne entered. Her gaze immediately locked on their small group. She smoothed her perfectly tailored zer and approached them with confident strides.


    She shook her head, settling into a chair across from them. ¡°Just taking a break from all


    the technical discussions.¡±


    ¡°Any progress?¡± he asked, setting his coffee down.


    The two men exchanged meaningful nces.


    21:16


    130 Whispers of Jealousy¡¯s Sting


    Vivienne took a sip of water, neither confirming nor denying their assumption. ¡°ra has always been¡­ possessive of what she considers hers.


    He stepped away, leaving Vivienne standing with Jorge and Xavier, who were watching the interaction with obvious interest.


    ¡°Julian Croft is her business partner,¡± Jorge said slowly. ¡°But that looked personal.¡±


    Comment


    Leave the firstment for this chapter.


    ͼ

 The Sprawling 140

    140 Misjudged Intentions and Dinner ns


    140 Misjudged Intentions and Dinner ns.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to invite both teams to dinner tonight,¡± Jonathan continued. ¡°We could all use a break, and it would be nice to celebrate our progress in a more rxed setting.¡±


    ¡°And yet she¡¯s leading this project,¡± Jorge noted.


    As Julian walked away to get coffee, ra continued working. She felt someone watching her and nced up to find Jorge staring at her from the conference room. When their eyes met, he quickly looked away.


    ra shrugged. ¡°Good for them.¡±


    ¡°Particrly that security architect¨CJorge. He keeps looking over here.¡±


    Jonathan nodded. ¡°Good. The YodaVision team is making excellent progress. We¡¯ll be wrapping up for the day soon.¡±


    This made ra look up. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°The integration is going well,¡± ra agreed, gathering her things. ¡°That¡¯s what


    matters.¡±


    Xavier nodded thoughtfully. ¡°And now she¡¯s married to Damien Thorne but seems¡­ attached to her business partner.¡±


    Julian motioned ra over. ¡°El, Jorge has some questions about the security encoding.¡±


    ra nodded, pushing thoughts of Vivienne aside. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Jorge¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°I thought you were co¨Cfounders?¡±


    Jorge leaned back in his chair, watching Julian and ra through the ss partition. The way they worked together seemed too intimate¨Ctoo synchronized. Their heads bent close, shoulders almost touching as they discussed something on the tablet.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem very responsive to him,¡± Jorge observed.


    ra saved her work and stood, joining Julian as everyone gathered around Jonathan.


    Jorge watched as Julian returned with a coffee cup, saying something to ra that made her shake her head without looking up from her work.


    21:16


    140 Misjudged Intentions and Dinner ns


    ¡°You¡¯re making incredible progress,¡± Julian noted. ¡°The neural pathway adjustments were inspired.¡±


    Vivienne sighed softly. ¡°Like I said¨Cpossessive.¡±


    ¡°She keeps staring at us,¡± Jorge muttered, shifting ufortably.


    Strange, ra thought, then returned to her code.


    ¡°The logic was sound,¡± ra replied, focused on her screen. ¡°The algorithm just needed tweaking.¡±


    Julian patted her shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s my El. All business.¡±


    ¡°I just want to finish this project, Julian. Office romance drama is thest thing on my mind.¡±


    Jorge frowned. ¡°I thought she seemed capable earlier.¡±¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s necessary for maintaining data integrity while allowing for neural learning,¡± ra continued. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to share our white paper on the methodology.¡±


    ¡°She designed the entire security architecture,¡± Julian said. ¡°One of the many reasons YodaVision brought her back as CTO.¡±


    Jorge blinked, clearly not expecting such a technical response. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ quite sophisticated.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Xavier asked.


    Xavier whistled low. ¡°Must be serious!¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows,¡± Vivienne said simply.


    ¡°ra. Every time Julianes near our direction, she gives us this look.¡±


    Vivienne checked her watch. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have ns tonight. Damien¡¯s expecting me.¡±


    Jorge watched ra approach, his gaze assessing. ¡°Ms. Vance, I was curious about your approach to securing the neural pathways.¡±


    ¡°We are,¡± ra confirmed, sending him the document. ¡°But I took a break from thepany for personal reasons. This is my first major project since returning.¡±


    ¡°Oh


    yes. ssic signs. The leaning in, the excessive attention, the way he keeps finding


    21:15


    140 Misjudged Intentions and Dinner ns


    reasons to agree with her.¡±


    As ra pulled up the document to send him, Jorge nced at Julian, who was watching with an amused expression.


    ¡°At you or me?¡± ra asked absently.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± she asked, touching Jorge¡¯s arm lightly. ¡°Xavier¡¯s waiting by the


    elevator.¡±


    Xavier followed his gaze. ¡°Apparently not.¡±


    ra nodded. ¡°Dinner sounds nice.¡±


    Xavier opened his mouth to respond when Jonathan entered the main workspace, pping his hands once to gain everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°That¡¯s just her way,¡± Vivienne exined. ¡°Cold on the outside, but trust me, she¡¯s tracking his every move.¡±


    ¡°Great work today, everyone! I think we¡¯ve made tremendous progress. The integration is moving faster than scheduled, thanks to our coborative efforts.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Jorge nodded, his expression shifting from skepticism to interest. ¡°That would be helpful.¡±


    As the group dispersed, Jorge approached Julian. ¡°Mr. Croft, I wanted to ask about your security protocols for the neural pathway encoding.¡±


    Jorge¡¯s expression fell slightly. ¡°I also have a priormitment. Perhaps another


    time?¡±


    ¡°Excellent!¡± Jonathan beamed. ¡°Seven o¡¯clock? That should give everyone time to wrap up here.¡±


    Vivienne adjusted her gold bracelet, drawing their attention back to her. ¡°ra has always been possessive. Even as children.¡±


    ¡°Connections,¡± Vivienne replied smoothly. ¡°Being a Thorne opens doors.¡±


    ¡°Very, Vivienne confirmed, her voice silky. ¡°Just waiting for¡­ certain situations to


    resolve themselves.¡±


    Julian clinked his teacup against ra¡¯s tablet. ¡°We¡¯re free, right, El?¡±


    21:16


    140 Misjudged Intentions and Dinner ns


    ra didn¡¯t look up. ¡°She¡¯s good at that.¡±


    After they left, Julian chuckled. ¡°I think someone just realized he misjudged you.¡±


    ¡°You grew up together?¡± Jorge asked.


    ¡°Call me Julian,¡± he replied. ¡°And I¡¯d be happy to discuss it. In fact, ra developed those protocols¨Cshe¡¯d be the better person to exin.¡±


    ¡°She really doesn¡¯t like sharing him, does she?¡± Jorge murmured.


    As they prepared to leave for the day, ra noticed Vivienne watching her through the ss doors of the elevator, her expression unreadable. When their eyes met, Vivienne¡¯s lips curved into a small, cold smile before the doors closed between them.


    Julian nced toward the conference room where Vivienne sat with Jorge and Xavier. ¡°Your sister seems to have made new friends.¡±


    ra shook her head. ¡°No thanks. Almost done with this section.¡±


    Julian ced his tablet down and stretched his arms overhead. ¡°I need caffeine. Want anything?¡±


    From across the room, Vivienne watched their interaction, her expression tightening when she saw Jorge¡¯s obvious reassessment of ra. She walked over, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Vivienne answered. ¡°Just discussing implementation strategies.¡±


    Jorge¡¯s eyes drifted back to ra. ¡°And she knows about you two?¡±


    Jorge nodded. ¡°Yes, thank you for the information, Ms. Vance.¡±


    Her expression brightened. ¡°We¡¯ve been together for years. He¡¯s taking me to Marseille next weekend for the yacht exhibition.¡±


    ¡°Half¨Csisters,¡± Vivienne rified. ¡°Same father, different mothers.¡±


    Julian slung his bag over his shoulder. ¡°Ready for dinner?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve implemented a tripleyer encryption system,¡± ra exined professionally. ¡°Each pathway contains embedded verification nodes thatmunicate


    bi¨Cdirectionally.¡±


    21:16 (


    140 Misjudged Intentions and Dinner ns


    Jorge¡¯s expression tightened almost imperceptibly. ¡°I see.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s smile was carefully measured. ¡°ra only has a bachelor¡¯s degree, you know. Julian¡¯s the real genius behind YodaVision. His MIT doctorate thesis revolutionized neuralwork architecture.¡±


    Outside, ra stood and stretched, rolling her shoulders to release tension. Julian said something that made her smile¨Ca quick, genuine expression that transformed her serious face.


    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s smart enough,¡± Vivienne conceded. ¡°But there¡¯s a difference between being smart and being qualified.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Julian said, ¡°dinner tonight could be interesting. Jonathan seems quite impressed with your work.¡±


    Jonathan nodded, then turned to Julian and ra. ¡°What about you two? I know a fantastic Thai ce nearby.¡±


    Julian chuckled. ¡°Definitely not me. Though I think he¡¯s more interested in Vivienne.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not even slightly curious?¡±


    The conference room door opened. Jonathan Chen, InnovaTech¡¯s project director, poked his head in. ¡°Everything okay in here?¡±


    ra shrugged. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re here to do a job, not win poprity contests.¡±


    As Jonathan left, Jorge turned back to Vivienne. ¡°So you and Damien Thorne¡­¡±


    21:16 C

 The Sprawling 141

    141 A Fragile Truce and a Daughter¡¯s Longing


    141 A Fragile Truce and a Daughter¡¯s Longing


    ¡°Julian, ra,¡± she greeted, her voice carrying across the lot. ¡°How was your little work dinner?¡±


    ¡°ra speaking,¡± I answered, killing the engine.


    ¡°Can I go


    with you this time?¡± she asked, her eyes hopeful.


    ¡°And Cora?¡±


    ¡°Thanks for vetting them,¡± I said, rxing slightly.


    ¡°Promise.¡±


    I kicked off my heels, considering the offer. ¡°Saturday could work. Send me the


    details?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sweetheart. I¡¯ll take you to school tomorrow.¡±


    told Shanice?¡±


    ¡°He knows me well,¡± I admitted, gathering my things. ¡°Have you


    ¡°Please?¡± She clutched my arm. ¡°Daddy¡¯s busy, and I haven¡¯t gone skiing all winter!¡±


    The evening air had a crisp bite to it as Julian and I exited InnovaTech¡¯s towering ss headquarters. Our dinner with Jonathan had been productive and surprisingly enjoyable. As we crossed the parking lot, the sharp click of heels on concrete caught


    my attention.


    ¡°Nine is perfect,¡± I confirmed. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you at the main lodge?¡±


    ¡°Just got off the phone with him. He said you¡¯d want immediate verification.¡±


    ¡°Just overnight. He¡¯ll be back tomorrow evening.¡±


    I stood frozen in the hallway, wondering how I would exin to Beck that my six¨Cyear¨Cold daughter might be joining our business meeting on the slopes. More concerning was how Damien would react when he returned to find I¡¯d taken Cora skiing without discussing it with him.


    After hanging up, I called Uncle Victor to double¨Ccheck the contract details. Caution was a habit I¡¯d developed the hard way.


    21:17


    141 A Fragile Truce and a Daughter¡¯s Longing


    I sighed, sinking onto my couch. ¡°Taking it day by day. The divorce papers are with thewyers.¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°This is a work thing, sweetie.¡±


    I unlocked my front door, dropping my keys in the bowl by the entrance. ¡°I¡¯m d to


    hear it. When can we start?¡±


    ¡°I need to check with the others first,¡± I said carefully.


    ¡°He¡¯s an ass,¡± Julian muttered. ¡°The way he just-¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s¡­¡± I hesitated. ¡°Adjusting. It¡¯splicated.¡±


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Cora, wait-¡±


    I nodded, remembering that rare family vacation two years ago. ¡°You were very good at


    it.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    I caught her in a hug, breathing in her sweet scent. ¡°Hey, baby. I missed you.¡±


    ¡°Mommy! Wake up! You promised to take me to school!¡±


    My phone rang through the car¡¯s speakers just as I pulled into my driveway. The caller ID showed Beck Harper.


    ¡°My ski equipment. I¡¯m going skiing with some work friends on Saturday.¡±


    I smiled genuinely for the first time that evening. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, Beck. Uncle Victor


    confirmed?¡±


    Julian gave her a polite nod. ¡°Productive. Heading home?¡±


    Cora¡¯s eyes widened with excitement. ¡°Skiing? I love skiing! Remember when Daddy


    took us to Switzend?¡±


    The next morning, Beck called again as I was reviewing project notes.


    ¡°ra! Just checking if Saturday at nine works? Shanice prefers earlier starts.¡±


    After we hung up, I stared at my phone, thumb hovering over Cora¡¯s contact. <b>It </b>had


    21:17


    141 A Fragile Truce and a Daughter¡¯s Longing


    been three days since I¡¯d seen her. The urge to call was strong, but I resisted. She needed space to process the changes.


    I nced at the clock. It was already four. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon, okay?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± She giggled, tugging at my nket. ¡°It¡¯s already seven¨Cthirty!¡±


    I sighed, looking into her pleading eyes. How could I exin that this wasn¡¯t just any social outing? This was a potential business opportunity, one I couldn¡¯t afford toplicate.


    ¡°It¡¯s legitimate,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Beck¡¯spany is solid. Smaller than what you¡¯re used to, but innovative.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s ecstatic. This partnership will revolutionize her research.¡±


    But she was already dashing off, chattering about ski poles and her favorite slopes.


    I arrived at the Thorne mansion forty¨Cfive minutester. Eleanor greeted me at the door, her elegant figure belying her seventy years.


    ¡°Will you be here when I wake up?¡± she asked drowsily.


    Vivienne stood by a sleek ck car, her crimson dress vibrant against the night. She looked up as we approached, her smile practiced but eyes cold.


    Eleanor sighed. ¡°She misses you. Damien left early this morning, and Vivienne had some emergency at work.¡±


    Before she could answer, a familiar silver Bentley pulled alongside her. My stomach knotted as the window lowered, revealing Damien¡¯s chiseled profile.


    ¡°Grandma Eleanor. But she has her bridge club tonight.¡±


    Julian squeezed my shoulder. ¡°You okay?¡±


    ¡°I need to stop by my ce after dropping you off,¡± I told her. ¡°I have to get some things


    for the weekend.¡±


    The evening passed quickly. We made dinner together, yed board games, and watched a movie. By the time I tucked Cora into bed, she was fighting to keep her


    open.


    eyes


    ¡°Yes!¡± She bounced excitedly, already taking my words as confirmation. ¡°I¡¯ll get my


    ski


    21:17


    141 A Fragile Truce and a Daughter¡¯s Longing


    suit ready! It still fits fromst year!¡±


    She smiled, already half asleep. ¡°Good.¡±


    Cora came barreling down the stairs. ¡°Mommy!¡±


    She clung to me tightly. ¡°Can you stay? Please?¡±


    ¡°Please, Mommy? I¡¯ll be super good! I won¡¯t bother friends!¡±


    your


    ¡°I see,¡± I said neutrally. ¡°How long will Damien be gone?¡±


    ¡°Mommy?¡± Cora¡¯s voice made my heart squeeze.


    ¡°Thank you foring, ra,¡± she said, patting my arm. ¡°Cora¡¯s been asking for you all day.


    I looked at Eleanor, who nodded. ¡°Of course I can.¡±


    After hanging up, I immersed myself in work until my phone rang again in the afternoon. This time, it was Eleanor Thorne¡¯s number, but when I answered, a small voice spoke.


    As the window closed, I caught Vivienne¡¯s triumphant smile directed at me. The car pulled away smoothly, leaving us in its wake.


    After a quick shower, I helped Cora with her backpack while making a mental note to pick up my ski equipment from storageter.


    ¡°Will do. Rest up, ra. Big things areing.¡±


    My phone buzzed with a text from Beck, confirming Saturday¡¯s ski trip with Shanice at Blue Mountain Resort. I replied with a simple thumbs¨Cup before heading to shower.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said, fishing my keys from my purse. ¡°It¡¯s nothing new.¡±


    I groaned yfully. ¡°Five more minutes?¡±


    Vivienne slipped into the passenger seat, her hand possessively touching Damien¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯re off to the symphony. Don¡¯t wait up.¡±


    21:17


    141 A Fragile Truce and a Daughter¡¯s Longing


    ¡°Let¡¯s not waste breath on it,¡± I interrupted, forcing a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve got other priorities


    now.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s with you now?¡±


    ¡°What things?¡± Cora asked, curious as always.


    ¡°Can youe over? Daddy¡¯s on a business trip, and Vivi had to go somewhere too.¡±


    Morning arrived with Cora bouncing on my bed, already dressed for school.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I answered, bncing my coffee cup.


    ¡°Great news,¡± Beck¡¯s enthusiastic voice filled the car. ¡°The contract¡¯s been signed! We¡¯re officially partners with Vance Technologies.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s actually why I called. Are you free this weekend? Shanice suggested a casual meeting¨Cmaybe that skiing trip we discussed?¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. Bring your own equipment if you have it. The rental lines get crazy.¡±


    ¡°Coco! Hi, sweetheart. How are you?¡±


    I stayed in the guest room¨Cthe same one I¡¯d used during the final months of my marriage. It felt strange being back in this house, surrounded by memories both bitter


    and sweet.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think-¡±


    We said our goodbyes in the parking lot. As I drove home alone, I pushed thoughts of Damien and Vivienne from my mind. Their perfect¨Ccouple act was no longer my


    concern.


    ¡°Of course. How are you holding up?¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡±


    The temporary peace of our overnight reunion suddenly felt fragile, threatened byplications I hadn¡¯t anticipated. As I watched Cora¡¯s excited preparations, I realized I was caught between my daughter¡¯s innocent longing and the precarious new path I was trying to forge for myself.


    ¡°Julian,¡± he acknowledged with a brief nod. His gaze slid past me as if I were invisible.


    21:17

 The Sprawling 142

    142 Declined Plea, epted Gift


    142 Declined Plea, epted Gift


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lassured her, offering my gloved hand. ¡°We¡¯ll take it slow.¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡± Shanice protested, rolling her eyes good¨Cnaturedly.


    ¡°You certainly did,¡± I agreed, genuinely proud of her progress.


    As if summoned, Shanice appeared, struggling slightly with her skis. She couldn¡¯t be more than ten, with bright eyes and a determined expression that reminded me of


    Cora.


    I closed my eyes, feeling the familiar tug between guilt and resolve. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Coco. I


    can¡¯t cancel now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true, and you know it. I love spending time with you, but adults havemitments we can¡¯t always change.¡±


    Yet here I was, patiently guiding another child through the same activity I¡¯d denied own daughter. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me. But neither was the necessity of the boundaries I was finally learning to establish.


    ¡°Please, Mommy?¡± Her pleading intensified. ¡°I¡¯ll be super quiet during your business talk!¡±


    I didn¡¯t call back. Sometimes, lessons in disappointment were important too.


    ¡°Ms. Vance, watch this!¡± she called before executing a smooth S¨Cturn.


    my


    The slope opened before us, dotted with other skiers navigating the gentle terrain. I positioned myself slightly ahead of Shanice, demonstrating the wider turns needed for the steeper section.


    As we rode the lift for another run, I found myself surprisingly rxed. The guilt I¡¯d felt about refusing Cora had faded, reced by the simple pleasure of being present in this moment. Shanice¡¯s enthusiasm was infectious, her determination to master each new skill admirable.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± I encouraged. ¡°Just keep your weight centered.¡±


    21:17


    142 Declined Plea. epted Gift


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡± I interrupted gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetie, but I already have ns.¡±


    My phone lit up Friday evening, disying Cora¡¯s name. I answered immediately, pressing the device to my car.


    I nced at the calendar on my desk. Tomorrow was Saturday¨Cmy skiing appointment with Beck and Shanice.


    ra¡¯s POV


    ¡°Well done!¡± I pped, genuinely impressed. ¡°You¡¯re a natural.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised,¡± I replied, tightening her boot buckle. ¡°Your understanding of gic markers is impressive.¡±


    Blue Mountain Resort was already bustling when I arrived. Families piled out of SUVs, couples adjusted each other¡¯s scarves, and solo skiers strode confidently toward the lifts. I spotted Beck waiting near the entrance, tall and athletic in his navy ski jacket.


    ¡°Perfect conditions,¡± I agreed, breathing in the cold air. ¡°Where¡¯s Shanice?¡±


    Beck rejoined us, flushed from his more aggressive skiing. ¡°How¡¯s our future Olympic champion doing?¡±


    ¡°Shall we head up?¡± Beck suggested, gesturing toward the ski lift. ¡°The slopes get crowded by midday.¡±


    Shanice set her skis down carefully, then dug into her pocket. ¡°I brought something for you.¡±


    She progressed quickly, her determination evident. By our third run, she was making clean turns and gaining confidence.


    The crystal keychain caught the sunlight through my jacket pocket, sending fractured rainbows across the snow at my feet. Gifts given, gifts epted. Boundaries drawn, opportunities embraced. The slope ahead was no longer just about skiing but navigating the treacherous terrain of a life divided.


    ¡°Ms. Vance?¡± Shanice asked as we prepared to disembark. ¡°Will you help me with the steeper part?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Shanice?<b>¡± </b>


    21:17


    142 Declined Plea, epted Gift


    ¡°I¡¯m d he does,¡± I said evenly, though theparison stung. ¡°But I can¡¯t tomorrow. Next weekend, I promise.¡±


    ¡°Cora.¡± My voice firmed. ¡°I¡¯m not free tomorrow. But I promise we can go skiing next weekend, just you and me.¡±


    ¡°Smart man,¡± I said, sharing an amused nce with Beck.


    ¡°I said I needed to check first,¡± I corrected her, keeping my voice even. ¡°I already told Beck and Shanice I¡¯d meet them. It¡¯s half¨Cbusiness, half¨Csocial.¡±


    ¡°But I really want to go!¡± Cora¡¯s voice took on that familiar whine. ¡°Daddy says he¡¯s busy all weekend, and Vivi doesn¡¯t like skiing!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, Coco. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re beautiful.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a molecr structure,¡± Shanice exined eagerly. ¡°The DNA helix. Since you¡¯re helping with my gics project.¡±


    ¡°But you said we could go skiing!¡± Disappointment crept into her tone.


    The slopes were moderately crowded, but the crisp conditions made for excellent skiing. Shanice was less experienced, so I stayed with her on the beginner runs while Beck asionally broke away for more challenging terrain.


    I caught the past tense, noting how Shanice¡¯s smile dimmed slightly. There was a story there, but not one to ask about on the slopes.


    ¡°ra!¡± He waved, his smile genuine. ¡°Beautiful day for it, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Fine!¡± The word exploded from her, followed by what sounded like stomping feet. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go skiing with you anyway!¡±


    The emotional maniption was so transparent¨Cand so effective. My heart squeezed, but I held firm.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Cora¡¯s voice bubbled with excitement. ¡°Guess what? Daddy came home early and bought me new ski boots! They¡¯re pink with silver stars!¡±


    As I watched Shanice practice her newfound skills, I couldn¡¯t help but imagine Cora on these same slopes. The crystal keychain weighed in my pocket, a tangible reminder of the daughter I¡¯d left disappointed at home.


    21:17


    142 Declined Plea, epted Gift


    ¡°Just like that,¡± I encouraged as she followed my path. ¡°You¡¯re doing great.¡±


    ¡°Ready for another run?¡± Beck asked, joining us at the bottom of the slope.


    She pulled out a small package wrapped in tissue paper and held it out to me. ¡°To say thank you for helping with my research project.


    Silence fell on the other end, followed by a small sniffle.


    ¡°I did it!¡± she eximed, skidding to a stop beside me.


    Her face was a study in concentration, tongue caught between her teeth as she focused on each movement. When she sessfully navigated the steeper section, her triumph was palpable.


    ¡°Takes after her mother,¡± Beck said with a hint of wistfulness. ¡°Caroline was graceful at everything she did.¡±


    ¡°I said I would,¡± I replied warmly. ¡°Need help with those?¡±


    ¡°Daddy changes his ns for me all the time,¡± she countered.


    Morning arrived crisp and bright. I loaded my ski equipment into my car, having declined Beck¡¯s offer to drive together. Professional boundaries seemed prudent, especially given our potential business rtionship.


    Surprised, I epted the gift and unwrapped it. Inside was a delicate crystal keychain, catching the morning light. My breath caught¨Cit was remarkably simr to the one Cora had received from her science fair mentorst year.


    ¡°A scientist I¡¯m working with,¡± I exined. ¡°This meeting is important.¡±


    The call ended abruptly. I stared at the phone, a familiar mixture of guilt, frustration, and sadness washing over me. Setting boundaries with Cora was still new territory- ufortable but necessary.


    ¡°Ms. Vance!¡± she called, her face lighting up when she saw me. ¡°You came!¡±


    Beck returned with our passes. ¡°Ready to conquer some mountains,dies?¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡± Shanice asked, demonstrating her snowplow technique.


    ¡°Getting her rental equipment. She insisted on going alone¨Cindependent to a fault.¡± He chuckled fondly.


    21:17


    142 Declined Plea, epted Gift


    We made our way to the rental shop where I helped Shanice adjust her boots while Beck collected their lift passes. The girl chattered about her research project- impressive work for someone so young¨Creminding me of my own early passion for


    science.


    ¡°I got it.¡± She adjusted her grip, chin lifted with pride. ¡°Dad says I need to learn to manage my own equipment.¡±


    ¡°So can we go skiing tomorrow?¡± she asked, her voice rising with hope. ¡°I can show you my new boots and-¡±


    Shanice nodded eagerly, already moving toward the lift line. As we followed her, I found myself wondering if I had made the right choice¨Cnot just about today, but about the careful separation I was building between my past life and whatever future I was creating.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to spend time with me,¡± she used, her voice wavering.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I said, turning it to admire the way it refracted light.


    ¡°How thoughtful.¡± I smiled genuinely, pocketing the keychain withoutmenting on its resemnce to Cora¡¯s. ¡°Thank you, Shanice.¡±


    ¡°Hi, sweetie,¡± I said, setting down my


    coffee mug.


    ¡°Dad says you¡¯re super smart too. That you built AI that can think almost like people.¡±


    ¡°My teacher says I might win the regional science fair,¡± she shared, eyes bright with


    ambition.


    ¡°She¡¯s picking it up quickly,¡± I confirmed. ¡°Great bnce and focus.¡±


    I smiled at her simplification. ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡±


    21:17

 The Sprawling 143

    143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    She nodded slowly, still confused but willing toply. ¡°I promise, Dad. Just Ms. Vance**


    When we finally reached the bottom, a resort staff member was waiting with a wheelchair. Shanice hovered nearby, concern written across her face.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± I smiled, feeling disproportionately pleased by her eptance. ¡°I¡¯ll text you to arrange details.¡±


    We found afortable spot in the lodge where ra could elevate her foot while watching the slopes through therge windows. I ordered hot chocte for all of us before settling into the chair beside her.


    ¡°My ankle,¡± she admitted, voice tight with pain.


    We found a table at the resort restaurant, ordering burgers and fries. Shanice¡¯s enthusiasm returned at the mention of food, and she chattered excitedly about her morning adventures.


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t let me interrupt your family day,¡± she said with a knowing smile that irritated me. ¡°Good seeing you, Beck.¡±


    I kept a careful eye on ra and Shanice as we headed back to the slopes after our short break. The morning had gone well so far, but I couldn¡¯t shake the protective instinct that had settled over me since we arrived.


    After we said our goodbyes, with Shanice giving ra an enthusiastic hug, ra limped carefully toward the parking lot. I watched until she disappeared from view, then turned back to my now¨Cawake daughter.


    ¡°Of course.¡± I nodded, feeling an unexpected reluctance to end our day. ¡°But before you go¡­ would you consider joining us again? Perhaps for dinner next week?¡±


    ra looked at Shanice¡¯s disappointed face and softened. ¡°What if I take a break for an hour, then join you for a couple of gentle runs? I don¡¯t want to ruin Shanice¡¯s day.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just being cautious,¡± I replied. ¡°One injury today is enough¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly capable of continuing¡± ra added. ¡°The doctor said it was minor.¡±


    143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    ¡°Ms. Vance!¡± Shanice had turned back and now skied carefully toward us. ¡°Are you


    hurt?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Vance showed me how to do snowplow turns properly,¡± she informed me between bites. ¡°My instructor never exined it that clearly.¡±


    ¡°Nearly three years,¡± I answered, keeping my tone pleasant but distant.


    ¡°Just twisted my ankle. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± ra assured her, but when she tried to stand independently again, the pain was evident on her face.


    ¡°She seemed to think we were¡­¡± ra trailed off, gesturing between us.


    Shanice frowned, confused. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°He also said you should stay off it,¡± I reminded her.


    ¡°Beck?¡± she called hesitantly. ¡°Beck Donovan?¡±


    ¡°I think we should call it a day,¡± I suggested, earning an immediate protest from both


    females.


    ra moved with natural grace beside my daughter. Her form was impable¨Cclearly, she had significant experience on the slopes. The elegant way she navigated the


    terrain made my job of watching them both much easier.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said finally, keeping my voice low. ¡°For today. Shanice has had a


    wonderful time.¡±


    I studied her face, recognizing the determination there. ¡°One hour minimum. And only the easiest slopes afterward.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a minor twist,¡± ra was insisting when I caught up with them at the resort¡¯s


    medical office.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked, my voice close to her ear.


    ¡°But we just started!¡± Shanice objected.


    ¡°See? I told you,¡± ra said, throwing me a look that was half triumph, half annoyance.


    After a brief standoff, ra relented and allowed herself to be seated in the wheelchair.


    I gathered our discarded equipment while Shanice stayed with ra.


    21:17


    143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    ¡°ra Vance,¡± she replied. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra said, already attempting to stand.


    ¡°She should stay off it for the remainder of the day,¡± the doctor continued, ignoring herment. ¡°I¡¯ll wrap it and provide some anti¨Cinmmatory medication.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± I replied, choosing my words carefully. ¡°But it¡¯s very important. Can you promise me that?¡±


    ¡°Like her mentor,¡± I replied, earning a small smile from ra.


    While the doctor worked, Shanice edged closer to me. ¡°Is Ms. Vance going to be okay?¡± she whispered.


    ¡°This is ra Vance,¡± I said quickly, ¡°a business associate. And my daughter, Shanice.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your full name?¡± Shanice asked ra suddenly. ¡°Like, your whole name?¡±


    I tensed slightly at the question, but ra answered easily.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to stay,¡± she said. ¡°Go ski with Shanice.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to hover,¡± she said after the second incident. ¡°I¡¯m not made of ss.¡±


    ¡°Is that the only reason?¡± ra asked, her direct gaze meeting mine.


    ¡°Put your arm around my shoulder,¡± I instructed. When she hesitated, I added, ¡°Please, ra. Safety first.¡±


    ¡°Dad, watch this!¡± Shanice called, attempting a more confident turn than before.


    Once the doctor finished wrapping ra¡¯s ankle, he handed her a small packet of pills. ¡°Take these if the pain bothers you. Ice it tonight and elevate whenever possible.¡±


    The mountain was getting crowded. Weekend skiers filled the runs, many with questionable control of their movements. I positioned myself slightly behind ra and Shanice, ready to intervene if needed.


    ¡°Looking good!¡± I shouted back, genuinely impressed with how quickly she was


    improving.


    I reacted instantly, pushing forward and positioning myself to break her fall. She tumbled directly into me, and I caught her weight against my chest, my poles dropping


    21:17


    143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    to the snow as my arms wrapped around her.


    ¡°I thought that was you!¡± She smiled, ncing between me, ra, and Shanice. ¡°I almost didn¡¯t recognize you with¡­¡± Her eyes lingered on ra and Shanice, clearly making assumptions about our rtionship.


    She started to protest, but another attempt to put weight on her foot silenced her objections. Without waiting for further discussion, I positioned myself beside her and slipped my arm around her waist.


    ¡°Good girl,¡± I said, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. ¡°Now, should we do one more run before heading home?¡±


    ¡°People make assumptions,¡± I replied with a shrug. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Heads up,¡± I called ahead, moving closer to ra and Shanice.


    ¡°No middle name?¡± Shanice pressed.


    Shanice reluctantly agreed, settling into afortable position in her chair. Within minutes, her eyes drifted closed.


    ¡°Ms. Vance is good at exining things,¡± I agreed, smiling at ra across the table.


    She reluctantlyplied, and I felt the weight of her arm settle across my shoulders. The proximity was distracting, but I focused on getting her safely off the slope.


    The doctor, a friendly older man with a weathered face, smiled knowingly as he examined her ankle. ¡°Minor dislocation,¡± he confirmed after a gentle probe. ¡°Not too serious, but you¡¯ll need to rest it.¡±


    She checked her watch and sighed. ¡°I should probably head home soon. I have some


    work to finish before Monday.¡±


    ¡°When you talk about Ms. Vance to anyone¨Cyour friends, your teachers, anyone at all -just call her Ms. Vance. Don¡¯t use her full name.¡±


    She nodded, trying to regain her footing. When she put weight on her right foot, she winced noticeably.


    ¡°I can manage,¡± she insisted, but epted my steadying hand nheless.


    ¡°I¡¯ve enjoyed it too,¡± ra admitted. ¡°She¡¯s a remarkable girl. Very bright.¡±


    <b>21:17 </b>


    < 143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    I moved quickly to her side. ¡°Easy now.¡±


    ¡°Former colleague,¡± I rified. ¡°From before I moved here.¡±


    ¡°Shanice, ski ahead of us and alert the staff at the bottom,¡± I directed. My daughter nodded and moved down the slope with purpose.


    She hesitated, studying my face carefully. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that would be appropriate.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not tired,¡± Shanice protested unconvincingly, another yawn betraying her.


    ¡°And leave you standing here alone? Not happening.¡± I tightened my hold slightly.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±


    I turned toward the voice, recognizing Linda Harmon, a former colleague from Chicago.


    ¡°You can¡¯t ski on that,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Let me help you to the lodge.¡±


    ¡°I think someone¡¯s ready for a break,¡± ra observed gently.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest for a bit?¡± I suggested. ¡°We can do a few more runs afterward if you¡¯re up for it.¡±


    After she left, ra raised an eyebrow. ¡°Friend of yours?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± I pressed gently. ¡°Shanice would be thrilled. And it would give us a chance to discuss her project further.¡±


    An hourter, true to her word, ra insisted on returning to the slopes. Her ankle was obviously still tender, but she hid her difort well as she helped Shanice practice her turns on a gentle run.


    ¡°Time for lunch,¡± I announced, ignoring my daughter¡¯s half¨Chearted objections.


    ¡°Linda,¡± I acknowledged with a polite nod. ¡°Nice to see you.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Nice to meet you both,¡± Linda replied, her curious expression poorly concealed. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you since you left Chicago. How long has it been?¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± she agreed.


    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± she muttered. ¡°Just go get someone with a sled.¡±


    Beck¡¯s POV


    21:17


    6/7.


    143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    After lunch, Shanice¡¯s energy dipped noticeably. She tried to stifle a yawn but failed, her eyes growing heavy.


    ¡°What is it, Dad?¡±


    Outside the medical office, ra tested her weight on the wrapped ankle. She winced but maintained her bnce.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± I assured her. ¡°Just a small injury.¡±


    A woman passed our table, ncing our way before doing a double¨Ctake. She stared at me for a moment, her brow furrowed.


    She considered this for a long moment. ¡°Alright,¡± she finally agreed. ¡°For Shanice. And because you¡¯ve been very helpful today with my ankle.¡±


    ¡°Shanice,¡± I said, my tone serious enough to capture her full attention. ¡°I need you to do something important.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I admitted honestly. ¡°I¡¯ve enjoyed yourpany today. And I think you¡¯ve enjoyed


    ours.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty,¡± Shanice decided before returning to her fries.


    For a moment, we stood frozen in that position¨Cher back against my front, my arms encircling her waist. I could feel her quick breaths, the slight tremor in her body from


    the near¨Cmiss.


    ¡°ra Catherine Vance,¡± ra borated with a small smile. ¡°Though I rarely use my


    middle name.¡±


    I noticed a group of rowdy teenagers approaching from the side, moving too fast for the beginner area. Their loud whoops rang across the slope as they weaved recklessly between other skiers.


    Our progress was slow and awkward. Halfway down, ra¡¯s frustration became


    apparent.


    As we headed back to the slopes, I couldn¡¯t help ncing toward the parking lot where ra had disappeared. The secret I was keeping from her weighed heavily, but I wasn¡¯t ready to reveal it¨Cnot when everything was just beginning to fall into ce.


    ¡°Standard procedure, ma¡¯am,¡± the staff member exined. ¡°We need to get you to the


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    143 A Day on the Slopes and a Careful Request


    medical office for assessment.¡±


    Toote. One of the teens cut sharply across ra¡¯s path. She swerved to avoid a collision but caught an edge on the packed snow. Her ski wobbled, and she began to tip sideways.


    With my daughter dozing, ra and I fell into a surprisinglyfortable silence. She sipped her coffee, asionally ncing at Shanice with a soft expression that made me wonder if she was thinking of her own daughter.


    ¡°In a bit,¡± I replied, watching my daughter sip her drink contentedly. ¡°First, I want to make sure you¡¯re actually resting.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need that,¡± ra protested when she saw the wheelchair.


    I stayed close, ready to assist if needed. Twice more, careless skiers came too close, and I found myself positioning my body to shield ra from potential collisions.


    By early afternoon, Shanice¡¯s energy was gging despite her protests to the contrary. Her turns were bing sloppier, a clear sign of fatigue.


    Comment &


    21:18

 The Sprawling 144

    144 A Mansion for His New Lovo


    144 A Mansion for His New Love


    She waited until the women left before sshing cold water on her face. The chill helped clear her mind, restoring her outwardposure.


    ra¡¯s hand froze on the ignition.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about,¡± ra said, pulling onto the main road. ¡°Damien can spend his money however he wants.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, some women just win at life,¡± her friend agreed.


    ¡°I¡¯m at Yorkshire Garden. Been house¨Chunting all day and my feet are killing me. My agent just bailed, and I¡¯ve got no ride home. Could you possibly¡­¡±


    ra nced at her watch. ¡°Sure. I just finished lunch. I can be there in twenty


    minutes.¡±


    She¡¯d never asked Damien for much. Certainly never a mansion for her parents. Even when they¡¯d first married and she¡¯d still harbored those foolish dreams of his affection, she¡¯d been careful not to appear demanding or high¨Cmaintenance.


    ¡°I¡¯m not upset,¡± ra insisted, her knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. ¡°Just¡­


    processing.¡±


    Some women might win at love with men like Damien Thorne. But ra was


    determined to win at life¨Con her own terms.


    ra Vance dabbed her lips with a napkin, concluding her quiet lunch at Cafe Lumi¨¨re. The restaurant¡¯s ambient lighting and subdued chatter had been a wee distraction from her thoughts. Her phone buzzed just as she signaled for the check.


    ra quickened her pace toward the sales office where Chloe had said she¡¯d wait. As she approached the entrance, the ss doors swung open.


    ¡°Hey,¡± ra answered, tucking the phone between her ear and shoulder as she sorted through her wallet.


    Damien¡¯s expression hardened imperceptibly. Vivienne¡¯s lips curved into the barest hint of a smile before she turned away dismissively.


    ¡°Remember when we were in college and you said you¡¯d never let a man define


    your


    21:18


    10


    144 A Mansion for His New Love


    worth?¡± Chloe¡¯s voice was soft but firm. ¡°That girl is still in there, El. The one who had dreams bigger than pleasing some guy.¡±


    ra clenched her fist, nails digging into her palm. Seven years of marriage, and


    Damien had never once shown her a fraction of the consideration he¡¯d demonstrated today for Vivienne¡¯s family.


    ¡°The divorce?¡± Chloe asked carefully.


    By the time she returned to the car, her expression revealed nothing of her inner turmoil.


    Her phone rang again before she could turn into the entrance. Chloe again.


    ¡°He bought a vi. For Vivienne¡¯s family.¡± Chloe stared straight ahead as she delivered the news. ¡°The executive suite with theke view. Over six hundred million.¡±


    Six hundred million for a house. For Vivienne¡¯s mother. Because she¡¯d mentioned she liked the style.


    ra stood frozen, pretending to adjust her hair while the women continued, unaware of her presence.


    ¡°What were they doing here?¡± ra asked once they were safely in her car.


    Chloe studied her friend¡¯s profile. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be upset, El.


    Their eyes met ra¡¯s simultaneously.


    ¡°El,¡± Chloe¡¯s voice was now hushed and frantic. ¡°You won¡¯t believe who¡¯s here.¡±


    The bathroom door swung open. Two elegantly dressed women entered, their conversation already in progress.


    ra paid her bill and walked to her car. The drive to Yorkshire Garden, one of the city¡¯s most exclusive residentialplexes, was straightforward. The development was renowned for its architectural elegance and astronomical price tags.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to talk about it,¡± Chloe offered gently.


    ¡°Damien. With Vivienne. And her entire family.¡± Chloe¡¯s words tumbled out in a rush. ¡°They¡¯re looking at properties too. God, I¡¯m sorry. I had no idea they¡¯d be here.¡±


    Alistair Dubois, Vivienne¡¯s father, was instantly recognizable with his silver¨Cstreaked


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    216


    144 A Mansion for His New Love


    hair andmanding presence. Beside him stood Lily Hayes, Vivienne¡¯s mother, radiantly smiling as she spoke animatedly to another woman ra didn¡¯t recognize.


    ¡°About time,¡± Chloe smiled, relief evident in her voice. ¡°I¡¯ll clear my schedule.¡±


    When the light changed, ra elerated with new purpose. ¡°Let¡¯s get lunch tomorrow. I need to discuss something with you.¡±


    They all looked pleased. Extremely pleased.


    ¡°Then he never deserved you,¡± Chloe stated simply.


    Chloe¡¯s name shed across the screen.


    She parked in the visitor section, her movements mechanical. As she walked toward the main building, she spotted a group of people emerging from one of the model homes.


    As she finally turned toward home, ra made a decision. She would call herwyer in the morning. No more dying, no more second thoughts.


    The contrast was stark and painful. In their entire marriage, Damien had never once asked about ra¡¯s preferences for their home. He¡¯d never inquired about her parents¡®


    Damien and Vivienne emerged, nked by sales executives who were practically bowing with each step. Damien¡¯s tall frame was impable as always in a tailored charcoal suit. Vivienne clung to his arm, resplendent in a cream designer outfit that highlighted her wlessplexion. /


    ra¡¯s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ra immediately noticed the stress in her friend¡¯s voice.


    ra nodded. ¡°I¡¯m done waiting for something that¡¯s never going to happen.¡±


    ¡°That girl was strong,¡± Chloe countered. ¡°And I think she¡¯s finding her way back.¡±


    Chloe hesitated. ¡°El, maybe we should just¨D¡±


    ra kept walking, her face carefully nk. She brushed past them without acknowledgment, pushing through the doors they¡¯d just exited.


    ¡°The ne was nothingpared to what her man just did,¡± the second woman


    <b>21</b>;18


    144 A Mansion for His New Love


    replied, applying fresh lipstick. ¡°Six hundred million for a house just because her mother liked the style? That¡¯s not just money¨Cthat¡¯s devotion.¡±


    ¡°-absolutely stunning. Did you see her ne? Definitely Cartier¡¯stest collection.¡±


    Her phone buzzed with a text from Julian: ¡°Meeting tomorrow at 9. Bringing in potential investors for YodaVision. Could use your expertise.


    As they pulled up to Chloe¡¯s apartment building, ra felt a strange sense of rity washing over her. Seven years of hoping had led nowhere. Seven years of trying to earn the love of a man who had given it freely to someone else.


    Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror¨Cpale but outwardly calm. Only the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her inner turmoil.


    ¡°Who?¡± ra frowned, slowing her car.


    They drove in silence for several minutes before Chloe spoke again.


    ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver,¡± Chloe sighed with relief. ¡°I¡¯ll wait in the main lobby.¡±


    ra swallowed hard. ¡°That girl was naive.¡±


    And some women, ra thought bitterly, wasted years loving men who never intended


    to love them back.


    ¡°Fine,¡± ra replied, starting the engine. ¡°Just tired.¡±


    After dropping off Chloe, ra drove aimlessly through the city streets. The image of Damien and Vivienne¡¯s matching expressions of cool disdain yed on repeat in her


    mind.


    ¡°There you are,¡± Chloe rushed forward. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the ride,¡± Chloe said, opening her door. She paused, looking back at her friend. ¡°You know what? Vivienne doesn¡¯t win at life just because she has Damien wrapped around her finger. Winning at life is living authentically and with purpose. You¡¯re just getting started.¡±


    Inside thedies¡® room, ra leaned against the marble counter, struggling to control her breathing. The pristine space was empty, giving her a moment topose herself.


    ¡°El,¡± Chloe¡¯s voice sounded tight with tension. ¡°Are you busy right now? I need a huge


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    144 A Mansion for His New Love


    favor.¡±


    ¡°Apparently Lily Hayes mentioned she loved the Mediterranean style, and Damien¡­¡± Chloe trailed off.


    Chloe was waiting in the lobby, her expression a mixture of sympathy and difort.


    ¡°He never gave me anything close to what he¡¯s giving her,¡± ra admitted quietly. ¡°Not materially, not emotionally.¡±


    ra smiled faintly. At least professionally, people valued her contributions. Her work at YodaVision was gaining recognition in the tech world. She had that, at least.


    The woman¡¯s words echoed in her mind: ¡°Some women just win at life.¡±


    ¡°You okay?¡± Chloe asked cautiously.


    The traffic light ahead turned red. ra stopped the car, staring straight ahead.


    ¡°And Damien bought it for her,¡± ra finished, her voice unnaturally even.


    ¡°Vivienne Dubois is truly something else,¡± the first woman sighed. ¡°Beautiful, brilliant, and now the guy she¡¯s with just bought her family a mansion to make her happy.¡±


    She started the car, focusing intently on the road ahead. ¡°I need to use the restroom before we go. Wait here.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡± ra¡¯s voice was quiet but firm.


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    <b>21:18 </b>

 The Sprawling 145

    145 An Unanswered Call and a Grandmother¡¯s Gambit


    145 An Unanswered Call and a Grandmother¡¯s Gambit


    The question lingered ufortably as he poured himself another scotch, ra¡¯s continued absence from the family dinner table more conspicuous than ever.


    As Eleanor rose to take Cora¡¯s hand, she shot Damien a look that clearly said their


    conversation wasn¡¯t over.


    ¡°And what about your family? Is that not fulfilling as well?¡±


    ra had just stepped out of the shower when her phone rang again. She wrapped herself in a towel and nced at the screen, expecting Damien¡¯s name.


    ¡°How about this?¡± Damien offered. ¡°I¡¯ll take you skiing next weekend instead. We can make it a father¨Cdaughter trip.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯d be better if my favorite granddaughter¨Cinw woulde visit me once in a while,¡± Eleanor said pointedly.


    Damien set his phone down and knelt to his daughter¡¯s level. ¡°Your mother is very busy with her work right now, Coco.¡±


    She let it ring until it stopped.


    Cora¡¯s expression brightened slightly. ¡°Will you teach me how to go on the big slopes?¡±


    ¡°No, you came here for dinner,¡± Eleanor agreed smoothly. ¡°A dinner I specifically asked you to bring ra to.¡±


    Cora looked unconvinced but nodded reluctantly.


    ra Vance stared at her phone screen, the nursing home¡¯s number ring back at her. Her finger hovered over the call button before she sighed and set the device down. She¡¯d meant to visit her mother today, but the memory of theirst painful interaction still stung.


    ¡°Not today,¡± she murmured, turning back to herptop.


    There was a brief silence before Eleanor spoke again, her tone softer. ¡°ra, I worry


    You work too hard.¡±


    about


    you.


    Ten minutester, it buzzed again. Damien. Again.


    <b>21:18 </b>


    145 An Unanswered Call and a Grandmother¡¯s Gambit


    Damien gave her a sharp look. ¡°What would you have me do? Drive to her apartment- and drag her here?¡±


    After ending the call, ra sat motionless, still clutching the phone. She genuinely adored Eleanor. The older woman had always been kind to her, even when Damien hadn¡¯t been. But visits to Thorne Manor meant facing Damien, and often Vivienne, in a setting where she felt perpetually diminished.


    Eleanor¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°Seven years of marriage, a child together, and you¡¯re just¡­ giving up?¡±


    Had ra really reached her breaking point? Or was there something else behind her sudden determination to end their marriage?


    ra winced. ¡°I¡¯ve been very busy with work.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Grandmother¡® me,¡± she interrupted. ¡°That woman is still your wife, regardless of whatever is happening between you two.¡±


    ¡°And what are you doing about it?¡± Eleanor challenged.


    The questionnded like a punch. ¡°Of course it is,¡± ra said automatically, though they both knew it wasn¡¯t entirely true.


    ¡°Your mother loves you very much,¡± he said carefully. ¡°Sometimes we need to be understanding when people are going through difficult times.¡±


    ¡°ra, my dear,¡± Eleanor¡¯s warm voice flowed through the speaker. ¡°How are you?¡±


    She worked steadily through the afternoon, stopping only when her eyes began to strain from staring at the screen. The sun had already set when she finally shut herptop.


    Theparison made Damien pause. It was true¨CVivienne had been remarkably consistent with Corately, while ra had be increasingly distant.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes,¡± Eleanor said calmly, sipping her tea.


    Damien Thorne scowled at his phone. Three calls and a text¨Call unanswered. ra


    was deliberately avoiding him, and his patience was wearing thin.


    ra turned the phone face¨Cdown and continued working.


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    275


    145 An Unanswered Call and a Grandmother¡¯s Gambit


    ¡°She¡¯s always busy,¡± Corained, stomping her foot. ¡°She promised!¡±


    ¡°Did she?¡± Eleanor asked quietly. ¡°Or did she simply reach her breaking point after years of being ignored?¡±


    Damien downed his scotch in one swallow. ¡°You know perfectly well what¡¯s happening. She¡¯s filing for divorce.¡±


    ¡°Giving her what she wants,¡± he answered tly.


    ¡°So you gave up?¡± Eleanor¡¯s tone was deceptively light.


    ¡°Daddy, when is Mommying home?¡± Cora asked, her small face scrunched with frustration as she clutched her ski jacket. ¡°She promised to take me skiing this


    weekend.¡±


    Damien watched them go, his expression unreadable. His grandmother¡¯s words


    echoed in his mind.


    Damien sighed, brushing a strand of hair from his daughter¡¯s face. ¡°Sometimes adults have important responsibilities that can¡¯t wait. I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t want to disappoint


    you.¡±


    ¡°But she did disappoint me,¡± Cora insisted, her lower lip trembling. ¡°Aunt Vivienne never cancels our ns.¡±


    ¡°She gave up first,¡± Damien countered, setting down his ss with more force than


    necessary.


    Her phone buzzed beside her. Damien¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    As Cora skipped away, Damien frowned at his phone again. He needed to tell ra about tonight¡¯s dinner with Eleanor. His grandmother had specifically requested ra¡¯s presence, and Eleanor Thorne was not someone who took no for an answer.


    He dialed ra¡¯s number once more. Straight to voicemail.


    ¡°Too busy for dinner tonight? I¡¯ve asked the chef to prepare your favorite salmon dish.¡±


    <b>¡°</b>I enjoy my work,¡± ra replied, sitting on the edge of her bed. ¡°It¡¯s fulfilling.¡±


    21:18


    145 An Unanswered Call and a Grandmother¡¯s Gambit


    ¡°She¡¯s noting¡± Damien informed his grandmother as he entered her sitting room


    at Thorne Manor.


    Eleanor Thorne, elegant even at eighty¨Ctwo, arched an eyebrow. ¡°Did you even try to


    convince her?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± he promised, ruffling her hair. ¡°Now go get ready for dinner at


    Great¨CGrandma¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°Not hard enough.¡± Eleanor adjusted her pearl ne. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t bothering without her.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, ra,¡± he muttered.


    She ignored them all.


    ¡°I tried,¡± Damien insisted.


    The YodaVision project demanded her full attention anyway. Their new AI interface was showing promising results, but several key algorithms still needed refinement. ra lost herself in the code, grateful for the distraction from her personal life.


    Damien¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I didn¡¯te here for a lecture.¡±


    Her phone showed three missed calls and the unread text from Damien.


    ¡°Grandmother-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I ask, dear.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°Take care of yourself.¡±


    A text notification appeared on herptop screen¨Calso from Damien.


    ¡°She¡¯s not answering my calls,¡± Damien replied, pouring himself a scotch from the crystal decanter. ¡°I texted her as well.¡±


    Eleanor recovered quickly, turning to her great¨Cgranddaughter with a warm smile. ¡°How lovely, darling! Let¡¯s put them in water.¡±


    ¡°Then perhaps you can spare one evening soon,¡± Eleanor persisted. ¡°Next week, perhaps?¡±


    Instead, it disyed ¡°Eleanor Thorne.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t do it. Not tonight. Not yet.


    21:18


    145 An Unanswered Call and a Grandmother¡¯s Gambit


    She hesitated before answering. ¡°Hello, Eleanor¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eleanor,¡± ra said, genuinely regretful. ¡°I have deadlines for the next few days. I just can¡¯t get away¡±


    ra closed the notification without responding. These days, she avoided Thorne Manor whenever possible. The sprawling estate had never felt like home, but now it felt like enemy territory.


    ra closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll try, Eleanor. That¡¯s all I can promise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m well, thank you. And you?¡±


    ¡°Eleanor wants us at the manor for dinner tonight.¡±


    Cora chose that moment to burst into the room, breaking the tense silence.


    ¡°Great¨CGrandma! I brought you flowers from the garden!¡±


    Damien stared at his grandmother for a long moment before a slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Should I leave now then?¡±


    The question caught Eleanor off guard. For once, the formidable matriarch was speechless.


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 The Sprawling 146

    146 An Evening¡¯s Ease, A Curt Command


    146 An Evening¡¯s Ease, A Curt Command


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m d she¡¯s making aeback.¡±


    ra¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly from the dancing and the drink. Her hair, usually perfectly styled, hade slightly loose, framing her face in soft waves. As she moved with increasing confidence, several patrons nced her way, drawn by the rare sight of someone genuinely enjoying themselves rather than putting on a show.


    ¡°I need to take this,¡± she said apologetically. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Newman.¡±


    The soft jazz music enveloped ra like a warm embrace as she settled into the plush lounge chair. The bar Julian had chosen was the perfect blend of sophistication andfort¨Cnot too shy, not too dull. Just right.


    Then her phone vibrated in her clutch.


    Hispanion nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Thorne is either blind or a fool.¡±


    Julian¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°And he expects you to just drop everything andply?¡±


    They made their way through the crowd to the bar¡¯s entrance. The night air was cool against ra¡¯s flushed skin as she answered the call.


    Hispanion, a tall man with sharp features, nodded. ¡°Yes. Impressive woman. Her work in Al recognition systems is revolutionary.¡±


    ra looked down at her phone, then back at the bar where they¡¯d been having such a wonderful time just minutes before. The contrast was stark¨Cjoy versus obligation, freedom versus constraint.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not sure,¡± ra admitted, lowering her phone slowly. ¡°He said Damien needs me to pick him up tomorrow at noon.¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression softened. He touched her arm lightly. ¡°Are you going to go?¡±


    ¡°None.¡± ra¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Just amand, basically.¡±


    Xavier couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. ¡°She¡¯s magnificent when she smiles, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ra felt awkward at first, too conscious of her movements. But as the minutes passed and the martini¡¯s warmth spread through her system, she found herself rxing. The


    21:18


    17/5


    146 An Evening¡¯s Ease, A Curt Command


    music seemed to seep into her bones, guiding her body naturally.


    ¡°There she is,¡± Julian said softly. ¡°The ra I remember from college. The one who knew how to enjoy life.¡±


    ra stood frozen, phone still pressed to her ear, staring nkly ahead.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she admitted quietly. ¡°And I hate that.¡±


    As Julian walked away, ra took a sip of her cocktail and let herself sink deeper into the chair. When was thest time she¡¯d done something like this? Just sat in a nice ce, enjoying a drink with no expectations, no disappointments waiting around the


    corner?


    Before ra could respond, Mr. Newman added, ¡°Come pick me up tomorrow at noon,¡± and immediately ended the call.


    ¡°That¡¯s it? No exnation?¡±


    The realization made her both sad and determined. She deserved more evenings like this.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± Julian said, setting a vibrant cocktail in front of her. ¡°Pomegranate martini. Strong enough to help you rx, but not so strong you¡¯ll regret it tomorrow.¡±


    The music shifted to something a bit more upbeat, and Julian spun ra again, drawing augh from her that seemed to brighten the whole room.


    ¡°Apparently.¡±


    ¡°All the more reason to start now,¡± he insisted. ¡°Come on. The music¡¯s perfect.¡±


    Julian ran a hand through his hair, looking away. ¡°That¡¯s not the point. The point is that even after all this time, when Thorne snaps his fingers, everyone jumps¨Cincluding you.¡±


    The way he said it made it clear he didn¡¯t actually care if he was interrupting. ra straightened her posture instinctively.


    ¡°Ms. Dubois is like a me¨Cbright, immediate, consuming. But Mrs. Thorne¡­¡± Xavier paused, choosing his words carefully. ¡°She¡¯s like moonlight. Subtle, but she illuminates everything around her without trying.¡±


    21:18


    215


    146 An Evening¡¯s Ease, A Curt Command.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she told Julian, stepping back. ¡°I should check that.¡±


    ¡°From his office,¡± he replied, his tone suggesting this should have been obvious. ¡°He will exin the rest when you arrive.¡±


    Across the room, Julian returned to ra¡¯s table, extending his hand with a dramatic flourish. ¡°May I have this dance, Ms. Vance?¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± she lied. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Thorne requires your assistance tomorrow,¡± Mr. Newman stated tly. ¡°Come pick him up at noon.¡±


    Across the room, Xavier Wilson observed ra from his position at the bar. ¡°That¡¯s her, isn¡¯t it? ra Vance?¡±


    Julian led her to the small dance floor where a few other couples were swaying to the jazz quartet¡¯s smooth melodies. He ced one hand respectfully at her waist, taking her hand with the other.


    Julian¡¯s smile dimmed slightly, but he nodded, ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Different how?¡± the man asked, raising an eyebrow.


    His words stung because there was truth in them. ra had been enjoying her first carefree evening in months, and one phone call from Damien¡¯s assistant had instantly shifted her focus, her priorities.


    ra retrieved her phone from her bag. Mr. Newman¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± came the crisp, businesslike voice of Damien¡¯s personal assistant. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interrupting anything important.¡±


    raughed, the sound light and genuine. ¡°I haven¡¯t danced in years, Julian.¡±


    Xavier¡¯s gaze remained fixed on ra. ¡°There¡¯s something about her that¡¯s different from Ms, Dubois, isn¡¯t there?¡±


    ¡°Just an observation,¡± Xavier replied, lifting his ss. ¡°Ms. Dubois draws attention deliberately. Mrs. Thorne seems to capture it without even knowing her power.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said finally, and the admission felt both terrifying and liberating. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know.¡±


    21:18


    <b>3/5 </b>


    146 An Evening¡¯s Ease, A Curt Command


    ¡°See? Not so terrible,¡± he said as they began to move.


    ra hesitated, then set down her half¨Cempty ss. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t me me when I step on your toes.¡±


    ra blinked in surprise. ¡°Pick him up? From where? And for what purpose?¡±


    She tried to ignore it, but years of conditioning made that impossible. What if it was about Cora? What if there was an emergency?


    ¡°Seven years of friendship will do that,¡± Julian replied with a wink. ¡°I¡¯m going to say hello to some colleagues at the bar. Will you be okay here for a few minutes?¡±


    Julian¡¯s expression shifted from disappointment to concern. ¡°Let¡¯s step outside. It¡¯s quieter there.¡±


    The man chuckled. ¡°Poetic analysis of our business associates, Xavier?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t know you were with me, Julian,¡± she pointed out gently. ¡°And we didn¡¯t have specific ns for tomorrow, did we?¡±


    ¡°Did he even acknowledge I was with you? That maybe I had ns for us tomorrow?¡± Julian¡¯s voice held a note of frustration that surprised ra.


    ¡°Julian, I¡¯m not a child,¡± ra said, rolling her eyes yfully. ¡°Go. Mingle. I¡¯m perfectly content right here with my drink.¡±


    There was a brief pause on the other end, as if Mr. Newman was surprised by her questions.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Newman.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been hiding for a while,¡± ra admitted, allowing Julian to twirl her gently.


    Julian watched her face carefully. ¡°What did he want?¡±


    For the first time in months, ra felt truly free¨Cno thoughts of Damien, no worries about Cora¡¯s affections, no shadow of Vivienne looming over her. Just music, movement, and the simple joy of being alive.


    Her heart sank. The bar suddenly felt too loud, the music too jarring. She held up phone to Julian, who frowned.


    ra smiled gratefully. ¡°You know me too well.¡±


    the


    21:18

 The Sprawling 147

    147 Patrons, Praise, and Prying Eyes


    147 Patrons, Praise, and Prying Eyes


    ¡°Mrs. Thorne,¡± Theodore said, taking her hand. ¡°Your reputation precedes you.¡±


    ¡°Very well¡­ ra.¡± The name sounded stiffing from his lips, as if unused to such informality.


    ¡°Remarkable,¡± Haroldmented. ¡°And you¡¯ve been with Thorne Industries how long?¡±


    Theodore nodded, his eyes calcting. ¡°My son James recently returned from overseeing our European operations. Harvard Business School graduate, brilliant mind for strategy. Perhaps you¡¯ve crossed paths in the tech sphere?¡±


    ¡°Thank you for picking me up, Mrs. Thorne,¡± Zachary said as he settled into the passenger seat. His demeanor was formal as always, briefcase bnced perfectly on hisp.


    ra felt Zachary¡¯s gaze sharpen beside her.


    Harold leaned forward. ¡°What I find fascinating is how you solved the energy consumption problem. The Pentagon¡¯s systems draw massive power.¡±


    filed


    ¡°I am married,¡± she said simply, avoiding the actual question. The divorce papers in her desk drawer shed through her mind, but she kept her expression neutral. ¡°I believe talent should never be confined,¡± she said carefully. ¡°But partnerships- business or personal¨Crequire mutual respect above all else.¡±


    ¡°Your work with neural interfaces could revolutionize medical technology,¡± Harold continued. ¡°William would find that fascinating. Perhaps you¡¯d be willing to speak at one of our foundation events?¡±


    ra¡¯s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Theodore Robinson was the Secretary of Defense, and Harold Jennings chaired the Senate Technology Committee. These weren¡¯t casual lunchpanions.


    The restaurant came into view¨Can elegant Italian establishment with valet service and discreet security. As they pulled up, Zachary leaned closer.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware we were meeting such¡­ distinguished guests,¡± she said carefully.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind my asking, Mrs. Thorne, how old are you? You¡¯ve aplished so


    147 Patrons, Praise, and Prying Eyes


    much already.¡±


    As their main courses arrived, Theodore steered the conversation in a new <b>direction</b>.


    ra maintained herposed smile, though inwardly she was processing their intentions. These men hade to discuss business but had clearly identified something else¨Ca brilliant woman whose marriage they sensed was unstable.


    The men exchanged another look, clearly impressed by both her intellect andposure. Their interest was more than professional now¨Cthey saw her value not just as a brilliant mind, but as a potential alliance for their families.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Harold added. ¡°Your work on predictive algorithms has been revolutionary<b>.¡± </b>ra nearly missed a turn. That project had been her pride¨Cbefore she¡¯d stepped away from thepany to focus on her failing marriage.


    Theodore recovered first, straightening slightly. ¡°Yes, of course. The interface¡¯s application in satellitemunications¡­¡±


    Inside, Theodore and Harold rose from their table as Zachary made introductions. Both men were in their sixties, dressed in impable suits that spoke of power and influence.


    ¡°I see. And how is married life treating you?¡± Harold asked.


    Both men exchanged impressed nces.


    ¡°Seven years,¡± she replied. ¡°Though my work with YodaVision predates that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thirty¨Cfour,¡± ra answered, taking a sip of water.


    ra shook her head politely. ¡°I don¡¯t believe so.¡±


    Or he found something more important to do, ra thought, remembering countless times Damien had prioritized Vivienne over business obligations.


    The conversation shifted back to business, but ra couldn¡¯t help but wonder about Zachary¡¯s intervention. Was he protecting her? Or protecting Damien¡¯s interests?


    ¡°These men respect intellect above all else,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Be yourself. That will be more than enough.¡±


    ¡°YodaVision¡¯s valuation has doubled since you returned,¡± Haroldmented. ¡°<b>Julian </b>


    147 Patrons, Praise, and Prying Eyes


    Croft seems to have recognized what a gem he had.¡±


    ¡°Precisely what makes your design superior,¡± Theodore nodded, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. ¡°Military applications require that bnce.¡±


    ¡°Microfusion is the answer,¡± ra replied without hesitation. ¡°My team developed chips that require minimal power while processing enormous data sets.¡±


    The message was unmistakable: enough personal probing.


    ra felt a flicker of amusement amid her difort. Here she was, technically still married to one of the most powerful men in the country, while two other powerful men subtly auditioned her as a potential daughter¨Cinw.


    Throughout the discussion, Zachary remained mostly silent, observing. asionally, he¡¯d interject to provide context about Thorne Industries¡® involvement, butrgely, he let ramand the conversation.


    The implication hung in the air. Harold nodded sagely. ¡°Precisely why William values independent thinkers. He always says the right partnership elevates rather than confines.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ttered by the invitations,¡± she replied diplomatically. ¡°I¡¯d need to check schedule, of course.¡±


    my


    The morning sun filtered through the car windows as ra navigated through the busy streets. Afterst night¡¯s call from Mr. Newman, she had decided to fulfill her obligation to pick up Zachary Newman today, though not without some internal conflict.


    Harold chuckled. ¡°My William is the same age as James. He heads our family¡¯s foundation now¨Cvery interested in technological innovations for developing countries.¡±


    Theodore tilted his head. ¡°Is that where you met your husband?¡±


    Before ra could respond, Zachary cleared his throat. It was a small sound, but itmanded attention instantly.


    The question caught ra off¨Cguard. She set down her fork carefully.


    As dessert was served, she caught Zachary watching her with an inscrutable expression. For the first time, she wondered exactly whose side Zachary Newman was


    147 Patrons, Praise, and Prying Eyes


    on¨Cand what he really knew about the state of her marriage.


    ra smiled, feeling a familiar confidence return¨Cthe self¨Cassurance she always had when discussing her work. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m honored you¡¯re familiar with my research.¡±


    Zachary checked his watch. ¡°We have a reservation at Portofino¡¯s in twenty minutes. Theodore Robinson and Harold Jennings are already waiting.¡±


    Theodore nodded, studying her with renewed interest. ¡°Of course. Family obligations must take priority. Though I imagine a woman of your talents must sometimes feel¡­ limited by conventional arrangements.¡±


    ¡°And James is hosting a tech summit next month,¡± Theodore added smoothly. ¡°We¡¯d be honored to have you present.¡±


    ¡°Your YodaVision work. Specifically, the neural interface system you developed three years ago.¡±


    A small, unexpected pain twisted in ra¡¯s chest. If only Damien had ever recognized


    that.


    Theodore¡¯s eyes gleamed with approval. ¡°Well said, Mrs. Thorne. Your husband is a fortunate man.¡±


    The temperature at the table seemed to drop several degrees as Zachary fixed both men with a look so cold and warning that their smiles faltered simultaneously.


    ¡°No, actually. We met through mutual acquaintances.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Thorne originally nned to attend,¡± Zachary exined. ¡°However, he felt your expertise would be more valuable given the topic of discussion.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, collecting herself. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    ¡°Gentlemen,¡± he said, his voice quiet yet impossibly clear. ¡°I believe we were discussing the neural interface project.¡±


    The unexpected vote of confidence caught ra off guard. She nodded, grateful for the small kindness.


    ¡°What exactly are we discussing?¡± she asked.


    The conversation¡¯s shift was subtle but unmistakable. ra recognized the


    147 Patrons, Praise, and Prying Eyes


    maneuvering¨Cthese powerful men were sizing her up, not just as a brilliant <b>mind</b>, but as a potential match for their sons.


    They settled into their seats, and the conversation flowed easily through appetizers. ra found herself exiningplex technological concepts with the rity that had once made her a standout in her field.


    ¡°The challenge wasn¡¯t the response time,¡± she exined, using her hands to illustrate. ¡°It was creating a system that could anticipate needs without bing intrusive.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Mr. Newman. And please, call me ra.¡± She smiled politely, keeping her eyes on the road.


    Comment 0

 The Sprawling 148

    148 A Rival¡¯s Calcted Arrival


    148 A Rival¡¯s Calcted Arrival


    ra stood straighter, refusing to show any reaction. She had survived worse humiliations than this. D


    ¡°Shall we begin?¡± Julian asked, gesturing toward the prototype.


    ¡°Dr. Vance.¡± Jorge nodded curtly. ¡°Mr. Croft.¡±


    Still, not once did her gaze acknowledge ra¡¯s presence. It was as if she had been erased from the room¨Ca ghost at her own presentation.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ra asked when the technician left.


    ¡°Gentlemen,¡± Damien addressed Jorge¡¯s team,pletely ignoring ra and Julian. ¡°<b>I </b>apologize for the dy. We¡¯ll need to wait a bit longer.¡±


    Lucas Sterling stepped forward. ¡°We should proceed with the preliminary checks while we wait.¡±


    ra nodded stiffly, forcing her expression to remain neutral. This was bing a pattern¨Cwherever her career took her, Vivienne somehow appeared, backed by


    Damien¡¯s influence.


    The minutes crawled by. Jorge¡¯s team huddled together, asionally ncing toward ra and Julian with barely concealed smugness. They knew something wasing- something that would upset the bnce of power in the room.


    Damien finally acknowledged them with a cool nce. ¡°For theplete team to assemble.¡±


    Julian checked his watch for the third time. ¡°They¡¯re fifteen minuteste.¡±


    As the teams moved toward the testing area, ra caught Jorge watching her with calction in his eyes¨CTheodore¡¯s son indeed, assessing her reaction, measuring her weakness.


    Vivienne turned to him, her smile never wavering. ¡°Of course, Mr. Croft. I¡¯m eager to see what everyone has aplished.¡±


    Jorge checked his phone. ¡°Mr. Thorne isn¡¯t here yet. We should wait.¡±


    148 A Rival¡¯s Calcted Arrival


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied, grateful for his professional courtesy.


    Lucas approached ra. ¡°The parameters look good. Your team¡¯s work <b>is </b><b>excellent</b><b>, </b><b>as </b>always.¡±


    ¡°Jorge is Theodore¡¯s son?¡± she repeated, struggling to process this revtion.


    ra¡¯s heart sank. Damien wasing? No one had informed her.


    The slight was calcted, designed to emphasize ra¡¯s insignificance. In that moment, the power dynamics couldn¡¯t have been clearer: Vivienne was the woman Damien valued, the one worth waiting for, while ra was merely another employee whose time could be wasted.


    Three dayster, ra stood in InnovaTech¡¯s massive testing facility. The gleaming white space housed their prototype self¨Cdriving car¨Ca sleek ck vehicle that represented months of coborative work.


    Damien observed the interaction with cold detachment, making no move to correct Vivienne¡¯s behavior or acknowledge his wife. His attention remained fixed on Vivienne, his bodynguage clearly indicating where his prioritiesy.


    The betrayal stung, though ra had grown ustomed to disappointment. That lunch meeting now made perfect sense¨CTheodore¡¯s questions about her marriage, his sudden interest in her research.


    Jorge smiled. ¡°Of course, Mr. Thorne. No problem at all.¡±


    Julian nodded grimly. ¡°Found out yesterday. Theodore Robinson has been ying both sides¨Cmeeting with you while his son works with InnovaTech against us.¡±


    ¡°Wait for what?¡± Julian interjected, irritation evident in his voice.


    A technician approached Julian, whispering something in his ear. Julian¡¯s expression darkened instantly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about¡­¡± he gestured vaguely toward the elevator where Damien had disappeared. His expression conveyed genuine sympathy.


    Cold realization washed over ra. Of course. Damien would find a way to insert Vivienne into this project too.


    Julian stiffened beside her, his protective instincts ring. ¡°Perhaps we should begin


    148 A Rival¡¯s Calcted Arrival


    the demonstration,¡± he suggested loudly. ¡°We¡¯ve all been waiting quite long enough.¡±


    ¡°In a meeting upstairs,¡± Julian replied. ¡°With the design team.¡±


    The atmosphere crackled with tension. Both teams had beenpeting fiercely, and today¡¯s test would determine whose Al system would advance to the next


    development phase.


    ¡°Theplete team,¡± Julian echoed under his breath. ¡°Three guesses who that means.¡±


    But the performance was far from over.


    Julian¡¯s news hit ra like a thunderbolt on a clear day.


    Linda¡¯s gaze immediately found ra, her lips curving in a mocking smile. Her eyes conveyed the message clearly: Look at you, waiting for her like everyone else.


    ra maintained herposure, her face a careful mask of professional indifference. But inside, something hardened¨Canother small piece of her heart turning to stone. This public humiliation was just another reminder of why her divorce papers sat ready in her desk drawer, waiting for the right moment.


    ¡°Is she here today?¡± she asked, dreading the answer.


    The ss doors slid open as Jorge¡¯s team finally entered. Five men in matching navy zers, led by Jorge himself¨Ctall, confident, with Theodore¡¯s calcting eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Robinson,¡± ra replied, keeping her tone neutral despite knowing his connection to Theodore. Professional courtesies had to be maintained.


    Before she could respond, the elevator doors opened. Damien emerged with Vivienne at his side, Linda trailing behind them. Vivienne wore a striking red dress that seemed excessive for a technical demonstration, her hair falling in perfect waves around her shoulders.


    The prototype car gleamed under the bright lights, a symbolic battlefield where more than just technology would be tested today. As Vivienne took her ce at Damien¡¯s side, her deliberate exclusion of ra hanging in the air like an unspoken challenge, ra understood perfectly: this wasn¡¯t just about self¨Cdriving cars.


    ra leaned back in her chair, connecting the dots. ¡°No wonder he was so interested in my work. He was gathering intelligence for Jorge.¡±


    148 A Rival¡¯s Calcted Arrival


    Julian kept his voice low. ¡°Apparently Damien has set up a project for Vivienne here at InnovaTech. Something about advanced driver interfaces.¡±


    Without further exnation, he turned away, heading toward the elevator. Beck trailed behind him like a faithful shadow.


    ¡°At least we know where we stand now,¡± she said, straightening her shoulders. ¡°We¡¯ll be more careful moving forward.¡±


    ra didn¡¯t need three guesses. She knew exactly who Damien was waiting for.


    It was about power, position, and pride. And in this carefully orchestrated moment, Vivienne had imed center stage, relegating ra to the wings.


    ¡°Patience,¡± ra murmured, though her own was wearing thin.


    ¡°I apologize for keeping everyone waiting,¡± she announced to the room, her voice carrying a rehearsed sincerity. Her gaze swept across Jorge¡¯s team, lingered briefly on Julian, but deliberately skipped over ra entirely¨Cas if she were invisible.


    Vivienne approached the gathered teams, Damien¡¯s hand resting possessively at the small of her back.


    She met his gaze directly, refusing to look away first. Let him see that she wouldn¡¯t break, not here, not now. Whatever games the Robinsons were ying¨Cfather and son -she wasn¡¯t an easy target.


    ¡°Precisely.¡± Julian¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°ssic corporate espionage disguised as fatherly pride.¡±


    The facility doors opened again. Damien strode in, nked by Beck and Lucas Sterling. His tailored suit emphasized hismanding presence, drawing all eyes in the room¡ª except ra¡¯s. She deliberately focused on her tablet, reviewing test parameters.

 The Sprawling 149

    149 Calcted Disys and Open Scorn


    149 Calcted Disys and Open Scorn


    ¡°The torque ratio seems off on the second turn,¡± ra observed quietly to Julian<b>. </b>¡°And


    the calibration on the serong system needs adjustment. There¡¯s a three¨Csecond


    Julian checked his watch.


    We should test the second prototype. I¡¯d like to drive this


    one with ra, if there are no objections.¡±


    ¡°Impressive handling,¡± Lucasmented as they approached the observation area.


    And that could prove very useful information indeed.


    Jorge led his team with practiced confidence, asionally ncing back at ra with barely concealed curiosity. His resemnce to Theodore was unmistakable now that she knew to look for it.


    The supervisor smiled warmly at the couple. ¡°Of course, sir. Ms. Dubois, if you¡¯ll follow me to get suited up.¡±


    ¡°The second prototype performed well,¡± Julian announced to the group. ¡°Though we¡¯ve identified several areas for improvement in the AI response system.¡±


    As their car pulled away from InnovaTech, Xavier turned to Jorge near the building


    entrance.


    Damien barely acknowledged the statement. ¡°We¡¯ll review the data and reconvene next week. In the meantime, I¡¯d like to invite everyone to dinner to celebrate today¡¯s sessful tests.¡±


    Behind them, Beck began discussing logistics for the dinner, smoothly filling the ufortable silence.


    Large monitors flickered to life around the observation area, disying multiple angles of the track. The prototype¨Ca glossy ck sports car with InnovaTech¡¯s logo emzoned on its side¨Cwaited at the starting line.


    Jorge approached ra and Julian. ¡°Impressive machine, isn¡¯t it? Our engineers have been working overtime.¡±


    She nodded, maintaining herposure despite the tension crackling in the air.


    149 Calcted Disys and Open Scorn


    Outside in the parking garage, Julian¡¯s rigid posture finally rxed. ¡°I¡¯m <b>sorry </b><b>if </b><b>I </b>overstepped. I just couldn¡¯t stomach the thought of sitting through dinner watching that disy.¡±


    ¡°Much better torque on this model,¡± she noted, checking the dashboard readings<b>. </b><b>¡°</b><b>But </b>the Al response time still needs work.¡±


    The bluntness of his refusal created an awkward silence. Damien¡¯s expression hardened, unused to such direct rejection.


    ¡°I know my job, Mr. Robinson.¡±


    ¡°Exactly what I observed,¡± ra stated, speaking directly to Lucas rather than Vivienne or Damien.


    ¡°Perhaps another time,¡± Lucas offered diplomatically.


    The engine roared to life as Vivienne took the driver¡¯s seat, Damien sliding in beside her. Together, they would test the vehicle that represented months of coborative work between YodaVision and InnovaTech.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine right here, thank you,¡± ra replied with calm dignity.


    As they walked toward the exit, ra could feel Damien¡¯s eyes on her back. She didn¡¯t turn around. There was nothing left to see there.


    ¡°None at all,¡± Lucas replied before Damien could speak.


    Vivienne beamed. ¡°The responsiveness is remarkable. Though I noticed some hesitation on the curves.¡±


    ¡°We can move to the technical area if you¡¯d prefer,¡± Lucas offered quietly, appearing beside her. His expression held genuine concern.


    She disappointed him with a professional nod. ¡°She¡¯s always been skilled behind the wheel.¡±


    ¡°Dr. Dubois is quite the driver,¡± Jorge remarked, watching ra¡¯s face for a reaction.


    Vivienne stayed close to Damien¡¯s side, her crimson dress a stark contrast to the clinical environment. Herughter echoed through the facility at something Damien whispered in her ear.


    149 Calcted Disys and Open Scorn


    ra watched as Vivienne was escorted to the preparation area, staff members


    fluttering around her like attendants to royalty. Not once did the woman acknowledge ra¡¯s presence¨Ca deliberate choice that spoke volumes.


    The test continued for twenty minutes, Vivienne putting the vehicle through increasinglyplex maneuvers. Each sessful turn was met with Damien¡¯s approving smile, captured perfectly by strategically ced cameras.


    ¡°She might as well be,¡± ra replied softly, surprised by how little pain the admission caused. The time for hurt had passed; now there was only rity.


    Every moment was broadcast across the monitors for all to see¨Cincluding ra. ¡°They¡¯re treating her like she¡¯s his wife,¡± Julian observed, voice tight with disgust.


    ¡°No,¡± Jorge replied thoughtfully. ¡°He certainly doesn¡¯t.¡±


    Earlier, he might have dismissed it as typical business rivalry. Now, it seemed he hadn¡¯t been imagining things. Julian Croft¡¯s animosity toward Damien Thorne was real, palpable, and growing more obvious by the day.


    The invitation was clearly directed at Jorge¡¯s team and the InnovaTech executives. Julian¡¯s response was immediate and cutting.


    Julian¡¯s smile was cold. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t count on it.¡± He turned to ra. ¡°Ready to go?¡±


    The group made their way to the test track, tension hanging thick in the air. ra walked beside Julian, maintaining a professional demeanor despite Vivienne¡¯s calcted snub. The test track stretched before them¨Ca sleek, winding path designed to push vehicles to their limits.


    Julian studied her with surprised admiration. ¡°You can tell that just by watching?¡±


    ¡°So have ours,¡± Julian replied curtly.


    ¡°That Julian Croft really doesn¡¯t like Damien Thorne or anyone associated with him, does he?¡± Xavier observed.


    ¡°She¡¯s putting on quite a show,¡± Julian muttered under his breath.


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize,¡± ra replied, genuine appreciation in her voice. ¡°It was refreshing to have someone speak so inly.¡±


    149 Calcted Disys and Open Scor


    Jorge watched the departing vehicle with newfound understanding. For weeks, he¡¯d noticed Julian¡¯s protective stance toward ra, the way he positioned himself between her and Damien during meetings, the cold res directed at Vivienne.


    Damien nodded. ¡°Excellent. Vivienne will test drive the first prototype<i>.¡± </i>


    The track supervisor approached, clipboard in hand. ¡°We¡¯re ready whenever you are, Mr. Thorne.¡±


    The test concluded with Vivienne bringing the vehicle to a perfect stop. Apuse erupted from Jorge¡¯s team as the couple emerged from the car, Damien¡¯s hand once again finding the small of Vivienne¡¯s back.


    Jorge overheard her assessment, his eyebrows rising. ¡°You know your engines, Dr.


    Vance.¡±


    ra kept her expression neutral. ¡°Focus on the demonstration. That¡¯s why we¡¯re


    here.¡±


    Damien joined Vivienne at the vehicle. The cameras caught their interaction in high definition: his hand lingering at her waist, her smile filled with intimate promise, his eyes fixed on her with open admiration. Their voices weren¡¯t audible, but their bodynguage told the story clearly.


    Julian handled the vehicle with precision, following ra¡¯s quiet suggestions about testing particr features. They worked in seamless coordination, professional and focused.


    On screen, Vivienne elerated around the first curve, handling the powerful vehicle with expert precision. Damien leaned close, pointing at something on the dashboard. Their easy familiarity was unmistakable.


    ¡°We¡¯ll pass,¡± he said, not bothering to hide his disdain. ¡°ra and I have othermitments.¡±


    ¡°I memorized the specs,¡± she replied simply. ¡°That engine should be delivering 479 pound¨Cfeet of torque with a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. It¡¯s underperforming.¡±


    Fifteen minutester, ra sat beside Julian in the second prototype¨Ca silver model with slightly different specifications. As they pulled onto the track, she felt a sudden sense of liberation. Here, surrounded by technology and focused on work, she was in her element.


    149 Calcted Disys and Open Scorn


    When theypleted their test and returned to the observation area, Damien was deep in conversation with Jorge and Beck. Vivienne stood slightly apart, her expression souring as she watched ra and Julian approach.


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 The Sprawling 150

    150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings


    150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings


    ¡°Mom! Dad told me about tomorrow¡¯s meeting with Ms. Ashton,¡± Cora¡¯s excited voice filled the line.


    ra: Thank you for the invitation. I¡¯d love to join you and Shanice this weekend.


    ra¡¯s office was quiet except for the gentle tap of her fingers on the keyboard. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting strips of light across her desk.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Listen, I¡¯m taking Shanice camping this weekend. Lovely spot about two hours from the city. She mentioned she¡¯d love for you to join us.¡±


    Julian studied her face. ¡°You know, it¡¯s okay to admit when things hurt.¡±


    ra felt a familiar twist in her stomach. She typed a quick response.


    ¡°Damien again?¡± Julian asked, not looking up from his tablet.


    ra slipped the phone back into her pocket and continued her presentation without missing a beat. No one in the room would have guessed the turmoil behind her professional smile.


    There was a brief pause, then Cora asked, ¡°Will Vivi go with Dad instead?¡±


    Ms. Ashton had sent a message: Mr. Thorne and Dr. Dubois are here for Cora¡¯s conference. We¡¯ll miss having you but understand your busy schedule.


    ¡°I¡¯m conserving my energy for battles, I can win,¡± she replied simply. ¡°The divorce proceedings are moving forward. That¡¯s what matters.¡±


    Beckughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s mping at best. Proper cabins, real beds, just with nature all around. Shanice thought you might enjoy a break from¡­ well, everything.¡±


    The next afternoon, while ra was deep in a meeting with investors, her phone vibrated. She discreetly checked it under the table.


    ra saved her work before responding. ¡°What would you have me do? Throw a fit<b>? </b>Demand he stop? We both know how effective that would be.¡±


    As she began mentally preparing for the unexpected outing, she realized she <b>hadn¡¯t </b>felt this spark of genuine excitement in longer than she could remember. <b>Whether </b><b>the </b>


    150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings


    weekend turned out to be wonderful or terrible, at least it would be different.


    ra was surprised. Beck rarely called her directly. ¡°Good morning. Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Nothing to say about that,¡± she replied, sorting through papers on her desk. ¡°It¡¯s


    done.¡±


    ¡±


    The offer was tempting. A weekend away from her empty apartment, from thoughts <b>of </b>Damien and Vivienne, from the constant reminder of her changing life.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. I won¡¯t be able to make it,¡± ra said gently.


    Later, when Julian asked how she was doing, ra shrugged. ¡°Fine. The meeting with Sternwood went well.¡±


    Later that night, ra called Cora as she did every evening.


    Damien: Cora¡¯s parent¨Cteacher meeting is tomorrow at 2PM. Ms. Ashton specifically requested both parents attend.


    Beck¡¯s response was immediate: Excellent! I¡¯ll pick you up at 4PM. Pack light, bring a


    smile.


    ¡°What good would that do?¡± ra asked. ¡°Cora is happy. That¡¯s what matters.¡±


    ¡°You should probably see what he wants.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Think about it and let me know by noon? Shanice is quite excited about the possibility.¡±


    The reply came almost immediately.


    ¡°He¡¯s integrating them quite thoroughly,¡± ra agreed, her voice neutral.


    ra sighed. ¡°If it were truly urgent, he¡¯d text.¡±


    ra: I have meetings all afternoon that cannot be rescheduled.


    She stared at her phone for a long moment, then pulled up Beck¡¯s number. <b>Before </b><b>she </b>could overthink it, she typed a quick message.


    She put the phone down and returned to her <b>work</b><b>. </b>Julian watched <b>her </b><b>carefully </b><b>but </b>


    150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings


    said nothing.


    ¡°I meant about the school thing.¡±


    For the first time in days, ra felt a flutter of anticipation. A change of scenery, fresh air, andpanions who didn¡¯t look at her with pity or judgment¨Cmaybe this was exactly what she needed.


    Coraunched into a detailed ount of her school activities. ra listened attentively, asking questions and offering praise in all the right ces. When they finished talking, she sent a quick message to Ms. Ashton apologizing for her absence tomorrow and requesting a follow¨Cup call at ater date.


    ra looked up at him, her expression softening. ¡°I¡¯m working on it. One day at a time.¡± ¡°That sounds nice,¡± ra replied, swallowing the hurt. ¡°Tell me about your day.¡±


    The week passed in a blur of meetings and project deadlines. ra threw herself into her work, finding sce in theplex problems that required her full attention. She spoke with Cora each evening, but their conversations were bing shorter as Cora seemed increasingly distracted.


    Friday morning brought an unexpected call.


    ¡°First Jorge, then Xavier, now Emily and Daniel,¡± Julian paced the room. ¡°At this rate, InnovaTech might as well be renamed Dubois Industries.¡±


    Attached was a photo of Cora beaming between Damien and Vivienne in the ssroom. Cora was clinging to Vivienne¡¯s arm, looking up at her with clea


    oration.


    Her phone buzzed with a text from Damien.


    The conversation shifted to their current project. They workedte into the evening, poring over engine specifications and testing protocols. When ra¡¯s phone rang the third time, she nced at the screen and silenced it.


    for


    ¡°I¡¯d have you show some anger, at least,¡± Julian muttered, dropping into the chair across from her desk.


    Damien: Mother will be disappointed.


    ¡°I¡¯d have to check my schedule,¡± ra said, though she already knew she was free. She¡¯d deliberately left her weekend open, dreading two empty days with nothing but


    150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings


    her thoughts forpany.


    ra hesitated. ¡°Camping? I haven¡¯t been camping in years.


    Julian burst in without knocking, his face tight with frustration. ¡°Did you <i>see </i>thetest memo? Damien is bringing in two more of Vivienne¡¯s cousins next month.¡±


    ra looked up from herputer, maintaining herposure. ¡°I saw it.¡±


    ¡°ra? It¡¯s Beck.¡± His voice was friendly, casual.


    ¡°And what about your happiness?¡±


    ra: I¡¯m aware. Send my regrets to Ms. Ashton.


    ¡°I hope she does! She promised to show Ms. Ashton pictures from our trip to thearium.¡±


    ra: She¡¯ll survive.


    After hanging up, ra sat motionless at her desk. Part of her wanted to decline, to stay within the safe confines of her routine. Another part craved escape, a temporary reprieve from her reality.


    Julian¡¯s expression softened. ¡°You¡¯ve changed so much, ra. Sometimes I miss watching you fight for things, even hopeless causes.¡±


    The casual way Cora referred to Vivienne stung, but ra kept her voice steady. ¡°I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s for your father to decide.¡±


    Damien: Dropping Cora at Mother¡¯s for the weekend. She asked if you¡¯d be


    ting.


    Julian stopped pacing and stared at her. ¡°How can you be so calm about this? He¡¯s practically building a dynasty around her family while you¡¯re still legally his wife.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just one night,¡± Beck continued. ¡°We¡¯d leave this afternoon,e back tomorrow evening. I¡¯ve already sorted security and everything else. All you need to bring is yourself and a change of clothes.¡±


    And different, right now, felt like a step in the right direction.


    ¡°I still fight,¡± she said, a small smile curving her lips. ¡°I¡¯m just more selective about my battles now.¡±


    150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings


    As if on cue, her phone buzzed with an iing message. ra picked it up


    reluctantly.


    Damien: This is about our daughter¡¯s education.


    ra: Not this weekend.


    Comment 1

 The Sprawling 151

    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    raughed, a genuine sound that seemed to brighten the winterndscape around them. ¡°Well, that¡¯s very kind of him.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Beck talks about you lots,¡± Shanice added helpfully, making Beck wince.


    Beck ended the call abruptly, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He turned to find ra staring straight ahead, her face carefullyposed once again.


    ¡°Beck! Where are you, man? I¡¯ve been trying to reach you all day,¡± Lucas¡¯s enthusiastic voice boomed through the speaker.


    As evening approached, Beck set up the portable grill outside their cabin while ra


    indoors. helped Shanice warm up


    Together, they began pushing snow, forming it into an increasinglyrge sphere. Beck joined in, helping them navigate the heavy ball across the clearing. He couldn¡¯t help noticing how rxed ra seemed here, away from the city and all its reminders of herplicated life.


    ¡°The food¡¯s ready,¡± she said, her voice unnaturally steady.


    ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen today? Someone whoughs easily, builds impressive snowmen, and makes my niece feel like she¡¯s the most important person in the world.¡±


    ¡°Does he now?¡± ra nced at Beck with amusement.


    A shadow passed over ra¡¯s face, so brief he might have imagined it. ¡°Yes¡± he replied softly. ¡°When she was younger.¡±


    Shanice tugged on ra¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Who¡¯s Cora?¡±


    Just before the camera clicked, Shanice threw a handful of snow into the air, creating a shower of white kes around them. The resulting photo showed all three of themughing, surrounded by falling snow.


    ¡°Lucas, now¡¯s not a good time,¡± Beck said firmly, his voice dropping.


    ¡°Go ahead and answer,¡± ra said. ¡°I¡¯ll check on the food.¡±


    ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Beck said, epting one gratefully. ¡°The food will be ready in about


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    fifteen minutes.¡±


    ¡°Is that something you used to do with Cora?¡± Beck asked, walking over to join them.


    ¡°Stand next to him, Ms. ra!¡± Shanice directed. ¡°Uncle Beck can take our picture!¡±


    ¡°I can take it,¡± ra offered, reaching for the phone.


    ¡°Look, Uncle Beck!¡± Shanice called. ¡°Ms. ra knows how to make snow hair!¡±


    Beck tensed, already anticipating where this was heading. ¡°It¡¯s just a small ce, nothing special.¡±


    Shanice rushed over to ra, pine cones clutched carefully in her mittened hands. Beck watched as ra bent down to ept the offering, her face lighting up with a smile that reached her eyes.


    ra¡¯s expression brightened immediately. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re expanding our AI integration services. My father¡¯spany is partnering with us for the initial phase.¡±


    ¡°Hot chocte is ready!¡± ra called from the doorway, holding two steaming mugs.


    ¡°And who am I outside of my problems?¡± ra asked, her voice soft.


    ¡°Actually-¡± Beck started.


    But the easy atmosphere from earlier had vanished, reced by the very tension Beck had hoped this weekend would help her escape.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he muttered, checking the screen. ¡°It¡¯s Lucas Sterling.¡±


    They worked together for nearly an hour, crafting a surprisingly impressiv snow figureplete with stick arms and a scarf Beck had brought along.


    ra was carefully cing thin icicles on top of the snowman¡¯s head, creating a glittering crown.


    ¡°Wait, Beck-¡±


    Beck nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. ¡°Sometimes we need to step away from our lives to remember who we are outside of our problems.¡±


    ¡°Is she here too?¡± Shanice looked around, curious.


    ¡°Should we build a bigger snowman now?¡± Shanice asked, already abandoning their


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    small creation. ¡°One as big as Uncle Beck?¡±


    ¡°My family used to vacation in Colorado during winter breaks,¡± ra exined, brushing snow from her gloves. ¡°I spent most of my childhood winters building snowmen and having snowball fights with my cousins.


    ¡°No, we¡¯ll all be in it,¡± Beck said, setting up his phone on a nearby tree stump and activating the timer. He rushed to join them, standing beside ra as the countdown began.


    Beck nodded gratefully and epted the call. ¡°Lucas, hey.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Shanice. These are beautiful,¡± ra said. ¡°What should we do with them?¡±


    ¡°Camping? In this weather? You¡¯re insane,¡± Lucasughed. ¡°But that actually sounds amazing. I need to get out of the city myself.¡±


    ¡°What? Why not? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve gotpany,¡± Lucas teased. ¡°Some secret weekend getaway I¡¯m interrupting?¡±


    ¡°Dad says you¡¯re really smart aboutputers,¡± Shanice announced, patting more snow onto their creation.


    ¡°Now one with you in it, Uncle Beck!¡± Shanice insisted.


    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea,¡± ra agreed. ¡°I think we need to roll a really big snowball for the


    base.¡±


    Beck felt a flush that had nothing to do with the cold. ¡°I may have mentioned your aplishments once or twice.¡±


    ra looked down at her mug, clearly touched by his words. Before she could respond, Beck¡¯s phone rang loudly.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said, forcing a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s not let it ruin our evening.¡±


    Beck recognized the careful neutrality in her tone. It was the same voice she used whenever Damien Thorne or Vivienne Dubois came up in conversation¨Cmeasured, controlled, giving nothing away.


    ¡°We could decorate our snowman!¡± Shanice suggested, pointing to the small lump of snow they had started shaping together.


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    ¡°She¡¯s my daughter,¡± ra exined, adjusting one of the pine cone eyes. ¡°She¡¯s a bit older than you.¡±


    Beck observed from a distance as ra knelt beside Shanice in the snow, helping her press the pine cones into what was bing the snowman¡¯s face. The sight stirred something in him. It had been a snap decision to invite ra along on this trip, but seeing how quickly she had connected with Shanice, he knew it had been the right


    call.


    ¡°Snow fight!¡± Shanice yelled, throwing a handful of powdery snow that mostly dissolved before reaching either adult.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll drag Damien along too,¡± Lucas continued. ¡°God knows that man needs to rx. He¡¯s been impossible since ra left, though he¡¯d never admit it.¡±


    Beck¡¯s eyes darted to ra, who was flipping the burgers on the grill but clearly still within earshot.


    ¡°Maybeter,¡± Beckughed, ruffling his niece¡¯s hair. ¡°Let¡¯s finish Mr. Snowman first.¡±


    ¡°Listen, I¡¯ve got to go. We¡¯ll catch up next week,¡± Beck said hurriedly.


    ¡°This was a wonderful idea,¡± ra admitted, leaning against the railing of the small porch. ¡°I haven¡¯t felt this¡­ unburdened in months.¡±


    Beck pulled out his phone as ra and Shanice posed beside their creation. ra¡¯s cheeks were flushed from the cold, her eyes bright with enjoyment. He snapped several photos, capturing her genuine smile¨Csomething he rarely saw in the city. ¡°Text me the location,¡± Lucas continued, ignoring Beck¡¯s lukewarm respo¡± e. ¡°I think I¡¯ll join you guys tomorrow. Damien¡¯s been driving me crazy with work all week, and I could use a break.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard YodaVision isunching a new project soon,¡± Beck said, changing the subject. ¡°Julian mentioned something about it at the clubst week.¡±


    Beck saw ra freeze at the mention of Damien¡¯s name, her back stiffening.


    ¡°No, not today,¡± ra said. ¡°She¡¯s spending time with her father and grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Dad, can I give Ms. ra these?¡± Shanice held up a small bundle of pinecones she had collected.


    <


    151 Winter Bonds and an Urgent Call


    ¡°I¡¯m camping with Shanice,¡± Beck exined, turning slightly away from ra. ¡°Just a quick overnight trip.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the natural at winter activities,¡± Beckmented as they worked.


    Beck looked over at ra standing a few yards away, her breath creating small clouds in the crisp winter air. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯d love that, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°ra¡­¡±


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 The Sprawling 152

    152 A Tentative Truce, A Lingering Gaze


    ¡°My throat hurts,¡± Shanice whispered to ra, leaning her small body against ra¡¯s


    side.


    Through the rearview mirror, Beck watched as both his passengers fell asleep. His eyes lingered on ra¡¯s peaceful face¨Cthe tension that usually marked her expressionpletely absent in sleep. A strand of her hair had fallen across her cheek, and he found himself wishing he could brush it away.


    Beck shook his head. ¡°No, not at all. I was just¡­ making conversation.¡±


    ¡°Just talking,¡± Beck answered.


    They moved away from the fire, finding a patch of tall grass at the edge of the clearing. ra demonstrated how to weave the des into delicate butterfly shapes, patient as Shanice¡¯s small fingers fumbled with the technique.


    The woman smiled knowingly, making ra shift ufortably on the log.


    ¡°Cora?¡± Shanice asked, remembering the name from earlier.


    ra sat up, her hair disheveled from sleep. ¡°Is she okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± ra replied. ¡°The fire helps.¡±


    ¡°Children get sick,¡± ra replied, careful not to disturb Shanice. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    The innocent question pierced ra¡¯s heart. ¡°No. She¡¯s¡­ interested in different things


    now.¡±


    As they walked toward the glowing light in the distance, ra wrapped the coat tighter around herself. The weight of it feltforting, though she¡¯d never admit it. The gentle rocking of the car and her own broken sleep from the night before soon made ra¡¯s eyelids heavy. Despite her efforts to stay awake, she found herself drifting off, her head tilting until it rested lightly against the window.


    ¡°I like making them with you,¡± Shanice dered, holding up her crooked but recognizable butterfly creation.


    ra hesitated before epting it. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    152 A Tentative Truce, A Lingering Gaze


    ra blinked back unexpected tears. ¡°I like making them with you too.¡±


    ¡°Look! It¡¯s huge!¡± Shanice pointed at the roaring bonfire that illuminated the small clearing where other campers had gathered.


    ra stroked her hair. ¡°The doctor will make it better soon.¡±


    In the car, Shanice insisted on sitting next to ra in the back seat. The little girl¡¯s head soon drooped onto ra¡¯s shoulder as she drifted to sleep, congested breathsing in small puffs.


    The three of them found a spot on one of the logs arranged in a circle around the fire. Shanice sat between ra and Beck, her eyes wide with wonder at the dancing mes.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± ra replied automatically, the response she¡¯d perfected over years of ufortable situations. ¡°Damien¡¯s name doesn¡¯t send me into a tailspin anymore.¡±


    Beck looked uncertain. ¡°Shanice, Ms. ra might want her space.¡±


    ¡°Please?¡± Shanice looked at ra with pleading eyes, punctuated by another sneeze.


    Some boundaries, he reminded himself, weren¡¯t meant to be crossed.


    ¡°Does she still make them?¡±


    Beck was immediately at her side, feeling her forehead. ¡°You¡¯ve caught a cold, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°You three make such a beautiful family,¡± an elderly womanmented from across


    the fire.


    Shanice¡¯s eyes widened in rm. ¡°No! I want Ms. ra toe with us!¡±


    Between Shanice¡¯s miserable expression and Beck¡¯s apologetic one, ra found herself relenting. ¡°I¡¯lle with you to the hospital first.¡±


    After Beck¡¯s awkward phone call with Lucas, the atmosphere turned chilly¨Cand not just from the mountain air.


    ¡°That¡¯s boring too,¡± Shanice dered. She tugged at ra¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Can you show me how to make those grass butterflies again?¡±


    His fingers hovered, inches from her skin. Hershes fluttered again, and he quickly pulled his hand back, heart pounding as though he¡¯d been caught doing something


    216


    152 A Tentative Truce, A Lingering Gaze


    forbidden.


    Grateful for the interruption, ra smiled. ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s find some long pieces of


    grass.¡±


    ¡°Since college,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ve been friends and business partners for years.¡±


    ra¡¯s eyes remained on the fire. ¡°It is. We¡¯re making good progress.


    ¡°Are you warm enough?¡± Beck finally asked.


    ¡°So,¡± Beck tried again, ¡°Julian mentioned your new project at YodaVision is going well.¡±


    ¡°I want to sleep next to Ms. ra,¡± she insisted, dragging her sleeping bag closer to where ra had set up hers.


    ¡°Stay where I can see you,¡± Beck instructed, watching as his niece scampered off.


    Shanice soon spotted other children ying nearby and turned to Beck. ¡°Can I go y with them?¡±


    Beck looked skeptical but nodded. ¡°Still, this weekend was supposed to be about getting away from all that.¡±


    ra nodded, a bittersweet smile touching her lips. ¡°Yes. When she was about your age, we used to make dozens of these and hang them from her bedroom ceiling.¡±


    ¡°Just friends?¡± Beck asked, then immediately looked like he regretted the question. ¡°My daughter used to love making these,¡± ra said softly, helping Shanice twist the


    grass.


    Later that night, back at the cabin, Shanice refused to go to her own sleeping bag.


    ¡°Just a cold, I think,¡± Beck said, though concern lined his face. ¡°We should probably get back to the city earlier than nned.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this,¡± Beck said quietly from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Not exactly the rxing getaway I promised.¡±


    ra turned to face him directly. ¡°Yes, just friends. Is that important?¡±


    Shanice beamed triumphantly at her uncle before settling down beside ra.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the call earlier,¡± Beck finally said. ¡°Lucas doesn¡¯t always think before he


    152 A Tentative Truce, A Lingering Gaze


    speaks.¡±


    ra nodded, already gathering her things. ¡°I can drive back on my own if take her to a doctor.¡±


    Another stretch of silence followed.


    you


    want to


    Now alone with Beck, ra felt the weight of silence between them. The crackling fire filled the void where conversation should be. After Lucas¡¯s call had brought Damien¡¯s name into their peaceful retreat, the invisible wall between them had solidified again.


    The crackling fire filled another awkward silence.


    Beck cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    At a stoplight, Beck turned slightly in his seat. ra¡¯sshes fluttered slightly against her cheeks as she dreamed. Before he could stop himself, his hand reached toward her face, drawn to that wayward strand of hair.


    ¡°Uncle Beck,¡± the little girl called out, her voice congested. ¡°My nose is running.¡±


    ra stiffened. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re not-¡±


    ¡°Shanice, Ms. ra might have ns-¡± Beck started.


    The light turned green, and Beck faced forward again, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. In the mirror, he could still see ra sleeping peacefully, unaware of his momentarypse in judgment, unaware of the conflict raging within him.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± ra found herself saying. ¡°As long as we stay in our own sleeping bags.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve known Julian for a long time, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to freeze,¡± Beck said, approaching ra with a thick woolen coat. ¡°Here, take this.¡±


    Before ra could respond, Shanice came running back. ¡°I¡¯m bored with the other kids. What are you doing?¡±


    The memory of Cora¡¯sst birthday shed through her mind¨Chow her daughter had barely acknowledged the handmade butterfly ra had created for her, too enamored with the expensive gifts from Damien and Vivienne.


    Morning arrived too quickly with Shanice¡¯s loud sneeze.


    <


    152 A Tentative Truce, A Lingering Gaze


    The relief on both their faces made something warm unfurl in her chest.


    They packed quickly, the peaceful morning routine transformed into a flurry of activity. ra helped Shanice bundle up while Beck loaded the car.


    ¡°She¡¯s not my mom,¡± Shanice exined matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°She¡¯s Uncle Beck¡¯s friend.¡± Beck handed another smaller coat to Shanice, who was bouncing excitedly beside them. ¡°The bonfire¡¯s starting soon. We should head down.¡±


    Despite her exhaustion, ray awake long after Shanice had fallen asleep. The soft sound of Beck¡¯s breathing from across the cabin and Shanice¡¯s asional murmurs created an unfamiliar sense of peace. It had been years since she¡¯d felt this kind of simple human connection.


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    53 A Child¡¯s Plea, A Father¡¯s Choice


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± Damien answered. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell her yourself?¡±


    T


    ¡°No need to apologize. The doctor said Shanice just needs rest and medicine. I¡¯ll take


    her home now.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re at your ce,¡± Beck said, turning to face her. ¡°You dozed off after we left the hospital.¡±


    Cora didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she walked back toward them with dragging feet. When she reached Damien, she looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes. She tugged at his


    hand.


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± ra repeated, her voice slightly strained.


    ¡°Tea?¡± ra offered, already pouring from a delicate porcin pot.


    ¡°I built a model of a hydrogen fuel cell,¡± Cora announced proudly. ¡°Ms. Williams said it was the best in ss.¡±


    ¡°Mom¡¯s good atputers,¡± Cora said, sounding uncertain, as if recalling a distant


    memory.


    Cora froze mid¨Cstep, then slowly turned around. Her eyes were bright with unshed


    tears.


    ra¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. She checked it and frowned at from Damien.


    ¡°You look tired, dear,¡± ra observed quietly. ¡°Are you getting enough rest?¡±


    message


    ¡°Just Damien,¡± she replied, slipping her phone into her pocket. ¡°Thanks for the ride. And tell Shanice I hope she feels better soon.¡±


    She expected him to agree immediately. Damien had always avoided visiting the Vance residence, iming difort around her family. The few times he¡¯d apanied her had been tense and awkward.


    ra looked away, unsettled by his scrutiny and confused by his presence here tonight. This wasn¡¯t like him at all.


    <


    153 A Child¡¯s Plea, A Father¡¯s Choice


    As Damien moved to sit beside Cora, ra caught her grandmother watching her with


    shrewd eyes.


    ¡°Fascinating,¡± ra remarked. ¡°And how is your work going, ra? That AIpany of yours must be keeping you on your toes.¡±


    ¡°What time?¡± he asked instead.


    ra patted her hand. ¡°You¡¯ve always pushed yourself too hard. Even as a child, you never knew when to stop.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have Cora ready,¡± he replied, ignoring her offer. ¡°Six works.¡±


    ¡°Last weekend,¡± Cora replied. ¡°Dad and Vivienne helped me.¡±


    Cora leaned forward between the front seats. ¡°Dad, did you tell Mom about my science project? I got an A+.¡±


    The acknowledgment of her skills, however small, surprised ra. She didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    ra tried to keep her surprise from showing. ¡°We should get going then. We don¡¯t want to bete.¡±


    His response caught her off guard. ¡°Around six? But really, I can handle it. I know you¡¯re notfortable at my grandmother¡¯s house.¡±


    ra entered her apartment and headed straight for the shower. The hot water revived her somewhat, washing away the lingering fatigue from the camping trip. <i>By </i>five¨Cthirty, she was on her way to Damien¡¯s vi.


    ¡°Yes, she is,¡± Damien agreed, his eyes still on ra¡¯s profile. ¡°One of the best.¡±


    As soon as they entered, Cora spotted Eleanor and rushed forward. ¡°Great¨CGrandma Ellie!¡±


    ¡°He is,¡± ra confirmed, ignoring the grandmothers¡® not¨Cso¨Csubtle matchmaking attempt. ¡°We¡¯ve been friends since college.¡±


    Damien¡¯s expression remained neutral, but something in his posture changed. He sat straighter, his shoulders tensing slightly.


    ¡°ra tells me you¡¯ve been busy with a new project, Damien,¡± ra said, passing him a


    153 A Child¡¯s Plea, A Father¡¯s Choice


    cup. ¡°Something about renewable energy in Southeast Asia?¡±


    Cora¡¯s face lit up, ¡°Really?¡±


    As the evening wore on, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had really prompted Damien to ept Cora¡¯s plea to join them.


    ¡°Vivienne knows a lot about green energy,¡± Cora continued, oblivious to her mother¡¯s difort. ¡°She said I might be a scientist someday like her.¡±


    ra hadn¡¯t expected this reaction. ¡°It was ast¨Cminute thing with friends, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°He came to dinner herest month,¡± ra added innocently. ¡°Such a charming conversationalist.¡±


    ¡°I got your message about the grandmothers,¡± she said, walking toward her apartment building. ¡°I can pick up Cora on my way there. You don¡¯t have toe.¡±


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± Beck asked.


    ra hesitated, sensing a trap but not seeing a way around it. ¡°Yes, it was. We hiked and made a bonfire and-¡±


    ¡°Cora,¡± Damien¡¯s voice cut through the tension. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried unmistakable authority. ¡°Come back here.¡±


    Martha, one of the housekeepers, opened the door when she arrived. ¡°Mrs. Thorne, pleasee in. Mr. Thorne and Cora are in the living room.¡±


    ¡°Was it fun?¡± Cora interrupted, her eyes narrowing.


    Damien¡¯s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around his teacup.


    Before ra could answer, Eleanor interjected. ¡°YodaVision is making waves in the industry. Arthur mentioned they¡¯re revolutionizing healthcare AI.¡±


    Damien nced up from his phone, his gaze lingering on ra¡¯s face. ¡°You look tired.¡±


    Damien looked momentarily surprised that ra had mentioned his work to her grandmother. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re expanding our sr operations there.¡±


    The mention of Vivienne sent a familiar pang through ra¡¯s chest. She gripped the steering wheel tighter.


    153 A Child¡¯s Plea, A Father¡¯s Choice


    ¡°Dad,¡± Cora called, mercifully changing the subject. ¡°Can you help me show Great¨CGrandma ra the pictures from my science fair on your phone?¡±


    *My grandmother is visiting yours this evening. We should take Cora together. Let me know when you¡¯re free.*


    She kissed ra¡¯s cheek, nodded politely to Damien, and led them into the sitting room. Eleanor immediately engaged Cora in conversation about school, leaving ra and Damien to take seats across from them.


    They arrived at ra Bellweather¡¯s estate fifteen minutester. The grand old house sat on a sprawling piece ofnd that had been in the Vance family for generations. Eleanor Thorne¡¯s sleek ck car was already parked in the circr driveway.


    ¡°I am,¡± she admitted, too exhausted to pretend otherwise. ¡°I just got back from a camping trip.¡±


    ¡°Productive,¡± Damien replied. ¡°The Singapore deal is moving forward.¡±


    As Beck¡¯s car pulled away, ra called Damien. The phone rang twice before he answered.


    ¡°Camping?¡± Cora¡¯s head snapped up, her expression shifting from sullen to usatory. ¡°You went camping without me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± ra said, thrown by her daughter¡¯s sudden distress. ¡°Rememberst summer when we-¡±


    In the car, Cora sat in the back seat while Damien took the passenger seat beside ra. The silence between them was thick with unspoken questions and observations.


    Damien nced at her, his expression unreadable. ¡°You would have done well on this project. It involved programming the demonstration model.¡±


    ra found Cora sitting on the sofa, arms crossed and lips pursed in a pout. Damien stood by the window, phone in hand, engrossed in what appeared to be work emails.


    ¡°Julian,¡± Eleanor repeated, exchanging a meaningful nce with ra. ¡°He¡¯s that handsome young man who co¨Cfounded thepany with you, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Damien looked at his daughter, then at ra. Something flickered in his expression- hesitation, perhaps, or calction.


    163 A Child¡¯s Plea, A Father¡¯s Choice


    ¡°Hi, Coco,¡± ra greeted her daughter with a bright <b>smile</b>. ¡°Ready to see


    Great¨CGrandma ra?¡±


    ¡°Yes, please,¡± ra replied, while Damien nodded silently.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Damien replied, putting his phone away. ¡°I¡¯lle


    ¡°ra,¡± his voice came through, crisp and businesslike as always.


    ¡°Julian and I have a good team,¡± ra said modestly.


    ¡°Can youe along too, Dad?¡± she asked, her voice suddenly sweet.


    ¡°You never take me camping¡± Corained, her lower lip trembling <b>slightly</b>. ¡°You¡¯re always too busy.¡±


    ra Bellweather emerged from the sitting room, her silver hair styled perfectly despite her ny years. ¡°You¡¯re all here. Wonderful.¡±


    ra blinked awake as Beck¡¯s car came to a gentle stop. The hospital visit for Shanice had taken longer than expected, leaving her with barely enough time to make it to her grandmother¡¯s house.


    ¡°I thought you were upset about missing the skiing trip with Vivienne,¡± ra said softly, understanding dawning. This wasn¡¯t about the skiing trip at all.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said finally.


    Eleanor Thorne, elegant as always in a tailored navy suit, opened her arms to receive Cora. ¡°There¡¯s my darling girl!¡±


    Across the room, Damien nced over at them, his gaze lingering on w..ere ra¡¯s hand rested on ra¡¯s. For a moment, something like c¨®ncern crossed his features before his expression returned to its usual impassive state.


    Cora didn¡¯t look <ol><li>up. </li></ol>


    ¡°I guess.¡±


    ¡°You never do fun things with me anymore!¡± Cora jumped up from the sofa and stormed toward the staircase!


    ra held her breath, waiting for his refusal. In seven years of marriage, she could count on one hand the number of times Damien had willingly apanied her to a Vance family gathering.


    <b>< </b>


    153 A Child¡¯s Plea, A Father¡¯s Choice


    ¡°How was work today?¡± ra asked, desperate to break the awkward silence.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ra assured her. ¡°Just busy.¡±


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± ra mumbled, gathering her belongings. The fatigue from the camping trip still weighed heavily on her.


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, Coco!¡± ra beamed, catching her daughter¡¯s eye in the rearview mirror. ¡°When did you finish it?¡±


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    154 A Family Visit, An Unsettling Revtion


    154 A Family Visit, An Unsettling Revtion


    ¡°The workers disappeared two weeks ago,¡± ra exined. ¡°Not a soul has been there


    since.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered, gripping the phone tightly. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Call meter, okay? Promise me.¡±


    Before ra could respond, her phone rang. She nced at the screen and saw Chloe¡¯s


    name.


    With practiced ease, she smoothed her expression and prepared to rejoin the family gathering, even as her mind reeled from yet another painful confirmation of where she stood in her husband¡¯s life.


    Damien¡¯s sleek ck car pulled into the driveway of his mansion. ra nced at him as he shifted the gear to park.


    ¡°He¡¯s not alone,¡± Chloe continued, her voice gentler now. ¡°He¡¯s with Vivienne. And what looks like her parents.¡±


    Inside, they found ra and Eleanor in the sitting room, deep in conversation over tea. Both women looked up when ra and Cora entered.


    ¡°We should head inside for a minute,¡± ra said. ¡°I need to grab the gift for Grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Work emergency,¡± ra exined simply. ¡°The Singapore deal needed his attention.¡± Eleanor¡¯s lips thinned with disapproval. ¡°That boy works too much. Always has.¡±


    They settled into thefortable sitting room. Cora curled up next to Eleanor, who immediately began asking about school and friends. ra poured tea for everyone, adding extra honey to ra¡¯s


    the cup


    way


    she always had.


    ra¡¯s face softened as she epted the handmade bracelet. ¡°Oh, my darling, this is


    beautiful! Did you make this all by yourself?¡°.


    ¡°Wait until the car stopspletely,¡± ra cautioned.


    ¡°ra? Are you still there?¡± Chloe asked.


    154 A Family Visit, An Unsettling Revtion


    Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to straighten up. She couldn¡¯t let <b>Cora </b><b>or </b><b>the </b>grandmothers see her distress. She had be an expert at hiding her <b>pain</b><b>, </b>at pretending everything was fine when her world was crumbling inside.


    ra nced out the window at the property in question ¨C a stately home that had been undergoing extensive renovations for months. She¡¯d actually considered buying and selling it before the current owners purchased it.


    Eleanor Thorne stood as well, elegant as always in her designer outfit. Her sharp eyes scanned behind them. ¡°Where is my son?¡±


    ¡°These are beautiful, Grandmother. I¡¯m d you¡¯re enjoying the set.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that one,¡± Damien confirmed.


    ¡°There you are!¡± ra said, rising to embrace her granddaughter. ¡°I was beginning to


    worry.¡±


    There was a brief pause. ¡°I thought you should know¡­ I¡¯m at Antonelli¡¯s right now, and Damien just walked in.¡±


    The simple gesture caught ra off guard. Lately, Cora had been distant and dismissive toward her.


    ¡°Bye, Dad!¡± She threw her arms around his legs in a quick hug.


    When they arrived, ra was surprised to see Eleanor Thorne¡¯s car already parked in the circr driveway.


    The drive to ra¡¯s estate was quiet. ra watched the familiarndscape pa. y as Cora yed on her tablet. ra Bellweather¡¯s estate was only twenty minutes away, a beautiful old Victorian home that had been in the family for generations.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you,¡± Damien promised, turning to look at his daughter. ¡°We can go to that new waterpark this weekend. Just you and me.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Cora beamed. ¡°I used special beads from my craft set.¡±


    ¡°Traffic was heavier than expected,¡± ra replied, kissing her grandmother¡¯s <b>cheek</b>.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra said politely. ¡°We¡¯ll see youter, then.¡±


    When she returned to the foyer, Cora was already waiting<b>, </b>clutching <b>something </b><b>in </b><b>her </b>


    154 A Family Visit, An Unsettling Revtion


    small hands.


    Damien nodded, his attention already returning to his phone. As they turned to <b>leave </b>Cora suddenly broke away and ran back to her father.


    ¡°I know, Coco. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Damien said, his voice softening slightly when addressing <b>his </b>daughter. ¡°The Singapore deal needs immediate attention. I can¡¯t postpone it.¡±


    ¡°May I see them?¡± ra asked, genuinely curious.


    The world seemed to tilt slightly. Damien had imed he couldn¡¯t attend a family gathering because of work, yet here he was, dining with Vivienne and her family.


    ¡°Great¨CGrandma Ellie is already here!¡± Cora eximed, unbuckling her seatbelt before the car had fully stopped.


    But they were special ¨C delicate renderings of the estate¡¯s gardens, capturing light and shadow with remarkable skill. ra picked one up, admiring the details.


    ra nearly choked on her tea. She¡¯d been the one to track down that book, spending weeks searching through rare book dealers. Yet Damien had presented it as his own gift, never acknowledging her effort.


    ra changed the subject, perhaps sensing ra¡¯s difort. ¡°Have you noticed the house across the street? The renovations seem to have stopped suddenly.¡±


    ra watched the exchange with a hollow feeling in her chest. Damien could always win Cora over with grand promises and expensive outings. Meanwhile, ra struggled to connect with their daughter despite her consistent presence.


    ¡°Speaking of gifts,¡± ra said, ¡°Damien sent over the most thoughtful. hday presentst month. A first edition of my favorite poetry collection.¡±


    ra ended the call and leaned against the wall, trying topose herself before returning to the sitting room. The Singapore deal that couldn¡¯t wait was apparently less important than dinner with Vivienne¡¯s family. The realization shouldn¡¯t hurt anymore ¨C she was used to being Damien¡¯sst priority ¨C but somehow, it still did.


    Eleanor¡¯s prating gaze made ra feel transparent. ¡°Hmm. Well,e sit. <b>Martha </b>made your favorite lemon tarts.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ra said automatically. ¡°Just busy with work.¡±


    154 A Family Visit, An Unsettling Revtion


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey. I just thought you should know.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me toe get you?¡±


    She stepped into the hallway and answered the call. ¡°Hi, Chloe.¡±


    ¡°Great¨CGrandma ra, I made you something!¡± Cora interrupted, eager to present her


    gift.


    Eleanor nodded approvingly. ¡°She¡¯s made several beautiful pieces already. Your grandmother has quite a talent.¡±


    ¡°Mom, I made this for Great¨CGrandma ra,¡± Cora said, holding up a bracelet made of colorful beads. ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll like it?¡±


    Cora¡¯s face crumpled. ¡°But Great¨CGrandma Ellie will be so disappointed!¡±


    ra¡¯s stomach dropped. Antonelli¡¯s was an exclusive restaurant downtown, one of Damien¡¯s favorites.


    Damien appeared from his home office, phone still in hand. ¡°I¡¯ve asked Sam to drive you both. He¡¯s bringing the car around now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll manage,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°I shall wear it right away,¡± ra dered, slipping it onto her wrist. ¡°It matches my outfit perfectly.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll love it, sweetheart,¡± ra replied, genuinely touched. ¡°That was very thoughtful


    of you.¡±


    ra wasn¡¯t surprised. This was ssic Damien ¨C making promises had no intention of keeping, especially when it involved her family. She unbuckled her seatbelt, resigned to the familiar disappointment.


    Damien patted her head awkwardly. ¡°Behave for your mother.¡±


    ra sipped her tea silently, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over her. The conversation continued around her, but she found it increasingly difficult to follow. There was a dull ache forming behind her eyes, a familiar precursor to a migraine.


    ¡°Coco and I should get going soon,¡± she said, checking her watch. ¡°I promised Grandmother we¡¯d be there by six.¡±


    154 A Family Visit, An Unsettling Revtion


    They walked into the mansion, where Martha greeted them with a warm smile. Cora immediately raced upstairs to her room while ra headed to the guest room where she kept some personal items.


    ¡°What?¡± Cora¡¯s voice piped up from the back seat. ¡°But Dad, you promised!¡±


    ¡°I was just showing Eleanor the new watercolor set you gave me,¡± ra said to ra. ¡°The paints are exquisite.¡±


    ¡°Just a bit tired,¡± ra admitted. ¡°I haven¡¯t been sleeping welltely.¡±


    ¡°Are you feeling alright, ra?¡± ra asked suddenly, interrupting her thoughts. ¡°You¡¯ve gone quite pale.¡±


    Damien loosened his tie with one hand. ¡°Something came up at work. You¡¯ll have to go without me.¡±


    ¡°At my grandmother¡¯s. Why?¡±


    ra gestured to several small framed paintings on the side table. ¡°Nothing special, just some garden scenes.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, standing up. ¡°I need to take this.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps they ran out of money,¡± Eleanor suggested. ¡°Renovations that extensive can drain finances quickly.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± ra said, struggling to keep her voice steady. ¡°I¡¯m with Cora. I can¡¯t leave.¡±


    While Cora basked in her great¨Cgrandmother¡¯s praise, Eleanor approached ra. ¡°You look tired, dear. Are you sleeping well?¡±


    ra closed her eyes, feeling the familiar ache of betrayal. ¡°Thank you for telling me.¡±


    The transformation on Cora¡¯s face was immediate. Her pout vanished, reced by a hopeful smile. ¡°Really? The one with the giant slides?¡±


    Cora smiled shyly, then slipped her small hand into ra¡¯s. The unexpected affection made ra¡¯s heart ache with longing. These moments had be increasingly rare.


    ¡°I will.¡±


    Eleanor was watching her carefully. ¡°Yes, asionally my son shows remarkable insight. Though I suspect he had help.¡±


    154 A Family Visit, An Unsettling Revtion


    ¡°You work too hard,¡± Eleanor dered. ¡°Just like my son. Always pushing yourselves to


    exhaustion.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± she replied. ¡°It looked like they were making good progress.¡±


    ¡°How thoughtful,¡± she managed to say.


    ¡°ra.¡± Chloe¡¯s voice was tense. ¡°Where are you right now?¡±


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    155 Fevered Haze and Familiar Tensions


    155 Fevered Haze and Familiar Tensions


    Guilt twisted inside ra. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare her.¡±


    The door opened again. Damien returned, his eyes immediately noting her barely touched food.


    A knock interrupted the moment. Dr. Bill entered, smiling when he saw ra awake.


    Damien rose in one fluid motion, pouring water from a pitcher on the nightstand. He helped her sit up slightly, supporting her back as she drank small sips.


    ¡°Thank you for checking on me,¡± ra murmured, blinking slowly as her eyelids <b>grew </b>


    heavy.


    The thought of going to Damien¡¯s family home sent a spike of anxiety through her, but shecked the strength to argue. ra and Eleanor exchanged worried nces as Cora hovered nearby, clutching her favorite stuffed animal.


    The revtion that Damien had not only kept her book but was reading it made her feel strangely vulnerable. As if he had essed a private part of her thoughts.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± ra protested weakly. ¡°Just need rest.¡±


    ¡°The medication is working,¡± came a gentle voice. Dr. Bill Hawkins, the Thorne family physician for decades, stood beside the bed checking her pulse. ¡°Your fever has dropped considerably.¡±


    Amelia¡¯s concerned face blurred before her eyes as ra made her way to the bedroom. She barely managed to kick off her shoes before copsing onto the bed, darkness iming her instantly.


    ¡°Water,¡± she managed to rasp.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll lie down for a bit,¡± she said.


    Bill raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re in his house, in serious condition. I¡¯d say it was entirely


    necessary.¡±


    ¡°¡­should have noticed sooner¡­<b>¡± </b>


    ra opened her eyes slowly, taking in the familiar ceiling. Damien¡¯s childhood


    155 Fevered Haze and Familiar Tensions


    bedroom. She¡¯d been here only once before, years ago when Eleanor <b>had </b><b>given </b>her a tour of the manor.


    Ufortable silence


    After Bill left, filled the room. ra¡¯s stomach <b>growled </b>audibly, breaking the tension.


    Amelia Vance bustled around ra¡¯s kitchen, stirring a pot of homemade chicken <b>soup </b>with focused determination. The rich aroma filled the apartment, but ra <b>could </b>barely appreciate it from where she sat at the kitchen ind, her head propped <b>weakly </b>on her hand.


    ¡°Someone needs to,¡± Amelia replied. ¡°You work too hard and sleep too little.¡±


    ¡°Severe exhaustionbined with a nasty viral infection,¡± Bill exined. ¡°Your immune system was toopromised to fight it off. You needed this copse to <b>force </b>you to rest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± he observed, closing the book. ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    Eleanor pressed a cool hand to ra¡¯s forehead. ¡°Still burning up. We need to get her to a doctor.¡±


    A long silence followed her statement. When she finally gathered the courage to look at him again, his expression was thoughtful, almost calcting.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Martha replied. ¡°You focus on getting better.¡±


    Damien stood to the side, his face impassive as Bill continued his examination. When the doctor finished, he patted ra¡¯s hand kindly.


    ¡°Forget the meeting,¡± ra interrupted firmly. ¡°You have a high fever, ra. Your mother called us this morning when she couldn¡¯t wake you.¡±


    Inside the car, she leaned against the cool window, consciousness slipping in and out. Fragments of conversation floated around her.


    the


    The next time she awoke, the room was dimmer. Evening light filtered throu partially drawn curtains. Her fever had broken, leaving her sweaty and ufortable but clearer¨Cheaded.


    ra obediently took a spoonful. The warm liquid slid down her throat, momentarily


    155 Fevered Haze and Familiar Tensions


    soothing. She managed several more spoonfuls before a wave of exhaustion <b>hit </b><b>her </b>


    Minutester, Martha arrived with a tray containing clear soup, toast, and tea<b>. </b><b>The </b>older housekeeper clucked sympathetically.


    ¡°Much better,¡± he dered after examining her. ¡°Your fever has broken, but you¡¯re <b>still </b>extremely weak. Absolute rest for at least three days.¡±


    Cool sheets. Soft pillow. The scent of sandalwood and old books.


    Eleanor was already on her phone, issuing instructions. ¡°The car will be ready in <b>five </b>


    minutes. Grab her essentials.¡±


    ra tried to sit up but fell back, still dizzy. ¡°Where is everyone?¡±


    ra didn¡¯t need encouragement. Her eyelids were already growing heavy, pulling her back into darkness.


    ¡°You scared everyone,¡± Damien said, his expression unreadable. ¡°Bill said your condition was worse than he initially thought.¡±


    ¡°You gave us quite a scare, Mrs. Thorne,¡± she said, setting the tray across ra¡¯sp. ¡°The little one has been asking about you non¨Cstop.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra replied, her voice still rough.


    ¡°You need to eat something,¡± Amelia said, her voiceced with concern. ¡°You¡¯ve been looking pale for days.¡±


    ¡°Almost noon,¡± came Eleanor Thorne¡¯s/voice as she entered the room, followed by ra Bellweather. ¡°You¡¯ve been unconscious for nearly fifteen hours.¡±


    ¡°Better?¡± he asked when she finished.


    A shadow crossed his face. ¡°It had interesting ideas.¡±


    ¡°Having dinner with my grandmother and yours,¡± Damien replied. ¡°She¡¯s been worried about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have Martha bring up some food,¡± Damien said.


    Damien followed her gaze. ¡°I found it in the car after we returned,¡± he exined. ¡°You


    155 Fovered Haze and Familiar Tensions


    left it behind.¡±


    ¡°Your daughter is with your grandmother in the garden. Eleanor is making <b>calls</b><b>. </b><b>And </b>Damien¡­ Bill paused, checking his watch. ¡°He should be arriving shortly. Eleanor called him.¡±


    Amelia shot her a look that only mothers could perfect ¨C equal parts skepticism and worry. ¡°You¡¯re not fine. Anyone can see that.¡±


    ra didn¡¯t argue. Her head felt increasingly foggy. The spoon ttered against <b>the </b>bowl as her grip weakened.


    ¡°Of course she will,¡± ra assured her, though her eyes reflected concern.


    The direct question caught her off guard. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m surprised, that¡¯s all.¡±


    She processed this information slowly. ¡°Cora?¡±


    The soup wasdled into a bowl and set before her. ra stared at it, her appetite nonexistent. Still, she picked up the spoon to appease her mother.


    He moved to the bedside, looking down at the tray with a slight frown. ¡°You need to eat to regain your strength.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay here that long,¡± ra protested.


    He helped her take small sips of water before administering another dose of medication. ¡°This will make you drowsy again. Don¡¯t fight it. Sleep is your best


    medicine right now.¡±


    She managed a few spoonfuls of soup before setting the spoon down. Her hand trembled slightly from the effort.


    And Damien had kept it all this time.


    ¡°What happened?¡± ra asked, her voice scratchy and painful.


    Through a feverish haze, ra felt herself being helped into fresh clothes. The journey from bed to car passed in fragmented images ¨C Cora¡¯s worried face, the ele or¡¯s descent, the cold air hitting her heated skin.


    ¡°¡­working herself to exhaustion¡­¡±


    ¡°Almost seven in the evening. You¡¯ve been in and out for most of the day.¡±


    155 Fovered Haze and Familiar Tensions


    He <b>sighed </b>and turned toward the door, leaving ra alone with his <b>challenging </b>observation hanging in the air between them.


    ¡°She¡¯s awake!¡± Cora called over her shoulder, then approached the bed cautiously<b>. </b>¡°Mom, you¡¯re really sick.¡±


    ¡°You kept it?¡± The question came out before she could stop it.


    ¡°Not really,¡± ra admitted.


    ra tried to sit up but fell back, dizzy and weak. ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Small sips,¡± Amelia instructed, watching her like a hawk.


    ¡°Even after all these years, you still don¡¯t know how to fight back?¡± Damien <b>finally </b>said, something like disappointment coloring his tone.


    Movement caught her attention. A figure sat in the armchair near the window,


    illuminated by a small readingmp. Damien.


    ra looked away, ufortable with his scrutiny. ¡°You never have before.¡±


    ¡°Is Mom going to be okay?¡± Cora asked in a small voice.


    He hadn¡¯t noticed she was awake yet. His attention was fixed on the book in his hands, his profile sharp against the soft light. ra remained still, watching him through


    half¨Cclosed eyes.


    Bill looked at her sternly. ¡°You can and you will. Moving you now would risk a rpse.¡± ¡°¡­never seen her this ill¡­¡±


    rm shot through her. ¡°That wasn¡¯t necessary.¡±


    ¡°Mom?¡± she called weakly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been pushing yourself too hard,¡± Bill said gently. ¡°The body has ways of forcing us to rest when we ignore its warnings.¡±


    Damien¡¯s gaze shifted from the food to her face, then to the book on the ¡°Does it bother you that I kept your book?¡±


    e <b>table</b><b>. </b>


    The door opened immediately. Not her mother, but Cora¡¯s worried face appeared.


    ¡°You need proper medical attention,¡± Eleanor insisted. ¡°We¡¯re taking you to Thorne


    155 Fevered Haze and Familiar Tensions


    Manor. Bill can examine you there.


    ¡°Why?¡± His voice held genuine curiosity. ¡°Because I showed interest in something <b>of </b>yours?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the trouble,¡± ra murmured.


    Heat. Unbearable heat. ra awoke disoriented, her body burning from within. <b>Sweat </b>stered her clothes to her skin. Her vision swam as she tried to focus on her surroundings.


    ra nodded weakly, sinking back against the pillows. ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± ra said softly. ¡°I¡¯ll try againter.¡±


    ¡°Not hungry?¡± he asked.


    ra looked away, ufortable under his scrutiny. Her gaze fell on the book he had set aside ¨C her book. The one she¡¯d been reading during their hot spring retreat months ago. The one she thought she¡¯d lost.


    Left alone with the food, ra found her appetite had vanished again. The soup smelled good, but her eyes kept drifting to the book Damien had left behind. Their hot spring retreat ¨C a rare peaceful moment in their marriage, arranged by Eleanor in one of her many attempts to bring them closer. ra had spent most of it reading that book, escaping into its pages rather than facing the cold reality of her marriage.


    She tried to speak but her throat felt like sandpaper. The small sound she managed was enough to draw his attention. His gaze shifted to her immediately.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom,¡± ra protested weakly. ¡°Just tired.¡±


    Panic fluttered in ra¡¯s chest. ¡°Fifteen hours? But I have a meeting at-¡±


    The familiar gates of Thorne Manor came into view just as ra¡¯s eyes fluttered closed again.

 The Sprawling 156

    156 The Unsigned Divorce and a Brother¡¯s Plea


    ¡°Yes,¡± she answered finally. ¡°As soon as he signs the papers.¡±


    ¡°I brought you something,¡± Ethan said suddenly, reaching into his messenger <b>bag</b>. He pulled out a small potted nt with delicate purple flowers. ¡°It¡¯svender. Supposed to help with sleep and rxation.¡±


    He nodded, pulling up a chair beside the bed. ¡°You had everyone worried. I¡¯ve <b>never </b>seen Eleanor so frantic.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, hovering at the doorway. ¡°Eleanor said you were awake. Is it okay <b>if </b><b>I </be in?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s fine,¡± ra agreed, her mind already elsewhere.


    ra felt a rush of gratitude for her grandmother¡¯s concern. ¡°Yes, just¡­ a lot on my


    mind.¡±


    Ethan¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°That would be great. I was going to ask my brother, but he said he had something to do and told me to ask you instead.¡±


    The fire crackled weingly in the grand firece. Ethan helped her settle on the plush sofa, arranging a throw nket over her legs.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    The thoughtful gesture touched her. ¡°Thank you, Ethan. That¡¯s very kind.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, keeping her voice carefully neutral. ¡°When would you like to go over the problems?¡±


    Her steps faltered slightly at this information, but she nodded. ¡°Thank you for telling


    me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit rusty,¡± she admitted. ¡°But I¡¯d be happy to help if I can.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure how t


    had passed when footsteps roused her. Opening her eyes, she saw Damien walking toward the staircase, phone pressed to his ear, his voice too low to make out the words. He didn¡¯t look her way as he disappeared upstairs.


    ¡°No.¡± The word came out more bitter than she intended.


    156 The Unsigned Divorce and a Brother¡¯s Plea


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to cause trouble.¡±


    When she¡¯d eaten what she could, ra carefully pushed her bowl away. ¡°I think it go to the living room for a while. It¡¯s nice to be out of bed.¡±


    He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. ¡°I texted Damien to ask if I could <b>visit</b>.


    He said it was fine.¡±


    This time, she wouldn¡¯t leave without an answer.


    ¡°Comfortable?¡± he asked.


    An awkward silence settled between them. ra had always liked Ethan. Unlike Damien, he didn¡¯t wear coldness like armor. But their interactions had been limited, especially in recent years.


    ¡°Good idea,¡± Eleanor agreed. ¡°There¡¯s a lovely fire going. Damien, help her to the sofa.¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Ethan mentioned casually, ¡°Damien¡¯s downstairs. Just so you know.¡±


    He ced the nt on the nightstand, looking pleased. ¡°ra mentioned you¡¯ve been having trouble sleepingtely.¡±


    The journey downstairs was slow but manageable. ra could feel her strength returning with each step, though she kept her grip on Ethan¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Thank you, Martha,¡± ra said sincerely.


    As Ethan chatted about his university sses, ra made a silent resolution. She had been patient long enough. As soon as she returned to full health, she would confront Damien about the unsigned divorce papers.


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Ethan said patiently.


    Nearly three months had passed since she¡¯d presented Damien with the divorce agreement. Three months of waiting for him to sign the papers that would finally free her from this hollow marriage. Yet the document remained unsigned, sitting in his office like an afterthought.


    In the dining room, Martha had set a ce for her at therge table. Th


    <i>ma </i><i>of </i>


    chicken soup filled the air, making her realize she was actually hungry for the first time


    in days.


    156 The Unsigned Divorce and a Brother¡¯s Plea


    ¡°Excellent. Ethan, help her down, will you? I¡¯ll tell Martha to set the table,¡±


    Once Eleanor left, Ethan offered ra his arm for support. She swung her legs over the side of the bed slowly, testing her strength.


    He hesitated, as if wanting to say more, but just nodded and stepped back. ¡°I¡¯ll check on youter.¡±


    ¡°Ecstatic,¡± Eleanor replied dryly.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, selecting a slice of apple. ¡°You¡¯ve been very kind today.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s the soup, dear?¡± Eleanor asked, clearly trying to ease the tension.


    A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts. She shifted against the pillows, pulling the nket higher.


    Ethan approached the bed, genuine concern in his eyes. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    The door opened to reveal Ethan Thorne, Damien¡¯s younger brother. At twenty¨Ctwo, he resembled Damien in height and build, but his features were softer, his manner less intimidating.


    With obvious reluctance, he set the phone face¨Cdown on the table. ¡°Happy now, Grandmother?¡±


    The direct question caught her off guard. She hadn¡¯t realized Ethan knew about the divorce.


    Damien didn¡¯t look up. ¡°It¡¯s important.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize,¡± Ethan said quickly. ¡°It¡¯s not your


    fault you got sick.¡±


    ¡°ra, dear, you¡¯re awake,¡± she said warmly. ¡°And Ethan, I didn¡¯t know you were visiting.¡±


    The mention of Damien¡¯s permission made something in ra¡¯s chest tighten. Even here, in his childhood home, he maintained control over who could see her.


    ra finished her soup in silence, acutely aware of Damien beside her. Thour* *hey sat inches apart, the emotional distance between them stretched miles. Eleanor took her seat across from them, eyeing Damien with disapproval as he continued typing on his phone. ¡°Damien, put that away. It¡¯s rude to use your phone at


    158 The Unsigned Divorce and a Brother¡¯s Plea


    the table.¡±


    Damien didn¡¯t protest, already reaching for his phone again. ra <b>epted </b><b>Ethan¡¯s </b>arm gratefully, letting him guide her to the living room.


    Was he intentionally dying? Or simply indifferent? Either way, the result was <b>the </b>same ¨C she remained trapped in limbo.


    Ethan sat in the armchair opposite her, looking suddenly ufortable. ¡°Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you.¡±


    ra stood carefully, grateful for his steady presence as a wave of dizziness passed through her. When it subsided, they made their way slowly toward the door.


    The weak afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains of Damien¡¯s childhood bedroom at Thorne Manor. ra stared at the ceiling, her strength slowly returning after three days of fever. Her mind, however, remained restless.


    ra managed a small smile. ¡°Of course, Ethan.¡±


    Martha served the steaming soup with fresh bread on the side. ¡°Eat up, Mrs. Thorne. You need your strength back.¡±


    ¡°Very,¡± she assured him. ¡°Thank


    you, Ethan.¡±


    Eleanor cleared her throat loudly. ¡°Damien.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ strange,¡± Ethan said, looking genuinely confused. ¡°I thought it was what you both wanted.¡±


    ra focused on her soup, pretending not to notice how Damien subtly angled his screen away from her. Yet a quick nce was enough to catch Vivienne¡¯s name at the top of his message thread.


    Ethan¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Look, I know it¡¯s not my ce, but¡­ are you and Damien really getting divorced?¡±


    Before ra could respond, another knock sounded at the door. Eleanor Thorne entered, elegant as always in her cream¨Ccolored suit.


    ¡°Better,¡± she replied. ¡°The fever¡¯s gone. Just tired now.¡± ¡°Delicious,¡± ra replied, forcing a smile.


    156 The Unsigned Divorce and a Brother¡¯s Plea


    Of course. Even here, even now, Vivienne remained his priority.


    As ra took her seat, Damien entered from his study. He acknowledged <b>her </b><b>presence </b>with a brief nod before taking the seat beside her, his attention immediately <b>turning </b><b>to </b>his phone.


    Damien¡¯s phone buzzed again. He read the message, his lips curving slightly <b>upward </b>before he typed a response.


    Before Damien could respond, Ethan stood quickly. ¡°I¡¯ve got it, Grandmother.¡±


    Eleanor approached ra¡¯s bedside, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. <b>¡°</b><b>No </b>fever. Wonderful progress. Do you feel up toing downstairs? Martha has made her specialty chicken soup.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± she called, her voice still slightly raspy


    ra blinked in surprise. Damien had acknowledged her academic abilities? That was


    rare.


    Ethan frowned. ¡°He hasn¡¯t signed them yet?¡±


    Ethan seemed oblivious to her change in mood. ¡°Is tomorrow okay? I don¡¯t want to tire you out today.¡±


    More time passed. The fire had died down to glowing embers when Ethan appeared again, carrying a small te of sliced fruits.


    ¡°Just came to check on the patient,¡± Ethan replied with a smile.


    Left alone, ra gazed into the dancing mes. The warmth was soothing, lulling her into a state of calm she hadn¡¯t felt in days. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she allowed herself to drift into a light doze.


    -The words hit ra like a p. Of course. Damien hadn¡¯t beenplimenting her abilities; he¡¯d been offloading a responsibility. Making her useful when it suited him.


    The thought of leaving the room was appealing after days confined to bed. ¡°I think I could manage that.¡±


    Three months. Three months of waiting for Damien to sign divorce papers he clearly had no intention of signing soon. Yet here she was, still ying the role of Mrs. Thorne, still being useful to the family when needed, still waiting for permission to leave.


    156 The Unsigned Divorce and a Brother¡¯s Plea


    ¡°Thought you might want a snack,¡± he said, cing the te <b>on </b>the coffee table in front of her.


    He fidgeted with the edge of his sweater. ¡°I¡¯ve been struggling with some physics problems for my university course. Damien mentioned you were quite good at physics.¡±


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    157 An Overheard Conversation

 The Sprawling 157

    157 An Overheard Conversation


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one,¡± she confirmed, her voice soft. ¡°We¡¯ve made significant advances in predictive Al algorithms.¡±


    Ethan closed his notebook. ¡°Thanks for helping me, ra. I think I understand it now<b>.¡± </b>


    ra¡¯s chest tightened painfully. She shouldn¡¯t be standing here, eavesdropping on her own daughter¡¯s conversation. Yet something kept her frozen in ce, absorbing each word like a slow¨Cacting poison.


    Rising from her chair, ra decided she needed something to upy her mind. A book would be perfect. She remembered leaving several novels in the bedroom she shared with Damien, as well as in Cora¡¯s room.


    ¡°Not right now, sweetheart. I¡¯m still looking for


    my books.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± ra murmured, pulling a book from the shelf that was indeed hers.


    She stared at the novel in her hands without seeing it. All those hours she¡¯d spent reading to Cora, all those attempts to bond over music or books¨Cand now Vivienne had effortlessly stepped into that role, earning Cora¡¯s adoration with what seemed like


    minimal effort.


    ¡°I miss you too!¡± Cora eximed. ¡°Next time can we make those special cookies again? The ones with the chocte chips?¡±


    Each casual revtion was like a knife twist. ra had been trying to get Cora interested in piano for years.


    Piano lessons too. ra felt increasingly like a stranger in her own family¡¯s life.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to help me pick out a dress this weekend,¡± Cora continued excitedly. ¡°Dad said we could go to that fancy store in the city.¡±


    ¡°I know! I¡¯m so excited for this weekend! Dad promised we could go shopping for a new dress.¡±


    ra nced around the colorful room. ¡°I¡¯m missing a few novels. I thought they might be in here.¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Cora sat up, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re out of bed!¡±


    14:47


    157 An Overheard Conversation


    A pause. Cora was clearly on the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better,¡± ra replied, her voice carefully controlled. ¡°<b>I </b><b>came </b><b>to </b><b>see </b><b>if </b>you¡¯d borrowed any of my books.¡±


    He beamed at thepliment, then his expression shifted to excitement. ¡°Oh! Did <b>you </b>see Vivienne¡¯s racest weekend? She ced second at Monaco!¡±


    ra¡¯s hand dropped slowly to her side. She should walk away. She didn¡¯t want <b>to </b>hear this conversation, yet her feet remained rooted to the spot.


    ¡°Love you too!¡± The words Cora had spoken to Vivienne echoed in her mind. When was thest time Cora had said those words to her with such enthusiasm?


    Cora shrugged. ¡°She calls me all the time. She¡¯s teaching me piano too! She says I¡¯m really good.¡±


    The bedroom door remained open. Through it, ra could hear Cora¡¯s footsteps bounding down the stairs, her daughter¡¯s cheerful voice calling out to Martha about


    soup.


    Those final words sent a sharp pain through ra¡¯s heart. She took a deep breath,posed herself, and knocked on the door.


    The manor was quiet as she climbed the stairs, her strength mostly returned after days of rest. When she reached the master bedroom, she found it empty. Damien¡¯s absence was unsurprising; he rarely spent time there when at the manor, preferring his study.


    ¡°You can look if you want,¡± Cora offered, already distracted by something on her phone.


    ¡°Yes, I finished that book you gave me,¡± Cora was saying. ¡°The princess was so brave! Just like you in your race car!¡±


    After Ethan left, ra remained seated, staring out the window. The garden wasing alive with spring blooms, a stark contrast to the heaviness in her chest. She felt restless and confined, despite the spacious manor grounds.


    ¡°But I thought-¡± Ethan paused, confusion crossing his face. ¡°Damien mentioned you watched the Dubai Grand Prix.¡±


    She located one of her books on Damien¡¯s nightstand¨Ca historical novel he¡¯d <b>taken </b>from her side of the bed months ago. She¡¯d never seen him read it. Perhaps <b>he¡¯d </b><b>simply </b>


    157 An Overheard Conversation


    moved it while cleaning.


    ¡°That¡¯s what mypany, YodaVision, specializes in,¡± she said.


    ¡°Grandmother said Martha made soup,¡± Cora said, changing the subject. ¡°Can we go


    have some?¡±


    The booky forgotten in herp as she sat motionless, listening to the sounds of her daughter¡¯s happiness¨Ca happiness increasingly centered around a life that didn¡¯t seem to include her.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± She gathered the papers scattered across the table. ¡°You¡¯re quite bright, Ethan. You just need confidence in your abilities.¡±


    ¡°Come in!¡± Cora called cheerfully.


    Another pause, shorter this time.


    ra pushed open the door to find her daughter sprawled on her bed, phone still in hand, a bright smile on her face. At eight years old, Cora was the perfect blend of her and Damien¨Cra¡¯s gentle features with Damien¡¯s striking blue eyes.


    ¡°I was merely recognizing some people there,¡± she replied diplomatically. ¡°Not following the race itself.¡±


    Book in hand, ra headed to Cora¡¯s room next. Her daughter had a habit of ¡°borrowing¡± her books without asking. As she approached the door, she heard Cora¡¯s animated voice from within.


    As Cora bounced out of the room, ra sank onto the edge of the bed. The happy excitement in her daughter¡¯s voice when talking to Vivienne contrasted sharply with the casual indifference she showed toward ra.


    ¡°Bye, Vivi! Love you too!¡±


    ra made a show of checking the bookshelf, though her mind was elsewhere. ¡°Who were you talking to just now?¡± she asked casually.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Cora¡¯s expression fell slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°The techpany you founded with Julian Croft?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°Dami


    mentioned


    it once.¡±


    157 <i>An </i>Overheard Conversation


    ¡°Dad says you know all about fashion, Cora continued. ¡°He says you always look perfect


    The mention of Vivienne¡¯s name felt like a sudden drop in temperature. ¡°I didn¡¯t watch it,¡± ra replied evenly.


    Ethan looked up from his notebook, surprise evident on his face. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know


    that.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I promise I¡¯ll practice piano before youe. I want to y that song you taught me.¡±


    ¡°You exin things way better than my professor,¡± Ethan remarked, scribbling down the solution. ¡°Were you always good at physics?¡±


    Ethan seemed disappointed but nodded. ¡°Oh, okay. Well, I¡¯m going to watch some reys.¡± He stood, gathering his books. ¡°Thanks again for the help.¡±


    ¡°Vivi,¡± Cora replied without hesitation. ¡°She called to tell me about her race<i>. </i>She came in second ce!¡±


    ¡°Physics often seems moreplicated than it is,¡± ra said with a small smile. ¡°Just remember the basic principles and take it step by step.¡±


    Vivi. The familiar nickname struck ra like a physical blow.


    ra raised her hand to knock, but Cora¡¯s next words froze her in ce.


    Ethan¡¯s brow furrowed in concentration. ¡°That makes sense now. I was overthinking it.¡±


    Cora giggled. ¡°I told him that! He said you¡¯re naturally beautiful so everything looks good on you.¡±


    ¡°So the eleration is found by dividing the change in velocity by the time interval,¡± she exined, pointing to his calctions.


    ¡°You should!¡± Ethan pulled out his phone enthusiastically. ¡°I recorded the whole thing. The way she handled that final curve was incredible.¡±


    ¡°Really? You¡¯ll help me pick one out?¡± Cora¡¯s voice rose with excitement. ¡°You have the best taste, Vivi!¡±


    ¡°When are youing to visit again? Dad keeps checking his phone. I think he misses


    157 An Overheard Conversation


    you.¡±


    ra¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. Damien rarely discussed her achievements with others.


    ra sat across from Ethan at the small table in the manor¡¯s sunroom, going through his physics homework. Though still recovering from her illness, she¡¯d kept her promise to help him.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Cora headed for the door, seemingly unbothered by ra¡¯s refusal. ¡°I¡¯ll see youter then!¡±


    So Vivienne had been baking with her daughter. Another detail ra hadn¡¯t known.


    ¡°Will youe downstairs with me?¡± Cora asked, sliding off her bed.


    ra shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already had some. But you should go ahead if you¡¯re hungry.¡±


    ¡°Dad showed me the video of your race. You looked so cool with your helmet off at the end! I told all my friends my Vivi is a race car driver!¡±


    ¡°And then Ms. Peterson said my science project was the best in the ss!¡± Cora was saying.


    ¡°I enjoyed it in school,¡± ra replied. ¡°But my real passion wasputer science and AI development.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± ra reced another book on the shelf. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you two spoke on the phone regrly.¡±


    ra recognized the gleam in Ethan¡¯s eyes¨Cthe same admiration everyone seemed to have for Vivienne. ¡°I¡¯m not particrly interested in car racing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right down,¡± ra murmured, though no one was there to hear her.


    My Vivi. The possessive term echoed in ra¡¯s mind.


    ra closed her eyes briefly. Vivienne had been giving Cora books? She hadn¡¯t known.


    Of course he didn¡¯t. Nobody in the Thorne family seemed interested in who she was before bing Damien¡¯s wife.

 The Sprawling 158

    <b>158 </b><b>Answering </b><b>to </b><b>Vivienne¡¯s </b>Voice


    158 Answering to Vivienne¡¯s Voice


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± ra asked lightly.


    She dressed carefully in a simple navy dress, appropriate for her return to work. After finally cleared her to resume normal activities, though he


    her illness, Dr. Sanders hic


    cautioned against overexertion.


    Coco nodded without looking up.


    ra sighed. ¡°I can drive you in my car, sweetheart.¡±


    ¨C


    ¡°Is Daddy still working?¡± Coco asked, her blue like Damien¡¯s¨Cdarting toward the hallway leading to his study.


    As they disappeared toward the kitchen, ra finally rose from her seat. Through the window, she watched Damien¡¯s sleek ck car pull away from the manor. The Shanghai project was important¨Cshe knew this from the discussions she¡¯d overheard between Damien and his board. But she also knew Vivienne was spearheading the Chinese market expansion for Thorne Industries.


    But Coco had already hit the call button and was holding the phone to her ear with a triumphant smile. After two rings, the line connected.


    Coco lit up. ¡°Daddy!¡± She dashed after him, with Eleanor following close behind.


    ¡°Of course not, sweetheart.¡± ra brushed a strand of hair from Coco¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you.¡±


    With a quick kiss to Coco¡¯s forehead and a nod to Eleanor, he was gone. The heavy front door closed with a decisive thud.


    As they walked to the garage, ra ced a hand on Coco¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Who answered Daddy¡¯s phone?¡±


    She had endured enough. The pretense, the lies, the constant reminders of her irrelevance in her own marriage. There had to be an end to it.


    Coco climbed out slowly, then turned back. ¡°Vivi said she¡¯s helping Daddy with an important meeting. That¡¯s why she has his phone.¡± The exnation tumbled out, as <b>if </b>Coco feltpelled to defend them both.


    <b>158 </b><b>Answering </b>to Vivienne¡¯s Voice


    She touched the cool ss of the window, watching until his car disappeared <b>through </b>


    the manor gates.


    Coco¡¯s silence was answer enough.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± Coco insisted, but her eyes darted away.


    The drive passed in ufortable silence. At the school drop¨Coff, Coco hesitated before opening the door.


    Sleep came fitfully that night. ra woke several times, turning to find Damien¡¯s side of the bed empty. By morning, it was clear he hadn¡¯t returned at all.


    Coco¡¯s cheeks pinked. ¡°It¡¯s not a fib if she does it today.¡±


    Eleanor Thorne bustled into the room, her face pinched with irritation. ¡°That grandson of mine! Do you know what he¡¯s doing on a perfectly fine Sunday afternoon?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take my car,¡± ra said, her tone gentle but firm.


    Vivienne answering Damien¡¯s phone in the early morning. The overnight bag. The Shanghai project excuse.


    He straightened, smoothing his already immacte suit jacket. ¡°It can¡¯t, Eleanor. The time difference with Shanghai means we need to address this now.¡±


    Eleanor lowered her newspaper. ¡°He called while you were dressing. Said he¡¯d be tied up all day and would try to make it home for dinner.¡±


    The ¡°we¡± didn¡¯t escape ra¡¯s notice. Neither did the packed leather overnight bag by the door that Martha must have prepared for him.


    Downstairs, she found Coco picking at her breakfast, Eleanor reading the morning paper with a frown.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± ra said, epting a cup of coffee from Martha.


    Coco¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°He promised we¡¯d watch a movie tonight.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s important to him,¡± ra replied mildly, masking the familiar ache that apanied any mention of Vivienne.


    Eleanor muttered something under her breath before turning to Coco. ¡°Come, darling. Let¡¯s see about that ice cream.¡±


    <b>158 </b><b>Answering </b>to


    <b>158 </b><b>Answering to </b>Vivienne¡¯s Volco


    The kitchen fell silent. Eleanor nced between Coco and ra, confusion <b>evident </b><b>on </b>


    her face.


    Eleanor nodded, though concern lingered in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it <b>on </b><b>your </b>first day back.¡±


    ¡°Are you mad at Daddy? Or at Vivi?¡±


    Eleanor sat heavily in the armchair across from her. ¡°Well, he should be spending <b>time </b>with his family. You¡¯re barely recovered, and Coco has been asking to go riding all day<b>? </b>¡°With Vivienne!¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice carried a note of distaste. ¡°Some project they simply


    mustplete today, apparently. As <i>if </i>u ds mean nothing


    ra remained seated, watching through the doorway as her daughter caught up to Damien in the entryway. He paused his conversation briefly, crouching down to Coco¡¯s level.


    ¡°Who was that, dear?¡± Eleanor asked.


    ¡°Daddy didn¡¯te home,¡± Coco stated tly.


    ¡°Tomorrow night,¡± Damien promised, ruffling her hair. ¡°I¡¯ll be backte.¡±


    Before ra could object, Coco had grabbed Eleanor¡¯s phone from the table and was scrolling through the contacts.


    Theck of surprise ra felt was telling. This pattern had grown too familiar to elicit much reaction anymore.


    ¡°Hi, Da-¡± Coco¡¯s greeting died abruptly. Her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the phone. ¡°Oh! Vi¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid so,¡± Eleanor sighed.


    ra marked her ce in the book. ¡°Working in his study, I assume?¡±


    Coco pushed her te away. ¡°Mom, will you drive me to school today? In Daddy¡¯s car?¡±


    Eleanor stepped forward, arms crossed. ¡°Damien, surely whatever it is can <b>wait </b><b>until </b>morning.¡±


    <b>168 </b><b>Answering </b>to <b>Vivienne¡¯s </b><b>Voice </b>


    <b>Coco </b>recovered quickly. ¡°Um, wrong number! Sorry!¡± She jabbed at the <b>screen </b>frantically, ending the call.


    She found Coco in the foyer, backpack clutched to her chest, eyes downcast<b>. </b>


    Eleanor¡¯s expression softened immediately. ¡°Just a small bowl, darling. Dinner will be ready soon.¡±


    ¡°I have to go to the office, princess. Something¡¯se up with the Shanghai <b>project</b>. ¡°Will you be home for breakfast?¡± Coco asked, her disappointment evident.


    Coco¡¯s step faltered. ¡°No one. I told you, wrong number.¡±


    ra set her book aside. ¡°I could watch one with you after dinner.¡±


    ¡°He must have been very busy,¡± ra replied, spreading a thinyer of jam on her toast. ra nodded, keeping her expression neutral. ¡°I see. Have a good day at school.¡± Damien¡¯s gaze flicked to his watch. ¡°I¡¯ll try. Be good for your mother and grandmother.¡±


    unwee images: Damien and Vivienne ra started the car, her mind racing together, her phone casually picking up his calls as they shared breakfast, or perhaps something more intimate.


    ¡°Coco, wait-¡± ra started.


    ra managed a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Damien has always prioritized work,¡± ra said, her words practiced and hollow.


    ra focused on smoothing a dog¨Ceared page, avoiding Eleanor¡¯s perceptive gaze. She¡¯d long ago learned the futility of defending herself against Vivienne¡¯s intrusions into her marriage.


    Eleanor snorted. ¡°This isn¡¯t just work. That woman has him wrapped around her finger.¡±


    She waited until Coco disappeared through the school doors before allowing herposure to crack. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white.


    ra sat in the sunlit window seat, turning pages of her novel without absorbing <b>the </b>


    <b>158 </b><b>Answering </b><b>to </b><b>Vivienne¡¯s </b><b>Voice </b>


    <b>words</b>. <b>Her </b><b>recovery </b>from illness had been slow but steady. <b>Physically</b><b>, </b><b>she </b><b>felt </b>


    stronger, but her mind remained clouded with thoughts that circled <b>like </b><b>persistent </b>


    vultures<b>. </b>


    The door burst open as Coco charged into the room, her cheeks flushed <b>with </b>excitement. ¡°Grandmother! Can we have ice cream before dinner? Martha <b>said </b>I <b>have </b>


    to ask you.¡±


    ¡°Mom? Are you mad at me?¡±


    But she had seen Coco¡¯s expression¨Cthe momentary shock, the almost¨Cspoken name. Vivienne. Answering Damien¡¯s phone at eight in the morning.


    Protecting her from scrutiny. Keeping his marriage and daughter away from the prying eyes of colleagues andpetitors who might use that information against Vivienne. r¨¤ had pieced together Damien¡¯s motivations long ago.


    ¡°I should get Coco to school,¡± ra said, rising from her seat. ¡°And then head to the office. Julian is expecting me back today.¡±


    As Coco scurried from the room, Eleanor turned to ra. ¡°What was that about?¡±


    And perhaps, finally, she was ready to define that end herself.


    Before ra could respond, the study door opened down the hall. Damien emerged with his phone pressed to his ear, his voice a low murmur as he strode toward the foyer.


    ¡°But Daddy promised.¡± Coco¡¯s lower lip jutted out. ¡°He said we¡¯d watch the new princess movie together.¡±


    ¡°Honey, you know I don¡¯t drive your father¡¯s car.¡± The sleek Mercedes was strictly off¨Climits to her¨Canother unspoken boundary in their marriage.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± ra said softly, though nothing felt okay. ¡°Let¡¯s get you to school.¡±


    As she pulled away from the school, a strange calm settled over her. The pain was still there¨Cit always would be¨Cbut something else was emerging alongside it. A rity. A decision, crystallizing with each mile she drove toward her office.


    ¡°But everyone will see Daddy¡¯s car in the drop¨Coffne. Please?¡± Coco sped her hands together dramatically. <i>¡°</i>I¡¯ll call him and ask permission.¡±


    158 Answering to Vivienne¡¯s Voice


    Eleanor chuckled. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a fib, isn¡¯t it, Coco?¡±


    The innocent questionnded like a physical blow. ¡°Go on now. You¡¯ll bete.¡±


    ra felt her body go cold.


    ¡°Coco.¡± ra stopped, turning her daughter to face her. ¡°I heard what you started to


    say.¡±


    ra knelt to her daughter¡¯s level, meeting those familiar blue eyes. ¡°Was it Vivienne?<b>¡± </b>


    ra¡¯s hands were perfectly steady as she lifted her coffee cup. ¡°I believe she dialed the wrong number.¡±


    ¡°Please?¡± Coco¡¯s eyes widened pleadingly. ¡°Jessica says her mom has a car just like Daddy¡¯s, and I told her my mom drives one too.¡±


    ¡°No one,¡± Coco mumbled, sliding from her chair. ¡°I need to get my backpack.¡±


    Each piece fit perfectly into a picture she¡¯d been trying not to see for years. The evidence had always been there, but this¨CVivienne¡¯s voice when Coco expected her father¡¯s¨Cwas the clearest confirmation yet.


    ¡°But our movie!¡± Coco protested.


    Case

 The Sprawling 159

    <b>159 </b><b>Old </b><b>School </b>Ties and New Project Buzz


    159 Old School Ties and New Project Buzz


    ra felt a rush of gratitude toward Julian. He¡¯d always been her champion, even when she didn¡¯t advocate for herself.


    She fixed his tie with practiced ease, a habit formed from years of adjusting Damien¡¯s ties before important meetings.


    Henry looked ufortable again. ¡°Of course. But a positive attitude goes a long way. Ms. Dubois certainly has that in abundance.¡±


    Henry nodded enthusiastically. ¡°She¡¯s heading up a major initiative for Mr. Thorne. Very hush¨Chush, but I hear it¡¯s revolutionary. The team practically lives here now.¡± ra nodded. ¡°Sounds good. I could use a refresher on client presentations.¡±


    ¡°Henry already sent over their technical requirements,¡± he noted. ¡°Seems your presence made quite an impression.¡±


    Julian nodded, respecting her wish. They drove inpanionable silence until they reached YodaVision¡¯s parking garage.


    ¡°Not to diminish Ms. Dubois¡® efforts,¡± Henry added hastily. ¡°She brings a certain¡­ enthusiasm to everything. And with Mr. Thorne¡¯s backing, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll seed.¡±


    there


    The image brought a genuine smile to ra¡¯s face. Despite everything, there were still bright spots in her life. Her daughter. Her work at YodaVision. Friends like Julian who valued her for herself, not as an essory or an inconvenience.


    They said their goodbyes, and soon ra and Julian were walking back to their car.


    ¡°ss of 2007,¡± ra nodded, feeling a wave of nostalgia as they approached the familiar brick buildings. ¡°I was editor of the school paper¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± Julian assured her. ¡°It¡¯s like riding a bike.¡±


    ra nodded, touched by his concern. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± ra replied simply.


    <b>¡°</b>I¡¯ll take Cora to school next week,¡± ra said, wiping Coco¡¯s milk¨Cstained <b>chin </b><b>with </b><b>a </b>napkin.


    <b>159 </b>Old School <b>Ties </b>and New Project Buzz


    ra¡¯s fingers tightened imperceptibly around her purse strap. ¡°Is that <b>so</b><b>?</b>¡±


    They followed Henry to a modern caf¨¦ area where a barista operated a gleaming machine.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Henry nodded, looking slightly flustered. ¡°Please, follow me to the


    conference room.¡±


    As she prepared to leave, her phone buzzed with a message from Eleanor, asking <b>if </b>she¡¯d be home for dinner. ra replied affirmatively, then slipped her phone into her


    purse.


    Back at her desk, she gathered her things while Julian checked his messages.


    ra set her cup down gently. ¡°Positivity is important,¡± she agreed, her voice soft but clear. ¡°So is experience.¡±


    ¡°Anytime.¡± Julian unlocked the car. ¡°And for what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯ve seen Vivienne¡¯s preliminary work on this secret project. It¡¯s ambitious but wed. She¡¯s missing fundamental considerations about scbility.¡±


    ¡°Just about,¡± he replied, struggling with his tie.


    ¡°You remembered,¡± ra smiled, taking a grateful sip.


    The morning passed in a blur of code reviews and strategy meetings. Despite her assurances to Julian, ra felt her energy gging by noon. She took her medication discreetly, washing it down with water when no one was looking.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Julian replied, closing hisptop. ¡°We¡¯ll prepare the contracts.¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± Julian insisted, starting the engine. ¡°When it falls short, everyone will remember what realpetence looks like.¡±


    ¡°Well, I should get back upstairs. My team will be waiting for feedback on your proposal.¡±


    ¡°Still.¡± ra squeezed his arm gratefully. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Wee back,¡± he said, handing her a cup. ¡°Oat milktte, extra shot.¡±


    ¡°The best coffee in the building,¡± Henry boasted. ¡°Ms. Dubois insisted on it for her team. They¡¯ve been working overtime on a new project.¡±


    <b>159 </b><b>Old </b>School <b>Ties </b>and New Project Buzz


    ¡°Thanks for the ride,¡± Ethan said, pulling her from her reverie. He grabbed <b>his </b><b>backpack </b>from the backseat. ¡°See youter!¡±


    As the elevator doors closed, she leaned against the wall, finally allowing herself <b>to </b>acknowledge the bone¨Cdeep fatigue she¡¯d been fighting all day. Her phone buzzed again¨Canother message from Eleanor, this time with a photo of Coco painting <b>at </b><b>the </b>kitchen table.


    Henry looked ufortable. ¡°Well, she¡¯s very dedicated. Mr. Thorne has assigned some of his best people to support her.¡±


    Julian studied her face with concern. ¡°You look pale. Are you sure you¡¯re ready to be


    back?¡±


    Eleanor, sitting across the breakfast table, looked up from her newspaper. ¡°That¡¯s lovely, dear. And who¡¯s driving Ethan to school today?¡±


    Fifteen minutester, they were in ra¡¯s car, driving toward Westfield Academy. Ethan fidgeted with the radio until settling on a pop station.


    Outside, ra waited for her car, watching the sun sink behind the cityscape. Henry¡¯s words echoed in her mind: ¡°With Mr. Thorne¡¯s backing, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll seed.¡±


    ¡°If you say so,¡± Julian replied, clearly unconvinced. ¡°But promise you¡¯ll tell me if you need a break. The AI modeling can wait another day.¡±


    ¡°Did you know my mom went to Westfield too?¡± ra asked, ncing at him briefly.


    They rode the elevator to the top floor, where Julian¡¯s office overlooked the city skyline. The space hummed with activity as developers and engineers worked at their


    stations.


    ¡°Yay!¡± Coco bounced in her seat. ¡°Can we get donuts on the way?¡±


    ra stared out the window, watching the city blur past. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about Vivienne anymore.¡±


    They epted their coffees and sat at a small table near the window. ra sipped her drink in silence, letting Julian steer the conversation.


    Henry escorted them to the lobby, then paused. ¡°Would you like some <b>coffee </b>before you go? Our caf¨¦ just got a new espresso machine. Courtesy of Thorne Industries, actually.¡±


    <b>159 </b><b>Old </b><b>School </b><b>Ties </b>and New Project Buzz


    <b>¡°</b><b>I¡¯ve </b>scheduled a meeting with InnovaTech this afternoon,¡± Julian <b>said </b><b>as </b><b>they </b>settled into his office. ¡°I thought you might want to join. They¡¯re interested <b>in </b><b>implementing </b>our facial recognition software.¡±


    Ethan looked surprised. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know that.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± ra smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her daughter¡¯s ear.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± ra assured him, though she wasn¡¯t entirely convinced herself.


    ra smoothed a hand over her perfectly styled hair. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a lingering <b>fever</b>, but the doctor cleared me.¡±


    At two o¡¯clock, Julian appeared at her workspace. ¡°Ready to head to InnovaTech?¡± ¡°Thanks, ra,¡± Ethan said with genuine gratitude. ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver.¡±


    ¡°When is this mystery project supposed tounch?¡± Julian asked casually.


    InnovaTech¡¯s headquarters was a fifteen¨Cminute drive across town. Julian filled the time with updates about thepany, careful to avoid mentioning anything rted to Damien or Vivienne. ra appreciated his discretion.


    ¡°No way,¡± Ethanughed. ¡°That¡¯s cool.¡±


    She watched him merge into the stream of students, then pulled away, the familiar


    ache in her chest intensifying. Young and full of hope she¡¯d been back then,


    dreaming of a future that looked nothing like her reality.


    ¡°This is exactly what we¡¯ve been looking for,¡± he said, reviewing the proposal. ¡°Let me ¡°This is exactly what we¡¯ve been looking for; have my team look over the details, but I think we¡¯re ready to move forward.¡±


    Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ambitious undertaking for someone rtively new to the industry.¡±


    Julian nodded. ¡°Take tomorrow morning off if you need it. We¡¯re ahead of schedule on the InnovaTech proposal.¡±


    ra felt her stomach tighten at the mention of her husband¡¯spany, but kept her expression neutral. ¡°Coffee sounds lovely.¡±


    Henry looked at ra with newfound respect. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were behind <b>that </b>project, Ms. Vance. Very impressive.¡±


    159 <b>Old </b>School Ties and New Project Buzz


    Perhaps that was true. Perhaps Vivienne would seed, buoyed <b>by </b><b>Damien¡¯s </b><b>support </b>


    and resources. But for the


    as she once had.


    time in years, ra found she didn¡¯t <b>care </b><b>quite </b><b>as </b><b>much </b>


    ra wanted to argue but felt too drained. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right.¡±


    They were greeted at reception by Henry Walsh, InnovaTech¡¯s Head of Innovation.


    ¡°You should go home,¡± Julian said as they rode the elevator back up. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough for your first day back.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to defend me back


    ¡°ra said once they were out of earshot.


    The presentation went smoothly, with Julian handling the technical aspects while ra addressed implementation questions. By the end, Henry looked impressed.


    Juli¨¤n chuckled. ¡°Confidence isn¡¯t always linked to capability. When ra managed the neuralwork project at Thorne Industries, she delivered three weeks ahead of schedule and under budget. That¡¯s still the gold standard there.¡±


    ¡°The ce hasn¡¯t changed at all,¡± ra murmured, more to herself than Ethan.


    ra stood, smoothing down her navy pencil skirt. ¡°Ready to go, Ethan?¡±


    The sprawling campus came into view, its manicuredwns and ivy¨Ccovered buildings looking exactly as ra remembered. Students in identical uniforms streamed through the wrought¨Ciron gates.


    ra gathered her tablet and notes. ¡°Ready.¡±


    ¡°Morning, everyone,¡± he greeted, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl.


    ¡°Ms. Vance, professionally,¡± ra corrected politely. ¡°I¡¯ve rejoined YodaVision recently.¡±


    ra shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll call a car. You have that conference call with Singapore in twenty minutes.¡±


    ra smiled weakly. ¡°I doubt that.¡±


    ¡°Have a good day,¡± ra called after him.


    She was building something of her own now¨Creiming pieces of herself long forgotten. And unlike Vivienne¡¯s mysterious project, ra¡¯s sess <b>would </b><b>be </b><b>hers </b>alone.


    <b>159 </b><b>Old </b>School Ties and New Project Buzz


    At the elevator, Julian ced a gentle hand on her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t push <b>yourself </b>too hard. Rome wasn¡¯t built,


    a day, and neither is a new life.¡±


    ¡°Julian, good to see you,¡± Henry said warmly, shaking his hand. He turned to <b>ra </b><b>with </b>


    here.¡± a surprised smile. ¡°And Mrs. Thorne! I didn¡¯t expect to see you


    An awkward silence fell over the table. Henry checked his watch, clearly eager to change the subject.


    Coco beamed up at her. ¡°Really? You promise?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± ra replied, checking her watch.


    As if on cue, Ethan Thorne, Damien¡¯s fifteen¨Cyear¨Cold cousin, strolled into the kitchen. His school uniform was impably pressed, but his tie hung loose around his neck. r¨¤ approached him, gently batting his hands away. ¡°Here, let me.¡±


    Twenty minutester, ra arrived at YodaVision headquarters, a sleek ss building in the heart of the city. Julian was waiting for her at the entrance, two paper cups in


    hand.


    ¡°Sess requires more than enthusiasm and connections,¡± Julian remarked.


    Henry nced around before answering, as if checking for eavesdroppers. ¡°Year¨Cend, I believe. Tight timeline, but Ms. Dubois seems confident.¡±


    ¡°Need a ride home?¡± Julian asked.


    ra nodded. ¡°I promise.¡±


    As she pulled up to the drop¨Coff area, memories flooded back. The library where she¡¯d spent countless lunch periods. The oak tree where she¡¯d first seen Damien, three years her senior and impossibly handsome in his ser uniform.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he has,¡± Julian replied dryly.


    ra slid into the passenger seat, suddenly exhausted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Julian shrugged. ¡°I wasn¡¯t defending you. Just stating facts.¡±

 The Sprawling 160

    160 Office Whispers and Unspoken Tensions


    Henry shifted in his seat. ¡°Did you hear about the breakthrough with Project Nexus? Your former husband¨CI mean, Mr. Thorne¨Cpersonally oversaw the final testingst night.¡±


    ¡°You okay?¡± Julian asked quietly.


    I nodded, maintaining myposure. ¡°Don¡¯t let me keep you.


    A smile yed at her lips. ¡°Very. But the results are worth it.¡± She paused, eyeing me. ¡°Damien thinks so too.¡±


    Henry nodded eagerly, clearly grateful for the escape. ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll continue this conversation over lunch,¡± Damien was saying as they passed. ¡°Your team deserves recognition for their efforts. My treat.¡±


    ¡°ra,¡± she nodded coolly. ¡°Early start today?¡±


    Julian cleared his throat loudly. ¡°Henry, perhaps we should discuss the implementation timeline instead.¡±


    As they left, Julian squeezed my shoulder supportively. I remained seated, stirring my coffee methodically.


    Through the ss, I watched as Damien shook hands with the board members. When they left, he turned to Vivienne, saying something that made her smile broadly. He ced his hand briefly on her shoulder¨Ca casual gesture that nheless made my stomach tighten.


    ¡°Looks like it went well,¡± Henry observed.


    The casual use of his first name hung in the air between us.


    ¡°Project Nexus must be keeping you busy,¡± Imented, my voice neutral.


    ¡°¡­stayed until three in the morning,¡± Henry Walsh¡¯s voice carried from the small break table behind me. ¡°That¡¯s dedication, or something else entirely.¡±


    Iposed myself, wiping/my hand on a napkin. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll have my notes to y by


    noon.¡±


    14:34


    <b>160 </b><b>Office </b><b>Whispers </b><b>and </b>Unspoken Tensions


    <b>ra¡¯s </b>POV


    She filled the mug with coffee, adding precisely one sugar¨Cexactly how <b>Damien </b><b>took </b>his coffee. Another deliberate move.


    The pair exited the conference room and headed in our direction. I pretended to <b>be </b>engrossed in the documents before me.


    She faltered briefly when she saw me, then resumed her confident stride toward the coffee machine.


    Twenty minutester, I sat in the conference room with Julian, reviewing presentation materials. Henry had excused himself to take a call, leaving us alone.


    ¡°Fine by me,¡± he agreed after a moment. ¡°Extend the invitation.¡±


    ¡°I should get this to him before it cools,¡± she said, gesturing with the mug. ¡°The meeting starts soon.¡±


    The coffee sshed over the rim of my mug, burning my fingers. I barely felt it.


    I tensed, recognizing the gossipy tone. Henry from InnovaTech was visiting our office today for follow¨Cup meetings. He sat with Julian, both nursing their coffees.


    As Vivienne left, I exhaled slowly, releasing the tension in my shoulders. The whispers and rumors weren¡¯t new, but hearing about Damien and Vivienne spending the night together at the office still stung.


    Julian suppressed a smile at my response, while Henry looked embarrassed again.


    ¡°Team meeting in fifteen,¡± he announced, standing up. ¡°Henry, shall we head to my office to prepare?¡±


    ¡°They ordered dinner from that exclusive French ce on Fifth,¡± Henry lowered his voice, though not enough. ¡°And breakfast was delivered this morning. My assistant saw the delivery guy.¡±


    Julian shot me a concerned look. I straightened the papers in front of me, focusing on appearing busy and unbothered.


    ¡°I will,¡± Vivienne said warmly. ¡°Thank you,


    Damien.¡±


    ¡°Howmendable,¡± I replied evenly, taking a seat at their table.


    <b>160 </b><b>Office </b>Whispers and Unspoken Tensions


    ¡°<b>ra-</b>¡±


    He continued down the hall toward his office while Vivienne lingered. <b>Through </b><b>my </b>peripheral vision, I saw her straighten her posture, adjust her hair, and turn <b>toward </b>our conference room door.


    ¡°He¡¯s seen me plenty,¡± I replied dryly. ¡°We share a child, remeinber?¡±


    ¡°I heard,¡± I said simply.


    For a brief moment, Damien¡¯s eyes met mine through the ss. His expression remained impassive, but his gaze lingered for a heartbeat longer than necessary before he quickly looked away.


    The invitation hung in the air, impossible to decline without appearing petty. I sat perfectly still, feeling trapped by professional courtesy and the curious eyes of Henry watching this interaction.


    I turned my attention back to our own work, determined not to let Damien¡¯s presence distract me. Julian followed my lead, redirecting Henry to discuss implementation strategies.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I replied automatically.


    ¡°Ms. Dubois must be impressive professionally tomand that kind of attention,¡± Henry continued.


    An hourter, the meeting down the hall concluded. Executives streamed out, talking animatedly. Damien stood at the head of the table, speaking with two board members. Vivienne hovered nearby, her expression glowing with triumph.


    Turning around, I forced a polite smile. Henry had the decency to look ufortable when he saw me.


    ¡°ra,¡± Julian called out, his voice deliberately loud. ¡°Did you have a chance to review those metrics I sent yesterday?¡±


    The door opened and Henry returned, looking excited. ¡°They¡¯reing this way. Mr. Thorne and Ms. Dubois just left the executive elevator.¡±


    ¡°He saw you,¡± Henry whispered, as if announcing a celebrity sighting.


    ¡°Good morning, Ms. Vance,¡± he said, too brightly. ¡°I was just telling Julian about the


    <b>160 </b><b>Office </b>Whispers and Unspoken Tensions


    dedication at InnovaTechtely. Everyone pulling all¨Cnighters.¡±


    ¡°Project Nexus presentation,¡± Henry exined unnecessarily. ¡°The big <b>reveal </b><b>for </b><b>senior </b>management.¡±


    The awkward silence that followed was mercifully brief. Julian¡¯s phone buzzed.


    ¡°Sure, sure,¡± Henry agreed, but couldn¡¯t resist adding, ¡°Just saying, when the CEO


    ¨C


    personally stays to help with your project overnight, it means something. Especially when it¡¯s Damien Thorne.¡±


    The office kitchen hummed with the familiar sound of the coffee machine. I stood waiting for my cup to fill, absently watching the dark liquid drip steadily.


    The kitchen door swung open again. Vivienne Dubois walked in, her designer heels clicking sharply against the tile floor. Despite the early hour, she looked wless in a tailored burgundy dress that hugged her curves perfectly. The only sign of her alleged all¨Cnighter was the slight darkness under her eyes, expertly concealed with makeup but visible to my scrutinizing gaze.


    We watched as Damien and Vivienne continued to therge conference room down the hall. Soon, other executives joined them, filing in with tablets and notebooks.


    ¡°Julian, Henry,¡± she greeted them before her eyes settled on me. ¡°ra. Do you all have ns for lunch? Damien would like to treat the teams working on Project Nexus to thank everyone for their contributions.¡±


    Vivienne grabbed a mug¨CDamien¡¯s personal mug that he kept in this office kitchen. The bold move wasn¡¯t lost on me.


    My fingers tightened around my empty mug. The coffee machine beeped, signaling it was done.


    They paused outside our conference room. I could feel Damien¡¯s gaze but didn¡¯t look <ol><li>up. </li></ol>


    Julian shot a concerned nce my way. ¡°Henry, let¡¯s focus on-¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re still married, Henry,¡± I corrected calmly. ¡°Just separated.¡±


    ¡°Really, Julian. It¡¯s nothing haven¡¯t heard before.¡±


    ¡°The usual,¡± I replied, sipping my coffee.


    160 Office Whispers and Unspoken Tensions


    Sure enough, momentster, Damien Thorne walked past the ss wall of our conference room. Tall and imposing in his perfectly tailored suit, hemanded attention without effort. Vivienne walked beside him, presenting something on her


    tablet.


    ¡°That¡¯s generous,¡± Vivienne replied. ¡°But perhaps we should include Julian¡¯s team too? They¡¯ve been instrumental in providing the data architecture.¡±


    My heart raced as she pushed it open, her perfectly manicured hand resting on the handle. She smiled¨Cthe picture of professional cordiality¨Cas she stepped inside.


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 The Sprawling 161

    161 <b>A </b><b>Rival¡¯s </b><b>Snub</b><b>, </b>ra¡¯s Plea


    161 A Rival¡¯s Snub, ra¡¯s Plea


    ¡°Right now,


    <i>ally</i>. We¡¯ve reserved the private dining room at Celestina¡¯s. <b>Vivienne </b>stepped further into the conference room. ¡°Henry, I know you¡¯ve been instrumental in providing support from InnovaTech¡¯s side.¡±


    ¡°Damien would like to treat the teams working on Project Nexus to thank everyone <b>for </b>their contributions,¡± she repeated, her gaze deliberately skipping over me.


    Vivienne¡¯s perfectly manicured fingers tightened slightly around her tablet. ¡°Damien will be disappointed. He specifically mentioned wanting your input.¡±


    The conversation drifted to other topics. Eleanor discussed charity events while Damien nodded asionally. I pushed food around my te, feeling increasingly out of ce in what was once my family.


    ¡°What are you two looking at?¡± I asked, taking a seat across from them.


    ¡°Science project,¡± Damien answered. ¡°Cora¡¯s building a model sr system.¡±


    Vivienne¡¯s professional mask slipped back into ce. ¡°Of course, Henry. We¡¯d be delighted to have you.¡± She turned toward the door. ¡°Julian, if you change your mind, we¡¯ll be at Celestina¡¯s until two.¡±


    He lingered a moment longer than necessary. ¡°Eleanor asked if you¡¯re joining dinner at the manor tonight.¡±


    ¡°Actually, we need to work through these together. The algorithms require both our expertise.¡±


    Eleanor intervened smoothly. ¡°Dinner should be ready. Shall we move to the dining


    room?¡±


    ¡°What about?¡± he asked, his voice low.


    We returned to our work, but concentration proved difficult. My thoughts kept drifting to Damien and Vivienne at Celestina¡¯s, celebrating their sess without me. Even though I wanted no part of their disy, the exclusion stung.


    ¡°She specifically requested your presence. His tone revealed nothing of his <b>own </b>


    <b>161 </b><b>A </b><b>Rival¡¯s </b><b>Snub</b>, <b>ra¡¯s </b>Plea


    thoughts on the matter. ¡°Seven o¡¯clock.¡±


    As she left, the conference room fell silent. Henry gathered his things <b>hastily</b><b>. </b>


    ¡°Something important,¡± I replied, holding his gaze. ¡°Something that can¡¯t <b>wait </b>much longer.¡±


    I smiled. ¡°Sort of. That¡¯s why ourpany is called YodaVision.¡±


    The Thorne Manor loomed ahead as my car approached the circr driveway. The imposing stone fa?ade, with its perfectly symmetrical windows and manicured gardens, had once intimidated me. Now it just reminded me of seven lonely years.


    ¡°Besides,¡± Julian added, ¡°watching Vivienne realize she couldn¡¯t manipte me was


    worth it.¡±


    ¡°Like Yoda? Using the Force?¡± Cora asked.


    ra¡¯s POV


    Vivienne turned to Julian. ¡°And of course, we need our brilliant data architect there. Damien specifically mentioned wanting to discuss some ideas with you.¡±


    I grimaced. ¡°Eleanor¡¯s been trying to orchestrate family dinners since we separated. They¡¯re excruciating.¡±


    The false sweetness in her voice made my skin crawl. Before I could respond, Julian intervened.


    ¡°Definitely.¡±


    Cora shrugged. ¡°Dad¡¯s already helping me. He knows about engineering stuff.¡±


    Damien looked up, surprise shing briefly across his features. His eyes¨Cthose deep blue eyes that once made my heart race¨Cstudied me for,a moment.


    Vivienne¡¯s smile faltered for just a moment. ¡°I¡¯m sure ra understands the importance of this meeting. Perhaps she can work on those parameters independently.¡± Finally, she nced at me. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you, ra?¡±


    The question surprised me. /¡®I hadn¡¯t nned to.¡±


    As dessert was served, I gathered my courage. This dinner, like all of Eleanor¡¯s orchestrated family gatherings, would soon end with nothing resolved. If I wanted


    161 Apvals Snub, ra¡¯s


    change, I needed to create it myself.


    ¡°Perfect¡± Damien paused, then added almost as an afterthought, ¡°ra.*


    Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Dinner at the manor? That sounds¡­ pleasant.¡±


    Julian¡¯s eyes flicked briefly to me before he addressed Vivienne. ¡°I appreciate the invitation, but I¡¯m afraid I have a priormitment with ra. We¡¯re finalizing some crucial parameters this afternoon.¡±


    It was the barest acknowledgment¨Cjust my name, nothing more. Yet <bing </b>from him, after days of silence, it felt significant.


    ¡°Good evening, Mrs. Thorne. The family is gathered in the east sitting room<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°Julian,¡± he said, stepping inside. ¡°Vivienne mentioned you couldn¡¯t make lunch.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Damien¡¯s eyes briefly met mine before returning to Julian. ¡°I was hoping to discuss the neuralwork integration for Project Nexus. Do you have time tomorrow morning?¡±


    ¡°Grandma said you¡¯re working on robots now, Mom,¡± Cora said suddenly, looking at me with curiosity.


    ¡°Not exactly robots,¡± I exined, grateful for her interest. ¡°It¡¯s artificial intelligence- teachingputers to think more like humans.¡±


    Despite everything, I smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Damien,¡± I returned evenly.


    ¡°Please extend my apologies to him,¡± Julian replied smoothly. ¡°Perhaps another time.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go,¡± Julian reminded me.


    Damien looked up, his expression unreadable. Cora barely nced at me.


    I sat beside Damien, acutely aware of the space between us¨Cboth physical and emotional. He smelled of expensive cologne and power, a scent I once found intoxicating but now associated with rejection.


    Henry beamed. ¡°I¡¯d be honored to join.¡±


    ¡°That sounds wonderful,¡± I said, forcing enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯d love to help too.


    161 A Rival¡¯s Snub, ra¡¯s Plea


    Eleanor noticed me first. ¡°ra, dear! I¡¯m so d you could join us.¡±


    After Henry departed, Julian let out a long breath. ¡°That woman is something else<b>! </b>


    ¡°Eleanor will just keep asking if I don¡¯t. Besides,¡± I sighed, ¡°Cora will be there.¡±


    ¡°Hi, Mom,¡± she said absently, returning her attention to her tablet. ¡°Dad, look at this part!¡±


    Voices drifted from the sitting room. As I entered, Cora¡¯sughter rang out. She sat beside Damien on the sofa, showing him something on her tablet. Eleanor sat in her favorite armchair, watching them with approval.


    An hourter, a knock at the door interrupted us. Damien stood there, his tall frame filling the doorway.


    A familiar pang resonated in my chest. Once, I would have been the parent Cora turned to for science projects. Before the separation, before Damien suddenly decided to be an involved father.


    Julian shifted in his seat. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of him,¡± he said carefully. ¡°When were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°If you finish your dinner,¡± he answered.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Julian replied. ¡°Eight thirty work for you?¡±


    Not once had she acknowledged my presence since extending the invitation. The deliberate snub was unmistakable.


    With that, he turned and left, the scent of his cologne lingering in the air.


    I followed him through the marble¨Cfloored hallway, my heels clicking against the stone. The familiar sound echoed in my memory¨Chow many times had I walked these halls, hoping to find warmth in this cold house?


    Henry looked between us, clearly sensing the tension. ¡°I¡¯m still avable if the invitation stands,¡± he offered awkwardly.


    Simmons, the family butler, opened the door before I could knock.


    Dinner progressed with Eleanor carrying most of the conversation. Damien answered when directly addressed, asionally checking his phone. Cora ate quickly, clearly


    161 A Rival¡¯s Snub, ra¡¯s Plea


    eager to return to her project.


    Vivienne stood in the doorway, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. The invitation hung in the air like a challenge.


    ¡°With moving parts!¡± Cora added excitedly. ¡°Dad¡¯s helping me design it.


    Julian nodded. ¡°Unfortunately not. How was Celestina¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do that,¡± I said quietly. ¡°There¡¯s no priormitment<b>. </b>


    I turned toward Damien, who was engrossed in his phone beneath the table.


    ¡°Cool,¡± Cora replied, before turning to Damien. ¡°Dad, can we finish the project tonight?¡±


    ¡°Rain check on our dinner then?¡± Julian asked.


    ¡°Do you have timeter?¡± I asked quietly. ¡°I have something to discuss with you.


    Julian shrugged. ¡°I¡¯d rather have lunch with you than sit through two hours of Vivienne boasting about Project Nexus while Damien nods approvingly.¡±


    Julian nodded in understanding. My rtionship with my daughter had grown increasingly strained since the separation. These dinners, however ufortable, were moments I could see her.


    ¡°I should¡­ probably go with her,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Thanks for the meeting, Julian. ra.¡± I tried not to let the dismissal hurt. At seven, Cora was increasingly mimicking the behaviors she observed¨Cincluding Damien¡¯s indifference toward me.

 The Sprawling 162

    162 Chapter 162¨CFrantic Rush


    162 Chapter 162 ¨C Frantic Rush


    Both men acknowledged her departure with brief nods.


    More than an hour had passed when Veronica finally pushed back from her workstation, nning a quick bathroom break. That¡¯s when Cullen materialized <b>in </b><b>the </b>workspace. However, his destination clearly wasn¡¯t Niall¡¯s corner <b>of </b>the <b>office</b>.


    When dinner concluded, Cook personally supervised the preparation of Veronica¡¯s medicinal tea. Cullen excused himself from the dining area to handle an urgent phone


    call that couldn¡¯t wait.


    Vincent nodded grimly. ¡°They were here until past midnight. But with these impossible deadlines breathing down our necks, everyone dragged themselves in before sunrise. The pressure is absolutely crushing.¡±


    Instead, he had bolted from the house the moment his phone rang, leaving their promised discussion nothing more than empty words hanging in the air.


    After offering Niall a brief wave of acknowledgment from across the room, he made a beeline directly toward Veronica and Dario.


    Following her usual breakfast routine at Dennis Estate, Veronica found Dario waiting by thepany entrance. Their timing proved impable, as Niall¡¯s entire development team had already imed their workspace despite the early hour.


    The previous evening, she had been prepared to pin Cullen down for exactly that conversation. She wanted to establish a concrete timeline for when they could finally make their separation official and legal.


    Veronica shook her head firmly, then gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°I¡¯m tougher than I look. Let¡¯s get back to what we were doing.¡±


    His quick agreement sent a wave of relief through Veronica¡¯s chest.


    The truth was that Veronica had moved past caring about Cullen¡¯s priorities. Seeing Dario¡¯s genuine concern for her wellbeing brought the first real smile to her <b>face </b>in hours. ¡°It¡¯s really not serious. The pain is already fading.¡±


    Dario cut him off with a sharp bark. ¡°Keep your mouth shut.¡± Vincent immediately fell silent.


    162 Chapter 162. Frantic Rush


    A knot formed in Veronica¡¯s stomach as suspicion crept in. He was <b>probably </b>rushing back to Ster to rescue Niall from whatever crisis had emerged now. Yet he <b>had </b>explicitly agreed to sit down and talk with her tonight.


    Vincent approached them, his face creased with concern. ¡°What the hell happened to Ms. Crystal?¡±


    Dario studied her face intently. ¡°Do you want me to drive you home so you can <b>rest </b>properly?¡±


    Dario¡¯s jaw clenched so tightly the muscle twitched visibly. The image of Cullen¡¯s frantic rush to Niall¡¯s side,pletely oblivious to nearly trampling Veronica, <b>made </b><b>his </b>blood boil. ¡°She¡¯s not dying from a fainting spell.¡±


    Even as she spoke, she watched Cullen sweep Niall into his arms and carry her unconscious form out of the office like she was made of ss, vanishing from sight


    within seconds.


    Cook was upied with instructing the household staff and missed their brief exchange, but noticing the two of them actuallymunicating brought a satisfied smile to her weathered face.


    Veronica shifted ufortably before rising from her seat. ¡°Excuse me for <i>a </i>moment. I really need to use the restroom. Please continue without me.¡±


    Mr. Dennis.¡±


    Veronica pressed her palm against her throbbing shoulder, fighting back tears. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±


    Dario shot a quick nce at Veronica before responding. ¡°We¡¯re all ears, Mr.


    Veronica was still several paces away from rejoining them when a piercing scream shattered the office atmosphere.


    She held onto a thread of hope that he might return before dawn. That thread snapped when morning came with no sign of him.


    Cook clicked her tongue in disapproval. ¡°Off he goes again, racing out like the house is on fire. Paradise only knows what¡¯s got him in such a state.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Crystal!¡± The cry was followed immediately by the sound of chairs scraping and voices rising in rm.


    Mchi wiped sweat from his forehead. ¡°She just copsed. Probably pushed <b>herself </b>


    162 Chapter 162 ¨C Frantic Rush


    too hard without proper rest or food.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s gaze remained fixed on his phone screen as he responded with a casual, ¡°Fine.¡±


    Dario straightened in his chair. ¡°Mr. Dennis, what brings you over here?¡±


    Veronica¡¯s smile turned bitter. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯d love to know the answer to that question myself.¡±


    Dario nodded reluctantly, then hesitated before voicing the question that had been eating at him. ¡°It¡¯s been months now. Why haven¡¯t you and Cullen actually signed those divorce papers yet?¡±


    Vincent caught the dangerous edge in Dario¡¯s voice and attempted to defuse the situation with nervousughter. ¡°Look, Dario, Mr. Dennis was just panicked about Ms. Crystal¡¯s condition. There¡¯s no need to-¡±


    Heunched himself past her with such desperate speed that his shoulder mmed into hers with brutal force. The impact sent lightning bolts of pain radiating through her arm and nearly sent her crashing to the floor.


    Dario observed their bustling activity with raised eyebrows. ¡°You people are here at the crack of dawn. Weren¡¯t you burning the midnight oil yesterday?¡±


    She froze mid¨Cstep. Was he actually leaving now?


    The atmosphere at Ster had been charged with tension for days now.


    Instinctively, Veronica spun toward the source of themotion near the conference room. Before she could fully process what was happening, Cullen¡¯s entire demeanor transformed.


    Dario reacted instantly, his steady hands catching her before she could fall. ¡°Jesus, are you hurt?¡±


    Veronica had barely finished swallowing the bitter liquid when the distinct rumble of an engine echoed from the driveway outside.


    Rather than waste energy onmentary, Dario simply shrugged whne Veronica buried herself in her coding work.


    Cullen¡¯s expression was surprisingly focused. ¡°I spent some timest night reviewing the system architecture you¡¯ve been building this week. The framework is solid, but


    <


    162 Chapter 162 ¨C Frantic Rush


    I¡¯ve identified several enhancement opportunities I¡¯d like to explore with both of you.¡±


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 The Sprawling 163

    163 Chapter 163 Sudden Attack


    Cullen opened his mouth to add anotherment when a shadowy figure <b>suddenly </b>burst from behind a concrete pir. The attacker clutched a gleaming knife <b>and </b>


    charged directly toward Cullen with deadly intent. O


    Veronica still had several doses remaining of the herbal remedy Antonio had <b>specially </b>prepared for her treatment. That evening, after wrapping up her responsibilities <b>at </b>Ster, she made her way back to Dennis Estate through the quiet streets.


    Dario replied carefully, ¡°Mr. Dennis, you give us too much credit. Despite his polite words, both he and Veronica had privately agreed to decline any future business proposals from Ster.


    Neither Veronica nor Dario showed any interest in monitoring Niall¡¯s professional situation. Their sole focus remained onpleting their remaining tasks and permanently severing their connection with Ster.


    When both men noticed her arrival, Cullen spoke first with careful neutrality. ¡°You have returned.¡±


    During the lunch hour, Mchi approached them with an update about Niall. Her condition had stabilized, and Cullen had already escorted her home to recover from the morning¡¯s incident.


    Despite the ongoingplications at Ster, both Dario and Veronica recognized they could not abandon their obligations at DataPulse. Thepany demanded their attention, and they had already been away too long.


    Before she couldplete her sentence, Cullen cut her off abruptly. ¡°Examine this document carefully. <i>If </i>you find the terms eptable, please sign it.¡±


    Dario gently touched Veronica¡¯s arm, bringing her back to the present moment. ¡°We should leave now.¡±


    She paused momentarily at this unexpected development, then remenbered the conversation about divorce that had been interrupted by recent events. Gathering her resolve, she headed upstairs to address the matter that had been weighing <b>on </b><b>both </b>their minds.


    103 Chapter 163- Sudden Attack


    The following morning brought a flurry of administrative tasks at DataPulse <b>that </b>required immediate attention. After spending the morning addressing these <b>urgent </b>matters, they prepared to return to Ster for what they hoped would be one of their final afternoons there.


    As their conversation continued, the group gradually made their way toward <b>the </b>underground parking garage, their footsteps echoing in the concrete space.


    Veronica and Dario had been focused on reaching their vehicle and preparing to leave. The sudden assault caught thempletely off guard, and they failed to notice <b>the </b>approaching danger immediately.


    The end of the workday would mark thepletion of most major tasks at Ster<b>, </b>which meant their frequent visits to thepany would finallye to an end.


    When they arrived at the Ster building, they discovered that Niall and her team were not locked away in their usual marathon meeting sessions. However, Niall had already returned to her demanding work schedule and appeared to be managing multiple urgent projects simultaneously.


    Dario responded with deliberate formality, his tone revealing his eagerness to Conclude their business rtionship. ¡°Mr. Dennis, your gratitude is unnecessary. We were simply fulfilling our contractual obligations.¡±


    Meanwhile, Veronica¡¯s supply of herbal medicine had dwindled to the final batch. The treatment that Antonio had prescribed was nearlyplete.


    This prospect filled Dario with visible relief. He turned to Veronica with a determined expression and dered, ¡°Once this is over, I am never setting foot in Ster again. I refuse to subject myself to this kind of professional torture any longer.¡±


    That evening, when Veronica returned to Dennis Estate, Cullen remained absent. In fact, he did not return home for the following two days, leaving Veronica to wonder about his whereabouts and Niall¡¯s condition.


    Cullen did not return home that night.


    Cullen recovered first and approached them with professional courte


    ¡°I understand


    the system integration issues have beenrgely resolved. Thank you for <b>your </b>dedicated work on this project, Mr. Reid.¡±


    Sabrina must have received word about Niall¡¯s injury through her <b>own </b>channels. <b>On </b>


    <


    163 Chapter 163 ¨C Sudden Attack


    the very night of the attack, she had quietly slipped away from the manor without informing anyone of her destination.


    Veronica acknowledged him with a brief sound of agreement. She had no intention of inquiring about Niall¡¯s current medical condition or recovery progress.


    However, several pressing issues awaited their attention back at DataPulse, making it necessary for both Veronica and Dario to return to their ownpany without dy.


    The distance between Veronica and Cullen was too great for her to intervene physically. However, Niall stood much closer to Cullen and reacted with lightning speed. She threw herself forward, shoving Cullen out of the attacker¡¯s path just as the de descended. The knife buried itself deep in her chest instead of finding its intended target.


    Veronica shook herself from her stunned state. ¡°Yes, of course.¡±


    Veronica pressed her lips together, weighing her options before deciding to reach out to him. She dialed his number and waited, but the call went unanswered. With no other choice, she set the matter aside for the time being.


    Determined to address their unfinished business without further dy, she got


    straight to the heart of the matter. ¡°The other day, I mentioned that we should discuss


    ¨C


    When Veronica finally processed what was happening, her eyes widened with terror and she shouted desperately, ¡°Watch out!¡±


    However, she was genuinely surprised to discover that Cullen had returned home during her absence.


    Cullen¡¯s face drained of all color as he gathered the wounded Niall into his arms. Without hesitation, he carried her to his car and ced her carefully in the back seat. Within seconds, the vehicle roared to life and sped away from the parking garage, disappearing from view before Veronica and Dario could fullyprehend what had urred.


    Cullen pressed on with his diplomatic approach. ¡°The system your team developed has exceeded our expectations, I sincerely hope we will have additional,portunities to coborate on future projects.¡±


    As they reached the ground level of the building, they encountered Cullen and Niall


    163 Chapter 163¨CSudden Attack


    C


    emerging from a different elevator. The unexpected meeting created a moment of awkward silence as all four individuals froze in ce.


    Cullen was seated in the second¨Cfloor lounge area, and to her additional surprise, Nate was present as well. Their serious expressions suggested they had been engaged in important business discussions.


    The sharp, metallic scent of fresh blood began to permeate the air around them. Security personnel quickly appeared and overpowered the assant, restraining him before he could inflict further damage.


    Veronica could not suppress a smallugh at his dramatic promation. ¡°I understandpletely.¡±


    On Friday morning, she decided to take herst dose of medicine at the manor before departing for what might be her final time. The familiar routine had be a strangefort during these uncertain days.


    Finally, as the clock approached five in the evening, they finished thest of their assigned work. Going forward, their involvement with Ster would be virtually nonexistent, reduced to asional maintenance calls at most.


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 The Sprawling 164

    164 Chapter 164 ¨C Divorce Papers


    Veronica epted the document from Cullen¡¯s hands. Her eyes swept over <b>the </b><b>cover </b>that read ¡°Dissolution of Marriage Agreement¡± in bold ck letters.


    ¡°No. We have never discussed custody arrangements.


    ¡°I have no idea what you mean.¡±


    When Veronica had first maneuvered her way into marriage with Cullen <b>years </b><b>ago</b><b>, </b><b>her </b>tactics had been anything but noble.


    Cullen¡¯s features darkened like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. He <b>appeared </b><b>to </b>wrestle with his response before finally answering.


    Herposed eptance caught himpletely off guard. Even more shocking <b>was </b>her apparent indifference to Cullen gaining exclusive custody of their daughter.


    Veronica slipped the agreement into her purse and secured the zipper with <b>deliberate </b>precision. Rising from her chair without offering another word, she turned and <b>walked </b>toward the exit.


    ¡°Something is seriously wrong with her.¡±


    Nate felt a surge of vindication at this hesitation. Of course she would falter at the crucial moment. He had known her capittion was too good to be true.


    This reaction defied every prediction Nate had made. He shot a bewildered look toward Cullen.


    A new thought seemed to strike Nate with sudden force. His eyes narrowed as he studied Cullen¡¯s expression with sharp scrutiny.


    Cullen continued staring down the empty corridor where Veronica had vanished. Only after several seconds did he lower his gaze and respond with chilly detachment.


    Cullen appeared caught off guard by her cautious approach. He studied her face for a long moment before responding with a curt nod.


    ¡°I will have my attorney examine this document tomorrow,¡± Veronic. announced, <b>her </b>voice steady and professional. ¡°Assuming no concerns arise during review, <b>I </b><b>will </b>execute the agreement within forty¨Ceight hours and have my legal counsel <b>coordinate </b>


    164 Chapter 164 ¨C Divorce Papers


    with yours<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    She worried about hiddenplications buried within the legalnguage.


    Cullen remained focused on Veronica, his dark eyes studying her face <b>with </b><b>an </b><b>intensity </b>that suggested he too was blindsided by herpliance.


    While both Cullen and Nate held unfavorable opinions of her character, they <b>had </b>witnessed the depth of her devotion to Cullen throughout their marriage. <b>Her </b><b>love </b><b>had </b>been impossible to ignore, even when it made them ufortable.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°That seems reasonable.¡±


    Should Cullen¡¯s business empire encounter difficulties down the road, those <b>very </b>shares he was transferring could make her a convenient target for me and liability. Cullen might harbor no malicious intent in crafting this agreement. But she could not ignore the possibility that once he married Niall, his new wife might exploit any vulnerabilities in these uses to orchestrate her destruction.


    ¡°She showed zero emotion when you imed custody of Sabrina. That reaction ispletely out of character for her.¡±


    ¡°Hold on. Did you two negotiate the custody arrangement privately before today?¡±


    The opening use hit her like a physical blow. Cullen was iming sole custody of Sabrina. The remainder of the document stretched across multiple pages, meticulously cataloging the division of their shared assets and the considerable wealth he intended to transfer to her.


    ¡°She cannot possibly be indifferent about custody rights. Sabrina means everything to


    her!¡±


    Seeing the substantial settlement he proposed, her instinct had been to sign


    immediately and end this painful chapter of her life. However, wisdom prevailed over impulse.


    Now, confronted with the finalized agreement, she browsed throug the <b>pages </b><b>with </b>deliberate detachment, barely allowing her gaze to linger on any single use. Setting the document down on the mahogany table between them, she spoke <b>with </b><b>measured </b>calm.


    <


    164 Chapter 164- Divorce Papers


    The asset distribution outlined in the agreement was surprisingly generous. During her initial scan, she had noticed Cullen was even transferring a portion of his corporate holdings to her name.


    ¡°I find these terms eptable.¡±


    As Veronica leaned forward to affix her signature to the document, she suddenly stopped. Her pen hovered motionless above the paper for several heartbeats before she pulled back.


    Cullen remained silent for an extended moment, his jaw working as if he were chewing over something unptable.


    But faced with his unexpected generosity, she saw no reason to decline what he offered. Their marriage had spanned several years. While he had never reciprocated her feelings, he had also never deliberately sabotaged her wellbeing.


    ¡°Then what the hell exins her reaction?¡±


    Nate tracked her departure with undisguised amazement. Once she had disappeared from view, he turned to face Cullen with evident confusion.


    purse,


    Without hesitation, she reached into her leather fountain pen, and positioned it above the signature line.


    withdrew an expensive


    Her original divorce petition had requested nothing from him beyond her freedom.


    She hade here today nning to inquire about the status of their divorce proceedings.


    Given the intensity of that love, Nate had fully expected her to crumble at the prospect of divorce. He had anticipated tears, desperate pleas, and absolute refusal to proceed with the dissolution of their union.

 The Sprawling 165

    165 Chapter 165 ¨C Dinner Tensions


    He remembered how things used to be. Because of his tight friendship with Cullen <b>and </b>Marco, Veronica had always made efforts to connect with them. They had brushed off her attempts without a second thought.


    Cook remained blissfully ignorant of the divorce proceedings. Her face lit up as she called toward the sofa. ¡°Ver, Sa, time for dinner.¡±


    The thought made Nate shift his attention to Cullen. Sure enough, Cullen¡¯s dark <i>eyes </i>were fixed on Veronica with an intensity that hadn¡¯t been there before.


    Nate forced his most charming smile. ¡°You know me too well, Grandma. I¡¯m going to devour everything on this table.¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s small fingers wrapped around Veronica¡¯s hand, tugging her toward the dining room with unbridled enthusiasm.


    Yet she had never given up trying.


    She still went through all the motions of maternal care. Her touch remained gentle, her attention unwavering. But the profound love that used to radiate from her every nce had vanished.


    Cook¡¯s sharp voice cut through his analysis. ¡°Nate, what exactly are you staring at?¡± She had been watching him observe Veronica throughout the meal, and her brow was furrowed with concern.


    Veronica¡¯s demeanor toward Sabrina had shifted too.


    But Sabrina was her flesh and blood. How could a mother simply turn off that kind of love?


    Nate realized she hadpletely misread the situation and decided to feed her the exnation she wanted to hear.


    But Nate found himself studying her more intently.


    What remained was clinical/detachment.


    Social situations didn¡¯te naturally to her, but she persisted anyway. She would greet them with genuine warmth, her voice soft and weing, her smiles tentative


    165 Chapter 165¨CDinner Tensions


    but hopeful.


    At first nce, the scene appeared utterly normal.


    Yet as Nate observed the scene, something twisted in his chest. The memory of Veronica signing away her parental rights without so much as a fight made the tender moment feel like an borate performance.


    The dinner continued, but the undercurrents of tension flowed just beneath the surface of their polite conversation.


    Cullen rose from his chair without a word.


    More telling was the fact that he made no attempt to look away when she noticed his scrutiny. The old Cullen would have averted his gaze immediately, too proud to be caught watching.


    Cook¡¯sughter filled the dining room. ¡°That¡¯s what I like to hear.¡±


    Both voices responded in perfect harmony. ¡°Coming¡±


    Nate barely suppressed a knowing smirk. He should have seen thising.


    The picture they painted was one of maternal devotion and childish joy.


    Nate jerked from his thoughts, blinking rapidly. ¡°Right, we¡¯reing.¡±


    Now her eyes held nothing but cool indifference, as if he were aplete stranger who meant absolutely nothing to her. That¡¯s when he noticed something else that made his blood run cold.


    When Veronica caught him staring, her gaze met his with arctic coldness. The look made him stiffen in his chair.


    Nate trailed behind, his expression unreadable. Since he was alreadymitted to staying, he imed the seat next to Cullen. Veronica settled beside Sabrina across the


    table.


    Perhaps this was just another/calcted move in her ybook. Maybe she was employing the oldest strategy in the book, pulling back to make Cullen chase her, creating distance to spark his interest.


    That couldn¡¯t be genuine, could it?


    165 Chapter 165¨CDinner Tensions


    Cook¡¯s voice drifted up from the bottom of the stairwell, cutting through the tense atmosphere. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready. Ver¡¯s already headed down. What are you two doing up there? Come eat.¡±


    Nate could rationalize her changed attitude toward him. After all, nobody would continue pursuing people who consistently rejected their overtures.


    Meanwhile, Veronica was methodically selecting pieces of food for Sabrina¡¯s te, her movements precise as she removed tiny bones from the fish with surgical care.


    ¡°I was just noticing how unusually quiet Veronica is tonight. She¡¯s not engaging with Cullen the way she normally does. It struck me as odd, so I couldn¡¯t stop watching her.¡± Cook¡¯s expression immediately softened with understanding, while across the table, something dangerous flickered in Cullen¡¯s eyes at Nate¡® casual observation.


    Cook¡¯s eyes crinkled with genuine pleasure. ¡°Nate, you haven¡¯t visited in ages. The moment I spotted you earlier, I had the cook add thosemb chops and garlic potatoes


    fill tonight.¡± your you love. Make sure you eat


    When they reached the living room, Sabrina was nestled against Veronica on the sofa, chattering away with animated gestures. Veronica sat perfectly still, her attention seemingly focused on every word that spilled from her daughter¡¯s lips.


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 The Sprawling 166

    166 Chapter 166 Cook Speaks Truth


    166 Chapter 166 Cook Speaks Truth


    The question hung between them, loaded with everything they weren¡¯t saying.


    Marco had been walking through his hotel lobby when the call came. The words stopped him cold, causing other guests to flow around him like water around a stone.


    ¡°Can Ie with you, Daddy?¡±


    The shrill ring of Cullen¡¯s phone cut through the tension like a de. He nced at the screen, and something flickered across his features before heposed himself again. Rising from his chair with fluid grace, he stepped away from the table to take the call.


    Nate stared at his phone in confusion as the line went dead. ¡°Well, that was rude.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something else-¡± Nate began.


    Sabrina¡¯s fork ttered against her te as she looked up eagerly. She had that look in her eyes, the one that suggested she knew exactly who had called and where her father was headed.


    Back at the hospital, Sabrina had positioned herself in the chair closest to Niall¡¯s bed, chattering animatedly about school and friends while Cullen stood by the window. The scene lookedfortable, natural even. Like a real family.


    Veronica kept her focus on her te, methodically cutting her food into precise pieces. Even when Cook¡¯s words hung in the air like an usation, she didn¡¯t lift her eyes. She had perfected the art of bing invisible at family dinners, of existing in the same space as Cullen without truly being present.


    ¡°It¡¯s happening¡± Nate said without preamble. ¡°Cullen¡¯s moving forward with the divorce.¡±


    The front door closed with a soft click, followed by the sound of Cullen¡¯s car pulling away from the manor. The silence that followed felt both oppressive and liberating.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°I was there when he handed her the papers. And get this¨Che¡¯s not giving her custody of Sabrina either.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious? This is actually happening?¡±


    <b>21:26 </b>@


    166 Chapter 166¨CCook Speaks Truth


    For the first time during dinner, Veronica spoke clearly and decisively. ¡°I can¡¯t, Grandma. I¡¯m meeting someone tonight.¡±


    Veronica waited exactly ten minutes before gathering her purse and keys. As her own car wound down the long driveway away from Dennis Estate, she pressed the call button on her steering wheel.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have three options for you by morning. The best attorneys in the city¡±


    Sabrina practically bounded to Cullen¡¯s side, her relief poorly concealed. As they prepared to leave, she turned back with a brightness that felt performative.


    ¡°Dario.¡±


    After ending the call, Veronica drove through the city streets feeling lighter than she had in months. For the first time in years, she was taking action instead of simply enduring.


    ¡°Veronica? What¡¯s wrong? You sound-¡±


    ¡°I have to go,¡± Marco cut him off abruptly. ¡°I¡¯ll call you back.¡±


    Marco¡¯s knuckles went white where he gripped the phone. The familiar rage that had been simmering for months threatened to boil over.


    ¡°Perfect. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Take care,¡± Veronica replied, her voice steady and unremarkable.


    Despite everything, Veronica found herself almost smiling at his enthusiasm. ¡°Dead serious. Can you rmend someone reliable?¡±


    Veronica had just pulled into her driveway when her phone rang. Marco¡¯s name on the disy made her pause. They hadn¡¯t spoken in weeks, not since that awkward encounter at the charity g.


    ¡°Hello, Marco. What can I do for you?¡±


    Nate had excused himself to the hallway, where he immediately dialed Marco¡¯s


    number.


    Three hundred miles away, Marco was already scrolling through his contacts. His


    thumb hovered over Veronica¡¯s name for several long seconds before he finally pressed


    <i>me </i><i>for </i><i>se </i>


    <b>call</b>.


    166 Chapter 166¨CCook Speaks Truth


    Cook turned to Veronica with the kind of hopeful expression that made Veronica¡¯s chest tighten. ¡°You should go too, sweetheart. Tomorrow¡¯s Saturday, and you¡¯ve been working so hardtely. Some fresh air would do you good.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s response was nothing more than that maddening half¨Csmile he wore when he wanted to end a conversation without actually addressing it. The expression that revealed absolutely nothing while somehow managing to be condescending.


    ¡°If you¡¯re hoping to arrange another visit, I should mention that tomorrow won¡¯t work for me. I have several appointments to handle. Would early next week be better for you?¡±


    Cook¡¯s watchful eyes had been tracking the subtle changes in Veronica¡¯s behavior for weeks now. The woman who once lit up around Cullen, who used to reach for his hand during dinner or steal nces when she thought no one was looking, had grown distant.


    For months, Veronica had been the one extending olive branches, making efforts, trying to bridge whatever gap existed between them. But every gesture had been met with Cullen¡¯s characteristic restraint, his polite but imprable wall of control.


    The sound of a chair scraping against the floor came through the phone, followed by what sounded like Dario choking on his drink.


    His absencested only minutes, but when he returned, there was a new energy about him. Controlled urgency.


    Veronica settled back in her driver¡¯s seat, assuming this was about scheduling another meeting. His hesitation suggested he was being careful about something, probably trying not to push too hard about his daughter.


    ¡°I need to handle something,¡± he announced to Cook, already reaching for his jacket. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re certain about this?¡±


    ¡°This is entirely your doing,¡± Cook said, her voice carrying the weight of disappointment as she fixed Cullen with a pointed stare.


    ¡°Cullen presented me with divorce papers today.¡± The words came out clinical,


    21:26 C


    166 Chapter 166¨CCook Speaks Truth


    matter¨Cof¨Cfact. ¡°There¡¯s a property settlement included. I need awyer to review everything and make sure there aren¡¯t any legal traps I¡¯m missing¡±


    The sound of her voice, so calm and professional, made his prepared words dissolve on his tongue. He wanted to ask if she was okay, if she needed anything, if there was any way he could help. But what right did he have?


    ¡°Bye, Mom.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± He cleared his throat, searching for safe ground. ¡°I wanted to discuss the situation


    with Cecelia.¡±


    The disappointment in Cook¡¯s eyes was almost physical. ¡°Oh. Well, if you must.¡±


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    167 Chapter 187 Psychological Games


    167 Chapter 167 ¨C Psychological Games


    Marco¡¯s response carried an undercurrent of something deeper. ¡°Perhaps she genuinely desires the divorce.¡±


    Earlier that afternoon, Dario had contacted her with an update about the legal arrangements, mentioning that she would meet with the attorneys the following morning.


    Her recent intensive work with Ster and DataPulse had consumed most of her avable time, leaving this academic projectrgely neglected. With this rare window of opportunity, she was determined to make substantial progress.


    Nate paused, processing this suggestion. ¡°You¡¯re talking about Veronica?¡± He released a skepticalugh. ¡°Impossible. She¡¯s harbored feelings for Cullen since adolescence. After investing so many years of her life in him, she wouldn¡¯t voluntarily walk away.¡±


    Veronica disconnected without ceremony.


    He had offered to conduct a thorough review and, assuming everything met standards, assist her with the journal submission process.


    Marco¡¯s words heldyers of meaning. ¡°People evolve. Circumstances change them.¡±


    After ending their conversation, Marco immediately called Nate back. ¡°You mentioned Cullen demanded both divorce andplete custody of Sa. Surely she fought back? Are they gearing up for a custody battle?¡±


    It was only then that Nate realized Marco had grown remarkably quiet, his silence stretching ufortably long.


    His response was immediate and incredulous. ¡°Absolutely not! She epted everything! The divorce, the custody arrangement, all of it without a single objection. She simply signed every document they put in front of her. Herposure was


    unnerving, Marco. I¡¯ve never witnessed anything like it!¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m reading this correctly,/Veronica might be ying a brilliant psychological game.


    I may have underestimated her strategic thinking!¡±


    ainab


    His prolonged silence prompted her to ask again, ¡°Mr. Valerie? Are you there?¡±


    21:20


    187 Chapter 167 Psychological Games


    Marco had no ready answer. He couldn¡¯t entirely dismiss the possibility, considering Veronica¡¯s profound emotional investment in Cullen, such maniption wasn¡¯t beyond the realm of possibility.


    Marco found himself with little choice. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Nate considered this. ¡°Cullen was visibly caught off guard. During dinner at the family estate, I noticed him watching Veronica far more intently than usual.


    Veronica anticipated the call would conclude there. When silence stretched between them, she inquired with slight bewilderment, ¡°Mr. Valerie, was there something else you needed to discuss?¡±


    Marco recognized her misunderstanding but chose not to rify. His response was


    measured. ¡°Understood.¡±


    Yet was thisposure genuine? Or was she masterfully concealing her true feelings


    beneath this collected facade?


    Nate had contacted him earlier specifically to discuss this very situation.


    Marco detected the steadiness in her tone, noting theplete absence of anguish, devastation, or inner chaos he had anticipated hearing.


    Veronica knew she needed to expedite the divorce proceedings without dy.


    Her voice remained businesslike. ¡°Did you need anything else?¡± Without allowing him time to respond, she continued, ¡°I have several urgent matters requiring my attention. Unless there¡¯s something specific, I¡¯ll need to end this call.¡±


    Like Nate, he struggled toprehend how Veronica could surrender custody of Sabrina so effortlessly. The woman he knew would never abandon her child without a fierce fight.


    Nate pressed for his opinion. ¡°What¡¯s your take on this?¡± Before Marco could formte a response, Nate offered his own theory. ¡°Maybe this is some borate psychological strategy? Making Cullen feel remorse by appearingpletely indifferent?¡±


    The weight of unspoken thoughts hung heavy in the air between them, each man grappling with the implications of Veronica¡¯s unexpected surrender and what it <b>might </b>truly signify for everyone involved.


    After contemting in silence, he asked, ¡°How did Cullen handle her reaction<b>?</b>¡±


    21:20


    167 Chapter 187¨CPsychological Games


    The question jolted him back to the present. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here.¡±


    Shifting topics, he continued, ¡°Regardless of her motivations, this development benefits Cullen enormously. When you return from your business trip, and after Niall has made more progress in her recovery, we should arrange a proper celebration.¡±


    Malcolm had expressed genuine enthusiasm for one of her recent research proposals. Several days earlier, he had reached out requesting that shepile and organize her findings.


    Nate remained unconvinced. ¡°I still think you¡¯re wrong about this.¡±


    This revtion stunned Marco equally. Such behavior seemedpletely contrary to everything he knew about Veronica¡¯s character.


    She set her phone aside and opened herptop, diving into her work.


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    108 Chapter 108 ¨C Legal Protection


    168 Chapter 168 Legal Protection


    Marco gave his agreement. ¡°Fine.¡±


    Observing how Veronica instructed thewyer to concentrate solely on financial vulnerabilities whilepletely avoiding any discussion of custody arrangements, Dario understood the painful truth. She had reached the heartbreaking conclusion that she must surrender her daughter.


    He remembered Sabrina from their brief encounters years earlier. During that period, Veronica had beenpletely devoted to her daughter, her face lighting up whenever she spoke about the little girl. Every conversation had somehow circled back to Sabrina¡¯stest aplishment or adorable antics.


    He epted the documents while Dario, taking advantage of their long friendship, leaned closer to examine the contents over Leon¡¯s shoulder.


    Leon¡¯s assistant sat quietly,pletely unable to follow their technical discussion. Meanwhile, Leon himself remained absorbed in his meticulous examination of every use and subsection within the divorce settlement.


    Several minutes passed before he let out a low whistle of surprise. ¡°This is an


    impressive portfolio of real estate holdings. I have to give Cullen credit where it¡¯s due -he¡¯s being remarkably generous.¡±


    Dario continued leafing through additional pages, careful not to disturb Leon¡¯s concentrated review. Eventually, he shifted his chair closer to Veronica and began discussing the academic research project she had been working on.


    Leon adjusted his sses and exined his findings. ¡°The mary settlement is presented in clear, unambiguous terms. Each piece of real estate is properly documented with clean titles and no encumbrances.¡±


    He raised his hand in greeting as she approached.


    Dario shifted ufortably in his chair. ¡°Not exactly questioning, just¡­ this level of consideration seemspletely out of character.¡±


    Leon responded with the confident smile of a seasoned professional. ¡°Are you questioning my expertise, Dario?¡±


    <b>21:26 </b>


    108 Chapter 108 ¨C Legal Protection


    Nate pressed on with his inquiry. ¡°So you¡¯re definitely returning Tuesday?¡±


    Dario, however, stared openly in amazement. ¡°Are you absolutely certain you interpreted that correctly? Cullen actually structured it to be that protective?¡±


    The following morning, Veronicaced up her running shoes and pushed herself through a demanding forty¨Cminute jog before returning home. After a quick breakfast, she gathered her things and headed out for what would likely be one of the most important meetings of her life.


    For her to voluntarily relinquish her own child meant she had endured disappointment so profound that it had fundamentally changed her.


    When she walked into the prestigiousw firm, Dario was already waiting in the conference room, his presence immediately reassuring her frayed nerves.


    Veronica set down her cup with careful precision. ¡°Could you borate on that


    assessment?¡±


    The custody arrangement for Sabrina was outlined in the opening section, and Dario found himself staring at those particr lines longer than necessary. His eyes shifted to Veronica, studying herposed expression.


    Marco made a soft sound of confirmation. Before Nate could continue their


    conversation, Marco cut it short. ¡°I need to go.¡±


    However, she understood enough about his personality to recognize a pattern. When Cullenmitted to providing something, he typically ensured it came without strings attached or hiddenplications.


    S


    ¡°Sure thing. Just give me a heads up when yound. I¡¯ll drive over so you can spend time with Niall<b>.¡± </b>


    This ring omission had not escaped Dario¡¯s notice. He suspected that during the past year while Sabrina had been living overseas with Cullen, the child had likely developed a strong bond with Niall. Perhaps something had urred that had wounded Veronica so deeply that she could barely speak of it.


    Veronica reached into her leather briefcase and withdrew the divorce agreement, the papers feeling heavier than they should as she slid them across the polished surface <b>to </b>Leon.


    21:26


    168 Chapter 188 ¨C Legal Protection


    When a full hour had psed, Leon finally raised his head and addressed Veronica directly. ¡°I¡¯vepleted myprehensive review of this agreement. I can confidently say there are no problematic uses whatsoever. In fact, the terms are extraordinarily advantageous for you.¡±


    Rather than dwell on such painful spection, he returned his focus to the legal document spread before them.


    Veronica lifted her teacup to her lips, taking a measured sip without offering any


    Their conversation flowed in the specializednguage of their shared field, delving into intricate details of her theoretical framework and methodology.


    Veronica felt her breath catch slightly at this unexpected revtion.


    He flipped to another section before continuing his analysis. ¡°Regarding the corporate shares Cullen is transferring to you, the agreement contains very specific protectivenguage. You¡¯ll receive annual dividend payments, but should thepany face any legal challenges, financial penalties, or other corporate liabilities, Cullen retains full personal responsibility. You would bepletely shielded from any negative consequences.¡±


    Yet since making the difficult decision to divorce Cullen and rejoin DataPulse, Veronica had never once spoken her daughter¡¯s name in his presence.


    This understanding had motivated her request for legal review in the first ce. Her concern hadn¡¯t been rooted in suspicion that he would deliberately deceive her, but rather in her practical need to identify any unintended legal vulnerabilities that might surfaceter.


    He chose not to probe further into such sensitive territory. Dario recognized that beneath Veronica¡¯s gentle exteriory someone who felt emotions with devastating intensity.


    During their years of marriage, he had maintained an emotional distance that often felt like living with a stranger. He had rarely offered support when she needed it most.


    Leon Bell, the divorce attorney Dario had rmended, stood to wee her. His assistant moved efficiently around the mahogany table, filling delicate china cups with steaming tea before retreating to a respectful distance.


    21:28


    168 Chapter 188¨CLegal Protection


    While Veronica felt a measure of surprise at this development, she wasn¡¯t entirely shocked by Cullen¡¯s approach.


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 The Sprawling 169

    169 Chapter 169 ¨C Chance Encounter


    Veronica remainedposed as she processed the information. ¡°As long as everything is in order, that works for me.¡± D


    She positioned her car in the queue and settled in to wait her turn.


    Marco¡¯s intense gaze swept over her face, searching for signs of emotional turmoil or exhaustion that never materialized. Herposure seemed to catch him off guard.


    She lifted her gaze to meet Leon¡¯s professional stare. ¡°The remaining divorce procedures are yours to handle, Mr. Bell.¡±


    The line went dead. Cullen ced his phone down with deliberate care and returned his attention to the quarterly reports spread across his desk.


    She gestured toward the correct direction with precise hand movements. Marco¡¯s expression brightened with apparent gratitude. ¡°Excellent. Thank you for the guidance.¡±


    Across town at Dennis Group headquarters, Cullen had just settled into his executive chair when his phone¡¯s sharp ring cut through the silence of his corner office.


    The exnation felt thin considering their limited social connection. Under normal circumstances, casual acquaintances wouldn¡¯t go out of their way for such


    interactions.


    As evening approached, Dario gathered his research materials and departed Veronica¡¯s apartment to handle personal business matters.


    Leon¡¯s tone remained professionally neutral. ¡°Certainly, Mr. Dennis. I appreciate your amodation. We¡¯ll speak tomorrow.¡±


    Veronica epted his question at face value and considered the local businesses. ¡°There is a renowned bakery, but you¡¯re looking in the wrong district. It¡¯s approximately a mile east on Riverside Avenue.¡±


    She had zero interest in another dramatic confrontation. The call went unanswered.


    ¡°Did you need something, Mr. Valerie?¡± Veronica inquired with polite curiosity.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Dennis. This is Leon Bell, legal counsel for Ms. Murray. My client


    169 Chapter 169 ¨C <b>Chance </b>Encounter


    <b>has </b>executed the divorce settlement, and I¡¯ve been retained to manage all subsequent legal matters. Are you avable to discuss scheduling?¡±


    Marco interrupted smoothly. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m looking for a specialty bakery that¡¯s supposed to have an excellent reputation in this vicinity. I¡¯m not familiar with the area¡¯syout. Would you happen to know its location?¡±


    A sudden rapping against her passenger window made her turn. Through the tinted ss, she recognized Marco¡¯s familiar silhouette.


    He lifted the device without checking the caller ID. ¡°Dennis speaking¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± The electronic gate system had processed the vehicles ahead of her. As her car began moving forward through the security checkpoint, she called out


    pleasantly, ¡°Have a good evening.¡±


    ¡°Perfect.¡±


    Veronica decided to visit her family for dinner. She collected her designer handbag and car keys, then headed for the door.


    Veronica arrived at the Murray family¡¯s exclusive gatedmunity during the busiest transition hour. Luxury vehicles lined up in an orderly procession, each waiting for the security system¡¯s electronic recognition.


    Leon adjusted his tie and nodded curtly. ¡°I have a client meeting shortly, but this afternoon I¡¯ll reach out to Mr. Dennis to coordinate the next phase of your dissolution.¡°.


    She offered a small nod. ¡°I see. Well, I should probably-¡±


    Surprise flickered across her features. She hadn¡¯t anticipated encountering him in this neighborhood. With measured movements, she lowered the window halfway. ¡°Mr.


    Valerie.¡±


    The clock on Leon¡¯s office wall showed nearly noon. After sharing a business lunch where they discussed legal strategies, Veronica and Dario made their way back to her apartment to continue refining her academic research.


    ¡°Same to you.¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s persistence showed itself through two additional attempts. When silence continued to greet her efforts, she finally conceded defeat.


    169 Chapter 169¨CChance Encounter


    Veronica weighed his words carefully. He had provided assistance during her difficult period, and she would inevitably see him again through Cecelia. They weren¡¯t close friends, but maintaining civility served everyone¡¯s interests.


    The moment she slid behind the wheel of her sedan, her phone erupted with an iing call. Sabrina¡¯s name shed across the screen. Veronica didn¡¯t need supernatural powers to predict the conversation¡¯s direction.


    Without a moment¡¯s pause, she reached for the sleek ck pen resting on the mahogany desk. Her signature flowed across the document with practiced elegance, each letter sealing her decision with quiet determination.


    Cullen¡¯s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as he processed the words. His voice remained steady when he responded. ¡°My calendar is blocked with board meetings through this afternoon. Schedule something for tomorrow morning around ten at Dennis Group.¡±


    He shifted his weight slightly. ¡°I had business in the area. Noticed your vehicle and


    thought I¡¯d acknowledge you.¡±


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    <****<b>170 </b><b>Chapter </b><b>170 </b>¨C Phone Avoidance


    170 Chapter 170 Phone Avoidance


    Besides, Nate had been meaning to visit Niall himself, so he didn¡¯t push the issue and agreed to help. Unfortunately, Cullen was tied up elsewhere.


    Nate almost pressed about why Marco wasn¡¯t reaching out to Cullen or Niall directly, but something in his friend¡¯s clipped tone made him reconsider. Marco was probably swamped with work and cutting corners where he could.


    Initially, she¡¯d been too worried about Niall¡¯s condition to think about recreational activities, preferring to stay close to the hospital. But everyone kept discouraging her visits, citing infection risks and the need for rest. Now that Niall was clearly on the mend, Sabrina¡¯s anxiety had eased considerably.


    ¡°I tried calling Mom yesterday because I wanted her toe home and make dinner for me, but she never answered. Just now I called twice more, and she¡¯s still not picking up. When I tried a third time, it said the line was disconnected.¡±


    Dawn broke gently, and she found herself awake early. The thriving sulent garden on the windowsill caught her eye as she stretched luxuriously, a sense of contentment washing over her.


    Marco brushed off the question with practiced indifference. ¡°Just call Niall and see if she¡¯s up for visitors.¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s name shed on the screen. Veronica let it go to voicemail. When it immediately rang again, she made a decisive choice.


    Nate couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re already


    back in town? Since when?¡±


    Niall¡¯s gaze dropped to the beautiful arrangement he¡¯d just ced on her bedside table, her fingers trailing over the delicate petals. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Marco¡¯s response came out t and businesslike. ¡°Had some matters to handle.¡±


    Cullen remained nomittal. ¡°Could be.¡±


    Meanwhile, Veronica had spent the night at the Murray family home.


    When her mother continued to dodge her calls and Cullen prepared to <b>head </b><b>out </b><b>for </b>his ownmitments, Sabrina¡¯s desperation peaked. ¡°Dad, she¡¯s <b>still </b><b>not </b><b>answering </b>


    170 Chapter 170 Phone Avoidance


    <b>when </b>I call. Could you try reaching her instead?¡±


    Cullen stated matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°She switched her phone off.¡±


    ¡°Then what am I supposed to do? I was hoping to hit the slopes today. Mom mentioned before that she¡¯d take me skiing if she had the chance<i>.</i><i>¡± </i>


    When Sabrina¡¯s subsequent calls went straight to an automated message, frustration bubbled up inside her. She stomped toward the master suite to find Cullen.


    She powered down the devicepletely and returned her attention to breakfast.


    Marco slid into the driver¡¯s seat of his sleek sedan, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel as uncertainty clouded his features. After a long moment, he pulled out his phone and dialed.


    Downstairs, Poppy was already bustling around the kitchen, preparing a hearty breakfast spread for Veronica, Adrian, and Thomas.


    Roughly thirty minutester, she reactivated the device.


    In the sterile hospital room, Niall¡¯s face brightened when she spotted Marco walking through the door. ¡°This is unexpected. What brought you back so soon?¡±


    Veronica had no intention of keeping her phone off indefinitely. After all, she needed to coordinate with Dario about their ongoing projects. Leon might also need to reach herter in the day.


    They worked together to produce a batch of perfectly steamed buns. Just as Veronica settled into her chair to enjoy the meal, her phone started buzzing.


    Cullen had just returned from his morning jog, still catching his breath and heading for the shower when he noticed her stormy expression. ¡°Something bothering you?¡±


    ¡°Give it some time and try again. She¡¯ll probably turn it back on eventually.¡±


    With time on her hands and nopanion in sight, naturally she¡¯d thought of her mother. But getting through to her was proving impossible.


    Sabrina¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Like, the battery died?¡±


    Veronica opened herptop, deliberately ignored the iing call, and dove into <b>her </b>research manuscript.


    170 Chapter 170¨CPhone Avoidance


    The question burned in her mind though. Had he really flown back for work obligations, or had he carved out time specifically for her? Sure, he hadn¡¯t rushed to her bedside the moment she¡¯d gotten hurt, but showing up now when his schedule allowed still carried weight.


    Poppy looked up with a warm smile when she appeared. ¡°Morning, sweetheart. You seem particrly bright today¡±


    ¡°Nate, I justnded. Got another flight out tonight, but I need to swing by the hospital first to see Niall. Can you check if Cullen¡¯s around? If not, meet me there yourself.¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s shoulders sagged with disappointment. ¡°I guess¡­¡±


    Almost immediately, Sabrina¡¯s call came through again.


    Veronica moved to help with the bread dough, her own smile genuine. ¡°I¡¯m feeling pretty good, actually.¡±


    After ending the call, Marco made stops at a florist and fruit market before driving to the hospital where Nate was waiting.


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    171 Chapter 171 Unexpected Coboration


    171 Chapter 171 ¨C Unexpected Coboration.


    ¡°I see.¡± Veronica¡¯s tone remained businesslike. ¡°I appreciate your assistance, Mr. Bell.¡±


    Cullen signaled to Frank. ¡°Please escort Mr. Bell to the exit.¡±


    Frank guided Leon into the executive conference room where Cullen waited. The two men exchanged a firm handshake before settling into their respective seats.


    Cullen stared at his phone screen for a long moment before speaking. ¡°Your mother isn¡¯t taking my calls either.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s probably swamped with work and missed it.¡± There had to be a reasonable exnation. Veronica would never ignore Cullen¡¯s calls under normal circumstances.


    During an afternoon strategy session with Dario, his phone interrupted their


    conversation with an unexpected call. Dario examined the caller identification with visible confusion.


    The ski slopes that usually thrilled her felt t and uninspiring without her preferredpanion. Her enthusiasm evaporated quickly, and she requested to return home within hours.


    Cullen studied her signature with an unreadable expression before redirecting his attention to Leon for their remaining business discussions.


    Following his hospital obligations, Cullen made his way to Dennis Group headquarters.


    Given such promising prospects, potential coborators would inevitably begin


    circling DataPulse like sharks sensing opportunity.


    ¡°Hospital, then the office.¡± Cullen¡¯s finger gently flicked her forehead in an affectionate gesture. ¡°Behave yourself while I¡¯m gone.¡±


    Leon acknowledged with a professional nod. ¡°Completely understood.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s hands closed around the documents.


    Upon departing Dennis Group¡¯s offices, Leon immediately contacted Veronica to provide aprehensive update on the meeting¡¯s oue.


    Cullen remained silent as Frank approached with an announcement. ¡°Mr. Bell has


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    arrived for your appointment.¡±


    Nate had made a special weekend trip to witness whether Veronica would follow through with her threat to sign the papers. The sight of the official documents made him lean forward eagerly. Upon spotting Veronica¡¯s unmistakable signature, his voice rose in genuine shock. ¡°She went through with it?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    The call went straight to silence as Veronica declined it immediately.


    Cullen reached for his phone without hesitation and dialed Veronica¡¯s number.


    ¡°That entirely depends on Mr. Dennis¡¯s efficiency in handling the transfers.¡±


    ¡°Send him up immediately.¡± Cullen instructed.


    Professionalworks ensured that industry leaders maintained each other¡¯s contact information despite infrequent directmunication.


    He extended the phone so she could see the disy. ¡°Maverick Harris is calling.¡±


    Ver¨®nica noticed his puzzled expression. ¡°Something troubling you?¡±


    The official announcements hadn¡¯t even been released to the public, yet Maverick had already positioned himself to make contact.


    Her voice carried a note of impatience. ¡°What kind of timeline are we looking at?¡±


    As their meeting approached its conclusion, Cullen addressed the practical concerns. ¡°The asset division involves substantialplexity ¨C multiple properties, corporate shareholdings, investment portfolios. I¡¯ll require adequate time to execute the necessary legal transfers. You¡¯ll hear from me once everything is properly arranged.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Cullen slipped into his tailored suit jacket and grabbed his ck overcoat from the chair. ¡°I have business to attend to. Take the security detail if you decide to


    leave the house.¡±


    Leon wasted no time on pleasantries. He retrieved the divorce papers from the previous day¡¯s signing session and ced them directly in front of Cullen.


    Maverick¡¯s sudden outreach defied all logical expectations. Dario epted the call with considerable skepticism.


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    The following morning brought a return to her established routine at DataPulse.


    Nate appeared in his office shortly after his arrival. Cullen¡¯s eyes found him immediately, prompting Nate to sh a knowing smile. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t miss this particr performance.¡±


    Two more attempts to reach Veronica yielded the same result ¨C no response. Resigned to her fate, she allowed the bodyguards and Chelsea to escort her for an afternoon of activities.


    Several minutester, he ended the conversation and faced Veronica with raised eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s proposing a coborative venture.¡±


    Veronica¡¯s current projects had generated significant industry buzz, with confirmed government partnerships virtually guaranteeing their sess.


    Their previous encounter at Ster had ended on such hostile terms that Dario assumed all future interactions were permanently severed.


    Her lower lip jutted out in a small pout as she pressed, ¡°Dad, hospital visit to check on Niall first, or straight to Dennis Group?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather wait for Mom toe with me¡­¡± Despite her asional frustration with Veronica¡¯s rules, she craved her mother¡¯s presence during outings.


    Dario allowed himself a cynical smile. ¡°Doran¡¯s reputation as a cunning strategist remains well¨Cdeserved.¡±

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    172 Chapter 172 ¨C Business Leverage


    Darioplied, and Marco¡¯s proposition unfolded exactly as predicted.


    More importantly, she now controlled the situation. The power dynamic had shifted decisively in her favor.


    The conversation ended, and Dario erupted into triumphantughter, pping the desk with glee. ¡°God, that felt incredible!¡±


    The prospect of a call from Cullen actually intrigued Dario. Yet as the day progressed, that particr call never materialized.


    Marco recognized thepetitivendscape surrounding their venture. Investors were practically fighting for consideration, giving Dario considerable leverage.


    She smiled genuinely. ¡°That sounds wonderful.¡±


    Veronica understood the real source of his irritation. Maverick¡¯s obvious attraction to


    Niall had always been a sore spot. Yet she remained unmoved by such petty concerns.


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll await your call.¡±


    Turning back to Veronica, he shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Maverick and Marco having early ess makes sense given their family connections. But the Lockers?¡±


    Dario¡¯s earlier satisfaction curdled into disgust. Yet he recognized that Veronica likely felt even worse about the situation.


    DataPulse and Ster operated in the same sector, making them naturalpetitors. Yetpetition didn¡¯t preclude coboration entirely. Their current projects offered numerous opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.


    Veronica understood his implication immediately. Either Cullen or Marco had


    provided the tip, both having obvious motivations for keeping Niall¡¯s family informed.


    ¡°Understood.¡± A bit of attitude was eptable, but serious business decisions demanded rationality over emotion.


    Hisughter gradually faded as a new thought urred to him. ¡°Do you think Cullen might pursue a partnership as well?¡±


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    Instead, his phone rang repeatedly with partnership proposals from various interested parties. Cullen¡¯s silence became increasingly conspicuous.


    The business world operated on its own twisted logic. Doran held connections that could make or break deals, and naturally, he would tip the scales in favor of his allies. This unspoken rule of high society had long since ceased to surprise Dario.


    Just as the workday neared its end, an unfamiliar number appeared on his screen. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he answered.


    ¡°My avability remains uncertain. Should my schedule clear, I¡¯ll reach out immediately.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m traveling for business currently,¡± Marco exined after outlining his proposal. ¡°I¡¯ll return to Porter tomorrow around noon. Would dinner tomorrow evening work for


    you?¡±


    Dario¡¯s grin turned sharp. ¡°Marco.¡±


    Marco rarely initiated contact with him under normal circumstances. The timing was too convenient to be coincidental. The Valerie family wielded considerable influence across political and military circles, ensuring their ess to insider information rivaled that of the Harris.


    Isaac¡¯s pitch followed the predictable pattern. Dario responded with practiced diplomacy. ¡°I appreciate your interest, Mr. Crystal. Should your proposal align with our requirements, we¡¯ll certainly give it proper consideration.¡±


    Veronica couldn¡¯t suppress her own amusement.


    Other parties deserved professional consideration despite personal grievances. The Crystal family, however, merited no such courtesy.


    Dario¡¯s response dripped with polite indifference. ¡°Your interest is appreciated, Mr. Valerie. However, our project remains in preliminary stages, and current obligations will prevent me from meeting tomorrow. Perhaps another time.¡±


    Contrary to his assumption, Veronica felt remarkably untroubled. She had made with these dynamics long ago. Those people no longer possessed the ability to destabilize her emotional equilibrium.


    peace


    Still, declining Dario¡¯s generous offer seemed ungracious.


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    Her tone stayed measured and professional. ¡°The project¡¯s sess and our profit margins take precedence. Personal feelings are irrelevant.


    Doran had crossed her path once before. While his motives remained questionable, Malcolm¡¯s respect for him spoke volumes about his character and reliability.


    Veronica¡¯s lips curved upward. ¡°Fair enough.¡± His satisfaction was harmless enough to indulge.


    Together, they departed for their well¨Cdeserved celebration.


    ¡°Thursday, then?¡±


    Dario froze mid¨Cstep. He pulled the phone away, meeting Veronica¡¯s eyes. ¡°Isaac Crystal.¡±


    They had barely resumed their discussion when his phone interrupted them again. The caller¡¯s identity painted a mixture of contempt and smug pleasure across his features.


    His tone softened with concern. ¡°Come on. Your senior¡¯s doing well financially. Let me treat you to something extravagant.¡±


    Isaac possessed enough intelligence to recognize diplomatic evasion when he heard it. Dario¡¯s words sounded encouraging on the surface, but their sincerity was questionable at best.


    A heavy sigh escaped Dario. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± The admission came reluctantly, more of an emotional release than genuine disagreement.


    ¡°Most certainly.¡±


    Marco¡¯s treatment of Veronica had always been deplorable. While dismissing Cullen¡¯s legitimate wife, he had embraced Niall with open arms, treating the mistress as family. In Dario¡¯s judgment, Marco¡¯s behavior was even more reprehensible than Maverick¡¯s.


    Veronica didn¡¯t need to guess. ¡°Another familiar face?¡±


    He clenched his jaw, frustration bleeding into his voice. ¡°We could use additional partners for the expansion, but Maverick makes my skin crawl.¡±


    His expression shifted to something almost predatory. ¡°Fortunately, we¡¯re not actively seeking investors yet. Let him sweat it out for a while.¡±


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    He attempted to arrange a dinner meeting, but Dario deflected with ims of scheduling conflicts before ending the call abruptly.


    Dario sought her approval with a nce. ¡°Should I take it?¡±


    Years of friendship had taught Dario to read her unspokenmunications perfectly.


    ¡°Partnership proposal?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Reid, I presume? This is Isaac Crystal, Niall¡¯s father.¡±


    Returning the phone to his ear, he forced warmth into his voice while his eyes remained cial. ¡°Mr. Crystal. How may I assist you?¡±


    The Crystal family remained rtive neers to Porter¡¯s social hierarchy, still struggling to establish their position. Their rapid acquisition of insider information suggested outside assistance.


    ¡°Answer it,¡± Veronica instructed. She refused to let personal animositypromise their business strategy.


    Veronica¡¯s expression remained neutral, but her silence spoke volumes.


    Veronica¡¯s response remained characteristically level. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say. Our focus should remain on the project¡¯s merits. Personal history is secondary.¡±


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    ¡°All those years of Niall¡¯s patience are about to pay off handsomely. Her time of happiness is almost here.¡±


    Once they had moved out of earshot, Edric finally broke his silence, ¡°Which one of you managed to get on his bad side?¡±


    Edric offered only a brief nod in acknowledgment.


    None of them, including Niall herself, had been aware of the divorce ns until Nate had let the information slip during casual conversation.


    Dario nodded curtly, clearly eager to end the exchange, ¡°We¡¯ll have to schedule that meal for another evening. We havemitments waiting.¡±


    Jade¡¯s face glowed with satisfaction, ¡°Cullen has been wanting this divorce for ages. Now that Niall nearly died protecting him, he¡¯s finally standing up to his grandmother and demanding his freedom from Veronica. His devotion to Niall runs deeper than anyone realized.¡±


    His reference to the changing tide pointed directly to Cullen and Veronica¡¯s impending divorce proceedings.


    Isaac¡¯s smile faltered for just a moment before he recovered, ¡°Of course, of course. We¡¯ll make proper arrangements soon.¡±


    Maverick¡¯s earlier behavior had been impossible to miss. He had refused to even nce in Veronica¡¯s direction, his dislike radiating from him like heat from a furnace.


    Isaac seized the moment, leaning in slightly, ¡°Since destiny has arranged this meeting, perhaps we should share a meal together?¡±


    Dario¡¯s response came swift and final, ¡°I appreciate the offer, but this is my private time. Perhaps we can arrange something more formalter.¡±


    Neither Veronica nor Dario had any awareness of the schemes brewing in the minds of the Crystal and Mack families.


    The discovery revealed that the divorce paperwork was taking longer to process than anyone had anticipated.


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    She turned her attention to Isaac and Sophia with meaningful intensity, ¡°You two might need to have a direct conversation with her¡±


    Dario muttered beside her, his voice low with irritation, ¡°This city is getting smaller by the day¡±


    His frown deepened into a scowl as he snapped, ¡°Can we please drop this subject entirely? I¡¯d rather focus on ordering our food.¡±


    ¡°Without question.¡± Both Dora and Isaac nodded approvingly, their smiles matching


    Jade¡¯s enthusiasm.


    Jade¡¯s voice carried a t, worried tone, ¡°I don¡¯t question Cullen¡¯s determination for a second. My concern centers on Veronica creating chaos and forcing Cullen to retreat from his position.¡±


    Dario and Veronica proceeded directly to their private dining room without further dy.


    The members of both families lit up when they spotted Dario, their faces brightening with calcted enthusiasm.


    Isaac stepped forward with his most charming smile stered across his face, ¡°Mr. Reid, fate keeps bringing us together.¡±


    The phone conversation from earlier had left Isaac hungry for more ess to Dario. This unexpected encounter felt like a golden opportunity he couldn¡¯t let slip through his fingers.


    Earlier that afternoon, Maverick had ced a call to Dario with hopes of arranging a dinner meeting to explore potential business coboration opportunities.


    Given Dario¡¯s notably cool reception, the possibility felt very real and very threatening.


    As they watched the pair disappear from view, Huxley¡¯s brow creased with concern, ¡°Niall mentioned that Dario has been keeping his distance from her because of Veronica¡¯s influence. What if he decides to cut ties with uspletely over the DataPulse project?¡±


    After exiting the elevator, Veronica and Dario were making their way toward their reserved private dining room when three imposing figures appeared in their path.


    Kolton jumped in with artificial enthusiasm, ¡°Absolutely, it¡¯s been far too long since


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    we¡¯ve all sat down together properly.¡±


    Dora¡¯s voice carried a note of calcted optimism, ¡°The bidding process for DataPulse won¡¯t begin for weeks. Nothing has been decided yet, which means every oue


    remains on the table.¡±


    Any reminder of his former fascination with Veronica¡¯s beauty andmanding presence now served only to fuel Maverick¡¯s irritation and embarrassment.


    Edric¡¯s response came measured and cool, ¡°Dario has always possessed sharp intelligence. Malcolm took him under his wing early, his academic specialization aligned perfectly with emerging market trends, and his natural abilities are exceptional. His current sess was inevitable.¡±


    ¡°But Cullen¡¯s heart has always belonged to Niall, and now that she almost sacrificed her life for his sake, he¡¯s directly confronting Veronica about divorce. This means he¡¯s finished allowing Niall to suffer in silence.


    Dario forced his features into a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°The coincidences just keeping.¡±


    Inside their private dining space, Kolton lifted his tea cup and made an observation, ¡°I have to give Dario credit where it¡¯s due. If those two major projectse through as nned, his financial worth will multiply exponentially.¡±


    The three men noticed them simultaneously and called out their greetings to Dario, ¡°Dario, another unexpected meeting.¡±


    Veronica nodded without sparing the assembled families even a nce, following Dario toward the elevator with deliberate indifference.


    ¡°When Cullen sets his mind on something, the odds of sess be overwhelming.¡±


    Dario had firmly declined the invitation.


    However, as Jade¡¯s gaze drifted toward the direction where Veronica and Dario had vanished, her smile dimmed considerably, ¡°That woman certainly won¡¯t ept the divorce quietly. What happens if she manages to sabotage the entire process?¡±


    While Dario had maintained surface politeness, his underlying attitude made it crystal clear that he had zero interest in prolonging their interaction.


    Isaac and Sophia had been wrestling with the same thought.


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    He then directed his attention toward Maverick with pointed curiosity, ¡°Kolton mentioned that you once had romantic interest in the woman apanying Dario, but that interest faded quickly.


    His attention shifted to the third man, ¡°Edric, I¡¯m surprised to see you out and about. Don¡¯t you usually spend your evenings buried in work?¡±


    Edric Patterson maintained his characteristically stoic expression, his handsome features revealing nothing, ¡°I decided to take some personal time off.¡±


    Dario managed a polite but distant smile in return, ¡°So it seems.¡±


    Maverick¡¯s frown deepened, but he remained silent on the matter.


    Edric raised his shoulders in a casual shrug and allowed the topic to die.


    Dario gave a curt nod and turned to Veronica, ¡°We should head upstairs.¡±


    Kolton looked genuinely confused, ¡°I can¡¯t think of anything I¡¯ve done to upset him.¡±


    Yet here they stood, face to face in the same restaurant. Maverick ignored Veronicapletely and pressed forward with his suggestion, ¡°Since fate has brought us together, why not make the most of it with a shared meal?¡±


    Dario¡¯s smile remained fixed but cold as he responded, ¡°I¡¯ll have to pass on that offer. I have pressing matters to attend to. Tonight isn¡¯t suitable.¡±


    At the upscale restaurant, Veronica¡¯s face remained stone cold as she watched the Crystal and Mack families approaching their table.


    Cullen had kept Niall in the dark to spare her unnecessary anxiety, nning to surprise her with the finalized documents when everything wasplete.


    Dora¡¯s expression hardened like ice, ¡°ording to what Niall has shared, Cullen rarely wavers once he¡¯s made a decision. His dy in seeking divorce before was purely strategic timing, he wanted to avoid devastating his grandmother.


    Veronica studied the three men approaching them.


    Upon seeing the trio, Dario¡¯s expression darkened dramatically, ¡°Am I carrying some kind of curse today?¡± he grumbled under his breath. The constant stream of unwanted encounters was testing his patience.


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    Andrew let out a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with confidence, ¡°Exactly right. Niall and Cullen¡¯s rtionship hit roadblocks because of Mrs. Dennis Senior¡¯s stubborn interference. But look how quickly the tide has turned in our favor. We shouldn¡¯t abandon hope when victory might be within reach.¡±


    Maverick, Kolton, and a third man whose face seemed familiar yet remained frustratingly unceable in her memory.


    Jade¡¯s spirits lifted noticeably at the reminder.


    ¡°Moving on from attraction is perfectly normal, but your current hostility toward her seems excessive. Did she do something specific to earn your contempt?¡±


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    174 Chapter 174 Unwavering Pursuit


    174 Chapter 174 ¨C Unwavering Pursuit


    Dario made his way to the reception area, his footsteps echoing in the marble corridor. Marco was already settled in one of the leather chairs, his posture rxed but alert. The moment he spotted Dario approaching alone, something shifted in his dark eyes, a flicker of calction thatsted only a fraction of a second.


    Marco rose smoothly to his feet, extending his hand with practiced confidence. ¡°I apologize for dropping by unannounced, Mr. Reid. I hope you¡¯ll forgive the intrusion.¡±


    ¡°It is a long time,¡± Cullen acknowledged with a slight nod.


    Wednesday morning arrived with its usual flurry of scheduled meetings. Veronica sat across from Dario in the ss¨Cwalled conference room, reviewing quarterly projections when his secretary appeared in the doorway. The woman¡¯s expression carried a hint of urgency as she approached Dario discreetly.


    Cullen continued eating steadily, his response measured and calm. ¡°Give it more time before trying again.¡±


    Upon returning to the conference room, Dario found that Veronica had wrapped up the quarterly review and was organizing the scattered documents into neat stacks.


    Cullen considered his schedule mentally before responding. ¡°Saturday ispletely booked for me, but Sunday should work. If you really want to go out on Saturday instead, you could always ask Marco and Cecelia to apany you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Reid, Marco Valerie is here to see you. He doesn¡¯t have an appointment, but he¡¯s waiting in the lobby.¡±


    and can


    That evening after they finished dinner, Veronica and Dario drove back to DataPulse headquarters to tackle the remaining work for the day.


    Late Friday afternoon, while Veronica was deep in concentration reviewing contract details, her phone suddenly buzzed against the desk. She nced at the screen and saw Sabrina¡¯s name disyed once again.


    When Dario finally closed the folder and set it aside, his face had grown notably more serious. ¡°Your sincerity is evident, Mr. Valerie, and I won¡¯t pretend the offer isn¡¯tpelling. However, I have other factors to consider before making such a significant


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    decision. I¡¯ll need time to properly evaluate everything¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the fourth time,¡± she said quietly, picking at her food without enthusiasm. ¡°Sincest Saturday, I¡¯ve tried calling Mom four separate times. She hasn¡¯t answered


    even once.¡±


    Marco¡¯s response was immediate and gracious. ¡°Naturally. Due diligence is essential in matters like these. If you have any questions about specific aspects of the proposal, or if you¡¯d like to discuss modifications to any terms, please don¡¯t hesitate to reach out. I¡¯mpletely open to negotiation.¡±


    ¡°Then you wait longer. Eventually, she¡¯ll be ready to talk.¡±


    Cullen was seated across from her at the breakfast table, methodically working through his own te when Sabrina spoke up, her voice thick with emotion.


    The reassurance in his voice helped ease some of the tightness in Sabrina¡¯s chest. She looked at him hopefully. ¡°How much longer do you think it will take?¡±


    Dario nodded slowly, though he felt a familiar knot of frustration forming in his chest. The rational part of his mind agreedpletely with Veronica¡¯s assessment. The emotional part, however, bristled at the idea of making Marco¡¯s life easier in any way. It left him feeling like a boxer with no opponent to fight, all that pent¨Cup energy with nowhere to go.


    Sabrina¡¯s appetite hadpletely vanished. ¡°What if she keeps ignoring me?¡±


    Veronica looked up briefly, her eyes meeting his with understanding. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Cullen paused his eating, considering the question seriously. ¡°Probably within the next two weeks.¡±


    The formal handshake felt loaded with unspoken tension, but Dario maintained his professional demeanor. ¡°Not at all, Mr. Valerie. Please, sit.¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s face fell dramatically. ¡°Two whole weeks? That feels like forever!¡±


    ¡°Marco certainly doesn¡¯t waste time,¡± Dariomented, loosening his tie slightly. ¡°Two days ago I declined his/proposal over the phone, and today he shows up with a fully developed business n. No unnecessary pleasantries, just straight to the heart of the matter.¡±


    Marco¡¯s reputation in the business world meant that simply turning him away would


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    be considered poor form, especially since he had already made the effort toe in person. Politics and courtesy demanded a meeting, regardless of Dario¡® personal feelings about the situation.


    ¡°I was hoping to go out this weekend,¡± Sabrina continued, her tone bing more animated as she tried to distract herself from her disappointment. ¡°Niall is still recovering from her injuries, so she can¡¯te with me. Would you be able to take me somewhere?¡±


    Veronica nced up from her paperwork, her expression thoughtful. ¡°There¡¯s no harm in taking some time to observe his business practices. If the partnership would genuinely benefit us, working with him could be the smart choice.¡±


    The meeting concluded efficiently, with Marco gathering his materials and offering polite farewells. His professionalism was wless, leaving Dario with no legitimateints about his conduct or approach. As courtesy dictated, Dario personally


    escorted him to the elevator.


    He paused, running a hand through his hair as he considered the implications. ¡°I have to admit, his offer is genuinely attractive.¡±


    Meanwhile, Sabrina stared at her phone screen with growing desperation. The frustration of being ignored was bing almost unbearable, and she had to physically restrain herself from hurling the device across the room. Instead, she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she sat down to her morning meal.


    Dario epted the document, his expression carefully neutral as he began to scan the contents. With each page he turned, his eyebrows climbed higher. The numbers were impressive, the terms favorable, and the potential benefits substantial. Marco had clearly done his homework, crafting an offer that would be difficult for any reasonable


    businessman to refuse.


    Two dayster, on Friday morning, Veronica had barely finished getting dressed when her phone rang again. Sabrina¡¯s persistence was unwavering, but so was Veronica¡¯s resolve. She set the device on her nightstand and walked into breakfast, leaving the call unanswered.


    ¡°¡°<i>e </i>kitchen to prepare


    Once they had both settled into the expensive furniture, Marco wasted no time on small talk. He reached into his briefcase and withdrew a thick folder, sliding it across the ss coffee table with deliberate precision. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared aprehensive cooperation proposal. I¡¯d appreciate it if you could review the terms.¡±


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    He nced at Veronica, who was still absorbed in the financial reports spread across the polished conference table. ¡°Continue with the meeting without me. I need to


    handle this.¡±


    Dario felt his jaw tighten involuntarily. He knew exactly why Marco had materialized at their offices without warning. The man¡¯s persistence was bing legendary, and Dario had to admit there was something almost admirable about his relentless pursuit of what he wanted.


    For the past several days, Sabrina had been calling sporadically, but Veronica continued to let each call go to voicemail. She turned the phone face down and returned her attention to the documents spread before her.


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 The Sprawling 175

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    175 Chapter 175 ¨C Custody Questions


    The sprawling entertainmentplex offered countless rides and attractions, from spinning teacups to towering roller coasters. Yet Sabrina moved through the park like a ghost, her usual enthusiasm nowhere to be found. Where she once would have raced from ride to ride with infectiousughter, now she merely went through the motions.


    The mncholy that had shadowed Sabrina for most of the afternoon seemed to evaporate in her father¡¯s presence. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, clearly reluctant to let go. ¡°It was really fun! We rode the bumper cars three times.¡±


    Listening to Sabrina¡¯s confession, Marco leaned forward slightly. ¡°Did something specific happen between you and your mom?¡±


    Marco understood the cruel irony of the situation. Sabrina remained blissfully unaware that her parents¡® marriage was dissolving around her. The adults had


    constructed an borate facade to protect her innocence.


    Cullen pulled out his phone and dialed Marco¡¯s number, requesting that he watch over


    Sabrina for the weekend.


    Something was clearly weighing on her mind.


    Marco returned from the concession stand carrying three ice cream cones, distributing them to the girls before settling beside Sabrina on a nearby bench.


    Marco felt his chest tighten with the knowledge he carried. The divorce papers bearing both Veronica and Cullen¡¯s signatures were already filed, officially granting Cullen full custody of Sabrina. The legal proceedings had concluded swiftly and


    quietly.


    Studying her delicate features that reminded him so much of Veronica, he kept his voice gentle. ¡°Sa, you seem different today. What¡¯s bothering you?¡±


    Sabrina perched on the edge of a colorful swing set, taking tiny, methodical licks of her vani ice cream. Her voice barely rose above a whisper. ¡°I really miss her.¡±


    ep thinking about Mom. I


    The truth Marco couldn¡¯t share was moreplicated. He had deliberately avoided reaching out to Veronica recently, not because of her work obligations, but because he


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    175 Chapter 175¨CCustody Questions


    recognized the magnitude of what she was enduring. The divorce itself was traumatic enough without adding the devastating blow of losing primary custody of her


    daughter.


    But he remained uncertain about how the former couple had been navigating their new reality since the ink dried on those documents.


    Saturday morning arrived with Marco collecting both Sabrina and Cecelia for their trip to Happy Valley amusement park.


    Once he confirmed that both children were absorbed in coloring the restaurant¡¯s activity sheets and wouldn¡¯t overhear their conversation, Marco shifted closer to Cullen. His voice dropped to a more serious tone. ¡°I know the custody arrangement gives you primary guardianship, but what¡¯s the situation with visitation? How are you handling Veronica¡¯s time with Sa?¡±


    Cullen cut an impressive figure in his tailored charcoal suit, having left his overcoat in the car due to the mild weather. He crouched down to Sabrina¡¯s level and swept her up into his arms, gently pinching her rosy cheek with obvious affection. ¡°Did Marco and Cecelia show you a good time today?¡±


    Cullen carried her into the upscale restaurant he had selected for dinner, only setting


    offered her down once they reached their reserved private dining room. The space them privacy andfort away from curious eyes.


    As the afternoon stretched toward evening, Cullen¡¯s call came right on schedule at five o¡¯clock. ¡°Where should I meet you guys?¡±


    Recently, her mother had been juggling demanding work schedules, yet she still managed to answer every call within a few rings. More often than not, she would drop everything to rush home and prepare Sabrina¡¯s favorite meals.


    Sabrina gave a quick nod. ¡°That sounds fine.¡± As long as she wouldn¡¯t be wandering around by herself, she could handle it.


    The weight of this secret made it difficult for him to find the right words. After a long pause, he offered whatfort he could. ¡°Your mom loves you more than anything in this world. I guarantee she¡¯s not avoiding your calls intentionally. Sometimes grown¨Cups get overwhelmed with responsibilities, but that doesn¡¯t change how much we care about the people who matter most.¡±


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    Marco¡¯s voice came through clearly. ¡°Of course, no problem.¡±


    He suspected that asking Veronica to spend time with Cecelia right now might only amplify her pain, serving as a constant reminder of what she had lost.


    Cecelia, who had been quietly observing the exchange while finishing her ice cream, scooted closer to offer her own form of support. ¡°I miss Aunt Veronica too. She always remembers to bring me those chocte cookies I like. But Uncle Marco exined that she¡¯s been really swamped with work stufftely. Adults have to deal with boring things sometimes, but it doesn¡¯tst forever.¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡± The transformation in Sabrina was immediate and dramatic. Despite Marco¡¯s kindness throughout the day, her entire demeanor shifted when she spotted Cullen approaching.


    Marco waved off the gratitude with characteristic modesty. ¡°It was hardly work at all. The girls entertained each other most of the time. I just had to make sure they didn¡¯t wander off or eat too much junk food.¡±


    Marco nodded but chose not to borate further, sensing the dangerous territory


    they were approaching.


    Cullen immediately grasped the underlying concern in Marco¡¯s question. A brief, humorlessugh escaped him. ¡°You think I¡¯m being vindictive? That I¡¯m deliberately keeping Veronica away from her own daughter?¡±


    Now, however, her repeated attempts to reach her mother met only with silence. The phone would ring endlessly before switching to voicemail. Thisplete radio silence was unprecedented and terrifying.


    Turning his attention to Marco, Cullen extended his hand in a brief but firm


    handshake. ¡°I appreciate you taking care of her today.¡±


    During their time living overseas, there had been stretches where she wouldn¡¯t see her mother for months at a time due to workmitments. But even then, their daily phone conversations had bridged the distance, filling the gaps with warmth and


    connection.


    twent with


    Marco provided their current location, and within twenty minutes, Cullen¡¯s sleek ck sedan pulled into the parking area.


    Sabrina found herself exining the situation in halting sentences, describing her


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    mother¡¯s sudden andplete unavability. Each unanswered call felt like a small rejection, building into a mountain of anxiety.


    Sabrina managed a small smile. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s small shoulders rxed slightly. ¡°Dad told me something simr.¡±


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    12:54

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    176 Chapter 176 ¨C Alternative Proposals.


    As she prepared to open the folder, a gentle knock interrupted them. One of Dario¡¯s secretaries slipped inside, leaning close to Veronica¡¯s car. ¡°Ms. Murray, there are two individuals in the lobby requesting to see you. They identified themselves as Isaac and Niall Crystal. Should I escort them to your office-¡±


    Marco¡¯s hand stilled momentarily. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± His curiosity piqued, and he countered, ¡°What about you? nning to throw your hat in the ring?¡±


    Cullen¡¯s shoulders lifted in a nomittal shrug. ¡°Still weighing my options. No need to rush into anything just yet.¡±


    Despite his reservations about her technicalpetency, Maverick chose diplomacy over confrontation. Creating friction would serve no purpose.


    After more than thirty minutes of careful review, Veronica closed the document and met his gaze. ¡°Mr. Harris, this proposal demonstrates exceptional alignment with our current objectives. Your team has clearly invested considerable effort in


    understanding our requirements. We¡¯ll give this serious consideration during our decision¨Cmaking process.¡±


    Their conversation halted abruptly when both children nced their way, their innocent faces reminding the men to keep adult matters private.


    Maverick¡¯s mind raced. Overseeing operations? What authority did she actually hold? Was she speaking as Dario¡¯s romantic partner, attempting to leverage their personal rtionship into professional influence?


    Her concentration appeared genuine, her eyes moving methodically across each page as if she truly grasped every technical detail and strategic implication.


    Unfortunately, Dario had departed on business the previous day, leaving the office without its primary decision¨Cmaker.


    Maverick made his appearance on Thursday afternoon.


    When Veronica received word of Maverick¡¯s arrival, she immediately set aside her current project and made her way to the reception area.


    Cullen¡¯s voice carried a casual undertone when he shifted topics. ¡°Word is you¡¯ve been


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    having discussions with DataPulsetely.¡±


    The weekend had been exactly what she needed¨Cpeaceful, productive, and blissfully. free from distractions.


    Maverick had no intention of engaging in substantive discussions with Veronica. His real conversation would happen when Dario returned and they could speak directly, leader to leader.


    More concerning was her decision to handle this meeting solo, without bringing along any technical advisors or engineers who might better understand the nuances of their pitch.


    Settling back into his seat, he retrieved a thick folder from his briefcase. ¡°Here¡¯s ourprehensive proposal. I¡¯d be grateful if you could review it.¡±


    Meanwhile, Veronica remained buried in her thesis work, the pages scattered across her desk like fallen leaves. After dedicating a full day and a half to the project, she finally allowed herself a break on Sunday evening, meeting Whitney for dinner. They strolled through the city streets for over two hours, window shopping and catching up before Veronica finally returned to her apartment.


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Veronica cut her off quietly but firmly. ¡°Please inform them they need to leave immediately.¡±


    The door swung open to reveal Maverick rising from his chair. His expression shifted subtly when he realized Veronica was alone.


    ¡°Understood, Ms. Murray.¡±


    Still, Dario¡¯s apparent trust in her was undeniable.


    After the secretary departed, Veronica offered Maverick an apologetic smile before diving into his proposal.


    Even if her im held validity, their proposal contained intricate technical


    specifications and industry jargon. Could she possiblyprehend theplexity of what they were presenting?/


    Monday morning brought her back to DataPulse¡¯s familiar corridors. Thepany buzzed with renewed energy as potential partners who had previously limited themselves to phone calls with Dario began scheduling face¨Cto¨Cface meetings, arriving


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    with detailed proposals tucked under their arms.


    Cullen lifted his teacup, steam curling between them as he spoke. ¡°The custody arrangement gives me primary guardianship, but the terms are crystal clear¨Cshe has unlimited visitation rights with Sabrina.¡±


    The revtion caught Marco off guard. He had assumed the custody battle would be more restrictive.


    Maverick observed her performance with measured patience. If she wanted to


    maintain this facade of expertise, he wouldn¡¯t challenge her directly. He had nowhere urgent to be.


    Marco acknowledged with a quiet sound of understanding.


    Veronica approached with professional confidence, her hand extended. ¡°Mr. Harris, I¡¯m Veronica Murray. Dario left for a business trip yesterday and won¡¯t be returning for several days. I¡¯m overseeing allpany operations in his absence. Whatever you need to discuss, you can address with me directly.¡±


    As she read, her appreciation for Maverick¡¯s approach grew. Despite arrivingter than hispetitors, he had clearly used that time to his advantage. His proposal was meticulously crafted, addressing nearly every requirement she had outlined.


    He epted her handshake briefly. ¡°I appreciate your time, Ms. Murray.¡±


    However, maintaining professional courtesy remained essential. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your positive assessment. The possibility of partnering with DataPulse is genuinely exciting for our organization.¡±


    Veronica epted the document with steady hands. ¡°Of course. Let me examine this thoroughly.¡±


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    177 Chapter 177 ¨C Calcted Dismissal


    Following a few moments of polite conversation, Niall posed her question. ¡°Mr. Harris, are you here to explore a business partnership with Mr. Reid?¡±


    Maverick straightened his tie and nodded curtly. ¡°I have several other appointments to handle today, Ms. Murray. Until we meet again.¡±


    She gestured toward Ramona, who had been quietly organizing documents at the side table. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, would you please escort Mr. Harris to the exit?¡±


    Maverick had stopped by Ster the previous week only to discover Niall¡¯s absence. When he inquired about her whereabouts, colleagues filled him in on the extent of her injuries.


    The hospital stay had been rough on her. Even now, herplexion held a pallor that hadn¡¯t been there before, and fatigue seemed to cling to her like a shadow.


    Isaac studied Maverick¡¯s refined appearance and expensive suit, immediately recognizing the markers of wealth and influence. His curiosity peaked. ¡°Niall, do you know this gentleman?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. What brings you and your father here today?¡±


    Was


    Maverick¡¯s voice carried a sharp edge. ¡°While Mr. Reid is indeed traveling, I received by Ms. Murray ¨C the same woman we encountered during our previous visit


    to Ster.


    Instead, they had encountered Maverick.


    Before she could formte a response to the awkward encounter, Niall¡¯s phone buzzed with an iing call. She nced at the screen and answered immediately.


    ¡°Cullen?¡±


    She had managed to return to most of her regr activities, moving carefully but independently.


    The sight stirred something/protective in Maverick¡¯s chest.


    ¡°She exined that in Mr. Reid¡¯s absence, she was authorized to handle all DataPulse business matters and could conduct negotiations on his behalf.¡±


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    She turned toplete the introduction. ¡°Mr. Harris, I¡¯d like you to meet my father, Isaac Crystal.¡±


    Niall shook her head. ¡°No. His secretary informed us of his absence and requested that we leave.¡±


    For the first time that afternoon, genuine warmth spread across her features. ¡°You made it? Perfect timing. I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    Two weeks had passed since Niall¡¯s ident. The worst of her injuries had mended, though she hadn¡¯t fully recovered her strength yet.


    What couldn¡¯t be questioned was the stark difference in treatment ¨C she had weed Maverick upstairs while deliberately turning Niall away. The discrimination was unmistakable.


    Maverick suspected they had seen through the polite rejection for what it really was ¨C an excuse to avoid the meeting entirely. Their persistence in waiting suggested they hoped to intercept Dario upon his return.


    She ced a gentle hand on her father¡¯s arm. ¡°Dad, I think it¡¯s time we headed home.¡±


    Her voice remained steady and neutral. ¡°This is Maverick Harris.¡±


    Niall observed the change and pressed him. ¡°What is it? Have you noticed something


    unusual?¡±


    None of that concerned her. Business deals weren¡¯t built on friendship. She needed strategic partnerships that would benefit her position, not drinking buddies or social


    connections.


    Maverick opened his mouth to offer some form of support or protest when the elevator chimed behind them.


    Maverick turned, recognizing the voice immediately. Niall and Isaac remained exactly where they had been left earlier.


    Maverick studied their continued presence in the lobby and frowned. ¡°You weren¡¯t invited up for a meeting?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately not. He¡¯s currently traveling on business.¡± Isaac let out a shortugh. ¡°Well, that settles it. Mr. Reid genuinely is out of town. I was beginning to wonder if that was simply a polite way of avoiding us.¡±


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    The truth of Veronica¡¯s authority to represent DataPulse remained questionable.


    Isaac¡¯s face registered shock and growing indignation.


    Veronica emerged from the building¡¯s interior, stopping short when she spotted the trio gathered near the entrance.


    Maverick¡¯s expression hardened noticeably.


    Isaac¡¯s jaw tightened with obvious displeasure at how Veronica had manipted the situation. However, seeing Niall¡¯sposed eptance, he reluctantly agreed. ¡°If you think that¡¯s best.¡±


    The moment Maverick stepped out of the building, a voice called out from across the lobby area.


    Niall caught the brief sh of worry that crossed Maverick¡¯s features before he could


    mask it.


    Maverick¡¯s demeanor shifted to one of formal respect upon learning Isaac¡¯s rtionship to Niall. ¡°Mr. Crystal, it¡¯s an honor to make your acquaintance.¡±


    With practiced ease, she returned his distant smile with one of her own. ¡°Of course. I look forward to our next discussion.¡±


    ¡°The same purpose.¡± Niall confirmed with a slight nod. ¡°Were you able to meet with Mr.


    Reid?¡±


    Yet knowing she had sustained those injuries while attempting to rescue Cullen left him grappling with conflicted emotions he couldn¡¯t quite voice.


    Veronica had picked up on Maverick¡¯s cool demeanor from the moment he entered the conference room. Despite his professional courtesy throughout their discussion, she could feel the wall of reserve he maintained between them. His polite smile never quite reached his eyes, and his responses carried an undertone of detachment that spoke volumes.


    Niall absorbed this information with apparent calm, then replied evenly, ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Harris?¡±


    Ramona had delivered her/message about Dario being unavable due to business travel, strongly suggesting they reschedule their visit. Yet here they sat, clearly having


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    178 Chapter 178 ¨C Maic Attention


    Observing Veronica walking out beside them without any apparent hesitation, Isaac experienced both surprise and irritation, his expression darkening.


    The instant Dario and Veronica stepped into the hall, Marco, Nate, Edric, and Maverick all immediately focused their attention on them.


    Niall agreed with a nod, and she departed alongside Isaac without a backward nce.


    With this thought, she met his hostile gaze with equal coldness before dismissively turning away, walking toward the exit as though they were invisible.


    However, observing how Niall refused to acknowledge Veronica¡¯s existence entirely, he understood that she held suchplete contempt for the woman that she wouldn¡¯t waste the energy required for basic courtesy.


    The caller was Sabrina.


    She had been declining these calls, hoping this approach might reduce their frequency. However, Sabrina continued calling two or three times weekly.


    This evening, Veronica had chosen an off¨Cwhite, hand¨Cembroidered evening gown that perfectlyplemented her elegant silhouette while projecting an intellectual, tranquil beauty.


    So now, whenever she wanted to speak with Veronica, despite knowing the call might go unanswered, she still reached out immediately.


    Veronica didn¡¯t need to decode the meaning behind that look. Maverick wasn¡¯t the first man to develop an instant dislike for her simply because of Niall¡¯s influence.


    Following the call, she casually set aside her phone and observed Cullen, who was now wearing a formal suit.


    Despite their contrasting styles, both Niall and Veronica represented the pinnacle of feminine beauty,


    In the parking area, Cullen had already emerged from his vehicle and was positioned against the door, waiting for Niall¡¯s arrival.


    Witnessing Niall¡¯s confident and straightforward attitude, Maverick found himself


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    even more drawn to her maic presence.


    Someone within the crowd whispered, ¡°One must admit, both Mr. Dennis and Mr. Reid- are exceptionally fortunate men.¡±


    Saturday afternoon found Veronica selecting her evening attire when her phone began ringing.


    Kolton confirmed with a nod. ¡°Indeed. She¡¯s quite beautiful and captivating, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± However, regardless of her beauty or appeal, she belonged to someone


    else.


    Unlike previous asions, Sabrina no longer experienced the same level of disappointment.


    In that moment, he decided there was no value in engaging with Veronica. She simply wasn¡¯t worth the effort. This realization only intensified his growing distaste for her.


    Sprawled across the master bed, she swung her legs yfully. ¡°Dad, are you leaving this early to collect Niall?¡±


    Maverick felt genuinely stunned.


    As her vehicle moved forward, she glimpsed Cullen considerately opening the car door for Niall with his characteristic tender attention.


    When Maverick spotted Niall, that familiar sh of appreciation appeared in his eyes


    once more.


    Veronica noticed Cullen as well. However, without acknowl


    proceeded directly to her own car.


    Cullen confirmed with a sound of agreement.


    anyone else, she


    By eight o¡¯clock that evening, Cullen and Niall made their entrance at the banquet together.


    Maverick had been prepared to confront Veronica directly and defend Niall¡¯s honor.


    Niall had again chosen an expensive ensemble, appearing absolutely stunning and impossible to overlook.


    Nate had anticipated her possible attendance but hadn¡¯t expected her to appear so


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    breathtakingly beautiful. Even despite his personal feelings toward her, he was forced to acknowledge that Veronica¡¯s distinctive, serene charm was absolutely undeniable.


    Upon learning about Maverick¡¯s conduct, he responded with a cold sneer. ¡°Given those circumstances, there¡¯s no reason for us to pursue a partnership with him. There¡¯s no benefit in dealing with someone so insufferable.¡±


    He addressed Niall, ¡°I¡¯m departing as well. Shall we leave together?¡±


    She delivered these words without so much as a sideways look at Veronica. Then she continued, ¡°Mr. Harris, we should be going now. Perhaps we¡¯ll see you another time.¡±


    He released a derisiveugh. Incredible. The world truly contained every type of person imaginable.


    Niall¡¯s stride briefly wavered but immediately steadied, maintaining the pretense that she hadn¡¯t registered Veronica¡¯s presence at all.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    Edric observed Cullen and Niall briefly before asking Kolton, ¡°Is that Niall Crystal?¡±


    However, Marco remained uncertain whether Veronica would apany him. Now, witnessing her arrival with her arm linked through Dario¡®, his expression grew more


    intense.


    ¡°Then you both need to return early tomorrow and spend time with me.¡±


    At that precise moment, Dario and Veronica made their entrance.


    Rather than showing any shame at being confronted, she was disying an almost righteous defiance.


    Edric looked only briefly before averting his gaze without offering anymentary.


    Maverick, Edric, and Kolton had also just arrived. Noticing the disturbance, they


    turned to observe.


    Veronica found herself inplete agreement.


    Cullen¡¯s mere presencemanded immediate respect. Upon his arrival, numerous people approached to offer their greetings.


    Saturday evening brought a banquet, and Dario had returned Friday afternoon.


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    DataPulse currently held the position as the industry¡¯s most discussedpany. Therefore, Dario¡® attendance at the banquet naturally drew eager attention from all directions.


    Spotting Veronica exiting with the group, he paused momentarily before quickly recovering hisposure.


    The moment they entered the hall, they immediately became the focal point of everyone¡¯s attention.


    After programming her navigation system, she drove away.


    ¡°Certainly.¡±


    Maverick wasn¡¯t the only viable business partner in their field. She had no intention ofpromising her dignity for his sake.


    Since DataPulse had be the industry¡¯s most prominent topic, the banquet host¡¯s invitation to Dario came as no surprise.


    Marco and Nate had arrived earlier. Seeing the couple¡¯s entrance, they approached


    them.


    Initially, her mother¡¯s repeated refusal to take her calls had caused her significant heartache. But her father had advised her that if she feltpelled to call, she should follow that impulse, because eventually, her mom would answer.


    Simultaneously, many found themselves captivated by Veronica¡¯s striking appearance.


    ¡°Yes.¡± When discussing Cullen, Niall¡¯s voice took on a noticeably warmer tone. ¡°My injuries are still healing, and Cullen was concerned about me, so he insisted oning


    to get me.¡±


    While Niallpletely ignored Veronica¡¯s presence, Maverick couldn¡¯t resist turning back to deliver a withering stare before following them out.


    Veronica chose not to answer this call either.


    Cullen departed roughly ten minutes afterpleting his preparations.


    Soon, a substantial crowd had formed around him and Niall.


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    Maverick¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°History or not, that doesn¡¯t give her the right to weaponize her position for personal vendettas.¡±


    Edric set down his ss thoughtfully. ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s some history between her and Ms. Crystal that we¡¯re not aware of. These things rarely happen in a vacuum.¡±


    Marco sensed her scrutiny and shifted his attention back to their group. ¡°Something on your mind?¡±


    Kolton, however, seemed immune to such concerns. Veronica was exactly his type, and he lingered over the view with obvious appreciation. When he noticed Maverick¡¯s dramatic reaction, curiosity got the better of him. ¡°What¡¯s eating you? You look like you¡¯ve seen something disgusting. Did she do something to you recently?¡±


    As for Veronica, Marco had made no secret of his disdain for her. His feelings toward her bordered on outright hostility. No amount of beauty could ovee that fundamental antipathy.


    From her vantage point across the room, Niall observed the disy with barely concealed contempt. She allowed herself a derisive snort before ncing toward Cullen, curious about his reaction to the spectacle.


    ount of


    Maverick needed no further encouragement. Heunched into a detailed the incident at DataPulse from several days prior, his voice growing more heated as he recounted each humiliating detail.


    Many had observed Dario delegating important responsibilities to her during his absences, treating her as a trusted lieutenant rather than a mere subordinate.


    Dario was clearly a man intoxicated by love, determined to elevate his woman in the eyes of society. Given Veronica¡¯s stunning appearance and his own meteoric rise to prominence, such devotion seemed natural enough.


    Niall¡¯s smile was carefully innocent. ¡°Not at all.¡±


    The technology driving everything from the ECHO project to their most recent breakthroughs had her fingerprints all over it. He couldn¡¯t reveal the ssified details of her involvement, naturally. Government contracts came with irond


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    non¨Cdisclosure agreements that protected both the technology and the personnel involved. But he could ensure that people understood her value.


    His public endorsement now reinforced what most had already suspected. Veronica possessed genuine business acumen thatplemented her obvious physical assets.


    Actually, his interest was probably directed at Dario rather than Veronica. Niall knew Marco had been pursuing a partnership with DataPulse for months.


    He turned toward Veronica, his eyes warming as they settled on her face. ¡°Particrly Veronica. Her contributions have been absolutely essential to our sess.¡±


    Cullen had looked in Veronica¡¯s direction briefly before dismissing the scene entirely, his attention already wandering to more interesting matters.


    However, his im that DataPulse owed its current positionrgely to her efforts struck many as romantic hyperbole. After all, everyone knew she¡¯d only joined thepany a few months ago.


    When he finished, Kolton whistled low. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned. Never would have pegged Ms. Murray for that type of yer.¡±


    This reaction pleased Niall immensely. She started to look away herself when she noticed Marco¡¯s intense focus on the couple receiving all the attention.


    Sensing the conversation heading toward dangerous territory, Edric chose discretion over continued spection.


    Edric also withdrew his gaze, his expression carefully neutral.


    Marco let the matter drop. The crowd around Dario and Veronica had begun to disperse slightly, creating an opening for approach. ¡°I should pay my respects to Dario while I have the chance. Cullen, have you made a decision about the DataPulse partnership? This might be an opportune moment to make contact together.¡±


    These private thoughts remained carefully hidden behind polished smiles and diplomaticpliments. ¡°Ms. Murray certainly exemplifies the perfectbination of intelligence and beauty.¡±


    Dario handled the attention with practiced grace. ¡°You¡¯re all far too generous with your praise. DataPulse¡¯s achievements are the product of countless dedicated individuals working toward amon goal.¡±


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    Nate found himself momentarily captivated by the stunning woman who had just entered the banquet hall. Veronica¡¯s appearance was breathtaking, her elegant silhouette drawing every eye in the room. But the moment recognition dawned, his admiration curdled into something cold and bitter. Beneath that wless exteriory something twisted and corrupt. The realization killed his interest instantly, and he deliberately turned his attention elsewhere.


    DataPulse had been thrust into the spotlight recently, and with that attention came scrutiny of everyone associated with thepany. Most people knew by now that Veronica wasn¡¯t just another employee. Her rtionship with Dario had elevated her to a position of significant influence within the organization.


    Across the room, Veronica and Dario had be the center of a growing crowd. The city¡¯s elite pressed close, each person eager to curry favor with the man of the hour.


    Maverick experienced a simr reaction. For a brief second, Veronica¡¯s beauty had struck him speechless. Then reality crashed back, bringing with it the memory of her true nature. His face contorted with revulsion as he forced himself to look away, unable to stomach the sight of her any longer.


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 The Sprawling 180

    180 Chapter 180 ¨C Invisible Treatment


    180 Chapter 180 ¨C Invisible Treatment


    ¡°Should you identify specific deficiencies in my current proposal, I¡¯ll return withprehensive revisions for your consideration, Mr. Reid,¡± he stated with forced diplomacy,


    Rather than probe into matters that weren¡¯t his concern, Marco chose discretion and proceeded as if he hadn¡¯t witnessed the underlying tension. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared updated materials for your review as well. Would you and Ms. Murray be avable for dinner Monday evening?¡±


    The slight was unmistakable. Dario felt his jaw tighten as his smile became increasingly strained. ¡°Mr. Harris decided to join us as well? My apologies. I was upied with other matters earlier and failed to notice your arrival.¡±


    Without another word, Maverick turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.


    The banquet attracted an impressive array of sophisticated and breathtaking women from the city¡¯s most prominent families.


    His gaze shifted coldly to Veronica, studying her with calcted disdain. He was certain she had filled Dario¡¯s ears with her version of recent events, poisoning any chance of professional neutrality.


    Marco appreciated the honest response. ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to hear.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Valerie,¡± she said, her smile radiant and inviting. ¡°Would you honor me with a


    dance?¡±


    Within moments, apanied by enthusiastic apuse and the gentle swell of orchestral music, the host and hostess glided onto the dance floor for the traditional opening waltz. The romantic disy encouraged other couples to join the elegant


    procession.


    Veronica maintained herposure, offering a cordial nod. ¡°Mr. Valerie.¡±


    Dario had never harbored particr warmth toward Marco, given his close


    associations with both Niall and Cullen. Even Marco¡¯s impressive proposal hadn¡¯t been enough to ovee those personal reservations


    However, Marco¡¯s current effort to set aside past conflicts,bined with his


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    180 Chapter 180¨CInvisible Treatment


    deliberate inclusion of Veronica in the dinner invitation, began to shift Dario¡¯s perception in a more favorable direction.


    The elegant figure of Marco emerged from the crowd, making his way toward them with practiced confidence. His eyes swept between Veronica and Dario as he


    approached. ¡°Mr. Reid, Ms. Murray.¡±


    Throughout the entire exchange, Maverick had treated Veronica as if she were invisible, never once directing a word or nce in her direction.


    The implication hung heavily in the air. When Veronica was involved, Dario¡¯s usual business objectivity became negotiable.


    Before the tension could settle, Maverick materialized beside Marco, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. Unlike Marco¡¯s inclusive greeting, Maverick¡¯s attention focused solely on Dario, deliberately excluding Veronica from his acknowledgment. ¡°Mr. Reid.¡±


    Maverick¡¯s sharp instincts immediately detected the increased hostility in Dario¡¯s tonepared to their previous meeting. The change didn¡¯t surprise him in the least.


    Marco, positioned close enough to observe the subtle dynamics, recognized


    immediately that Maverick¡¯s pointed dismissal of Veronica was directly connected to Dario¡¯s rejection of the business proposal.


    Despite his growing animosity toward Dario, abandoning the DataPulse opportunity wasn¡¯t an option he could entertain.


    Maverick¡¯s mind raced back to Doran¡¯s explicit instructions. The next two years requiredser focus on securing DataPulse partnerships. Thepany¡¯s uing projects held far more significance than most industry insiders realized.


    Still, he maintained professional boundaries. ¡°Monday presents some uncertainty in my schedule. If circumstances permit, I¡¯ll contact you with confirmation. You have my word on that, Mr. Valerie.¡±


    As if summoned by perfect timing, the evening¡¯s host stepped onto the elevated stage


    and called for everyone¡¯s attention.


    As the music continued to y, a stunning socialite approached Marco with confident


    grace.


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    ¡°Naturally. Ver provided me with aplete report. Dario¡¯s response came without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ve also taken the time to thoroughly examine your proposal. The work quality is undeniably impressive, however¡­¡± He paused deliberately. ¡°From a personal standpoint, it simply doesn¡¯t align with my preferences. Therefore, I must apologize, Mr. Harris, but regarding any potential coboration between us, I¡¯m afraid the answer


    is-¡±


    Unfazed by Dario¡¯s obvious displeasure, Maverick pressed forward with his agenda. ¡°I made a visit to DataPulse several days ago. I trust you¡¯ve been informed of my presence, Mr. Reid?¡±


    ¡°Under normal circumstances, that assessment would be urate.¡± With the pretense finally abandoned, Dario allowed himself a knowing smile. ¡°However, certain situations call for different approaches.¡±


    Dario felt his earlier warmth drain from his expression. The smile that had been so genuine moments before now felt forced. ¡°Mr. Valerie.¡±


    ¡°I was under the impression that you maintained clear boundaries betwee


    affairs and professional decisions, Mr. Reid.¡±


    personal


    Maverick hadn¡¯t anticipated such tant favoritism from someone of Dario¡¯s business reputation. His expression darkened with frustration.


    His attention briefly shifted to Marco before returning to Dario. ¡°Given your currentmitments, I won¡¯t monopolize any more of your valuable time. Good evening.¡±


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    The other couple appeared ready to begin their own dance, and their timing created a moment where all four found themselves exchanging nces simultaneously.


    With her fingers securely nestled in his grasp, Dario guided her confidently toward the polished dance floor.


    With this reasoning in mind, Dario reconsidered his initial resistance.


    As Veronica and Dario made their entrance onto the dance floor, their attention was immediately drawn to Cullen and Niall positioning themselves nearby.


    Consequently, numerous women harbored hopes of securing a dance with any one of these highly sought¨Cafter men.


    Nevertheless, several young women from prominent families maintained


    long¨Cstanding friendships with their respective families.


    Much like Edric¡¯s approach to the evening, Maverick had arrived with absolutely no intention of participating in the dancing.


    Veronica possessed natural dancing ability that matched her grace in other areas of life.


    However, upon reflection, Edric undeniably possessed numerous admirable qualities, and nothing about him suggested he would prove an unsuitablepanion for


    Veronica.


    A slight frown creased her brow as confusion flickered through her mind. Almost immediately, she recognized her mistake with crystal rity.


    The woman possessed an undeniably attractive face, and her interest in Dario was transparently obvious and barely concealed.


    Lost in his own theatrical moment, he swept into an exaggerated bow with flourish, extending his hand with all the ceremony of a courtly gentleman. ¡°Would you grant me the extraordinary privilege of dancing with the most captivating woman in this entire ballroom, Ms. Murray?¡±


    Observing this exchange, Marco turned his attention to his ownpanion and


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    extended his hand with practiced politeness to the woman standing beside him.


    Edric answered with characteristic nonchnce, ¡°Either arrangement works perfectly fine for me.¡± Dario stood there in stunned silence.


    Veronica responded with diplomatic grace. She nced toward Dario, who appeared genuinely surprised by this unexpected development, and replied diplomatically, ¡°I have no objections personally, though I cannot speak for Mr. Patterson regarding his preferences.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s warm expression was meant entirely for Niall, his chosen partner. His attention had never wandered to Veronica even for an instant.


    This maic presence naturally attracted numerous men who harbored desires to trade ces with Dario as her dance partner, and Kolton found himself prominently among their ranks.


    Just as Veronica prepared to redirect her focus elsewhere, she noticed what appeared to be Cullen directing a smile specifically toward her.


    Dario remainedpletely oblivious to the intensity of Marco¡¯s stare fixed on Veronica from across the room.


    Given that their previous encounters had been minimal and theycked any real familiarity with each other, Edric took the initiative to establish proper introductions. ¡°My name is Edric Patterson.¡±


    He maneuvered through the crowd with his current partner trailing behind him and addressed the pair directly. ¡°Mr. Reid, would you consider allowing us to exchange partners for the next song?¡±


    Following his cordial exchange with Dario, Maverick¡¯splete attention remainedser¨Cfocused on Niall alone.


    Recognizing Veronica¡¯s instinctive tension and obvious difort with the situation, Edric formed the impression that she possessed limited experience with romantic rtionships, perhaps never having been seriously involved with anyone.


    At that precise moment, Veronica detected someone addressing her by name. ¡°You are Ms. Murray, correct? Would you be interested in switching partners for the uing


    dance?¡±


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    181 Chapter 181 ¨C Graceful Exchange


    Veronica simply had not developed anyfort level with maintaining such close physical proximity to an unfamiliar man. After allowing herself a brief moment to regain herposure and settle her nerves, she lifted her eyes to meet his and responded, ¡°I am Veronica Murray¡±


    Due to persistent encouragement from their elders and gentle pressure from the matchmaking attempts, they eventually surrendered to social expectations, each selecting a well¨Cconnected youngdy and making their way onto the crowded dance floor.


    Kolton¡¯s unwavering gaze remained fixed on Veronica with obvious interest. Dario¡¯s expression immediately shifted to something considerably darker and more possessive. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass on that suggestion.¡± Kolton found himselfpletely without words to respond.


    Edric, Maverick, and Nate represented the cream of eligible bachelors within these exclusive social circles.


    Following this unspoken agreement reached between all parties, they executed a seamless exchange of dance partners.


    Veronica experienced distinct difort at the prospect of cing her hand in aplete stranger¡¯s grasp and positioning her other hand on his shoulder in such an intimate dancing position.


    She found herself genuinely amused by Dario¡¯s over¨Cthe¨Ctop disy of chivalry and responded warmly, ¡°The privilege would be entirely mine, I assure you.¡± Without hesitation, she ced her delicate hand in his outstretched palm.


    Veronica deliberately turned her focus back to Dario, allowing herself to bepletely absorbed in the rhythm and movement of their dance.


    Veronica hesitated briefly and turned to identify the speaker, discovering that Edric¡¯s current partner was the one making the request.


    Veronica radiated an aura of natural tranquility and sophisticated elegance that seemed effortless. Her carefully chosen cocktail dressplemented her movements as she glided across the dance floor with ssical, almost poetic grace. Her genuine smile illuminated her features, transforming her into the undisputed centerpiece of the entire evening¡¯s festivities.


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    Apparently, his personal preferences and opinions carried no weight in this particr decision¨Cmaking process.


    Nate, in stark contrast to his friends, took the initiative in extending invitations himself, behavior that aligned perfectly with his well¨Cestablished reputation as someone who genuinely enjoyed femalepany.


    True to his reputation, Edric maintained the lightest possible contact while demonstratingplete respect for her boundaries.


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    The woman in his arms noticed his distraction immediately. ¡°Mr. Valerie? Is everything alright?¡±


    Niall¡¯s smile appeared effortless despite her inner turmoil. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize.¡±


    Niall remained in the dark about his background and connections.


    While they conversed, neither noticed Veronica and Cullen¡¯s positions shifting closer


    to each other on the crowded floor.


    This marked Niall¡¯s first encounter with Edric tonight.


    Cullen noticed her distress immediately. His voice dropped to a soothing tone.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for nervousness.¡±


    The entire exchange urred with lightning speed, leaving Veronica no time to process what was happening before she found herself firmly secured in Cullen¡¯s strong embrace.


    Yet something about Veronica and Edric togethermanded attention.


    The partner swap had been purely impulsive on his part.


    The name seemed to fit her perfectly, though Edric kept that observation to himself.


    The young woman who suddenly found herself in Cullen¡¯s arms hadn¡¯t anticipated Niall¡¯s easy agreement to the swap.


    Edric looked toward her questioningly. ¡°Ms. Murray, would you prefer to¡­¡±


    They moved with an effortless grace that drew the eye. Maverick¡¯s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he observed them.


    Now, however, he struggled with the awkwardness of the situation.


    Partner swapping during formal dances wasmonce at events like these.


    If Edric failed to react quickly, the woman would certainly stumble.


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    Dancing with his friend¡¯s girlfriend created an ufortable dynamic. Holding her hand felt strange enough, and he couldn¡¯t decide where to position his other hand appropriately.


    She harbored no concerns about losing Cullen over a simple dance.


    Veronica¡¯s head turned instinctively, bringing her face to face with Cullen¡¯s intense


    stare.


    A frown creased Niall¡¯s features as she studied Veronica and Edric¡¯s interaction. Veronica¡¯s cheeks held a rosy flush, and Edric seemed unusually attentive toward her.


    From their positions around the dance floor, Maverick, Nate, Marco, Niall, and Cullen watched the interaction unfold with varying degrees of interest.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Then Cullen¡¯s voice cut through the music near her ear. ¡°Edric, interested in another change?¡±


    As Cullen¡¯s strong hand captured hers while his other arm settled around her waist, she found herself staring up at his devastatingly handsome features. Her heart hammered against her ribs so violently she forgot how to move her feet.


    Initially, Niall feltpletelyfortable with the partner exchange.


    But watching Veronica in another man¡¯s arms stirred something ufortable in his


    chest,


    Cullen¡¯s gaze found hers across the dance floor. ¡°Are you amenable to a change?¡±


    While Maverick had made his rounds greeting everyone, Edric had arrived separately.


    Heat flooded her cheeks when she realized her frozen state. Her eyes darted to Cullen¡¯s face, embarrassment making her breath catch.


    Before Edric couldplete his sentence, Cullen moved with decisive action, smoothly transferring his current partner toward Edric.


    Marco forced himself to look away from the pair. ¡°My apologies.¡±


    Nate broke the tension with his characteristic grin. ¡°How about we mix things up,


    Cullen?¡±


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    The woman in his arms noticed his distraction immediately. ¡°Mr. Valerie? Is everything alright?¡±


    Niall¡¯s smile appeared effortless despite her inner turmoil. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize.¡±


    Niall remained in the dark about his background and connections.


    While they conversed, neither noticed Veronica and Cullen¡¯s positions shifting closer to each other on the crowded floor.


    This marked Niall¡¯s first encounter with Edric tonight.


    Cullen noticed her distress immediately. His voice dropped to a soothing tone. ¡°There¡¯s no need for nervousness.¡±


    The entire exchange urred with lightning speed, leaving Veronica no time to process what was happening before she found herself firmly secured in Cullen¡¯s strong


    embrace.


    Yet something about Veronica and Edric togethermanded attention.


    The partner swap had been purely impulsive on his part.


    The name seemed to fit her perfectly, though Edric kept that observation to himself.


    The young woman who suddenly found herself in Cullen¡¯s arms hadn¡¯t anticipated Niall¡¯s easy agreement to the swap.


    Edric looked toward her questioningly. ¡°Ms. Murray, would you prefer to¡­


    They moved with an effortless grace that drew the eye. Maverick¡¯s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he observed them.


    Now, however, he struggled with the awkwardness of the situation.


    Partner swapping during formal dances wasmonce at events like these.


    If Edric failed to react quickly, the woman would certainly stumble.


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    Dancing with his friend¡¯s girlfriend created an ufortable dynamic. Holding her hand felt strange enough, and he couldn¡¯t decide where to position his other hand appropriately.


    She harbored no concerns about losing Cullen over a simple dance.


    Veronica¡¯s head turned instinctively, bringing her face to face with Cullen¡¯s intense


    stare.


    A frown creased Niall¡¯s features as she studied Veronica and Edric¡¯s interaction. Veronica¡¯s cheeks held a rosy flush, and Edric seemed unusually attentive toward her.


    From their positions around the dance floor, Maverick, Nate, Marco, Niall, and Cullen watched the interaction unfold with varying degrees of interest.


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Then Cullen¡¯s voice cut through the music near her ear. ¡°Edric, interested in another change?¡±


    As Cullen¡¯s strong hand captured hers while his other arm settled around her waist, she found herself staring up at his devastatingly handsome features. Her heart hammered against her ribs so violently she forgot how to move her feet.


    Initially, Niall feltpletelyfortable with the partner exchange.


    But watching Veronica in another man¡¯s arms stirred something ufortable in his


    chest,


    Cullen¡¯s gaze found hers across the dance floor. ¡°Are you amenable to a change?¡±


    While Maverick had made his rounds greeting everyone, Edric had arrived separately.


    Heat flooded her cheeks when she realized her frozen state. Her eyes darted to Cullen¡¯s face, embarrassment making her breath catch.


    Before Edric couldplete his sentence, Cullen moved with decisive action, smoothly transferring his current partner toward Edric.


    Marco forced himself to look away from the pair. ¡°My apologies.¡±


    Nate broke the tension with his characteristic grin. ¡°How about we mix things up,


    Cullen?¡±


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    Nate had never harbored romantic feelings for Niall, given her rtionship with his close friend.


    Logically, Marco understood that changing partners meant nothing. He wouldn¡¯t think twice about dancing with Cullen or any of the other men present.


    The exchange happened smoothly, with Cullen gracefully transitioning to Nate¡¯s previous partner.


    Nate rxed visibly and chuckled. ¡°You make a valid point.¡±


    Observing Cullen reach for Veronica while ensuring his previous partner¡¯s safety, Edric had no alternative but to release Veronica and catch the approaching woman, his


    hands settling securely around her waist.


    Niall sensed his difort and addressed it directly. ¡°It¡¯s simply a dance. Cullen understands that perfectly.¡±


    The suggestion jolted Niall from her observations.


    Marco went rigid beside his own partner.


    Veronica remainedpletely oblivious to their proximity.


    His gentle reassurance worked like magic. She whispered an apology and gradually found her rhythm with his steps.


    However, judging by the respectful way both Maverick and Kolton interacted with him, she deduced his influence matched Maverick¡¯s considerable status.


    ¡°Veronica?¡± Edric¡¯s voice carried a hint of curiosity as he rolled the name across his tongue. ¡°Like the heavens?¡±


    But watching the woman gaze at Cullen with obvious infatuation, her expression dreamy and flustered, triggered an unexpected spike of irritation in Niall¡¯s chest.

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    Learning that Cullen¡¯s motivation had been solely to discuss Sabrina provided some measure of relief, though his protective instincts remained heightened.


    After all, what topics of discussion could possibly remain between them?


    Cullen epted, and they returned to the dance floor as partners once again.


    During their earlier dance, he had noticed that Veronica possessed a quiet, reserved nature rather than the typical social butterfly characteristicsmon at such events.


    Ten days wouldplete nearly a full month since theirst contact.


    ¡°Eventually.¡±


    Meanwhile, across the room, Dario had observed the entire interaction between Veronica and Cullen with growing concern.


    She maintained aposed, understated presence. Her gaze held no hidden agendas or calcted interest in him beyond their temporary partnership on the dance floor.


    Cullen, however, seemed in no hurry toply. Instead, he posed another question, ¡°How have you been managingtely?¡±


    Cullen¡¯s inquiry appeared genuinely casual. When she offered no boration, he didn¡¯t press the matter. Before Veronica fullyprehended what was happening, he had smoothly guided her away from the dance floor and departed.


    This observation led Edric to piece together that Cullen must be romantically involved


    with Niall.


    At that moment, Edric approached them with an apologetic expression.


    Recognizing the futility of resistance, she ceased her struggles. Her voice carried an arctic chill as she demanded, ¡°What exactly do you need to discuss?¡±


    During the switch, Edric had been acutely aware of Veronica¡¯s visible difort. Her reluctance to interact with Cullen had been unmistakable.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Niall replied with understanding.


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    183 Chapter 183¨CForced Partnership


    Niall found herself biting her lower lip in response, though she quickly regained her


    With renewed confidence, Edric extended his hand toward her in a gesture of


    invitation.


    A knowing smile yed at the corners of Cullen¡¯s mouth. ¡°So we¡¯re talking about ten days or so?¡±


    The other guests remained bewildered by the sudden pairing of Cullen and Veronica as dance partners.


    ¡°Did you need to discuss something with her?¡± she inquired.


    Her wellbeing had ceased to be his responsibility the moment their rtionship began its inevitable dissolution.


    Her smile returned as she extended another invitation for them to dance together.


    Veronica hesitated momentarily before confirming, ¡°Yes.¡±


    She attempted to step back, but Cullen¡¯s response was maddeningly nonchnt.


    Veronica¡¯s lipspressed into a thin line. His motivations remained unclear, leaving her uncertain of his intentions.


    She had made the decision to dedicate one full day each month exclusively to spending time with her daughter.


    Upon noticing Cullen¡¯s return, Niall gracefully exited the dance floor and approached him with curiosity.


    Veronica dismissed his concerns with a gentle shake of her head.


    If Cullen harbored any romantic feelings for Veronica, those emotions would have manifested years ago, not at thiste stage in their rtionship.


    She had suspected as much. Cullen wouldn¡¯t have sought out Veronica without a legitimate reason.


    Despite their impending divorce and herck of custodial rights, Veronica remained acutely aware of her maternal responsibilities to Sabrina.


    ¡°Moving forward, I¡¯d rmend maintaining as much distance as possible between


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    183 Chapter 183¨CForced Partnership


    you two,¡± he advised.


    Cullen¡¯s response was brief and matter¨Cof¨Cfact. ¡°It concerned Sabrina.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Murray, I owe you an apology for the partner exchange. I should have requested your permission first.¡±


    The conversation had reached its natural conclusion.


    ¡°Would you honor me with another dance?¡± he asked, his tone respectful yet hopeful.


    Her unwillingness to dance with Cullen couldn¡¯t have been more obvious if she had announced it publicly.


    Her tone conveyed genuine sincerity and absence of me.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t apologize. You bear no responsibility for what urred, and I would have made the same decision in your position.¡±


    ¡°Cullen!¡± The protest escaped her lips in a sharp whisper.


    Her authenticity stood in stark contrast to the usual social maneuvering he encountered at simr gatherings..


    ¡°That¡¯s no longer your concern.¡±


    Veronica fixed him with a pointed stare, wordlesslymunicating her expectation


    that he release her.


    Given the apparent tension between Niall and Veronica, Edric concluded that Cullen had likely approached Veronica to discuss Niall, possibly even to defend her honor.


    Cullen¡¯s gaze swept over herposed but cold features, seemingly unaffected by her obvious displeasure. His tone remained casual as he posed his question, ¡°When do you n to answer Sabrina¡¯s calls?¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Cullen acknowledged with a curt nod.


    Her efforts to break free proved futile, and thest thing she wanted was to be the evening¡¯s entertainment for curious onlookers.


    Edric found her response refreshing and authentic.


    Their surprise was evident when they witnessed the unexpected coboration.


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    As though he had anticipated her every move, his grip on her waist tightened with calcted precision.


    ¡°Easy there,¡± he murmured, his voice carrying that familiar tone of control.


    Veronica nodded her agreement without hesitation. ¡°Ipletely understand.¡±


    The moment Veronica realized what had just urred, every instinct screamed at her to create distance between herself and Cullen.


    Veronica understood that Cullen never acted without purpose. Whatever had prompted this unexpected maneuver, he clearly had something he needed tomunicate.


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 Sprawling 184

    184 Chapter 184 ¨C Polite Boundaries


    Niall positioned herself slightly apart from the business discussions, content to observe the intricate dance of corporateworking. The evening¡¯s social dynamics fascinated her, each interaction revealing anotheryer of Porter¡¯splex power


    structure.


    Niall responded with her practiced social smile. ¡°Hello, Mr. Harris.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s handling some business calls at the moment,¡± Niall exined smoothly, her tone suggesting this was perfectly normal behavior for someone of Cullen¡¯s stature.


    Nate stretched, rolling his shoulders after the extended dancing session. ¡°All this waltzing has worked up my appetite,¡± he announced. ¡°Anyone interested in sampling


    the buffet?¡±


    Niall epted his handshake, noting the firm grip and direct eye contact that spoke of good breeding and social polish. ¡°The pleasure is mutual, Mr. Patterson.¡±


    He turned to address Edric directly. ¡°Edric, this is Ms. Crystal, Cullen Dennis¡¯s


    partner.¡±


    The second dance between Veronica and Edric carried none of the romantic


    undertones one might expect. His invitation stemmed purely from courtesy, a polite gesture meant to smooth over the earlier awkwardness. Veronica recognized this distinction immediately, yet she epted his outstretched hand with gracious


    Marco had already retreated from the dance floor, his jaw tightening as he watched Veronica glide back into Edric¡¯s arms. The sight of them moving together in perfect synchronization sent a wave of irritation coursing through his veins. His fingers clenched around his champagne flute, the crystal threatening to crack under the


    pressure.


    Niall quickly informed Cullen, who remained engrossed in his phone conversation, of their destination before joining Nate and Marco¡¯s migration to the buffet area.


    Marco¡¯s gaze tracked Veronica and Dario as they moved toward the dining area. ¡°Good idea,¡± he agreed, his tone carefully neutral despite the tension still radiating from his


    posture.


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    184 Chapter 184¨CPolite Boundaries


    The sharp buzz of Cullen¡¯s phone interrupted their rhythm. He guided Niall off the dance floor, stepping aside to take the call with the practiced efficiency of a man whose business never truly stopped.


    The convergence of all these social threads in one location promised to add anotheryer ofplexity to an already eventful evening.


    Their polite exchange was interrupted by the approach of Veronica and Dario, who were making their way toward the same section of the buffet. Dario caught sight of the assembled group and made a sound of obvious annoyance, his displeasure at the encounter written clearly across his features.


    Cullen caught sight of the dancing pair as well, his lips curving into an amused smirk. Without breaking stride in his own dance with Niall, he continued their waltz as if the entire drama unfolding around them was merely evening entertainment.


    Edric extended his hand with the easy confidence of someone ustomed to making favorable first impressions. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Crystal.¡±


    Their arrival triggered a small social avnche. Several guests immediately approached their group, drawn by the maic pull of wealth and influence. Business cards appeared as if by magic, and conversations quickly pivoted toward potential partnerships and investment opportunities.


    Maverick nced around the immediate area, his brow furrowing slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t see Mr. Dennis with you tonight. Is he not attending?¡±


    responses


    Marco and Nate fielded these approaches with practiced diplomacy, their ranging from politely nomittal to genuinely intrigued, depending on the proposal¡¯s merit.


    A satisfied smile yed across Niall¡¯s lips. Her assessment had proven urate. Veronica simplycked the maic allure necessary to make a man of Edric¡¯s caliber abandon reason for romance.


    Recognizing an opportunity for introductions, Maverick gestured toward hispanion. ¡°Ms. Crystal, I¡¯d like you to meet one of my closest friends, Edric Patterson.¡±


    with¡­


    Niall absorbed this information with the shrewd understanding of someone who had navigated Porter¡¯s social hierarchy for years. She knew the unwritten rules that


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    184 Chapter 184 ¨C Polite Boundaries


    governed the city¡¯s elite circles. The Dennis, Harpers, Quintons, Patterson, and Harris formed an exclusive constetion of power that rarely admitted outsiders.


    Her theory gained validation momentster when Edric and Veronica concluded their dance. After exchanging a brief, polite nod with Veronica, Edric departed without lingering or showing any signs of reluctance to leave her side.


    Nate lifted his ss to his lips, his gaze lingering on Veronica¡¯s graceful form. ¡°Edric appears quite taken with her,¡± he observed, his tone carrying an undercurrent of skepticism. ¡°Though with a family like the Patterson, eptance would be¡­ challenging, regardless of his personal feelings.¡±


    Perhaps Edric did harbor feelings for Veronica, but Niall suspected those feelings fell short of the all¨Cconsuming passion that might motivate a man to defy family expectations. As for the possibility of Veronica bing a Patterson bride, such a scenario seemedughably remote.


    Niall observed the scene with calcted interest, her eyebrows lifting slightly at Edric¡¯s unexpected persistence. She had anticipated him to withdraw after their first dance, yet here he was, extending another invitation to Veronica with apparent ease.


    The elegant pair continued their dance, seemingly oblivious to the scrutiny they attracted from across the room.


    The unspoken implications hung heavy in the air. Veronica¡¯s past marriage and motherhood,bined with the Murray family¡¯s precarious social standing, created obstacles that even genuine affection couldn¡¯t easily ovee. Nate refrained from voicing these harsh realities, but his meaning resonated clearly with hispanions.


    Nate, growing restless with the dancing, seized the opportunity to abandon the floor as well. He and Niall gravitated toward Marco, whose attention remainedser¨Cfocused


    on Veronica¡¯s every movement.


    Edric¡¯s appearance with Maverick interrupted her observations. Maverick¡¯s face brightened with recognition as he spotted Niall among the crowd.


    ¡°Good evening, Ms. Crystal,¡± Maverick greeted her warmly, his genuine pleasure at seeing her evident in his expression.


    Her earlier suspicions about Edric¡¯s prestigious lineage crystallized into certainty. The Patterson name exined his natural confidence and the deference others showed


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    184 Chapter 184 ¨C Polite Boundaries


    him throughout the evening.


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    185 Chapter 185 ¨C Strategic Meeting


    Veronica considered this thoughtfully. ¡°Meeting with Niall shouldn¡¯t pose significant problems.


    Dario epted both documents and handed one to Veronica. ¡°Ver, would you review Ms. Crystal¡¯s proposal and share your assessment?¡±


    Dario¡¯s arrival prompted both Owen and Niall to stand respectfully.


    Niall had apanied Owen on this business visit. Dario felt his patience wearing


    thin.


    She responded warmly, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been part of the team here for quite some time now.¡±


    With social formalities concluded, they transitioned to business matters.


    However, his professional rtionship with Owen remained solid and mutually


    beneficial.


    ¡°Certainly.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s strategic choice to send Owen made refusal diplomatically challenging.


    Within minutes, she had thoroughly analyzed Niall¡¯s entire presentation.


    Dario recognized Cullen¡¯s calcted maniption with grudging admiration.


    They sessfully avoided another encounter with Cullen¡¯s group for the remainder of the night.


    Cullen raised his champagne flute, clinking it against Edric¡¯s before taking a measured sip. ¡°Time flies, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Owen presented hisprehensive proposal to Dario while Niall simultaneously offered hers.


    As the evening wound down, they offered their thanks to their host and discreetly departed the venue.


    Niall tensed momentarily but maintained her professionalposure without


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    <


    185 Chapter 185- Strategic Meeting


    Edric reciprocated the greeting. ¡°Likewise, Mr. Dennis.¡±


    He suppressed his irritation and sought out Veronica to brief her on the situation.


    Veronica¡¯s striking appearance and her previous tenure at Dennis Group had left asting impression on Owen.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    A dull throb began forming behind Dario¡¯s temples, signaling an approaching


    headache.


    ¡°You make a valid point,¡± Dario agreed. He paused briefly before asking, ¡°Would you like to participate in the meeting?¡±


    Had Cullene personally, Dario would have declined the meeting without


    hesitation.


    Veronica began examining the proposal with focused attention.


    Owen¡¯s smile widened with recognition. ¡°I wondered about your absence from Dennis Grouptely. You¡¯ve transitioned to DataPulse, I see.¡±


    Meanwhile, after exchanging pleasantries with Niall, Edric approached Marco and Nate with practiced ease. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Valerie, Mr. Dante.¡±


    After allowing Niall and Owen to wait in the conference room for several minutes, Veronica and Dario finally entered together.


    Monday morning arrived with unexpectedplications. Dario had barely settled into his executive chair when his assistant informed him that Owen Seth from Dennis Group waited in the lobby, requesting a coborative meeting.


    She returned the document to Niall, maintaining direct eye contact. ¡°Your dedication to this project is evident, Ms. Crystal. However, several significant concerns arise. Whenpared to other organizations pursuing partnerships with DataPulse, your proposalckspetitive advantages.¡±


    During Veronica¡¯s employment at Dennis Group, she and Owen had coborated on several sessful projects.


    Niall¡¯s expression shifted subtly when she noticed Veronica apanying him, though she quickly masked her reaction. Following Owen¡¯s lead in greeting Dario, she


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    spoke politely. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Reid.¡±


    Nate shifted ufortably, remembering the extended time Edric and Veronica had shared on the dance floor earlier. He cleared his throat softly, touching his nose in a nervous gesture.


    Before settling into his chair, he eximed with genuine surprise, ¡°Ms. Murray! What a pleasant surprise!¡±


    Veronica and Dario remained engaged in lengthy discussions with various business associates throughout the evening.


    Just as Dario and Veronica prepared to move toward the refreshment area, a prominent businessman intercepted them, insisting on discussing potential ventures.


    Marco¡¯s features hardened slightly with simr thoughts. Cullen, however, disyed remarkableposure.


    Edric¡¯s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around his ss. ¡°Indeed it does.¡±


    An encounter didn¡¯t automatically guarantee any business arrangement would


    materialize.


    Furthermore, Owen had brought Niall as his associate.


    Despite everything that had transpired, Veronica remained Cullen¡¯s wife, after all.


    tord their


    Cullen concluded his phone conversations at that moment and strode gathering.


    The men continued their conversation with surprising ease, discussing industry trends and mutual acquaintances.


    Dario responded with a professional nod. ¡°Please make yourselvesfortable, Ms. Crystal.¡±


    He approached Edric directly, extending his hand. ¡°Good to see you, Mr. Patterson.¡±


    ¡°Excellent news.¡±


    Nate found himself speechless at the unexpected civility. His earlier concerns seemed entirely misced.


    Marco acknowledged him with a subtle nod.


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    While she couldn¡¯t absorb information at superhuman speed, her reading pace exceeded most professionals.


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    ¡°So tell me honestly, were there actually problems with the Crystal¡® proposal?¡±


    She finally looked up, meeting his eyes directly.


    Veronica had been reaching for her teacup when the question stopped her mid¨Cmotion. She hadn¡¯t anticipated this particr angle of attack.


    When Veronica finished speaking, Niall¡¯s response came swift and calcted.


    ¡°That was absolutely masterful.¡±


    The realization hit Niall like ice water. She forced her expression to remain neutral as she regrouped.


    Setting down the cup, she tilted her head with genuine curiosity.


    She found herself staring at Veronica as if seeing her for the first time. Every assumption she had made about this woman was crumbling in real time.


    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Murray.¡±


    Veronica reached across the table, nudging Niall¡¯s teacup closer to her.


    Her eyes locked onto Veronica withser precision, studying every micro¨Cexpression


    on the woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°But?¡±


    Thement reminded Dario of something he frequently overlooked. While Veronica might not have been directly involved in Dennis Group¡¯s highest¨Clevel client negotiations, she had spent years observing, learning, and asionally participating inplex business dealings. That experience had forged her into someone far more formidable than her quiet demeanor suggested.


    ¡°I understandpletely.¡±


    ¡°Well, there was a good reason Dennis Group hired me as a secretary.¡±


    ¡°My pleasure entirely, Ms. Crystal.¡±


    ¡°The coborative approach you¡¯re describing works beautifully in certain


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    environments. Family discussions, academic settings, team¨Cbuilding exercises. But we¡¯re not in a ssroom or a therapy session, Ms. Crystal. This is business. People enter business rtionships for one reason: profit. When that profit disappears, so does the rtionship. Given that reality, why would any rationalpany choose a subpar option when superior alternatives are readily avable?¡±


    Veronica didn¡¯t wait for an answer. Her smile remained warm, almost maternal, as she


    continued.


    ¡°I believe there¡¯s been a fundamental misunderstanding, Ms. Murray. My suggestiones from a ce of believing that sessful partnerships require mutual coboration. When challenges arise in any proposal, shouldn¡¯t both parties work together to find solutions that benefit everyone involved?¡±


    The question hit its mark. Niall¡¯s carefully maintainedposure cracked slightly, her brow furrowing as she struggled to understand where this was heading.


    ¡°The proposal demonstrates impressive knowledge and attention to detail. What itcks is genuine understanding of how those details trante into practical reality. That gap between theory and application? That¡¯s what makes it ultimately worthless to


    us.¡±


    Throughout this entire exchange, Dario had been stealing nces from his position across the room. His concern for Veronica had been growing by the minute, knowing Niall¡¯s reputation for psychological maniption and underhanded tactics.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    Niall¡¯s hand trembled almost imperceptibly as she lifted the cup. Refusing would be tantamount to admitting defeat.


    ¡°Ms. Crystal, identifying weaknesses in your own proposal falls squarely within your responsibilities, not ours. Do you honestly believe it¡¯s our job to do your work for you? I should remind you that we have no obligation whatsoever to partner with yourpany. When you ask questions like that, you¡¯re essentially admitting that you want


    we actually need. If that¡¯s truly


    our business but haven¡¯t bothered to understand wha


    the case, then you¡¯ve just confirmed my suspicions about your team¡¯splete inability to meet our expectations.¡±


    She paused, tapping her pen against the desk thoughtfully.


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    186 Chapter 186¨CVerbal Warfare


    He couldn¡¯t contain his admiration.


    Veronica recognized the trap immediately. This wasn¡¯t a genuine request for feedback but a deliberate provocation designed to corner her into an impossible situation.


    His curiosity got the better of him.


    ¡°The proposal itself was remarkably thorough. Every technical specification was urate, every detail carefully researched and documented.¡±


    A knowing smile curved her lips as she responded with deadly calm.


    ¡°But there¡¯s something fundamentally disconnected about the whole thing. When you try to imagine actually implementing their rmendations, the pieces don¡¯t quite fit together the way they should. It¡¯s like having a beautiful blueprint that looks perfect on paper but would create structural problems if you actually built from it.¡±


    ¡°Please, try the tea, Ms. Crystal. It¡¯s really quite exceptional.¡±


    Despite the gentle tone and pleasant expression, Niall felt something cold crawling up her spine. Each wordnded with surgical precision, dismantling her position piece by


    piece.


    After he finished reviewing the proposal details with Owen and escorted both visitors to the door, Dario returned to find Veronica organizing her notes with characteristic efficiency.


    ¡°Tell me something, Ms. Crystal. Is this your first time leading partnership negotiations?¡±


    What he witnessed instead left him genuinely stunned. Veronica hadn¡¯t just held her own; she had systematically dismantled Niall¡¯s offensiv¨¦ without breaking a sweat.


    Dario leaned forward, intrigued.


    ¡°I strongly suspect Cullen provided direct assistance with the technicalponents.. His fingerprints are all over the strategic framework.¡±


    ¡°Since that¡¯s your position, Ms. Murray, perhaps you could enlighten me about the specific shorings in our proposal. That way, we can address them properly.¡±


    Veronica¡¯s immediate response surprised him. She continued without looking up


    her work.


    from


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    186 Chapter 186¨CVerbal Warfare


    Veronica nced up from her papers, a softugh escaping her lips.


    Niall had orchestrated this moment perfectly, or so she believed. Her strategy was elegant in its simplicity: when Veronica inevitably failed to articte specific ws in the proposal, Niall would have her opening to strike. She had even prepared a secondary attack should Veronica attempt to bluff her way through by listing random issues.


    But Veronica had done something entirely unexpected. Instead of taking the bait, she had turned the entire conversation on its head, creating an even more sophisticated trap that left Niall scrambling for solid ground.


    The gesture was simple, almost motherly. But in the context of their conversation, it felt like something else entirely. A demonstration of control. A reminder of who held the power in this room.


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    187 Chapter 187 ¨C Maternal Call


    Veronica¡¯s grip tightened around the phone. ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    Marco observed the dynamic between Veronica and Dario with keen interest. It became clear that Veronica held the ultimate decision¨Cmaking power at DataPulse. He stood and sped both their hands in turn. ¡°The pleasure is mine. This partnership will benefit us all.¡±


    Veronica had just concluded her contract negotiations with Marco. They were preparing to continue their discussions over dinner when her phone rang.


    Cullen settled into the chair beside her bed. Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead despite the room¡¯sfortable temperature. He pulled out his handkerchief and gently dabbed at the moisture. ¡°How¡¯s the pain in your stomach?¡±


    When they finished their review, Veronica rose from her chair and offered her hand to Marco. ¡°I believe we can build something remarkable together, Mr. Valerie.¡±


    He allowed Sabrina to maintain her grip on one hand while he used the other to dial


    Veronica¡¯s number.


    They immediately began hammering out the contractual specifics.


    Tonight felt different. She wrapped her small fingers around Cullen¡¯s hand and shook her head weakly. ¡°I need Mom toe home.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call her,¡± he promised.


    Without anyone willing to meet with him, Maverick had no choice but to leave empty¨Chanded.


    Maverick arrived at DataPulse that afternoon, carrying himself with his usual air of


    determination.


    Dennis Groupmanded respect in their industry for good reason. Their financial resources ran deep, and their technical team consisted of the most coveted experts money could hire. Cullen himself possessed an expertise that few could match.


    Perhaps that exined his confident approach to this potential partnership. He could afford to wait, to make his move at precisely the right moment.


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    187 Chapter 187 Maternal Call


    .


    Cullen chose not to lecture her about her dietary choices. Instead, he recognized the mncholy that seemed to surround her like a shroud. ¡°Should I call Niall? He could be here in twenty minutes.¡±


    Dario touched his nose, a telltale sign of his uncertainty. ¡°Cullen knows our business inside and out. His technical background gives him a serious advantage.¡±


    Marco arrived shortly after Maverick¡¯s departure. Both Dario and Veronica made themselves avable for this meeting.


    After wrapping up the discussion about Niall¡¯s business proposal, Veronica shifted her attention to the other contender. ¡°What¡¯s your take on Dennis Group¡¯s submission?¡±


    Cullen¡¯s brief exnation had left many questions unanswered. Veronica honestly didn¡¯t know the full extent of Sabrina¡¯s condition. ¡°I think she¡¯s stable, but I need to see for myself.¡±


    This time, Dario refused to grant him an audience.


    The proposal he had submitted didn¡¯t just meet their standards. It exceeded them by a considerable margin.


    Veronica ignored both attempts. Sabrina seemed to take the hint and didn¡¯t try a third


    time.


    Under normal circumstances, she would have jumped at the opportunity to see him.


    Sabrina¡¯s name appeared on the disy. The call ended, then immediately started.


    again.


    They studied Marco¡¯s revised proposal infortable silence, asionally exchanging meaningful looks. The document impressed them both.


    Coborating with an elite team would eliminate countless headaches down the road. Whatever personal history existed between her and Cullen paled inparison to the project¡¯s sess.


    Veronica absorbed this information without surprise. She had expected as much from


    Cullen¡¯s operation.


    ¡°Better than before,¡± she lied. The cramping continued to send waves of difort through her abdomen.


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    ¡°Dad,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible.


    The raw honesty in her request touched something deep in Cullen¡¯s chest.


    He answered the call and left his office within thirty minutes.


    Cullen¡¯s phone buzzed shortly afterward. Sabrina¡¯s name lit up his screen.


    Sabrina¡¯s affection for Niall was undeniable. But when illness struck and vulnerability crept in, she craved thefort that only Veronica could provide. Despite their asional conflicts, Veronica remained the person Sabrina wanted most during her


    darkest moments.


    ¡°Sabrina has food poisoning. She¡¯s receiving IV treatment at home right now. She¡¯s asking for you,¡± Cullen exined without preamble.


    The memory of Sabrina¡¯s two earlier calls shed through her mind when she saw Cullen¡¯s name. After a brief hesitation, she epted the call. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Base your decision on what¡¯s best for the project,¡± she instructed. ¡°Nothing else


    should factor into it.¡±


    Hours passed as they negotiated terms and conditions. The sun had begun its descent toward the horizon when they finally approached a preliminary agreement. At that moment, Veronica¡¯s phone erupted into its familiar ringtone.


    Marco noticed the immediate change in her demeanor and the urgency that had crept into her voice. ¡°Is Sabrina alright?¡±


    At home, he found Sabrina connected to an IV drip, herplexion worryingly pale against the white pillows. Her eyes brightened slightly when she spotted him in the doorway.


    ¡°Seriously ill?¡±


    She ended the call and turned to Marco with an apologetic expression. ¡°I¡¯m need to handle a family emergency. Can we reschedule dinner?¡±


    sorry,


    but I


    ¡°She¡¯s sick,¡± Veronica confirmed.


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    Cullen closed hisptop and followed behind them. When he saw Sabrina¡¯s radiant smile over Veronica¡¯s shoulder, he couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to gently pinch her cheek,


    At the dinner table, she positioned herself right beside Veronica, chattering excitedly between bites about what she wanted for breakfast the following morning.


    Before he could respond, Sabrina stirred awake.


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    He raised his eyes when she entered. ¡°You made it back.¡±


    She offered a quiet acknowledgment.


    Her eyes widened with delight upon seeing Veronica. ¡°Mom! You came back!¡±


    As Veronica listened to the steady stream of stories, she became aware of a presence in


    the doorway. Cullen stood there, his shoulder resting against the frame, quietly


    observing their interaction.


    Veronica tightened her hold and carried Sabrina toward the stairs without


    exnation.


    Veronica settled onto the nearby sofa, retrieving a book from her bag with the intention of reading while Sabrina recovered.


    When the IV bag emptied, Cullen approached with gentle hands to remove the needle. Sabrina immediately reached for Veronica, asking to be carried downstairs for their


    meal.


    The little girl remained connected to an IV line, her face peaceful in sleep despite the subtle tension creasing her forehead. Veronica chose not to disturb her rest, instead turning her attention to Cullen.


    ¡°Mom, my stomach is growling.¡±


    Veronica nced at the window, noting how dark it had be. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, sweetheart. Let¡¯s order something tonight, and I¡¯ll cook for you another day.¡±


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    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°The pain was intense when I first arrived home, but the medication has helped significantly.¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s expression fell. ¡°But Mom, you¡¯re always working now. I don¡¯t want you to leave! You just got here!¡±


    The embrace caught Veronica off guard. She felt the child¡¯s small frame pressed against her, warm and real. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she returned the hug, being mindful of the IV needle in Sabrina¡¯s arm.


    Dinner ended with Sabrina practically bouncing with excitement. She immediately dragged Veronica upstairs, eager to share everything that had happened during their time apart. She spoke animatedly about her new ssmates, her favorite teachers, and all the activities she had been enjoying at school.


    She wondered how long he had been watching them.


    ¡°Mom?¡±


    Cullen¡¯s eyes shifted to Veronica at thisment, though he remained silent.


    Cullen remained at his desk, looking over at them. ¡°I can have the kitchen staff prepare something.¡°¡±


    bed.


    Veronica closed her barely opened book and moved to sit on the edge of <i>the </i>Before she could say anything, Sabrina pushed herself upright and wrapped both arms around Veronica¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Sabrina said with a small sigh. ¡°But you have to eat with me.¡±


    The medication had worked its magic over the past hour. Sabrina¡¯s energy was returning, and with it came her appetite.


    Veronica wrapped up her conversation with Dario quickly and departed his office.


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±


    ¡°I missed you so much, Mom!¡±


    She reconsidered her ns. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll spend the night here with you.¡±


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    Sabrina was too content toin about the gesture.


    The change in Sabrina¡¯s demeanor was remarkable now that Veronica had returned. Her entire face seemed to glow with happiness.


    Sabrina¡¯s face lit up instantly. ¡°And you¡¯ll take me to school in the morning!¡±


    Sabrina¡¯s soft voice pulled Veronica from her thoughts. The child had ced her small palm against Veronica¡¯s cheek, studying her expression with concern.


    Veronica took another forkful of food and agreed with a nod.


    As Veronica lifted her, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the changes. Sabrina felt heavier in her arms, and she appeared to have grown taller as well.


    The drive to the vi felt longer than usual. When she finally arrived, Veronica made her way directly to Sabrina¡¯s bedroom, where she discovered Cullen seated at the small desk, absorbed in his work.


    Setting her purse on the dresser, Veronica approached Sabrina¡¯s bed with careful


    steps.


    Seeing the disappointment cloud Sabrina¡¯s features, Veronica felt a pang of guilt. These brief monthly visits hardly seemed adequate.


    ¡°How is she feeling now?¡±


    Sabrina kept her arms around Veronica, lifting her head to meet her gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t want that. I want you to cook for me, Mom.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s voice broke the quiet atmosphere. ¡°Have you had dinner?¡±


    Could twenty days really make such a difference?


    ¡°I have some business to handleter, so I¡¯ll make those dishes for you next time,¡± Veronica said, observing that Sabrina had recovered well from her earlier difort.


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    189 Chapter 189 Complete Erasure


    Chelsea¡¯s weathered face creased into a gentle smile. ¡°Mrs. Dennis Senior brought this special milk during herst visit. She specifically requested that I prepare it for you when the opportunity arose.¡± D


    Her toiletries remained in the master bedroom, forcing her to make the walk down the familiar hallway,


    The entire room had been transformed beyond recognition. Only the hardwood flooring remained untouched, like a skeleton beneath new flesh.


    But to strip away seven years of shared life before their marriage was even legally


    ended? The haste felt like another wound.


    The master bedroomy shrouded in darkness and silence. Cullen was nowhere to be


    found.


    Sabrina padded out of the room on small bare feet, her nightgown trailing behind her like a miniature ghost.


    She sipped the warm milk slowly, letting itsfort settle in her stomach before making her way to the third floor.


    Seven years of her life had been spent within these walls. Every corner, every shadow, every piece of furniture had been etched into her memory through countless nights and mornings.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The water dispenser hummed quietly in its corner, brand new. Even the simple drinking mugs had been reced with ones that had never known her lips.


    Chelsea hesitated for a moment, her fingers adjusting the tray¡¯s position. ¡°Mr. Dennis instructed me to gather all of your personal belongings at the start of this month. I¡¯ve relocated everything to the third floor guest room. If you need anything brought down, or if you¡¯d prefer to collect items yourself¡­¡±


    The hot water felt therapeutic against her skin, washing away the strange sensation of being a guest in what had once been her home.


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    189 Chapter 189 ¨C Complete Erasure


    Veronica shook her head, smoothing Sabrina¡¯s hair with gentle fingers. ¡°You go ahead, sweetheart. I¡¯ll be here when you get back¡±


    The implication hung heavy in the air. The master bedroom was no longer her domain.


    After helping Sabrina with her evening bath and carefully drying her daughter¡¯s silky hair, Veronica prepared for her own bedtime routine.


    Beside her, Sabrina remained lost in deep sleep, her breathing steady and peaceful.


    Dawn arrived with pale fingers of light creeping through Sabrina¡¯s curtains. Veronica¡¯s eyes opened naturally, her internal clock unchanged despite the upheaval in her living


    situation.


    ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, Chelsea. I¡¯ll retrieve what I need myselfter.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, my love.¡±


    ¡°Mom, Daddy says goodnight to you too.¡±


    Veronica switched off the bedroom lights, casting the transformed space back into darkness, and carried the tray down the hallway to Sabrina¡¯s room.


    Most telling of all, her vanity table had vanished entirely. The antique piece where she had prepared herself each morning, where her perfumes and creams had lived, where she had caught Cullen¡¯s reflection watching her in the mirror during happier times ¨C gone without a trace.


    ¡°Hello, Chelsea.¡±


    She turned to find the housekeeper approaching with a silver tray bnced in her hands. A single cup of steaming milk sat centered on its surface.


    As they prepared for sleep, Sabrina sat up with sudden purpose. ¡°I want to say goodnight to Daddy. Do you want toe with me, Mom?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Veronica reached over and turned off the bedsidemp, plunging the room into the soft darkness that would carry them toward morning.


    Chelsea nced toward the milk, then back to Veronica¡¯s face. ¡°Should I bring this to Miss Sabrina¡¯s room instead?¡±


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    189 Chapter 189 ¨C Complete Erasure


    Veronica felt a flutter of warmth at the gesture from Cullen¡¯s grandmother. ¡°Thank you


    so much.¡±


    Veronica closed the storybook and ced it on the nightstand, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°That¡¯s nice of him.¡±


    Sabrina yawned widely, her small body automatically seeking the warmth of Veronica¡¯s embrace. Her daughter¡¯s arms wrapped around her waist with the unconscious trust that only children possess.


    Everything else had been systematically reced. The crystal chandelier that once caught morning light now hung as apletely different fixture. New curtains framed the windows in fabric she had never chosen. The bed where she had shared countless intimate moments with Cullen bore different linens, different pillows, different


    everything.


    The corner room where her belongings had been relocated was immactely maintained. Chelsea had clearly been caring for the space, keeping dust at bay and ensuring everything remained properly arranged.


    She selected fresh clothes for the morning and gathered her toiletries, then returned


    to Sabrina¡¯s room for her bath.


    Chelsea nodded with understanding that went unspoken.


    The memory burned fresh in her mind. When Niall had taken that bullet meant for Cullen, he had raced back to her with desperate urgency, pressing new divorce documents into her hands with an impatience that spoke volumes. His message had been crystal clear ¨C he needed to be free to give Niall the legitimacy she deserved.


    Moving carefully to avoid disturbing her daughter, Ver¨®nica slipped from the bed and made her way to the small bathroom attached to Sabrina¡¯s room. After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she dressed quietly and headed downstairs toward the kitchen to begin another day in this house that was no longer quite her home.


    ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure, Mrs. Dennis.¡±


    Her clothes hung neatly in the closet. Her books were stacked with military precision on the shelves. Her jewelry box sat centered on the dresser like a small altar to her disced life.


    Her eyes swept across unfamiliar nightstands, a foreign round table positioned by the


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    window, a couch that held no memories of their conversations, a coffee table that had never supported her morning coffee cup, even a rug that her feet had never touched.


    Yet nothing before her felt familiar anymore.


    Three minutes passed before she returned, climbing back into bed with the serious expression of someone delivering an important message.


    The timing aligned perfectly with when she and Cullen had signed those initial divorce papers, sealing their fate with ck ink on white paper.


    After drying off and changing intofortable pajamas, she settled beside Sabrina for their nightly reading ritual. Tonight¡¯s selection was a fairy tale about a princess who found her own castle.


    Of course it made sense. Their divorce papers sat waiting for final signatures, the legal dissolution of their marriage nearlyplete.


    Every remnant of her existence had been deliberately and methodically erased.


    ¡°Now we can sleep, Mom. Goodnight.¡±


    Veronica stepped backward, her hand reaching for the light switch to flee this monument to her erasure, when Chelsea¡¯s voice called softly from behind her.


    Veronica reached for the tray, her fingers careful not to brush Chelsea¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it


    from here.¡±


    She flicked on the light switch and stood frozen in the doorway, wondering if she had somehow entered the wrong room by mistake.


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    190 Chapter 190 Digital Distractions


    190 Chapter 190 ¨C Digital Distractions


    The sound of footsteps on the stairs announced Sabrina¡¯s arrival. Veronica handed the journal to Cullen just as their daughter bounded into the living room, her hair still slightly damp from her shower.


    Sabrina finished herst bite of toast and jumped up to join her mother. ¡°Ready when you are, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Chelsea, don¡¯t bother with the washing¡± Veronica said, her tone matter¨Cof¨Cfact. ¡°Just dispose of all of it.¡±


    Chelsea nodded and disappeared upstairs, leaving Veronica alone with her thoughts and the journal.


    While Sabrina disappeared into the bathroom, Veronica methodically gathered her belongings from around the guest room. Each item she packed felt like another step toward severing ties with this house that had never quite felt like home.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Veronica replied with equal politeness, as if they were acquaintances rather than two people who had once shared a bed and dreams of a future together.


    Veronica continued eating methodically, finishing most of her breakfast while Cullen remained engrossed in his phone. She rose from the table without ceremony, gathering her things from the living room. The journal Cullen had been readingy forgotten on the coffee table, and she slipped it back into her bag.


    The morning air was crisp as they stepped outside, and Veronica felt a strange sense of relief wash over her. Another visitpleted, another small step toward the new life that awaited her on the other side of the divorce papers.


    Twenty minutes passed, and Sabrina still hadn¡¯t appeared. Veronica nced at her watch, feeling the familiar tug of impatience. In the past, she would have marched upstairs herself to hurry Sabrina along, but something held her back now. The maternal urgency that had once driven her to personally handle every aspect of


    Sabrina¡¯s routine had dulled to a more distant concern.


    ¡°Something new?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been swampedtely,¡± Cullen exined, his hand still outstretched. ¡°Sanctuary¡¯t


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    190 Chapter 190 ¨C Digital Distractions


    had time to keep up with the reading.¡±


    In the kitchen, Veronica began preparing breakfast, though Chelsea quickly intervened, insisting she handle the cooking. Veronica retreated to the living room, settling into an armchair with a professional journal she¡¯d brought along.


    ¡°It should be,¡± Veronica replied, allowing herself to be pulled toward the dining room.


    It was a reasonable assumption. During the early days of their marriage, when she was still trying to understand his world and findmon ground between them, she¡¯d noticed his study was filled with AI journals and technical publications. He¡¯d seemed to devour every new development in the field with an almost obsessive hunger.


    Sabrina bounced up from the bed with renewed energy. ¡°Give me fifteen minutes!¡±


    ¡°Get yourself cleaned up and dressed,¡± Veronica said, her voice carrying the practiced authority of years of motherhood. ¡°We need to leave soon.¡±


    Halfway through the meal, Cullen¡¯s phone buzzed against the table. He nced at the screen, then set down his fork to respond to whatever message had arrived. His fingers moved quickly across the keyboard, his attentionpletely absorbed by the device.


    As they settled at the polished mahogany table, Cullen joined them, still carrying the journal. Chelsea had outdone herself with the spread: fresh fruit, perfectly scrambled eggs, artisanal toast, and coffee that filled the room with its rich aroma.


    Veronica made her way downstairs, her heels clicking against the hardwood steps. As she reached the bottom, the front door opened and Cullen entered, still breathing heavily from his morning run. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and his athletic shirt clung to his chest.


    She nced up from the article she¡¯d been reading. ¡°Yes, thetest issue.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s voice startled her. She hadn¡¯t heard hime back downstairs, freshly showered and dressed in casual clothes that still managed to look expensive.


    They ate in rtive silence, the quiet punctuated only by the soft clink of silverware against china and Sabrina¡¯s asional chatter about her ns for the day. It was a peaceful scene that might have appeared normal to an outside observer, but Veronica could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.


    ¡°Is breakfast ready?¡± Sabrina asked, grabbing Veronica¡¯s hand with the easy affection


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    190 Chapter 190 ¨C Digital Distractions


    that came so naturally to children.


    ¡°Chelsea,¡± she called toward the kitchen, ¡°would you mind checking on Sabrina? We really do need to get going.¡±


    The divorce papers would be signed within days. After that, there would be no reason to return to this house, not even for Sabrina¡¯s sake. They could meet elsewhere, anywhere but here. These remnants of her life with Cullen had already be relics of a marriage that existed only on paper.


    The morning light streamed through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, illuminating the pages as she read about thetest developments in artificial intelligence research. The technicalnguage provided a wee distraction from the emotional undercurrents swirling around the house.


    He looked up and their eyes met briefly. ¡°Morning,¡± he said, his voice carefully neutral.


    Sabrina hastily closed her WhatsApp chat the moment Veronica appeared in the doorway. The screen went dark with a quick swipe, but not fast enough topletely hide her secretive conversation.


    She set her purse on the leather sofa and walked toward the kitchen, leaving Cullen to head upstairs for his shower. The choreography of their avoidance had be so practiced it felt almost natural.


    Chelsea had worked for the family long enough to read between the lines. She¡¯d witnessed the gradual deterioration of the rtionship between Veronica and Cullen over the past year. The way Veronica¡¯s/visits had be increasingly sporadic, the tension that crackled in the air whenever they upied the same room, and most tellingly, Cullen¡¯s decision to have Veronica¡¯s personal items removed from the master bedroom just weeks ago.


    Veronica caught the movement from the corner of her eye but chose to ignore it. No. point in making an issue out of whatever teenage drama Sabrina was navigating these days.


    ¡°Everything I¡¯ve left behind,¡± Veronica continued, gesturing vaguely toward the guest room. ¡°I won¡¯t have use for any of it going forward.¡±


    As she headed toward the staircase, she encountered Chelsea in the hallway. The housekeeper was bundling up the silk pajamas Veronica had worn the previous night,


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    along with some toiletries left on the dresser.


    Thistest request from Veronica simply confirmed what Chelsea had already suspected.


    Veronica slung her purse over her shoulder and headed toward the door. Cullen was still at the dining table, phone in hand, seemingly oblivious to their departure.


    Veronica hesitated, studying his face. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a subscription? I assumed you¡¯d already have this.¡±


    He extended his hand toward her. ¡°Mind if I have a look?¡±


    Chelsea paused, a questioning look crossing her weathered features.


    ¡°Of course, Mrs. Bishop,¡± Chelsea replied quietly, though something in her voice suggested she understood the finality of the gesture.


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    The children obediently walked away, their voices fading as they disappeared through the school entrance.


    Audrey tilted her head, looking puzzled. ¡°Really? That¡¯s weird. Then howe nobody came to the door when I knocked? Maybe she was sleeping or something?¡±


    Dario didn¡¯t waste any time deliberating. He immediately told his staff to escort the visitors out of the building without ceremony.


    Veronica felt her jaw clench. Their previous encounter with Niall had been purely coincidental, nothing more than an awkward run¨Cin. Neither she nor Dario had any intention of entering into business dealings with the Crystal family, regardless of what they might be offering.


    Catherine shifted ufortably, her suspicions about the family¡¯s dynamics bing clearer. She had already sensed something was off between mother and daughter, but she wanted to hear Veronica¡¯s perspective directly.


    Outside Sabrina¡¯s school, Veronica heard a cheerful voice calling her name. ¡°Ms.


    Murray.¡±


    The information came as aplete shock. Sabrina hadn¡¯t bothered to mention any uing school events, leaving Veronicapletely in the dark about her daughter¡¯s


    activities.


    ¡°Ms. Murray, could I have a word with you?¡± Catherine called out.


    Veronica raised her eyes from herputer screen. ¡°Cullen?¡±


    Cullen¡¯s voice came through clearly. ¡°Mr. Reid, I was wondering if you might be avable to join me for dinner this evening?¡±


    Cullen¡¯s response was immediate and resigned. ¡°Perfectly clear.¡±


    Veronica blinked in surprise. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t heard anything about it.¡±


    Her detached tone confirmed what Catherine had been observing. The teacher let out a quiet sigh, recognizing that pushing the issue wouldn¡¯t help anyone. ¡°Alright, I understand your position.¡±


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    She could already predict exactly why Cullen Dennis would be calling at this particr moment. Rather than engage with the situation, Veronica deliberately ignored the interruption and focused her attention back on her work.


    When she returned to the DataPulse office, her assistant immediately approached her with news. ¡°Ms. Murray, Niall and Isaac are here again. They¡¯re requesting another meeting.¡±


    Catherine motioned for both girls to head toward the school building. ¡°Sabrina, Audrey, why don¡¯t you two go inside and get ready for ss? I need to chat with Ms. Murray about something important.¡±


    Veronica nodded. ¡°Of course, Ms. Hudson.¡±


    He paused, letting his words sink inpletely. ¡°If you cannot provide that assurance, then we have nothing further to discuss. Mr. Dennis, have Imunicated my, position clearly enough?¡±


    The business world was full of alternatives, and Dario had built hispany by being adaptable and forward¨Cthinking.


    Friday evening arrived with a sense of anticipation. Malcolm was finally returning home after his extended absence, bringing with him the promise of family time and a temporary respite from the ongoing professionalplications that had been consuming so much of their energytely.


    Dario let out a dryugh and spoke with absolute rity. ¡°Mr. Dennis, let me save us both some time. DataPulse will never, under any circumstances, coborate with the Crystal family. I trust I don¡¯t need to borate on the reasons behind this decision.¡±


    Over the next several days, Dennis Group maintainedplete radio silence. It became increasingly apparent that Cullen was prepared to sacrifice a potentially lucrative business opportunity to maintain his loyalty to Niall and her family¡¯s


    interests.


    Within a week, industry gossip reached Dario¡¯s ears. Dennis Group had announced the formation of a new project development team, and both the Crystal and Mack families


    had been brought on as key partners in the venture.


    the ¡°the


    Cullen made no attempt to call back, which told them everything they needed to know about his priorities.


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    The situation was exactly as predictable as it was disappointing.


    Veronica felt her stomach tighten. She opened her mouth to exin the situation, but- Sabrina¡¯s teacher approached them at that exact moment.


    Once they were alone, Catherine¡¯s expression grew more serious. ¡°Ms. Murray, I wanted to ask if you¡¯re aware of the parent¨Cchild activity we have scheduled for next


    week?¡±


    Dario wasn¡¯t interested in dancing around the real topic. ¡°Mr. Dennis, you¡¯re calling on behalf of the Crystal family, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Dario epted the call. ¡°Mr. Dennis.¡±


    Before Cullen could attempt to negotiate, Dario continued. ¡°I will say this, though. The proposal yourpany submitted previously was genuinely impressive. However, if we were to move forward with a partnership, I would have one non¨Cnegotiable requirement. You would need to provide an absolute guarantee that no member of the Crystal family or the Mack family would have any involvement whatsoever in our project.¡±


    Veronica kept her response brief and matter¨Cof¨Cfact. ¡°As long as someone shows up to be with her during the activity, that should be sufficient.¡±


    Cullen didn¡¯t attempt to deny it. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. In that case, goodbye, Mr. Dennis.¡± Dario ended the call without waiting for any additional response.


    While losing the chance to work with Dennis Group represented a missed opportunity, Dario knew there were numerous otherpanies ofparable size and capability in the market. DataPulse¡¯s sess didn¡¯t depend solely on securing Cullen Dennis¡¯s partnership, no matter how beneficial it might have been.


    Before Veronica could find the right words to respond, Sabrina jumped in without thinking. She had no idea that Veronica had already packed up and left their shared home. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. My mom was definitely home yesterday evening.¡±


    Veronica thanked her politely and walked away, leaving the school grounds with a heavy feeling in her chest.


    Less than an hourter, Dario¡¯s phone began ringing. He nced at the caller


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    identification, then looked over at Veronica with a knowing expression.


    She turned around and spotted Audrey jogging toward her, her backpack bouncing with each step. ¡°Ms. Murray, my mom made some homemade buns for youst night. I went to your ce to drop them off, but nobody answered the door, so I had to take them back home.¡±


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 The Sprawling 192

    192 Chapter 192 ¨C Ocean Getaway


    Veronica felt a familiar tug at her heartstrings. Since there was nothing confidential about a family outing, she exined the situation with the cruise tickets and her


    cousins.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Veronica answered, stifling a yawn.


    Marco stepped forward with an easy smile that transformed his usually serious features. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful to meet you both.¡±


    Her phone buzzed just as they pulled away from the curb. Poppy¡¯s name shed on the


    screen.


    After reassuring Poppy a few more times, Veronica ended the call and leaned back against the headrest. The quiet hum of the engine filled the car until her phone rang again. This time, Marco¡¯s name appeared on the disy.


    ¡°A cruise sounds perfect,¡± Marco said immediately. ¡°Cecelia would absolutely love something like that. Would you be opposed to us joining you?¡±


    There was a pause before he continued, his tone softer. ¡°Cecelia has been asking about you non¨Cstop. She was really hoping to see you tomorrow.¡±


    Veronica promised to call him back within a few minutes. After a quick conference call with her cousins, who were surprisingly enthusiastic about the idea of meeting Marco and Cecelia, she gave him the green light.


    Thomas nodded in agreement. Marco certainly seemed more rxed and


    approachable than Cullen had ever been, even in the early days of his marriage to Veronica.


    Seeing her begin to build connections with someone new should have been purely encouraging. Yet the sight of her bonding so easily with another man¡¯s child while struggling to maintain a rtionship with her own daughter created a bittersweet undercurrent to the day.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, he produced a small bag from behind his back. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what kinds of things you might enjoy, so I brought a few small gifts. I hope they¡¯re to your liking.¡±


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    192 Chapel 102¨COcban Bay


    Adrian and Thomas hung back slightly, their curious gazes shifting between Maren and Cecelia. Sensing their uncertainty, Veronica straightened and made the introductions


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Marco¡¯s voice came through clearly. ¡°Could you tell me what thosemitments are?¡±


    As the morning progressed and the boat cut through the sparkling water, both Adrian and Thomas found themselves genuinely enjoying Marco¡¯spany. He was intelligent without being condescending, funny without trying too hard, and clearly devoted to his daughter.


    ¡°Of course. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    The thoughtful gesture left even Veronica momentarily speechless. Adrian and Thomas exchanged nces, clearly impressed by Marco¡¯s consideration.


    Veronica straightened in her seat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯mpletely free tomorrow, so I¡¯ll take them myself.¡±


    ¡°Positive. Adrian and Thomas have been looking forward to this for weeks. I won¡¯t let them down.¡±


    But watching Veronica¡¯s natural interaction with Cecelia stirredplicated emotions in both young men. They were painfully aware of the custody battle looming over their cousin¡¯s divorce. Cullen showed no signs of willingness to share custody of Sabrina, and from what they had observed, Sabrina herself seemed to prefer her father¡¯spany to her mother¡¯s.


    ¡°He¡¯s actually pretty attractive,¡± Adrian murmured to Thomas when they found themselves momentarily alone at the bow of the boat.


    The next morning arrived crisp and clear. Veronica met Adrian and Thomas at the marina just after eight o¡¯clock, the salty breeze carrying the excitement of their uing adventure. Marco and Cecelia were already waiting near the dock, Cecelia practically bouncing with anticipation.


    Thomas responded with a subtle shrug and a questioning expression of his own. Neither of them was quite sure what to make of this development.


    ¡°Of course. I understandpletely.¡±


    ¡°My mother called an hour ago. There¡¯s been a family emergency back home, and I


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    need to catch the first flight out tomorrow morning. I can¡¯t take the kids on the


    cruise.¡±


    Veronica crouched down to catch the little girl in a warm embrace, her heart melting at the child¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Hello, sweetheart. I¡¯ve missed you too.¡±


    The question caught her off guard. She found herself gripping the phone tighter. ¡°I¡¯d need to check with Adrian and Thomas first. It¡¯s their trip, after all.¡±


    The situation had to be devastating for Veronica, though she rarely let her pain show.


    Their reasoning was practical as much as emotional. If Veronica was serious about moving forward with Marco, then building a positive rtionship with his family now could only benefit their cousin in the long run. The Valerie family had always believed in the importance of treating potential inws with respect and kindness.


    Still, they decided to embrace the situation. They joined in the games and conversations, making an effort to include both Marco and Cecelia in their family dynamic.


    Adrian and Thomas had been aware of Veronica¡¯s divorce proceedings for weeks now. As they watched herughing with Cecelia and engaging in easy conversation with Marco, Adrian caught her brother¡¯s eye with a meaningful look.


    More importantly, he seemed to bring out a lightness in Veronica that they hadn¡¯t seen in months. For that alone, they were prepared to give him their full approval.


    ¡°Are you sure? I know you¡¯ve been swamped with work and the divorce proceedings.¡±


    Veronica tucked herptop under her arm as she and Dario made their way to Malcolm¡¯s house for dinner. The evening stretched longer than expected, with Malcolm meticulously going through her thesis line by line after they finished eating. By the time she settled into the passenger seat for the drive home, exhaustion weighed on her shoulders.


    After a few minutes of polite conversation, they made their way onto the boat. The vessel wasrger than Veronica had expected, with plenty of deck space andfortable seating areas.


    She hesitated before answering. ¡°Hi Marco. If you¡¯re calling about spending time with Cecelia tomorrow, I already havemitments and won¡¯t be avable.¡±


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    The moment Cecelia spotted Veronica, she broke into a run. ¡°Ms. Veronica! Ms.


    Veronica!¡±


    ¡°Veronica, I¡¯m so sorry to call thiste.¡± Poppy¡¯s voice carried a note of frustration. ¡°Remember those cruise tickets I bought for tomorrow? The day trip with Adrian and


    Thomas?¡±


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    193 Chapter 193- Aquatic Adventure


    193 Chapter 193 ¨C Aquatic Adventure


    Cecelia, Adrian, and Thomas had exhausted themselves with their morning activities. After attempting to fish for a brief period, all three sumbed to drowsiness and curled up on thefortable lounge chairs, their breathing bing deep and even.


    The peaceful moment was interrupted by the sharp ring of Marco¡¯s phone. He nced at the caller identification, his expression remaining carefully neutral as he rose from the water. ¡°I need to handle this call.¡±


    Cecelia¡¯s gaze followed their pointing fingers to the magnificent multicolored water slide that dominated one section of the yacht¡¯s recreational area. Her face lit up with pure delight as she nodded vigorously, practically bouncing on her toes with anticipation.


    The slide¡¯s design amodated users of all ages, though it clearly catered to those young enough to embrace such yful abandon without reservation.


    After they enjoyed dinner together, the yacht began its journey back toward the


    marina.


    Adrian and Thomas had ovee their initial intimidation around Marco entirely. As they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave, they addressed him with casual familiarity. ¡°Marco, we hope we¡¯ll see you again soon.¡±


    After experiencing the thrilling rush of the slide several times, both Veronica and Marco found their initial excitement waning. The novelty had worn off quickly for the adults, but Cecelia, Adrian, and Thomas remainedpletely captivated by the experience, theirughter echoing through the enclosed space as they took turn after


    turn.


    Cullen¡¯s voice carried a hint of expectation. ¡°Sa has been asking about spending time with Cecelia, so she requested I contact you to arrange something.¡±


    ¡°On a yacht.¡± Marco¡¯s eyes unconsciously drifted back toward Veronica, who had returned to watching the children y.


    By any logical reasoning, two people with such aligned interests should have been able to build a strong,patible rtionship based on mutual respect and understanding.


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    ¡°The yacht is already well out to sea. Perhaps we can arrange something another time.¡±


    He suddenly recalled seeing Cullen reading that identical book on multiple asions, often with the same intense concentration that Veronica was disying now.


    When noon arrived, all five of them gathered around an elegantly set table for an borate seafood feast. The yacht¡¯s chef had prepared an impressive array of fresh catches, and the conversation flowed as easily as the champagne.


    ¡°Understood.¡± Cullen didn¡¯t press the matter further and ended the call abruptly.


    The yacht¡¯s water slide system was an engineering marvel,pletely enclosed and designed to mimic a luxurious hot spring environment. The climate¨Ccontrolled atmosphere meant that even with winter¡¯s chill outside, the water remained perfectly warm and inviting for year¨Cround enjoyment.


    Veronica decided to retreat to the more tranquil hot spring area, settling into the soothing warm water with a contented sigh. The heat immediately began working on her tense muscles, and she felt herself rxing for the first time in weeks.


    His deliberate use of ¡°as well¡± made it unmistakably clear that he was drawing aparison to Cullen¡¯s reading habits.


    ¡°You¡¯re out on the water?¡±


    Everyone in their social circle had always imed she had employed maniptive tactics to trap Cullen into marriage. Marco had once epted this narrative without question, never bothering to examine the evidence for himself.


    The afternoon found them sprawled across the sun¨Cdrenched deck, some choosing to bask in the warming rays while others tried their hand at fishing from the yacht¡¯s well¨Cequipped stern.


    ¡°Do you bring them on outings like this frequently?¡±


    However, after spending this extended time with Veronica in a rxed setting, he was beginning to question those assumptions. She didn¡¯t disy the calcting, scheming personality that such behavior would require. Her thoughts and reactions seemed genuine and straightforward rather than strategically nned.


    Cullen¡¯s voice came through clearly. ¡°Where are you currently?¡±


    Veronica¡¯s expression grew slightly mncholy as she shook her head. ¡°I used to make


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    time for trips like this regrly, buttely, my work demands have made it nearly impossible to get away.¡±


    Yet the reality of their marriage painted an entirely different picture.


    Adrian and Thomas approached Cecelia with infectious enthusiasm, their eyes bright with excitement as they gestured toward the borate water slide structure. They wanted to know if she¡¯d join them for some aquatic fun.


    Only when a sudden gust of wind caught Cecelia¡¯s nket and sent it fluttering toward the deck rail did Veronica finally be aware of Marco¡¯s presence. She looked up as he carefully repositioned the nket over the sleeping girl.


    Marco¡¯s expression grew thoughtful and somewhat troubled as he contemted this


    contradiction.


    ¡°Adrian¡¯s sixteen, Thomas¡¯s fourteen.¡± Veronica took a sip of her drink, enjoying the contrast between the cold liquid and the warm water surrounding her.


    Marco appeared beside her momentster, extending a chilled beverage in her direction. Veronica epted the drink gratefully, her fingers briefly brushing against


    his as she took it. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Marco maintained his casual tone while keeping Veronica in his peripheral vision. ¡°Is there something urgent?¡±


    By the time they were preparing to disembark, Adrian, Thomas, and Cecelia had developed afortable friendship that seemed to bridge their age differences effortlessly.


    Marco settled back into his chair and gestured toward her reading material with genuine curiosity. ¡°That book¡­ do you study it regrly as well?¡±


    Marco moved to a more private area before epting the call. ¡°Cullen.¡±


    As Marco observed Veronica¡¯splete absorption in the material, he found himself pausing mid¨Cstep. She was so thoroughly engrossed that his return had gonepletely unnoticed, her focus unwavering.


    Veronica nodded with understanding. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Veronica nodded affirmatively. ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


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    In that moment, Marco experienced a sudden revtion about the fundamental simrities between Veronica and Cullen. They clearly shared a genuine passion for the same professional field, the same type ofplex material that most people would find dry or intimidating.


    Marco responded with a genuine nod, though his attention inevitably shifted to Veronica as he replied. ¡°I look forward to seeing you all again as well.¡±


    Marco lowered himself into the water at a respectful distance, close enough for conversation but far enough to maintain appropriate boundaries. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± His curiosity seemed to get the better of him as he watched the three young people continue their energetic y. ¡°How old are they?¡±


    Marco had pursued finance during his university years, and while he couldn¡¯t immediately identify the specific text in Veronica¡¯s hands, something about it struck him as familiar. The cover design and thickness triggered a memory that quickly crystallized.


    Marco excused himself to handle some pressing business matters, stepping away to make several important calls in private. When he returned to the deck, he discovered Veronica still seated in her original position,pletely absorbed in reading a thick


    book.


    Her concentrated expression while reading, the way she held the book, even her posture¡­ it all bore a striking resemnce to Cullen¡¯s study habits. Not physically, but in the unmistakable intensity of intellectual engagement.


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    12:59

 The Sprawling 194

    194 Chapter 194 ¨C School Performance


    Cullen¡¯s name shed across the screen. Veronica observed the iing call but deliberately let it ring through to voicemail.


    Eventually, the flow of arriving families guided them toward their designated seating area. Veronica and Cullen found themselves sitting side by side, maintaining a careful distance despite their proximity.


    Theirbined presence created quite a stir among the assembled parents. Veronica¡¯s elegant beauty paired with Cullen¡¯smanding presence drew countless furtive nces and whispered conversations throughout the gathering.


    ¡°Make sure you get plenty of rest tonight,¡± Veronica added warmly.


    Upon arriving at the Murray family estate, Veronica retreated upstairs while Thomas couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, immediately seeking out Mary to recount every detail of the day¡¯s events.


    Sabrina then approached carrying a delicate flower crown that the school had prepared specifically for mothers participating in the event. She extended it toward Cullen, clearly expecting him to perform the traditional gesture of cing it on


    Veronica¡¯s head.


    Catherine, Sabrina¡¯s teacher, brightened visibly upon spotting Veronica among the


    gathered parents. She made a special effort to approach them with genuine warmth. ¡°Ms. Murray, I¡¯m so delighted you could join us today.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s reply came significantlyter, leaving her waiting for over thirty minutes.


    ¡°9:00 am.¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Sabrina¡¯s face lit up with pure joy as she spotted Veronica approaching. She had been standing dutifully beside Cullen, but now waved enthusiastically.


    The unexpected response left Sabrina momentarily speechless. ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Phillip stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°That exins the Valerie family¡¯s recent interest in establishing business partnerships with me. And Marco¡¯s been unusually courteous whenever we cross paths. Now I understand the connection.¡±


    Veronica scanned the message and typed back curtly, ¡°I¡¯m unavable.¡±


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    Cullen had apparently informed Sabrina that Veronica would return home to


    apany her to the school event the next day. However, with the clock already past nine in the evening, Veronica remained absent.


    The following morning, Veronica stirred awake in her childhood bedroom at the Murray residence. She had barely finished her breakfast when her phone began buzzing insistently.


    Veronica chose not to acknowledge his message further.


    Casey had previously heard fragments of information from Audrey regarding Veronica¡¯s marital status and young daughter. The details had seemed almost impossible to believe at the time.


    Monday morning found Veronica arriving punctually at Sabrina¡¯s school grounds.


    Her phone immediately rang again. This time, Veronica didn¡¯t even nce at it before powering down the device entirely.


    Remembering his thinly veiled threat from the previous evening, Veronica pointedly ignored his attempt at conversation. Instead, she focused her attention on Sabrina¡¯s tablet, studying the day¡¯s scheduled activities with deliberate concentration.


    Veronica offered a brief farewell. ¡°See you next time.¡± Without another nce, she slid into her car and drove away, leaving no room for further conversation.


    Her fingers tightened around the phone as sheposed her response. does the event begin?¡±


    time


    Hourster, afterpleting her work obligations, she reluctantly reactivated her phone. A new message from Cullen awaited her attention. ¡°Are you staying at the Murray residence?¡±


    After ending the call, Veronica contacted Dario to inform him of her dyed arrival at the office the following day.


    The family members nodded in agreement.


    Veronica intercepted the offering smoothly. ¡°I can manage this myself.¡±


    Mary, however, possessed a deeper understanding of Veronica¡¯s character. She shook her head gently. ¡°Veronica hasn¡¯t finalized her divorce proceedings yet. I doubt she¡¯s viewing this situation romantically. We should allow events to unfold naturally without


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    meddling.¡±


    ¡°Veronica,¡± she began, her voice carrying just enough volume to attract nearby attention, ¡°is this your husband?¡±


    Veronica approached them with measured steps. Cullen offered a casual greeting. ¡°You


    made it.¡±


    Marco and Cullen had been childhood friends, practically inseparable growing up. Veronica had always maintained a polite but distant rtionship with him. This sudden development caught everyone off guard.


    Poppy leaned forward with interest. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s actually something developing between them?¡±


    Within minutes, a text message appeared. ¡°Tomorrow, Sabrina¡¯s school is organizing a parent¨Cchild activity. Your attendance is required.¡±


    The moment Veronica answered, her daughter¡¯s voice carried a note of confusion. ¡°Mom, why haven¡¯t youe home yet?¡±


    That evening, Sabrina¡¯s call interrupted her quiet contemtion.


    Now, witnessing the scene firsthand, curiosity overcame her restraint. She approached their seating area with practiced social grace, her eyes moving between Veronica and Cullen with obvious interest.


    The elderly matriarch¡¯s eyebrows shot up when she discovered that Marco had been Veronica¡¯spanion for the entire afternoon. Her surprise was unmistakable.


    The brevity of his words couldn¡¯t mask their underlying implication. Veronica understood perfectly well that her silence would only result in him appearing at her family¡¯s doorstep uninvited.


    ¡°Okay. Goodnight, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Veronica responded, allowing a sincere smile to soften her features.


    Veronica kept her voice gentle but firm. ¡°I won¡¯t be returning to that house. I¡¯ll meet you directly at your school tomorrow morning.¡±


    Cullen didn¡¯t press the matter, simply transferring the floral arrangement to her waiting hands withoutment.


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    Cullen withdrew his hand without argument, slipping the device back into his pocket. Then he bent down and scooped Sabrina into his arms with practiced ease. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck as he moved to join the other parents clustered around the chairs.


    His eyes found Veronica¡¯s again, and this time his smile held something different. Not the practiced charm he used in business, but something warmer. More real.


    The melody stopped without warning.


    Honestly, when she¡¯d first seen the activity schedule, she¡¯d expected both Cullen and Sabrina to be bored senseless by these kinds of organized games. Cullen especially seemed too sophisticated, too serious for elementary schoolpetitions.


    Cullen¡¯s gaze found Veronica¡¯s face. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Sabrina bounded back to them, her cheeks flushed with excitement. The parent¨Cchild activities were about to begin, and the air buzzed with anticipation from families gathering around.


    Without Sabrina within earshot, Veronica allowed herself a small, weary smile. ¡°We¡¯re getting divorced soon.¡±


    Casey nodded politely in return. ¡°Nice to meet you too.¡±


    Once they were alone, Cullen¡¯s voice dropped to that familiar low tone. ¡°Your neighbor seems nice. You¡¯ve settled in well.¡±


    Veronica¡¯s fingers tightened around her phone until her knuckles went white.


    By the third round, Cullen was fully invested. His movements became more strategic, his focus sharper. He wasn¡¯t just participating anymore, he was ying to win.


    Casey had sensed something was off for months now. Living across the hall, she¡¯d watched Veronicae and go alone with her daughter, never seeing a husband. The final clue had been thest parent conference when a stunning brte had shown up instead of Veronica.


    Veronica recoiled slightly, as if his phone might burn her fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll use my own


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    phone. I can send you the video afterward.¡±


    The question hung in the air. Though he addressed Casey, his dark eyes fixed on Veronica with an intensity that made her skin prickle.


    The teacher¡¯s voice cut through the chatter. ¡°Our first game is Musical Chairs!¡±


    Champions.


    But watching them now told a different story entirely. Sabrina was practically vibrating with joy, her whole face lit up with excitement. And Cullen, despite his initial


    reluctance, was grinning as he held her close.


    Cullen studied her profile for a long moment. When she didn¡¯t respond, he didn¡¯t push. That restraint was new for him.


    The rules were simple butpetitive. Chairs formed a circle in the center of the room, with two fewer seats than participating families. Parents would carry their children and circle the chairs while music yed. When the music cut out, everyone would scramble for seats. No chair meant elimination. Last family standing won.


    Cullen turned to her, his expression carefully neutral. ¡°Your call. Do you want to y,


    or should I?¡±


    The music started with a bouncy rhythm that filled the room. Cullen turned away, breaking their eye contact as he began moving with the group. His long strides kept pace easily with the other parents as they circled the chairs like predators stalking


    prey.


    Veronica kept her mouth firmly shut, refusing to be drawn into conversation. Casey filled the silence quickly. ¡°Veronica and I live in the same building. We¡¯re neighbors.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough.¡± He extended his phone toward her. ¡°Mind recording it for me?¡±


    Veronica remained on the sidelines, pulling up her camera app and pointing it toward the action. Through the lens, she watched Cullen adjust his grip on Sabrina, making sure she wasfortable and secure.


    The weight of his attention made her throat tight. ¡°You y.¡±


    Round after round, his quick thinking and athletic build gave him the edge. Other parents fell by the wayside, but Cullen and Sabrina kept iming their seat until they were thest family standing.


    12:59


    214


    195 Chapter 195 Victorious Champions


    Chaos erupted as parents lunged for chairs. Cullen moved like a man half his age, sliding smoothly into a seat while keeping Sabrina perfectly bnced in hisp. His reflexes were sharp, decisive.


    Cullen¡¯s attention shifted between the two women. ¡°So you two are friends?¡±


    This wasn¡¯t Veronica¡¯s first rodeo. She¡¯d participated in these events when Sabrina had just started kindergarten, back when their family had still been intact. But after Cullen had whisked Sabrina away to Londonst year, Veronica had missed an entire year of these moments.


    Then their eyes met across the room. Even through the phone screen, the connection hit her like a physical force. Cullen¡¯s mouth curved into a smile meant only for her, the kind that used to make her knees weak.


    The tension crackling between the estranged couple was impossible to miss. Casey could practically feel the electricity in the air, and Veronica¡¯s bodynguage screamed that she wanted nothing to do with this man.


    Veronica opened her mouth to volunteer, but Sabrina¡¯s excited voice cut her off. ¡°Daddy should do it! Daddy¡¯s really fast!¡±


    ¡°I see that, baby,¡± Veronica called back, surprised by how genuine her smile felt.


    Cullen stepped forward with practiced charm. ¡°Good to meet you.¡±


    Veronica pulled out her phone and stared at the screen, anything to avoid looking at him. The casual way he spoke, as if they were making polite small talk instead of navigating the wreckage of their marriage, made her jaw clench.


    Sabrina bounced in his arms,pletely delighted by the whole experience. She pointed at other children and waved, herughter carrying over the music.


    Safe in her perch, Sabrina threw both hands in the air triumphantly. ¡°Mom! Mom, look! We got one!¡±


    At first, Veronica could tell Cullen was just going through the motions, ying along for Sabrina¡¯s sake. But as the rounds continued and the energy in the room built, something shifted. Thepetitive atmosphere, the music, the pure fun of it all seemed to break through his usual reserve.


    ¡°Well, I should get going,¡± Casey said, backing away with an apologetic smile. ¡°Enjoy the EVENT .


    12:59


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 The Sprawling 196

    196 Chapter 190 Seamless Teamwork


    196 Chapter 196 Seamless Teamwork


    Sabrina imed the spot directly behind her mother, gripping Veronica¡¯s coat to match her movements, herughter echoing with genuine delight.


    Sabrina had already imed the space beside Cullen, her curiosity focused entirely on watching the video he had recorded.


    Sabrina¡¯s head bobbed with unmistakable excitement. ¡°Mom has to y this one <b>with </b>


    me.¡±


    Cullen¡¯s expression softened with genuine warmth. ¡°Absolutely!


    Veronica met her daughter¡¯s enthusiasm with a satisfying p of their palms. ¡°We did. Cullen approached them with measured steps. ¡°Did you capture the footage?¡±


    The musical chairspetition had concluded, making way for the next challenge: the Invincible Light game.


    However¡­


    Cullen¡¯s gaze found Veronica¡¯s face. ¡°Are you interested in participating this time?¡± The game demanded wless coordination between teammates. Veronica positioned herself at the group¡¯s center, lifting her arms in perfect synchronization with the others to maintain the tape ring¡¯s steady rotation.


    She retrieved her phone and discovered Cullen¡¯s video message waiting for her. Though she registered its arrival, she chose not to view it immediately.


    Veronica seriously doubted that someone possessing his remarkable memory would genuinely forget the agenda after reviewing it once.


    Sabrina bounced toward Veronica with pure joy radiating from her small face, her palm stretched high in the air. ¡°Mom, we crushed it!¡±


    As the starting whistle approached, Veronica found herself staring uncertainly at her handbag.


    Sabrina¡¯s response bubbled with enthusiasm. ¡°I understand!¡±


    <i>Any </i>observer unfamiliar with theirplicated history might easily mistake him for a


    198 Chapter 1900 Seamless Teamwork


    devoted husband, patiently waiting while holding his cherished wife¡¯s belongings until


    her return.


    Veronica remained conscious of his nearby presence, though the game¡¯s intensity prevented her from acknowledging him directly. The instant Sabrina¡¯s voice rang <b>out</b>, Cullen¡¯s calm instruction followed. ¡°Keep your focus here. Stay with your mother¡¯s


    pace.¡±


    She consumed several refreshing sips before securing the cap back in ce, just as Cullen¡¯s voice cut through the ambient noise. ¡°Whates next on the schedule?¡±


    Among typical married couples, such a gesture would barely register as noteworthy. Yet between them, this marked the very first asion Cullen had ever epted responsibility for her personal belongings.


    Veronica epted his gesture. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her throat had indeed grown parched from the exertion.


    Veronica approached and reimed her bag from his grasp. A notification chime emerged from within the bag at that precise moment.


    Cullen¡¯s hand extended toward her without hesitation. ¡°Let me take that.


    Her eyes dropped to the water bottle resting in her grip, and she hesitated. Declining someone¡¯s question after epting their kindness felt unnecessarily harsh.


    His appearance today deviated from his usual corporate formality, yet his imposing heightbined with that tailored ck overcoat made carrying her bag appearpletely natural.


    The moment Sabrina spotted Cullen documenting their performance with his phone, her energy skyrocketed. ¡°Dad!¡±


    ¡°I appreciate it.¡± Veronica ced her bag into his waiting palm.


    During the earlierpetition, Veronica had remained stationary while filming, maintaining a fixed recording position. Now, as Cullen captured their participation, he demonstrated remarkable dedication by moving in harmony with the game¡¯s progression, walking backward while maintaining steady footage.


    Oneplete circuit brought the game to its conclusion.


    Cullen surrendered his phone to her eager hands, then twisted <b>open </b><b>a </b>water bottle


    196 Chapter 196¨CSeamless Teamwork


    and offered it in Veronica¡¯s direction.


    Veronica found herself without any reasonable protest. ¡°Fine by me.¡±


    With that consideration weighing on her mind, she provided the answer he sought. ¡°The Orr Transportation Match.¡±


    Veronica forced her attention elsewhere.


    Cullen had strategically positioned himself at a slight angle ahead of their group.


    Veronica wondered silently whether he had ever performed this simple courtesy for


    Niall.


    Sabrina immediately rushed toward Cullen. ¡°Dad, that was incredible! Could we do this again another time?¡±


    ¡°I got it all,¡± Veronica confirmed, her fingers dancing across her phone screen as she transferred the video to his device.


    This particr activity demanded coboration from four families working as a unified team. Each group needed to advance forward while maintaining the constant rotation of arge circr tape ring beneath their collective feet. Victory belonged to whichever team crossed the finish line first.


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 The Sprawling 197

    197 Chapter 197 ¨C Paternal Bond


    Veronica maintained steady focus through her phone¡¯s camera lens.


    However, as Cullen continued his skilled dribbling, an unwee memory surfaced from the depths of her mind. She recalled watching him dominate their university¡¯s basketball court years earlier.


    Veronica captured their celebration through her phone screen<b>. </b>She recognized that Sabrina was likely experiencing the peak of happiness among all the children at school today.


    The afternoon heat pressed down on them relentlessly. The temperature had climbed to an ufortable level.


    Cullen epted with a slight nod. ¡°Fine by me.¡±


    Several onlookers gathered around their course, murmuring appreciativements. ¡°Look at that technique.¡±


    Veronica lowered her phone and watched them from her distance, feeling like an observer rather than a participant in this family tableau.


    The bond between them was genuinely powerful, and logic suggested it would only strengthen with time.


    His eyebrow lifted at her casual treatment of his clothing, though he remained silent.


    Sabrina had already decided the matter. Veronica simply nodded toward Cullen. ¡°You handle this.¡±


    What Casey kept to herself was her observation that children typically didn¡¯t favor one parent so dramatically over the other. Such pronounced preference was quite unusual.


    asure you move with us. Don¡¯t


    Just as thepetition was about to begin, he caught her attention with an unexpected instruction. ¡°While you¡¯re filming, nt yourself in one spot like a statue.¡±


    Sabrina hadn¡¯t exaggerated Cullen¡¯s basketball abilities. Her assessment had beenpletely urate.


    The ball danced between his palms with effortless control. His shirtsleeves were


    107 Chapter 197¨CPaternal Bond


    pushed up casually, revealing strong forearms as he maintained perfect coordination with Sabrina¡¯s smaller steps.


    Veronica actually possessed decent basketball skills from her college days. Yet she chose silence over correction.


    Yet now, observing the current version of Cullen¨Ctaller, more self¨Cassured, and undeniably more attractive than his college self¨Cthose old recollections seemed to lose their sharp edges.


    However, she couldn¡¯t deny the obvious truth before her eyes. Veronica¡¯s husband demonstrated exceptional devotion to their daughter¡¯s happiness and development. Now something had changed dramatically. Whether through school instruction or Cullen¡¯s personal coaching, Sabrina disyed remarkable dribbling technique when the whistle sounded.


    Cullen¡¯sughter carried across the yground as he continued engaging with other fathers, Sabrina still perched contentedly in his arms. The scene painted a picture of domestic perfection that seemed almost too polished to be entirely genuine.


    The Orr Transportation Challenge demanded coordination between parent and child. One person would grip a rope loop and pull forward while their partner dribbled a basketball within the loop¡¯s boundaries.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Veronica responded curtly.


    Cullen peeled off his expensive ck zer and extended it toward her. ¡°Mind holding this?¡±


    Simultaneously, another thought crept into her consciousness. If Niall had been standing here beside them instead of herself, Sabrina¡¯s joy might have reached even greater heights.


    During this social interaction<b>, </b>Casey positioned herself next to Veronica.


    Just months ago, whenever these memories had emerged, his younger face and athletic form had appeared with startling rity in her thoughts.


    ¡°Dad.¡± Sabrina spoke up, her voice carryingplete confidence. ¡°Mom doesn¡¯t understand basketball, but Dad is amazing at it.¡±


    Cullen smiled broadly and scooped her up into his strong arms with obvious pride.


    197 Chapter 107 Paternal Bond


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Veronica agreed simply.


    Sabrina bounced on her toes with pure tion, her grin stretching from ear to ear


    Veronica had previously taken Sabrina to basketball and volleyball sessions. During those earlier attempts, Sabrina had shown minimal enthusiasm. Perhaps her age had been a factor, or maybe the experiences had simply faded from memory.


    Cullen pulled the rope backward with measured precision, his movements synchronized wlessly with her bouncing rhythm.


    Cullen and Sabrina imed first ce without surprise.


    Several other parents approached Cullen to initiate conversations. He exchanged handshakes and engaged in friendly dialogue about thepetition.


    Veronica studied the garment for a moment before taking it. Instead of cradling it carefully, she deposited it onto the nearby grass.


    At the halfway mark, roles switched. The child became the guide while the parent handled the ball. The basketball had to remain inside the loop¡¯s perimeter throughout


    the entire course.


    Observing that the games were winding down and Veronica hadpleted her recording duties, Casey offered her perspective. ¡°Your daughter shares an incredible connection with her father.¡±


    The first leg concluded without anyplications. Their return journey proved even more seamless.


    198 Chapter 198¨CInvisible

 The Sprawling 198

    198 Chapter 198 Invisible Barriers


    Cullen ruffled her hair affectionately. ¡°That restaurant is across town. You have


    ¨C


    afternoon sses we¡¯d never make it back in time.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sweetheart.¡±


    Eventually, Sabrina¡¯s voice cut through her concentration. ¡°Mom! Come join us for the big group photo, then we can finally eat!¡±


    Veronica nodded, already transferring the video files to both Sabrina¡¯s tablet and Cullen¡¯s phone. ¡°Check your devices. Everything should be there now.¡±


    Veronica caught the mixture of pity and uncertainty in Casey¡¯s expression. She realized Casey had connected the dots about her situation. Rather than feel embarrassed, she simply offered a serene smile.


    Then Sabrina spun toward Veronica with sparkling eyes. ¡°Mom, now take pictures of Dad and me together!¡±


    ¡°Did you get everything, Mom?¡±


    She didn¡¯t intrude on their private moment. Instead, she focused on reviewing the urgent documents Dario had forwarded to her phone, losing herself in work details.


    Sabrina¡¯s face lit up with delight. ¡°Perfect!¡±


    Every other family moved as one unit, their emotions synchronized.


    Following her daughter¡¯s instructions, Veronica captured several shots of Cullen and Sabrina posing with the trophies, their faces glowing with shared aplishment.


    with seve


    Sabrina¡¯s face fell momentarily before rebounding with renewed enthusiasm. ¡°Okay, what about that seafood ce downtown?¡±


    ¡°I need to handle this call,¡± she exined.


    After Veronica sent the photos to Sabrina¡¯s tablet, Cullen surprised her <i>by </i>extending his hand. ¡°Let me get some shots of you two as well.¡±


    What Casey found more telling was watching the other families during the games. When their partners seeded, spouses cheered and apuded with genuine pride


    198 Chapter 198¨CInvisible Barriors


    When they struggled, wony creased their faces as they shouted encouragement from the sidelines.


    Threepetition roundster, the athletic portion finally concluded. Sabrina


    clutched two gleaming first¨Cce trophies against her chest, practically vibrating with excitement as she demanded Cullen document her triumph.


    Veronica moved to her daughter¡¯s side, and Cullen took several photos of them together, the trophies still prominent in the frame.


    Sabrina¡¯s natural closeness to Cullen didn¡¯t surprise anyone. Children always gravitated toward the parent who spent more time with them.


    Sabrina nodded brightly. ¡°No problem, Mom!¡±


    Casey recalled the previous parent¨Cteacher conference, when Sabrina had clung to that other woman with such obvious affection and familiarity.


    ¡°Yes! Come here, Mom!¡± Sabrina called out enthusiastically.


    Veronica approached as the photographer organized all the families for their final shots. After therge group picture, individual family portraits followed.


    Before Veronica could respond, Sabrina shot her hand up like <i>she </i>was still in ss. ¡°I vote for Korean barbecue! That amazing ce we discoveredst month!¡±


    Cullen simply grunted his acknowledgment.


    He obligingly snapped multiple shots from different angles.


    The work conversation stretched nearly fifteen minutes as Dario walked her through several urgent client concerns that required her immediate attention.


    She understood perfectly why she was here today. Niall had been unavable, so Cullen and Sabrina needed a substitute. That¡¯s all she was ¨C a convenient recement.


    ¨C


    No wonder the dynamic felt strained now<i>. </i>How could any mother not feel disced when her child showed such devotion to the very person who had shattered their family?


    Veronica must be suffering in silence. But Casey couldn¡¯t find the <i>right </i>words to bridge the awkwardness between them.


    198 Chapter 198- Invisible Barriers


    Cullen and Sabrina jogged back from their sessful game round, both flushed with victory. Sabrina immediately bounced over to review the footage.


    The knowledge stung, but she had epted it.


    As families began dispersing, Cullen retrieved his jacket from a nearby chair. He turned to Veronica with a casual expression. ¡°Any preference for lunch?


    Instead of answering immediately, Cullen¡¯s gaze shifted to Veronica, waiting for her input. ¡°What sounds good to you?¡±


    nded the call and looked up,:


    When Veronica finally noticed Cullen and Sabrina huddled together over his phone, clearly video chatting with someone. Their heads bent close together, voices low and intimate.


    But with Veronica¡¯s family, something felt off. Despite Veronica¡¯s warm smile as she watched her daughter y, an invisible barrier seemed to separate her from Cullen and Sabrina. She looked like she was observing their happiness rather than sharing in <ol><li>it. </li></ol>


    With thest camera sh, the school¡¯s parent¨Cchild event officially wrapped up.


    Just as Veronica reimed her phone, it began buzzing insistently. Dario¡¯s name shed on the screen.


    The worst of the emotional turmoil had already passed.


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    198 Chapter 108¨CInvisible Barriors.


    When they struggled, worry creased their faces as they shouted encouragement from the sidelines.


    Threepetition roundster, the athletic portion finally concluded. Sabrina


    clutched two gleaming first¨Cce trophies against her chest, practically vibrating <b>with </b>excitement as she demanded Cullen document her triumph.


    Veronica moved to her daughter¡¯s side, and Cullen took several photos of them. together, the trophies still prominent in the frame.


    Sabrina¡¯s natural closeness to Cullen didn¡¯t surprise anyone. Children always gravitated toward the parent who spent more time with them.


    Sabrina nodded brightly. ¡°No problem, Mom!¡±


    Casey recalled the previous parent¨Cteacher conference, when Sabrina had clung to that other woman with such obvious affection and familiarity.


    ¡°Yes! Come here, Mom!¡± Sabrina called out enthusiastically.


    Veronica approached as the photographer organized all the families for their final shots. After therge group picture, individual family portraits followed.


    Before Veronica could respond, Sabrina shot her hand up like she was still in ss. ¡°! vote for Korean barbecue! That amazing ce we discoveredst month!¡±


    Cullen simply grunted his acknowledgment.


    He obligingly snapped multiple shots from different angles.


    The work conversation stretched nearly fifteen minutes as Dario walked her through several urgent client concerns that required her immediate attention.


    She understood perfectly why she was here today. Niall had been unavable, so Cullen and Sabrina needed a substitute. That¡¯s all she was ¨C a convenient recement. No wonder the dynamic felt strained now. How could any mother not feel disced when her child showed such devotion to the very person who had shattered their family?


    Veronica must be suffering in silence. But Casey couldn¡¯t find the right words to bridge the awkwardness between them.


    198 Chapter 198¨CInvisible Barriers


    Cullen and Sabrina jogged back from their sessful game round, both flushed with victory. Sabrina immediately bounced over to review the footage.


    The knowledge stung, but she had epted it.


    As families began dispersing, Cullen retrieved his jacket from a nearby chair. He turned to Veronica with a casual expression. ¡°Any preference for lunch?¡±


    Instead of answering immediately, Cullen¡¯s gaze shifted to Veronica, waiting <b>for </b>her input. ¡°What sounds good to you?¡±


    When Veronica finally ended the call and looked up, she noticed Cullen and Sabrina huddled together over his phone, clearly video chatting with someone. Their heads. bent close together, voices low and intimate.


    But with Veronica¡¯s family, something felt off. Despite Veronica¡¯s warm smile as she watched her daughter y, an invisible barrier seemed to separate her from Cullen and Sabrina. She looked like she was observing their happiness rather than sharing <b>in </b><ol><li>it. </li></ol>


    With thest camera sh, the school¡¯s parent¨Cchild event officially wrapped up.


    Just as Veronica reimed her phone, it began buzzing insistently. Dario¡¯s name


    shed on the screen.


    The worst of the emotional turmoil had already passed.


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 The Sprawling 199

    199 Chapter 199 Calcted Opposition


    ¡°Let¡¯s go get some food then.¡± Veronica managed a genuine smile. ¡°That sounds perfect.


    Cullen¡¯s tone shifted to casual concern. ¡°Have you had dinner yet?¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you apologize or something?¡± Sabrina asked with the innocent logic of childhood.


    But even as she said it, Cook knew the truth. Since Cullen had assumed control of Dennis Group, thepany had reached unprecedented heights of sess and profitability.


    Cook understood Cullen¡¯s nature better than most¨Che wasn¡¯t the type to keep bending to others¡® demands. When he set his mind on something, he pursued it with single¨Cminded determination.


    Sabrina¡¯s eyes widened, clearly caught off guard. ¡°What? Mom, you¡¯re noting with


    But as he had just reminded her, his marriage to Veronica was already the sacrifice he had made for family harmony.


    ¡°I guess so.¡±


    Their choice of restaurant proved unfortunate when they encountered Owen, one of Dennis Group¡¯s senior executives, who was dining there with his own family.


    Before Cullen could answer, Cook¡¯s voice turned sharp with ultimatum. ¡°I won¡¯t stand for this! If you¡¯re determined to move forward with this deal, then fine¨Cbut you¡¯ll remove them from it. And if you refuse, then I¡¯ll-¡±


    Cullen slipped his phone back into his pocket, his expressionpletely rxed. ¡°Your great¨Cgrandmother is upset with me.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare¡­¡±


    Veronica stepped back from the small group, her voice steady but distant. ¡°You all should go. I have other ns.¡±


    For Cullen to openly involve the Crystal and the Mack in Dennis Group business meant


    199 Chapter 109¨CCalcted Opposition


    he wasn¡¯t concerned about the consequences. It meant he had already chosen hist path.


    ¡°No.¡± Veronica reached out and smoothed down Sabrina¡¯s hair with gentle fingers. ¡°1 need to take care of something else. Enjoy your dinner.¡±


    ¡°No, not yet.¡±


    Owen guided his wife and children toward their reserved private room, then doubled back to approach Dario. ¡°I have to admit, I thought we might get another opportunity to work together. But given recent developments¡­¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡± Dario¡¯s response carried an edge of frost. He paused deliberately before continuing, ¡°I also understand that the Crystal and the Mack have been given substantial roles in this project. Has that created any¡­ internal friction at Dennis Group?¡±


    Sabrina leaned over with obvious curiosity. ¡°What was all that about?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ okay, I guess<b>.¡± </b>


    Cullen¡¯s response was maddeningly calm, followed by a softugh. ¡°Took you long enough to hear about it.¡±


    The instant he answered, her voice crackled through the speaker like a whip. ¡°Did you actually authorize a partnership deal between Dennis Group and both the Crystal and the Mack?¡±


    ¡°Not today. I¡¯ll handle it when the time is right.¡±


    ¡°Really? What did you do to make her angry?¡±


    They had barely settled into Cullen¡¯s car when his phone buzzed insistently. Cook¡¯s name shed across the screen.


    Veronica¡¯s smile never wavered, though it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. She turned on her heel and walked away without another nce back.


    Cullen¡¯s gaze followed her retreating form, but he made no move to stop her<b>. </b>His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly before he looked down at Sabrina. ¡°We should <i>get </i>going.¡±


    Cullen stared at his phone for a moment, then let out a quiet chuckle.


    199 Chapter 199 ¨C Calcted Opposition


    The silence that followed was heavy with defeat. Cook had backed down.


    Meanwhile, back at the office, Dario noticed Veronica¡¯s return but didn¡¯t pry into how the school event had gone. Instead, he simply asked, ¡°You¡¯re back early. Have <b>you </b>eaten anything?¡±


    The board members and senior executives had learned that betting on Cullen¡¯s vision was the surest path to prosperity. If she tried to challenge him now, the first opposition she¡¯d face wouldn¡¯te from Cullen himself¨Cit woulde from every other stakeholder who had grown rich under his leadership.


    ¡°Something she didn¡¯t like.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother.¡± Cullen¡¯s voice carried the weight of absolute authority. ¡°When I agreed to marry, I honored every condition you set. Now I expect the same courtesy in return -stay out of my business decisions.¡±


    ¡°It is indeed. When Mr. Dennis gives his personal endorsement to a project, failure isn¡¯t really an option.¡±


    The message was crystal clear: the Crystal and the Mack were off limits to her interference.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    And if someone pushed him beyond his breaking point¡­


    The line went dead.


    Dario raised an eyebrow, his expression sharpening with interest. ¡°I understand yourpany¡¯stest venture is performing exceptionally well.¡±


    Using thepany as a weapon against him would be futile. What about family obligation?


    Simply put, Dennis Group needed Cullen far more than he needed Dennis Group.


    ¡°How could you do this!¡± Cook¡¯s fury was palpable even through the phone. ¡°What exactly are you ying at? Are you¡­ are you nning to end things with Veronica?¡± Because that was the only exnation that made sense. He wouldn¡¯t be <b>this </b><b>careless </b>otherwise.

 The Sprawling 200

    200 Chapter 200 Business Intermediary


    As evening approached and the office began to empty, Veronica gathered her belongings and headed for the elevator. The parking garage was dimly lit, her feels clicking against the concrete as she made her way toward her car. She was mentally reviewing tomorrow¡¯s schedule when a familiar voice cut through the quiet space.


    His gaze shifted deliberately to Edric, who had been quietly nursing his drink throughout their conversation. ¡°Actually, now that I think about it, didn¡¯t you and Murray seem to hit it off pretty well at the charity g? You two spent quite a bit of our conversation.¡± time on the dance floor, and she appeared genuinely engaged in


    The remainder of their afternoon passed in productive focus, reviewing contracts and finalizing project timelines. But their peaceful workflow was disrupted when Dario¡¯s assistant knocked on the door with an apologetic expression.


    The tension in the air was thick as Owen continued his exnation about thepany dynamics. His words carried a careful neutrality that Dario recognized all too well.


    Dario had heard enough of the corporate politics for one afternoon. The information was useful, but his patience for office gossip had reached its limit. ¡°I appreciate the update, Owen. Don¡¯t let me keep you from your evening ns any longer. We should grab dinner soon and catch up properly.¡±


    Maverick stepped closer, his expression serious. ¡°We need to have a conversation. A real one.¡±


    Maverick shook his head with stubborn determination. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ve spent weeks analyzing every aspect of this project. The potential returns, the market -positioning, the long¨Cterm strategic advantages¨Cthis isn¡¯t just another contract. This


    could reshape our entire approach to the sector.¡±


    He shrugged with the kind of philosophical eptance that came from years inpetitive business. ¡°There are other projects out there, other opportunities to make money. This isn¡¯t the only game in town.¡±


    Once Owen disappeared down the corridor, Dario turned his attention back to Veronica. The brief interruption had given him a moment to observe her¨Cthe way she held herself during business discussions, how her expression remained perfectly


    <b>200 </b>Chapter 200¨CBusiness intermediary


    controlled even when topics touched on sensitivepany matters.


    Maverick had been making regr pilgrimages to DataPulse¡¯s offices for the better part of a week. Each time, Dario had refused to grant him an audience, leaving Maverick to cool his heels in the lobby like a dismissed supplicant. Today¡¯s attempt to circumvent Dario by approaching Veronica directly had clearly been equally unsessful.


    Edric carefully ced his ss on the table, his movements deliberate and controlled. When he looked up, his expression was diplomatically neutral but firm.


    The memory of her cold dismissal made Maverick¡¯s hands clench into fists as he took


    his seat.


    Veronica stared at him for a long moment, genuinely amazed by his audacity. When she finally spoke, her voice carried a dangerous quiet that would have warned anyone who knew her well.


    ¡°Ready to head back upstairs?¡± he asked.


    The assistant nodded and retreated, but it was clear Maverick had no intention of epting their refusal gracefully.


    The realization that he either couldn¡¯t see his own hypocrisy or was deliberately ignoring it killed any remaining interest she might have had in this conversation.


    ¡°Ms. Murray.¡±


    Kolton¡¯s tone took on the persuasive quality <i>of </i>someone presenting what he considered a brilliant solution. ¡°Since she¡¯s clearly not interested in anything Maverick has to say, perhaps you could serve as an intermediary<i>. </i>Smooth over whatever¡¯s causing this friction between them.¡±


    Kolton continued with casual observation, ¡°You know, if you can¡¯t crack Dario and Murray won¡¯t budge either, it might be time to ept that the DataPulse deal is dead in the water.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been waiting for over an hour, sir. He seems determined to stay until you agree <i>to </i>see him.¡±


    The implication was <i>crystal </i>clear. Maverick was <i>the </i>one who had <i>allowed </i><i>his </i>personal feelings for Niall to contaminate their professional negotiations. Maverick was the one


    200 Chapter 200¨CBusiness Intermediary.


    who had prioritized emotional attachments over business logic<b>. </b>Yet somehow<b>, </b><b>in </b>his twisted perspective, she was the unreasonable party abusing her position.


    Without another word, she turned her back on him and slid into her car. The <b>engine </b>purred to life, and she drove away without a backward nce, leaving Maverick standing alone in the garage with his frustration and wounded pride.


    Dario didn¡¯t even look up from his documents. ¡°Tell him we¡¯re unavable.¡±


    Kolton exchanged a meaningful nce with Edric before leaning forward with renewed interest. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re thatmitted to making this work, maybe it¡¯s time to explore alternative strategies.¡±


    She turned slowly, her face immediately shifting into professional detachment. Maverick stood several feet away, his posture rigid with barely contained frustration. ¡°Look, I¡¯m trying to be reasonable here,¡± he said, his voice taking on an edge. ¡°I¡¯m asking you to set aside whatever personal issues you have and focus on what¡¯s actually important. Don¡¯t let your emotions sabotage what could be a mutually beneficial partnership. Yourpany¡¯s sess shouldn¡¯t be sacrificed for petty grievances.¡±


    After a brief exchange, he stalked to his own vehicle and drove off into the night, his mood fouler than when the day had started.


    Maverick¡¯s expression darkened as her taillights disappeared around the corner. His phone buzzed against his chest, and he answered it with barely controlled anger. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re overestimating both my influence and the nature of my rtionship with Ms. Murray,¡± he said quietly. ¡°We had a pleasant conversation at a social event. That hardly gives me the standing to insert myself into her business decisions or personal conflicts.¡±


    Even setting aside Doran¡¯s pressure and expectations, Maverick had be genuinely invested in the DataPulse partnership. The more he studied their operations and goals, the more convinced he became that walking away would be a catastrophic mistake.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Owen replied with genuine warmth. ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Harris,¡± she replied coolly. ¡°What exactly do you want?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± he snapped into the device.


    ¡°There¡¯s always some pushback when decisions like this are made,¡± Owen


    200 Chapter 200 Business Intermediary


    acknowledged, his voice measured. ¡°You know how it is¨Cwhenever thepanynds a major contract, every shareholder wants to position their own people for the benefits. But Mr. Dennis has always kept personnel decisions close to his chest. The board can hardly raise hell the first time he actually delegates authority.¡±


    Veronica¡¯s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. ¡°Our answer remains the same?


    ¡°That¡¯s fascinating advice, Mr. Harris. I was under the impression that those exact words should being from my mouth to you.¡±


    Kolton took one look at Maverick¡¯s thunderous expression and couldn¡¯t <b>suppress </b><b>a </b>knowing smirk. ¡°Let me guess¨Cyour charm offensive didn¡¯t go ording to n?¡±


    Thirty minutester, Maverick pushed through the door of an upscale restaurant¡¯s private dining room. Kolton and Edric were already seated at the polished table, drinks in hand and thefortable ease of men who¡¯d been friends for years evident in their rxed postures.


    Veronica¡¯s eyebrow arched slightly. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re calling it? Because from where I¡¯m standing, it looks more like you¡¯re preparing to lecture me about how I should conduct my business.¡±


    The usation hung between them like a challenge. Maverick¡¯sposure cracked just enough to reveal the irritation he¡¯d been suppressing all day.


    Veronica nodded without hesitation. ¡°Yes.¡±


    He paused, ncing between Dario and Veronica before continuing. ¡°The Crystal and Mack have proven themselves reliable. They deliver results and don¡¯t rock the boat unnecessarily. <i>So </i>while there¡¯s grumbling behind closed doors, nothing¡¯s escted to the point where it threatens operations.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt, but Maverick Harris is here requesting a meeting with both of you.¡±

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    ¡°Exin what happened.


    Kolton¡¯s frustration mounted. ¡°So we¡¯re back to focusing on Ms. Murray? We barely know anything about her background. How do we even begin? Should <b>I </b>have someone dig into her past?¡±


    She made a soft sound of acknowledgment.


    His warm chuckle reached her through the speaker. ¡°I imagine you can guess why I¡¯m reaching out.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s reflection, he picked up the phone again and scrolled to Veronica¡¯s contact information.


    The proposition hung in the air between them. Veronica understood the weight of what he was offering. In the business world, personal debts from someone of Doran¡¯s stature held immense value.


    Maverick answered immediately. Doran¡¯s voice cut straight through pleasantries. ¡°What¡¯s the status on the DataPulse negotiations?¡±


    She also recognized the truth in his unspoken message. Professional rtionships often required setting aside personal grievances. When both parties approached negotiations with genuine intent, even former adversaries could findmon ground.


    Doran¡¯s interruption was sharp. ¡°What¡¯s this engineer¡¯s name?¡±


    CHAPTER <i>201 </i>


    Maverick cut through the spection with a dismissive wave. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I¡¯m done wasting energy on her<i>. </i>I¡¯ll handle this through the old man.¡±


    Despite her obvious understanding. Doran continued with his request. ¡°Would you consider working with Maverick on this project? I¡¯d consider it a personal favor, and I don¡¯t forget those who help me.¡±


    Relief flooded through Maverick. ¡°Thanks, old man. I owe you <b>one</b><b>.</b><b>¡± </b>


    ¡°You¡¯re shameless, you know that?¡±


    201 Chapter 201 ¨C Higher Authority


    ¡°Exactly that.¡±


    After ending the call, Veronica stared at herputer screen without really seeing it. The evening had taken an unexpected turn, and she found herself at a crossroads <b>she </b>hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    The directness caught Maverick off guard, but he decided honesty served him best here. ¡°They fell throughpletely. I was actually about to ask for your assistance.


    Doran¡¯s voice turned dry. ¡°I was nning some time off next week. But seeing you would probably take years off my life.


    A long pause stretched between them. Then Doran¡¯sughter filled the silence, though it carried no warmth. ¡°So before any real business could begin, you managed to alienate one of their key technical staff. That¡¯s quite an achievement.¡±


    Kolton pressed forward with his inquiry. ¡°What about approaching Dario directly? You two share some history, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The connection was simple enough. Dario had been Malcolm¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦ for years. If Malcolm intervened on Maverick¡¯s behalf, Dario would have no choice but to reconsider. Maverick felt confident in this approach.


    Recognition dawned in Edric¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re talking about going through Mr. ir?¡±


    Dario protected Veronica with an intensity that went beyond professional courtesy. Even if Edric managed to broker peace between Maverick and Dario, he doubted it would change anything regarding their coboration.


    Maverick began carefully, ¡°I had a disagreement with one of their engineers, and because of her, Dario decided to¡­¡±


    Doran¡¯s offer represented more than just resolving a conflict with Maverick. It was a chance to demonstrate her ability to separate personal feelings from professional obligations. But it also meant potentially working closely with someone who had already shown disrespect for her boundaries.


    Veronica nced up from herputer screen when her phone rang. Doran¡¯s name appearing on the disy made her pause, a flicker <i>of </i>recognition crossing her features. She epted the call.


    The line went dead.


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    Maverick grinned despite himself, ¡°When¡¯s your next break? We should celebrate once this gets sorted.¡±


    The silence stretched as Veronica weighed her options. Doran had positioned this as a business transaction rather than an emotional appeal. He was offering her something valuable in exchange for her cooperation, treating her as an equal rather than someone to be manipted.


    He reached for his phone, preparing to dial Doran¡¯s number. But before his fingers couldplete the action, the device buzzed with an iing call. Doran¡¯s name shed across the screen.


    ¡°Mr. Harris.


    He genuinely believed he could have secured the DataPulse contract through his own merits. The only obstacle was this personal conflict with Veronica, something he considered beneath his concern. Taking the path of least resistance made perfect


    <b>sense</b>.


    Doran set his phone down, considering the conversation. He had deliberately avoided mentioning Veronica¡¯s significance. Sometimes when life flowed too easily for someone, they forgot to appreciate what they had.


    The question seemed oddly specific, but Maverick answered without hesitation. ¡°Veronica Murray.¡±


    ¡°I need some time to think about this,¡± she finally said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this situation for you.


    Edric¡¯s response came measured and deliberate. ¡°I could try that route, but Dario won¡¯t budge on this.¡±


    The decision would reveal much about her priorities and her vision for her future at DataPulse.


    Maverick opened his mouth to protest. Veronica wasn¡¯t exactly crucial to their operations, just someone who seemed to have Dario wrapped around her finger. But Doran¡¯s next words stopped him cold.


    ¡°Of course. But don¡¯t take too long. Opportunities like this don¡¯t wait indefinitely.¡±


    The memory of that evening¡¯s dance exchange lingered in Edric¡¯s mind. Veronica¡¯s


    201 Chapter 201 ¨C Higher Authority


    expression when she <b>had </b>agreed to switch partners told him everything he needed to know about her rtionship with Dario. They weren¡¯t lovers, <b>but </b>something deeper connected them.


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    His voice carried that familiar warmth as he continued, ¡°Ver, don¡¯t feel pressured to decide immediately. Consider it thoroughly and let me know your thoughts when you¡¯refortable.¡±


    Maverick had assumed that Dario agreed to the coboration solely because <b>of </b>Doran¡¯s influence on Malcolm, who then pressured Dario. In his mind, Veronica remained irrelevant to the actual business decisions.


    Maverick had prepared himself for potential awkwardness, expecting Veronica to either express resentment about the forced coboration or create tension by challenging Dario¡¯s decision in front of him.


    ¡°Thank you for the insight, Mr. ir,¡± Veronica said.


    The following morning, after a restless night of consideration, Veronica ced the return call to Doran.


    Maverick¡¯s desperation to secure the partnership was evident in his upgraded proposal, which offered significantly better terms than his original pitch.


    Doran¡¯s next words surprised her with their directness. ¡°Regarding Maverick, handle the situation as you see appropriate. Don¡¯t factor my request into how you treat him personally.¡±


    She kept her response measured. ¡°I appreciate that.¡±


    Instead, when Veronica entered the conference room, she approached him withposed professionalism, extending her hand with steady confidence. ¡°I look forward to our coboration.¡±


    Veronica understood that her conflict with Maverick wasn¡¯t rooted in deep hatred. Their previous sh had been circumstantial, and while she hadn¡¯t been at fault, she recognized there was no need to maintain unnecessary hostility indefinitely.


    Doran leaned back in <i>his</i>. ¡°Sometimes I think having a daughter would have been simpler.


    Maverick epted the handshake eagerly. ¡°Likewise.¡± His conflict had been with Veronica specifically, not with Dario or DataPulse as apany.


    202 Chapter <b>202 </b>¨C Composed Professionalism


    Malcolm¡¯s phone went directly to voicemail. When he finally called back thirty minutester, his greeting was characteristically brief. ¡°What do you need<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>


    While her presence wasn¡¯t wee, he recognized that professional obligations now. superseded personal animosity.


    By afternoon, news of the coboration approval had reached Maverick, prompting his immediate trip to DataPulse¡¯s headquarters.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Veronica replied simply.


    at our age, you should be focused on finding your son a suitable wife rather than wishing for more children. Your wife has done enough.¡±


    Doran had correctly predicted that she would seek Malcolm¡¯s counsel before responding, so her dyed callback didn¡¯t catch him¨Coff guard.


    Malcolm ended the call without furtherment, leaving her to weigh her options.


    Doran¡¯sugh held little humor. ¡°If only my son would cooperate with that n.¡±


    When she delivered her decision, his tone reflected genuine gratitude. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your consideration, Ver. This means more than you know.¡±


    ¡°Certainly not, assuming Ms. Murray is equally amenable,¡± he responded


    diplomatically.


    As their meeting concluded, Maverick nced at his watch. ¡°Since we¡¯re approaching lunch hour, perhaps we could continue our discussion over a meal and outline our next steps?¡±


    When Doran personally intervened, it created an opportunity for reconciliation that she could respect.


    Dario said nothing further and instructed his assistant to extend the lunch invitation to Veronica.


    Dario¡¯s smile carried a hint of calction. ¡°Excellent suggestion. Ver will be joining us, naturally. I trust that won¡¯t be an issue, Mr. Harris?¡±


    Once the call ended, Veronica stared at her phone for several minutes before scrolling to Malcolm¡¯s contact. She needed a second opinion from someone who understood the business implications.


    202 Chapter <b>202</b><b>¨C</b>Composed Professionalism


    Doran set down his phone and exhaled deeply.


    Veronica outlined Doran¡¯s proposal and the potential coboration with Maverick, keeping her exnation factual and concise.


    ¡°Sounds good. Take care.


    Despite the improved offer, Dario maintained his professional detachment<b>, </b>offering only a perfunctory, ¡°We anticipate a productive partnership.


    Veronica had already briefed Dario about Doran¡¯s involvement and her decision to move forward.


    Malcolm¡¯s response carried weight. ¡°Doran Harris doesn¡¯t extend personal favors lightly. Whatever decision you make will havesting consequences. His assessment confirmed what she had already suspected about Doran¡¯s reputation.


    Her concise answer seemed to amuse Doran, and she could hear the smile in his voice. ¡°Perfect. I¡¯ll let you get back to your evening. We should catch up properly soon.¡±


    The message reached Veronica within minutes, and she responded that she would join them promptly.


    A colleague passing by his office noticed his expression and grinned. ¡°Something troubling you, Mr. Harris?¡±


    ¡°No need for excessive thanks,¡± Veronica replied before disconnecting<b>. </b>


    When Maverick arrived requesting a meeting, Dario deliberately kept him waiting in the lobby for ny minutes before agreeing to see him.


    Still, something in Doran¡¯s tone gave her pause.

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    Maverick found himself momentarily speechless.


    Before Cullen could respond, Dario interrupted smoothly. ¡°Please don¡¯t let us keep you. We have a reservation waiting¡±


    Did this suggest that Dario¡¯s feelings for Veronica had limits? That when substantial business interests were involved, he would ultimately choose profit over personal loyalty?


    Yet here he was, apparently having salvaged not just the deal but his rtionship with Dario entirely.


    She had expected Maverick to suffer the same fate as herself, permanently excluded from Dario¡¯s business circle because of his connection to Veronica.


    Dario and Veronica were already settled at the table, perusing the extensive menu when he arrived.


    The table groaned under the weight of their selections, yet more dishes kept appearing.


    Without another word, he guided Veronica toward the elevator.


    Maverick watched this disy while mentally calcting the rapidly escting cost of their ¡°business dinner. Dario had certainly taken him at his word about ordering freely.


    Perhaps Veronica¡¯s influence over him wasn¡¯t as absolute as Niall had believed. The casual way he delivered such a loaded statement suggested eitherplete honesty or deliberate exaggeration.


    Dario appearedpletely oblivious to Maverick¡¯s growing difort, focusing entirely on ensuring Veronica¡¯s te remained filled with choice selections. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, Ver. We have all evening


    Outside the upscale restaurant, as Veronica and Dario stepped from their vehicle toward the entrance, Maverick spotted Cullen and Niall approaching from the opposite direction.


    203 Chapter 203 Expensive Hospitality


    Niall recalled how Maverick¡¯s previous deal with DataPulse had copsed spectacrly after he had crossed Veronica. Dario had been ruthless in his rejection cutting off all possibilities for future cooperation.


    As Dario continued his solicitous attention to Veronica¡¯s dining experience,pletely ignoring the minor fortune umting on their table, Maverick began <b>to </b>wonder if this extravagant meal was less about celebration and more about. establishing exactly who held the power in their new partnership.


    His attentiveness toward her was both tender and possessive, a reminder that whatever business arrangement they had forged, the personal dynamics remainedplicated.


    Once Dario and Veronica had made their extensive selections, Maverick added a couple of modest dishes and attempted to steer the conversation toward their business arrangement.


    Maverick had witnessed Dario¡¯s obvious disdain for Cullen during their previous encounter at Ster, but this disy of barely concealed hostility caught him off guard.


    The irony wasn¡¯t lost on him that while he had sessfully negotiated a lucrative contract with DataPulse, he was now paying for that sess in more ways than one.


    Veronica maintained herposed facade, as though she had anticipated this partnership from the very beginning.


    After agreeing to follow up, Maverick excused himself and made his way to the private dining room.


    He hesitated momentarily before acknowledging them. ¡°Mr. Dennis, Ms. Crystal.¡±


    Cullen and Niall had already noticed their presence. Cullen offered a curt nod. ¡°Mr. Harris, Mr. Reid.¡±


    Dario¡¯s smile turned razor¨Csharp. ¡°History would be putting it mildly. We¡¯re enemies.¡± As Cullen and Niall watched the elevator doors close, Niall¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. ¡°Since Mr. Harris is dining with Mr. Reid, I assume their contract negotiations concluded sessfully?¡±


    Maverick¡¯s expression remained neutral. ¡°They did indeed.¡±


    203 Chapter 203 Expensive Hospitality


    Dario didn¡¯t even nce up from the menu. ¡°Obviously. We had no intention <b>of </b>restraining ourselves.¡±


    This realization brought a satisfied smile to her lips. ¡°How wonderful for you!¡±


    The food began arriving in steady waves.


    Maverick assumed Dario had briefed her beforehand and responded with measured politeness. ¡°I look forward to our coboration.¡±


    As servers continued filing into the room carrying an seemingly endless parade of tes, each featuring the restaurant¡¯s most expensive offerings, Maverick felt the beginning of a headache forming behind his temples.


    Dario nced up with apparent amusement. ¡°Finished with your social obligations, Mr. Harris?¡±


    Maverick chose a scat deliberately positioned at afortable distance from Veronica, maintaining professional boundaries. Rather than react to Dario¡¯s pointed tone, he asked with genuine curiosity, ¡°Is there some personal history between you and Mr. Dennis?


    Cullen¡¯s response was immediate. ¡°My schedule is rtively open this week. Contact me whenever convenient.¡±


    Whatever history existed between these two men ran deeper than professional rivalry. Yet Cullen continued to maintain his diplomaticposure, which only made Dario¡¯s behavior more striking.


    Since Dario clearly had no intention of borating, Maverick decided not to pursue the matter. Watching them coborate on their food selections, he gestured toward the menu. ¡°Please consider this my treat. Order anything that appeals to you.¡±


    When Dario had dered they wouldn¡¯t hold back, Maverick had assumed he was engaging in typical dinner banter.


    Dario¡¯s smile appeared cordial but carried an unmistakable edge of insincerity. ¡°Mr. Dennis.¡±


    Maverick acknowledged her congrattions with a brief nod before turning his attention to Cullen. ¡°Actually, Mr. Dennis, there¡¯s a particr project yourpany is


    to Cullen. ¡°Actually, Mr. Dennis, there¡¯s a particr project yourpany is developing that has caught my interest. Would you be avable to discuss potential

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    She crashed directly into Cullen¡¯s chest.


    ¡°How much longer until we can make the divorce official?¡±


    But Cullen had only approached Veronica that night because of his connection to Niall, hadn¡¯t he?


    Cullen made a sound of agreement.


    She quickly stepped sideways, putting obvious distance between them. Without meeting either man¡¯s gaze, she turned and walked away with as much dignity as she could manage.


    By the time Veronica processed what had happened, her shoulder was throbbing from the impact. But before she could even think about the pain, she was already trying <b>to </b>extract herself from Cullen¡¯s steadying grip.


    Cullen¡¯s eyes met hers briefly, but he made no move to acknowledge her beyond that nce. He seemed at a loss for words, or perhaps simply had nothing he wanted to say.


    His


    eyes immediately locked onto the scene before him. Veronica pressed against Cullen¡¯s chest, his hand still syed across her waist in what looked like an intimate embrace.


    As they neared the end of their meal, Veronica politely excused herself to visit thedies¡® room.


    Cullen immediately released his hold on Veronica.


    The woman clearly had brains to match her beauty.


    As dinner progressed, their conversation shifted into serious business territory. Veronica remainedposed throughout the meal, focusing on her food and only contributing when directly addressed.


    Veronica decided not to push further and turned to leave when Cullen¡¯s voice stopped


    her.


    Veronica felt a wave of relief wash over her. ¡°Good¡±


    <b>204 </b>Chapter 204- Unexpected Recognition


    His arms came up automatically, one hand finding her waist to keep her from fallingpletely.


    Maverick¡¯s tone was carefully controlled. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Which made perfect sense. Veronica was just an engineer at a mid¨Clevel techpany Someone in her position would never have cause to interact with a man of Cullen¡¯s stature in the business world.


    The truth was, neither man actually cared about the financial details they were haggling over.


    Initially, Maverick had assumed that in whatever arrangement she had with Dario, Veronica was the desperate one. The woman chasing after a powerful man, grateful for whatever attention he threw her way.


    Dario was deliberately making this negotiation harder than it needed to be for Maverick.


    Maverick couldn¡¯t help but notice her restraint, and found himself genuinely surprised when she did speak. Each time Veronica offered an opinion, her insights proved both sharp and valuable.


    Neither of them seemed to have anything else to discuss, so they began walking back toward the dining area in ufortable silence.


    Cullen gave a slight nod, offered no further exnation, and calmly walked


    ¡°No concrete timeline?¡± she pressed.


    That was the exact moment Maverick rounded the corner.


    <b>away</b>.


    But watching them interact throughout this dinner painted apletely different picture. If anything, Dario seemed more invested in her reactions than she was in his approval. Maybe that dynamic was precisely what had Dario sopletely hooked.


    After all, a man like Dario could have any empty¨Cheaded beauty he wanted. It would take someone with real substance to hold his attention thispletely,


    There had been that charity g, of course.


    ¡°Grandma found out about the divorce.¡±


    <b>204 </b>Chapter 204- Unexpected Recognition


    Walking down the hallway, she nearly collided with Cullen as he emerged <b>from </b>the


    <b>men¡¯s </b>room<b>. </b>


    The person who had knocked into her called out a hasty apology before disappearing into the restroom.


    Based on everything he knew, their paths had crossed exactly once at the Ster offices. And even then, they hadn¡¯t spoken to each other.


    So what exactly had he just witnessed in that hallway?


    Cullen¡¯s expression remained perfectly neutral. ¡°Mr. Harris. Here for the facilities as well?¡±


    Cullen¡¯s response was frustratingly vague. ¡°It¡¯s going to take more time.¡±


    Given his motivation, she had never bothered asking for updates before. But now, with <b>so </b>much time having passed since they first agreed to end things-


    Most of the time, she maintained her silence.


    At least now the old woman would stop her matchmaking schemes. And Veronica could finally drop the exhausting pretense of ying the devoted wife.


    Without warning, someone came barreling around the corner at full speed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll update you once I have confirmation.¡±


    Veronica felt the same way and began to walk past him when a thought struck her. She paused mid¨Cstep.


    She knew he was eager to be done with this whole charade. He would push the paperwork through as quickly as possible to free himself from their arrangement.


    Maverick¡¯s eyes tracked her retreating form before sliding back to Cullen¡¯s face.


    Maverick stopped dead in his tracks. ¡°Well, well.¡±


    Both Veronica and Cullen instinctively moved aside, but the rushing figure <b>still </b>managed to clip Veronica¡¯s shoulder, sending her stumbling backward.


    Watching Cullen¡¯s unhurried departure, Maverick felt his jaw tighten. He had never considered the possibility of any rtionship between Veronica and Cullen.


    204 Chapter 204 Unexpected Recognition


    Beyond those two incidents, there should have been no reason for them to know each other at all.


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    He turned his attention toward Veronica with practiced ease. ¡°Ver, if your schedule demands attention elsewhere, please don¡¯t let us detain you. I¡¯m perfectly capable of handling the evening¡¯s arrangements.¡±


    Recognition sparked immediately between them. Maverick extended his hand first, his tone carrying professional warmth. ¡°Mr. Valerie, I see you¡¯ve moved forward with finalizing your partnership arrangements with DataPulse.¡±


    As they gathered their materials and prepared to depart, Marco seized the moment to extend a personal invitation. ¡°Ms. Murray, would you consider joining me for dinner this evening.¡±


    While Dario harbored reservations about both potential partners, the distinction in their treatment of Veronica was unmistakable. Marco maintained respectful professionalism toward her, a stark contrast to Maverick¡¯s moreplex dynamics. ¡°Dinner ns?¡± Dario interjected, having caught the tail end of their conversation. ¡°That sounds perfectly agreeable.¡±


    DataPulse¡¯s current operational focus centered on two substantial projects, each representing significant financial potential. Thepany¡¯s strategy involved subdividing these major undertakings into manageable segments suitable for specialized contractors.


    Veronica had strategically reserved one particrly promising segment specifically for Phillip¡¯s consideration and expertise.


    Veronica¡¯s response carried polite consideration. ¡°I have priormitments that require my attention. Perhaps I should check with Dario regarding his avability.¡± Veronica maintained her professional demeanor while responding. ¡°You¡¯re far too gracious, Mr. Valerie. Please, allow me to show you to our conference room.¡±


    Her unwavering confidence provided Phillip with the reassurance he needed to move forward.


    Maverick announced his intention to return to his corporate headquarters topile necessary documentation, while Veronica and Dario made their way back to


    205 Chapter 205¨CDiscreet Liquidation


    DataPulse¡¯s sleek downtown offices. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the city streets as their vehicles navigated the familiar route.


    Following her departure from DataPulse¡¯s headquarters, Veronica directed her <b>route </b>toward the familiar surroundings of the Murray family estate. This visit carried specific business objectives rather than social purposes.


    The technical discussions that followed proved both intensive and productive. Marco¡¯s team demonstrated thorough preparation, while Veronica¡¯s expertise shone through each detailed exnation and strategic consideration. Hours passed unnoticed as they delved into specifications, timelines, and implementation strategies.


    The clock had barely struck three when Marco made his appearance at DataPulse¡¯s reception area. His timing proved almost uncanny, as Maverick arrived within minutes of each other. The two men had shared meals during previous business encounters, particrly during the rigorous autonomous vehicle testing phases at Ster¡¯s facilities.


    Veronica nodded her acknowledgment, offered appropriate farewells to Marco, deliberately avoided meeting Maverick¡¯s prating gaze, and made her graceful exit from the corporate battleground.


    Darkness had begun settling over the city¡¯s skyline by the time theirprehensive review reached its conclusion. The conference room¡¯s floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows reflected the glittering lights of the urbanndscape beyond..


    The reception room doors opened, admitting Veronica and Dario into the professional arena where deals were forged and fortunes decided.


    A flicker of genuine surprise crossed Marco¡¯s features. The memory of the recent business banquet remained fresh in his mind, where Dario had delivered an unequivocal rejection of Maverick¡¯s proposals without so much as a moment¡¯s hesitation. The swift reversal of fortune puzzled him considerably. What circumstances had shifted so dramatically to facilitate this unexpected alliance? ¡°His approval is already


    arrangement thorough cured,¡± Veronica assured him. ¡°We discussed this


    before I came to you.¡±


    Her mission involved presenting a lucrative opportunity to Phillip, her uncle whose business acumen she both respected and required.


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    Should their calctions prove insufficient forplete project funding, alternative resources remained avable<b>. </b>


    Veronica¡¯s gaze drifted toward the impressive vi situated across the tree<b>¨C</b>lined street, its windows glowing warmly in the evening darkness.


    Phillip¡¯s agreement came with evident enthusiasm, though practical concerns quickly surfaced. ¡°My immediate concern involves avable capital. Current cash flow limitations might present challenges for a project of this magnitude.¡±


    His smile carried genuine warmth as he addressed Veronica directly. ¡°It appears I¡¯ll be cing myself entirely under your expert guidance, Ms. Murray.¡±


    Combining her hundred million contribution with the estimated auction proceeds of another hundred million, plus additional resources from Phillip¡¯s reserves, they could realistically assemble approximately five hundred million dors. This <b>sum </b>should prove adequate for their projected requirements.


    ¡°Precisely.¡±


    Given the impending dissolution of her marriage to Cullen, she felt confident that converting his gifts into business capital wouldn¡¯t provoke objections from him. Marco found himself without grounds for objection to the revised arrangement. Maverick¡¯s eptance came without hesitation. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss the opportunity<b>.¡± </b>Dario addressed both men with diplomatic efficiency. ¡°Mr. Valerie has graciously offered to host our dinner engagement. Mr. Harris, I trust you¡¯ll join us for the evening


    Veronica had anticipated this obstacle and came prepared with solutions. ¡°I have ess to over one hundred million in liquid assets. Should additional funding prove necessary, we can liquidate the two significant gifts Cullen presented to Grandma during her birthday celebration.¡±


    The following afternoon brought swift action on their financial nning. Phillip identified an optimal opportunity to discreetly transport the valuable items to a reputable auction house, ensuring their conversion to liquid capital would proceed without unnecessaryplications or public attention.


    Veronica¡¯s response carried absolute certainty. ¡°He won¡¯t involve himself <b>in </b>such


    208 Chapter 205- Dis?rent Liquidation.


    matters.¡±


    <b>The </b>meal had reached its natural conclusion by the time they both returned. The atmosphere remained cordial on the surface, though undercurrents of unfinished business lingered between them. They settled their bill and departed the upscale establishment.


    Veronica made her way back to the private dining room, herposure intact despite the tension that had unfolded moments carlier. Maverick followed suit shortly after, sliding into his seat with practiced ease.


    The timing of Mary¡¯s birthday had coincided with the final confirmation stages of both major projects. Veronica¡¯s foresight had prompted her to secure those valuable items, recognizing their potential utility in future business ventures.


    Phillip¡¯s expression revealed lingering uncertainty about potentialplications. ¡°Cullen maintains extensiveworks throughout the businessmunity. Should we


    particr items and word reaches him, won¡¯t that proceed with auctioning


    create awkward situations or possible conflicts.¡±


    Maverick epted this arrangement without protest, recognizing the practical wisdom behind the division of responsibilities. Marco, however, approached the situation with characteristic diplomatic grace.


    Her words were interrupted by Dario¡¯s timely emergence from the adjacent reception room. His expression suggested sessful negotiations had taken ce behind closed doors.


    After listening to herprehensive presentation, Phillip¡¯s interest was clearly piqued by the proposal¡¯s potential. ¡°This sounds incredibly promising, but I need to understand Dario¡¯s position on involving family members inpany projects.¡± Marco¡¯s response came with measured confidence. ¡°Indeed. I take it this means you¡¯ve alsomitted to moving forward with contract negotiations, Mr. Harris.


    This observation influenced Dario¡¯s strategic decision regarding the afternoon¡¯s negotiations. He would delegate Marco¡¯s contract discussions to Veronica¡¯s capable hands, while personally overseeing the delicate matter of Maverick¡¯s agreement.


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