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Chapter 142
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There's No Turning Back Chapter 143
Just as Xavier reached Elara, he hesitated. He bit his lower lip, his flushed face showing a mix of excitement and restraint. Then, with wide, innocent eyes, he grinned at her. "Xav, I haven't seen you in so long! Can I give you a hug?" Merida spread her arms wide toward Xavier.Xavier looked a little nervous, his tiny fingers clutching the edge of his sleeve.He gave Merida a tiny nod.The next second, as they hugged, Xavier's feet suddenly left the ground. Merida had lifted him up with ease, bouncing him a couple of times as if testing his weight."Xav, you're heavier than before! Looks like you've been eating well!"Xavier's face turned beet red. At that moment, a row of uniformed staff members nodded in perfect synchronization. "Good evening, Mr. Leonard, Ms. Jones, and Ms. Merida." "Good evening," Elara responded politely. Still confused about what was happening, Merida instinctively followed suit, nodding back with practiced grace. Elara exchanged qui
There's No Turning Back Chapter 144
Leonard's gaze was deep, unreadable. "You need to shine at the Technology Creation and Sharing Summit." Elara didn't bother pretending to be polite. "So, Mr. Fisher, are you paying for all this?" Isisa chuckled. "Ms. Jones, pick whatever you like. Mr. Fisher instructed us to bring in the entire Aziona collection for you—no budget restrictions." Elara felt a flutter in her chest—so Leonard had actually considered bringing her into Dragonheart. He wanted to prepare her, to make sure she could hold her own at the summit and achieve something meaningful. This was yet another test from Leonard. "Mr. Leonard, thank you for this gift," she said, flashing him a dazzling smile. "I promise I'll pay you back a thousand times over! You won't regret investing in me." Her radiant expression was pure and unwavering. If Leonard was willing to bet on her, she was determined to bring him a massive return on his investment. Elara picked out a few gowns before heading into a private roo
There's No Turning Back Chapter 145
"Don't do anything rash!" Tobias tried to stop him, but it was too late. "Dad, let me make one thing clear," Theodore typed furiously. "I'm a traditional man. If Elara has another man, then I'll just have to be the 'other guy.'" Tobias' hands trembled as he typed back, "Can someone who isn't loved even be a homewrecker?" Theodore went silent. Tobias sighed, switching to full-on fatherly persuasion mode. "Son, you might lack morals and you might even lack decency, but being a third wheel isn't something you can just sign up for!" Theodore sat there, utterly still. For ten years, he had lurked in the shadows, waiting, hoping—yet he hadn't even managed to qualify as a side piece. Did he still stand a chance now? He slumped back onto the couch, staring at his phone, at Elara's radiant smile—smiling at Leonard. "Then I can only wish you both the best… No! No way! I won't accept this! Who says I can't be part of this too?"He clenched his teeth. "So what if Leonar
There's No Turning Back Chapter 146
"Merida." Leonard's calm voice carried through the living room. Merida walked over as he looked at her and asked, "Do you like Mr. Theodore?"He had overheard her conversation with Elara just moments ago. "I do!" Merida answered without hesitation. "Mr. Theodore is really nice! Whenever Mommy goes for lessons at his house, I take naps there, and I always hear angels whispering that Mr. Theodore is the best person ever!" Leonard immediately saw through Theodore's little trick. Theodore was like a cunning little fox, daring to snatch away what belonged to Leonard.He leaned down and said to Merida, "Next time, pretend to be asleep and see if the angel still whispers in your ear. The moment you hear them speak, open your eyes—then you'll finally get to see them."That was a great idea. Merida nodded at Leonard with firm determination.She couldn't wait to find out what the mysterious voice whispering in her ear really looked like.Just then, Elara emerged from her room,
There's No Turning Back Chapter 147
The silver Mercedes pulling up behind Harvey's Maybach signaled that its passengers were also attending the Technology Creation and Sharing Summit's welcome banquet. The first person to step out was Benjamin, the heir of the Jones family.Dressed in an all-white suit, he sported a slicked-back undercut, his dark hair neatly styled on top. His skin was smooth, his expression perpetually unimpressed, as if nothing in the world could bother him. Dark circles framed his half-lidded eyes, giving him a permanently sleep-deprived look. A black stud earring glinted in one ear, and a matching black ring pierced his lower lip. The moment he stepped onto the red carpet, the media instantly recognized him. "That's Benjamin, the fake Jones heir! Even after the real daughter was found, the family still treats him like their own." 18 years ago, Benjamin had been in a serious car accident. When the doctors ran a blood test, the Jones family discovered something shocking—his blood type did
There's No Turning Back Chapter 148
Niamh's eyes went wide the moment Elara pulled out an invitation. The usher scanned it, then gave a respectful bow. "Ms. Jones, please come in." Elara tucked the invitation back into her clutch, not sparing Niamh, Harvey, or the others even a glance. She stepped past them without hesitation, as if they were nothing more than background noise. Niamh turned to the usher, frowning. "Are you sure you read that right? Was that a real invitation? And why doesn't hers look like Harvey's?" The usher patiently explained, "That lady had a VIP Guest Invitation sent directly from the event organizers. Mr. Fisher's invitation is a corporate pass issued to participating companies." Benjamin muttered under his breath, "Sounds like the VIP one is more exclusive." Harvey's expression darkened. "As far as I know, the Summit has never given a special invitation to an ALI Math Competition winner. If she wanted to attend this event, she'd need to collaborate with a university and
There's No Turning Back Chapter 149
"You guys at Starbound build cars! Why the hell are you trying to steal Ms. Jones from me? Move aside, I'm going first!" Several men crowded the doorway, bickering as they tried to shove past each other. None of them were willing to step back. …Inside the banquet hall, a waiter approached Elara, holding a tray of champagne flutes. She casually picked up a glass. "Ms. Jones." A familiar voice rang out. Turning, she saw the mother of one of Merida's classmates walking toward her with a bright, eager smile. Elara recognized her immediately. This was the same woman who had mocked her mercilessly when James tried to expel Merida. The same woman had also written a public apology on Instagram, only to delete it once the scandal blew over. And she was the same woman whose husband had formally issued an apology to Elara through his company's official account. Now, spotting Elara at the event, she and her husband were both stunned. But instead of keeping their
There's No Turning Back Chapter 150
Niamh's voice was loud. She was so loud that every guest in the surrounding area turned to look. "Elara!" she shouted, making a scene. "How could you use a fake invitation to sneak in? You're humiliating the Jones family!" The man beside her, the one she had called Don, stepped forward, holding a tablet in his hands. "This lady's name is not on the guest list," he announced firmly. "I need you to leave. Immediately." A ripple of whispers spread through the onlookers. Elara remained unshaken. She tilted her head slightly, looking Don straight in the eye. "And you are?" "I'm the banquet hall manager, Don Fullerton." He raised his tablet. His tone was absolute, leaving no room for argument. "The guest list I have here does not include your name, Elara. If you refuse to leave on your own, I will have security escort you out." Elara stayed perfectly calm. "First of all, I'm not a regular guest. I'm a VIP guest. If your list only contains corporate attende
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There's No Turning Back Chapter 469
Harold smiled as he explained, "Of course, they're talking about the most prominent figure in all of Capitol."Although Angie had lived in Melcina for years, she still kept up with the major gossip surrounding Capitol's elite families.And when it came to the most famous heir of the Snapp family, none other than Theodore came to mind. His reputation was practically legendary—everything he touched turned to gold. It was as if, with just a flick of his fingers, he could rise to the top of any industry."Does he have any business dealings with Quantum Tech?" she asked.Harold replied, "Ms. Price is interested in having Mr. Snapp's firm, Polaris Law Firm, take over Quantum Tech's legal affairs."The moment Harold said this, Angie understood that Priscilla clearly had an ulterior motive. She must be looking to shift her business focus back to Eucon, and using Quantum Tech to pull Theodore into her orbit was the first step."So, that means Mr. Snapp's visit is to discuss a legal partne
There's No Turning Back Chapter 468
When Angie realized what she'd been saying, she quickly apologized, "Sorry, Leonard, for making you listen to my complaints all this time.""It's fine." Leonard's cool voice resonated like a struck bronze bell, sending subtle vibrations through her heart.This was the first time Angie had managed to keep Leonard on the phone for so long, though their entire conversation revolved around Elara.Leonard showing such rare patience made Angie's lips curve upward in delight."Can I call you again in the future?" She ventured the bold question, though anxiety churned inside."You may call if it's regarding Quantum Tech matters."He had glimpsed an Elara who was completely different from the respectful woman he knew through Angie's words. So, she had a temper too—how intriguing.Angie's smile stretched ear to ear as she continued, "Leonard, thank you for listening to my grievances.""Oh, right."Suddenly remembering something, Angie added, "Quantum Tech has a front-end project collabo
There's No Turning Back Chapter 467
Angie visibly flushed with embarrassment, and the other employees fell silent. Some immediately lowered their heads to focus on their meals, while others held their breath, pressing their lips together to control their expressions."Angie's been abroad too long—she's not used to strict workplace hierarchies," Samuel defended her, raising his voice."Elara, now that you're CEO, you just can't wait for everyone to bow and scrape before you, huh? You might not realize this, but modern workplaces emphasize equality—we all address each other as colleagues now."His mocking tone was unmistakable. As the eldest son of the Quinn family, he clearly didn't take Elara seriously.Elara met his disdainful gaze. "Fine."She continued calmly, "Then let's abolish internal titles at Quantum Tech. All employees will be leveled equally, with salaries determined by performance. Anyone above L4 will be downgraded to L4, so there's true equality across the board. That's the only way to eliminate workpl
There's No Turning Back Chapter 466
When Elara came to her senses, she noticed Leonard was already gone—and Angie had disappeared with him.The nature of Leonard and Angie's relationship was undeniably intriguing, but since Leonard chose not to share, Elara felt it would be improper to pry into her elder's private affairs.She then joined the other Quantum Tech employees in seeing off the city officials. Harold immediately seized the chance to cozy up to her. "Elara, I'm dying to know—how did you become Quantum Tech's leader?"He continued eagerly, "I've been helping out at Quantum Tech recently. Ohm Technologies and my lab are collaborating on a project with them."Elara merely nodded, showing no interest in further conversation.Undeterred, Harold pressed on. "Let me introduce you to everyone at Quantum Tech."His enthusiasm was purely for show—he wanted the company to know he had special connections with Elara."You know Mr. Quinn, right?" he asked, making introductions.Elara glanced at the sharp-featured man
There's No Turning Back Chapter 465
"Elara, you're the developer of the Prism project? Why have I never heard you mention this before?" Harold blurted out in confusion.After processing this information, he suddenly remembered Priscilla's second statement. He blinked, wondering if he'd misheard.He immediately turned to Samuel beside him. "Did I hear that wrong? It's so noisy here—what did Ms. Price just say? Who's Quantum Tech's leader?"Samuel's expression stiffened visibly.Meanwhile, Angie stared at Elara with suspicion. "What kind of deal did you make with Ms. Price? How could you possibly be Quantum Tech's lead?"Her instincts told her there had to be some mistake. She'd investigated Elara earlier. She was just a woman who dropped out of her direct PhD program at Capitol University to get married and become a housewife, without any substantial work experience.Someone like Elara might qualify as a janitor at Quantum Tech at best."What qualifications does she have to lead Quantum Tech?" Samuel muttered under
There's No Turning Back Chapter 464
"My apologies, Ms. Price, the alarms in the data center are too loud. Let's switch to a video call."As she spoke, Elara connected her phone to the projection system. Priscilla tapped her screen to enable video, and in the next second, her face appeared on the large display.Everyone looked up at the screen in surprise. Angie even gasped. "Ms. Price?" From Priscilla's perspective, her phone only showed Elara's face through the camera feed."Ms. Price, I'm already in the data center. Please give your instructions," Elara continued.Her tone remained perfectly neutral. Priscilla responded, "You're Quantum Tech's leader. What professional guidance could I possibly give you?"Elara turned on the speakerphone, amplifying Priscilla's voice through the room. Amidst the urgent wailing of alarms, Priscilla's words sounded almost surreal. The surrounding crowd struggled to process what was happening."Elara Jones, do you realize city officials are inspecting Quantum Tech today? With the
There's No Turning Back Chapter 463
Angie led the group into the digital data center."Good afternoon, Ms. Shelton." The employees greeted her with deep respect, their gazes filled with admiration.Angie maintained an aloof demeanor as she asked, "How's the testing on Prism's data coming along?""The basic framework is stable now. We're currently fine-tuning the details of Prism's database."Angie nodded. "Run the Prism system for our guests.""Uh... About that—"The staff hesitated. "We haven't fully mastered this framework yet..."Angie frowned. "After all this time, you still haven't figured it out?"Seeing their uneasy expressions, she sighed. "This framework's structure is elementary. Fine, I'll do it myself."The researchers' eyes lit up with excitement upon hearing this."The Prism model's framework design is incredibly complex—it completely defies conventional understanding. Yet Ms. Shelton mastered the entire codebase so quickly after joining!""No wonder she's Aempleforth Street's most sought-after g
There's No Turning Back Chapter 462
Samuel sneered. "I bet she's just clinging to Prof. Fisher by exploiting her past connection with Harvey."Harold pressed his lips together, silently agreeing with Samuel's words.As Angie finished her introduction of Quantum Tech, she took advantage of the officials' hushed discussions to glance at Elara. Remembering the photos Rosalie had sent her—showing Elara painstakingly building rapport with Xavier—Angie let out a cold, mocking laugh through her nose.She strode directly to Leonard's side to ask, "How's Xavier doing?"Elara was slightly surprised by the question. Angie bore some resemblance to Xavier, so she wondered what exactly their relationship was.Leonard ignored her inquiry and instead asked, "How long do you plan to stay at Quantum Tech?"Their exchange suggested familiarity."My goal is to join Dragonheart!" said Angie.She met Leonard's gaze with blazing confidence, but his expression remained as cold and detached as an eternal glacier.Craig interjected, "Pro
There's No Turning Back Chapter 461
The mayor, Craig Strickland, was both surprised and delighted by Elara's words. "So, Quantum Tech has made such rapid progress on the digital project under Ms. Jones' leadership!"He turned to his secretary and ordered, "Clear my schedule for the next two hours. I'll be accompanying Ms. Jones to inspect Quantum Tech."Elara's voice drifted to Leonard's ear. "Would Mr. Fisher like to join us as well?"Leonard let out a soft scoff. "You do enjoy making trouble for people."Elara volunteered eagerly, "I can push your wheelchair!"Only after she had wheeled Leonard onto the MPV did he speak again. "Do you plan to use me as your shield at Quantum Tech too?""Mr. Fisher, I need you." Her voice, that was soft yet earnes,t sent a ripple of something unnameable through Leonard's chest."I need your guidance. I want you to watch over me a little longer."She settled into the seat beside him as the MPV door slid shut. Leonard's expression tightened imperceptibly, his right index finger re
