Harvey sank into the bathtub with a dark expression, enduring the scorching water. He had reminded the maids countless times—104.5 degrees Fahrenheit was his preferred temperature.The scented incense was supposed to be lit ten minutes before he entered the bathroom, but the subtle fragrance was missing. Leaning back against the leather cushion at the edge of the tub, Harvey noticed the lighting wasn't adjusted properly either."Ridiculous." Elara never once got these simple tasks wrong in their seven years of marriage.Taking a deep breath, Harvey told himself to wait a few more days. Elara would be back soon enough.…The next morning, Elara picked up her phone and saw a message from August."Ms. Jones, are you sure you want to invest all 60 million into the stock market?"Elara replied confidently, "I'm sure. Execute the purchase as soon as the market opens.""Understood," August responded, followed by a warning, "Just don't regret it later."Elara turned on her computer an
"Harvey?" Niamh called out.She noticed Harvey's ears turning red. His expression was something she'd never seen before."What did Elara yell at you about over the phone?"His expression was hard to decipher. "She's still picking a fight with me."Harvey found himself doubting whether the person who had just yelled at him was truly Elara."Elara might be going through menopause," Niamh said with a laugh. "They say women do age faster after having kids."…Elara hung up after her outburst and handed the phone back to Frank. He simply stood frozen in place, utterly petrified.With a small wave of her hand, Elara signaled him to take the phone. Frank then bolted as though lingering another second might earn him the same wrath.Elara was eager to leave Azure Shores, and she turned to Bambi with a suggestion. "Want to go with Mommy to visit her mentor?""Yes!" Bambi replied enthusiastically.Elara called Theodore before heading to the Snapp residence. She stopped by a florist to
It felt as though an invisible rope had tightened around Elara's neck, stealing her breath. Tobias stood before her, wearing a deep navy cotton-linen robe.His frame was thin and frail, his hair was now entirely white, and his back was slightly hunched.Elara opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to call out to him, but the word caught in her throat. She no longer deserved to call his name. She wasn't worthy.Her vision immediately blurred with tears."Hello, sir!" Bambi's childish voice broke through the tension like a gentle spring rain."Are you the wise and brilliant Dr. Tobias Snapp my mom always talks about? She says you're a great educator and an outstanding mathematician!"Tobias' stern expression softened as he gazed at the adorable, round-faced Bambi."Your daughter?" he asked.Elara nodded quickly. "Yes, my daughter, Bambi."One of the young men nearby chimed in excitedly, "Dr. Snapp, she solved the problem you wrote!"Tobias paused for a moment before heading to
Tobias frowned deeply, the phrase "shameless spectacle" nearly escaping his lips."What did you do to yourself?" he asked.Theodore was dressed, technically, but his appearance seemed even more suggestive than if he hadn't been. Tobias' thick eyebrows twitched furiously."I got caught in the rain," Theodore replied nonchalantly as he casually brushed his soaked hair back.From Elara's perspective, Theodore's profile was breathtakingly symmetrical, embodying the golden ratio. His high-bridged nose curved gracefully like a slide, mesmerizing in its perfection.On the side of his face that faced Elara, his dimples deepened, making him all the more captivating.Tobias, who was now leaning on Theodore for support, raised a hand to shield his eyes. He needed sunglasses—his son's radiant aura was too blinding!"Let me help you to bed, Dad. Don't push yourself too hard," Theodore said."What do you mean, push myself?" Tobias snapped.He continued thinking to himself, "You're the one p
"Dad, go easy on me!" Theodore didn't dodge and took the hit from Tobias' cane head-on.Tobias poked at Theodore's damp shirt that was clinging to his waist. "Can't you have a little dignity? You're a disgrace! Are you possessed by something?"You… You… Why… Why are you even trying to seduce her?""Shh! Keep your voice down!" Theodore quickly hushed him."Oh, right, I should be quieter. Because this is such an honorable thing to be overheard?" Tobias scoffed, feeling like his old face was about to lose all credibility.Theodore, however, smirked as he said, "If someone hears, how am I supposed to keep seducing her?"Tobias rolled his eyes so hard he nearly passed out from sheer exasperation.…Elara found a few comic books for Bambi and borrowed some paper and colored pencils from a housekeeper.Bambi was incredibly focused and could sit quietly for hours reading and drawing.Once she was settled, Elara approached Tobias' students. "Hello, Dr. Snapp asked me to complete one o
Tobias' students all gathered around. Many of them were watching with amused expressions, expecting to see a disaster unfold."Hah! Just look at what she wrote here…" The student with black-rimmed glasses began mocking the formulas line by line, ready to tear them apart.But as he skimmed through the solutions at lightning speed, the words caught in his throat."She… She actually solved it!"Elara's solution was not only correct but also clearer and more concise than his own. The realization hit him hard—why hadn't he thought of that approach?"No way! Just because she wrote something down doesn't mean it's right," another student argued.He snatched the worksheet from the first student's hands, and the others craned their necks to see. Their eyes locked onto Elara's solution, scanning every step.For a moment, none of them spoke. Not only had she written fast, but she had actually solved every single problem Tobias had given them.The way they looked at Elara changed instantly
"I'm looking forward to competing with you in the tournament, Miss!" said one of the students."If you end up ranking at the bottom, now that would be interesting." The student with black-rimmed glasses sneered."The ALI Math Competition allows participants from all backgrounds, so there are always plenty of blank submissions. Every year, the ranking board is littered with zeros."Plus, the competition publicly lists each participant's name and background. You'd better be mentally prepared!"Elara smiled, somewhat unbothered. "How about this—if I rank higher than you, you wear a T-shirt that says, 'I ranked lower than Elara Jones in the ALI Math Competition' for a full week. Sounds fair?"This was the ultimate insult for students used to the ivory tower of academia. He would have to walk around Capitol University with that shirt on display.The student with black-rimmed glasses was provoked by Elara, and he rose to the challenge. "Fine! But let me tell you, I won't even demand yo
Finnegan saw Theodore carrying Bambi and immediately pushed open the car door to step out.Finnegan was broad-shouldered and muscular at nearly 6'2". His short-sleeved black T-shirt was stretched taut over his well-defined physique."Give her to me," he said while extending a strong, sinewy arm toward Theodore.Theodore had no choice but to hand Bambi over.Finnegan took her with one arm effortlessly, then turned to Elara. "Let's go."After bidding farewell to Theodore, Elara got into Finnegan's car.Finnegan carefully placed Bambi in the back seat and shut the door. As he walked toward the driver's side, he even swept a cold gaze over Theodore.Theodore ignored Finnegan entirely as his softened expression was focused solely on Elara."Drive safe," he said. The curve of his lips formed a polite yet distant smile.Theodore then watched the off-road vehicle disappear into the distance.As Finnegan drove, he glanced at Elara through the rearview mirror. "Who was that just now?"
Elara looked under the desk. What on earth was going on?Meanwhile, Harvey observed Elara in her formal women's suit on the computer screen—an attire he'd never seen her wear before.Her hair was pulled back into a bun secured by a simple ebony hairpin. A few strands, gilded by sunlight, curled against her porcelain cheeks.Though she appeared to be looking down at something, Harvey's gaze and thoughts remained completely captivated by her face. Only months had passed since their divorce, yet seeing her now felt like encountering someone from another lifetime.Had time stretched endlessly during his days at Atkina Church?"El—" Harvey's throat tightened as if stuffed with paper.But he quickly regained his usual composed tone. "Elara—no, I should address you as Ms. Jones now. Had Sam not called me, I wouldn't have known you'd assumed Quantum Tech's CEO position."His voice carried that innate condescension of the privileged, laced with unmistakable mockery."Why are you hiding
Elara stood still as she gazed at the tall, distinguished man before her. Meanwhile, Theodore looked up and smiled at her against the light."Why are you so far away?"Elara stepped toward him, teasing lightly, "I wanted a good look at you.""Then you'll need to come closer." Theodore leaned forward, closing the distance between them.Though she stopped a step away, their faces nearly touched. Elara instinctively held her breath as her eyes locked on him."Can you see clearly now?" Theodore asked."Mm," Elara replied."And?""So handsome." Elara praised him sincerely. "You're one of the most attractive men I've ever seen!"She truly meant it. Theodore chuckled through his nose. She'd seen plenty of handsome men in her life—Finnegan, Harvey, and Leonard. Especially Leonard, whose looks even made Theodore feel somewhat threatened."My face is the least remarkable part of me." He declared confidently.Images of those shirtless photos Theodore had sent flashed through Elara's mi
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
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
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
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
"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
"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
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