Elara had pinned her dark hair into a sleek bun at the back of her head. A crescent-moon-shaped enamel hairpiece held it in place, secured further by a hairpin with black tassels that blended seamlessly into her hair.She wore a light gray tailored suit with a cinched waist, paired with loose, comfortable trousers. Her black low-heeled shoes clicked steadily against the floor with every step—each one firm, and assured.The employees of Joss Tech were already used to seeing Elara in her sharp, capable form."Morning, Ms. Jones," they greeted her warmly as she passed.However, for many of the other guests—figures from the business world invited to the event—it was their first time encountering the woman who now sat at the helm of Joss Tech. Quite a few stood at a distance, scrutinizing her with appraising eyes."Who would've thought someone who got married before even finishing college could become a company's vice president? She spent seven years as a pampered wife in the Fisher fa
Yet at some point, Harvey stopped needing Elara to do those things for him. He began to reject any affectionate gesture she made toward him.The disappointment and loneliness in Elara's eyes had been plain to see, but he ignored it completely. The woman he once dismissed so casually—he could never have her again.The love he had personally discarded was now given to someone else without hesitation. He simply watched as Theodore lowered his head and flashed Elara a brilliant smile.In that moment, Harvey felt an unbearable emptiness crack open in his chest, a black hole that no feeling could ever fill.He forced himself to look away and kept repeating to himself that it's just a brooch. Elara had given him more than one brooch in the past. He wasn't jealous of Theodore—not at all.After all, he had received so many gifts from Elara before: brooches, ties, watches. But now, he couldn't even remember where he had put any of them. He couldn't recall a single design she had chosen.We
Elara sensed something was wrong. She lifted her head and looked toward Theodore. His smile had turned razor-sharp, unreadable. No one could tell what he was thinking at that moment.Then, Theodore raised the speech folder in his hand and showed everyone the blank pages inside."I have no idea which bastard handed me an empty speech folder," he said coolly.Gasps rippled through the guests seated below."How could the folder be blank?""Who would pull something like that?""This is Joss Tech's turf. Could someone from Joss Tech have done something this childish, hoping to provoke Mr. Snapp?"Several people shifted their gaze toward Elara, their expressions now laced with suspicion.Theodore placed both hands firmly on the table and leaned forward, casting his gaze downward toward Harvey, who sat in the first row."Whoever tried to trip me up during this signing ceremony clearly doesn't want Snapp Group to successfully acquire Joss Tech," he declared.Elara reached for the bla
Niamh's eyes sharpened as she suddenly shouted, "I know that man! He's an employee at Joss Tech!"She raised her voice, trying to convince everyone that the speech folder switch had nothing to do with Harvey.But just then, the footage on the screen shifted, showing the same employee meeting with Harvey alone in a hallway. The entire exchange was caught on video.Gasps rippled through the crowd as Niamh's expression changed instantly, her voice catching in her throat. She turned, stunned, and stared at Harvey in disbelief.Was Theodore's speech folder really swapped out because of Harvey? But how could Harvey stoop so low?He had bribed a Joss Tech employee to swap the folder—yet still dared to meet with the guy inside the company building? And he actually went and did it right under a security camera?Niamh's face paled as she looked at Harvey in growing panic. But the man being publicly exposed sat calmly in his seat, completely unbothered. It was like the man caught on camera
When Theodore said the word "break up", a flash of triumph flickered in Harvey's eyes.He knew Theodore was putting on an act, but since the man had gone that far, Harvey was more than happy to see how he'd walk it back."Theodore Snapp, since you've said it, then stand by it!" Harvey declared.Now he was going to force Theodore and Elara to split—right here, right now."I never intended to break up with Mr. Snapp," Elara spoke up.Her hand remained wrapped in Theodore's larger one as she solemnly addressed Harvey. She continued, "And I certainly won't end things with him just because you're trying to stir up trouble between us."Harvey's expression darkened instantly, as if someone had hurled his heart into a pit."Elara…" Theodore called her name gently.Elara tightened her grip on his hand. "He's the one causing a scene at the Snapp-Jones acquisition ceremony. The person who should leave isn't you—it's Harvey!"A smile tugged at the corners of Theodore's lips, while Harvey
"Did Mr. Snapp fall for Ms. Jones back when she was still Mrs. Fisher?""I knew there was a reason Mr. Snapp stayed single all these years—turns out he was pining for another man's wife!"The guests were buzzing with excitement, completely immersed in the drama. Many were now too restless to stay seated."Could it be that Ms. Jones and Mr. Snapp were already involved before her divorce from Mr. Fisher?""It's no wonder Mr. Snapp managed to win her over so quickly! They must've been eyeing each other in secret for a while!""Are you saying Mr. Fisher divorced Ms. Jones because she cheated on him? Damn!"The speculation flew wild, even among high-society elites. The juicier the gossip, the more excited they became.Harvey's black eyes burned with fierce intensity. If Theodore wanted to ruin his reputation, he'd gladly drag him into the dirt with him.Theodore wouldn't get away clean. If he dared covet Harvey Fisher's woman, he would tear him down from his pedestal!Faye, the jou
The guests collectively took a deep breath as Theodore confessed his feelings in front of everyone.Meanwhile, Harvey's expression turned pitch black, as though a heavy layer of lead had been smeared across his face. It looked like a storm of thunder and lightning was about to erupt from it any second.Elara's long lashes curled upward as she looked at Theodore. The contours of his profile were smooth—his high nose bridge and deep-set eyes seemed like they'd been sculpted by a master craftsman.Light from the ceiling fixtures fell on the arch of his brow, casting soft shadows beneath his thick lashes. When he turned his head to meet her gaze, ripples seemed to spread through the air.He gave her a gentle smile. In those clear, serene eyes of his, emotions built up over the years spilled out—emotions he had stored just for her.Every breath Elara took felt hot. That surge from his gaze washed over her like a wave, engulfing her completely.It felt like lava had reached her feet—he
"Uncle Finn, is it done yet?" Merida asked.Finnegan crouched on the open ground outside the gymnasium, using a stick to stir the pile of fallen leaves that had burned to ash.Wearing heat-resistant gloves, he reached into the fire and pulled out sweet potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil. As he peeled back the foil, a warm, honeyed aroma wafted out, making Merida's mouth water instantly."Hurry up and give it to me!" she cried, reaching for it."It's hot," Finnegan warned calmly.He placed the sweet potato on a stack of bricks, rinsed off a spoon with bottled water, and handed it to her.Merida scooped out a piece, puffed at it impatiently, then took a bite. Her round cheeks puffed up, and her eyes narrowed into contented slits.Finnegan watched her eat with visible delight. There was a gentle warmth softening his gaze.…Back at Joss Tech, the signing ceremony had ended, and the cocktail party began. Theodore had just stepped out of the restroom when he ran straight into Harvey
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