"Yay! Niamh, I'll be waiting for you!" Beau cheered and happily ended the call.Niamh shot Harvey a smug look. "Well? Impressive, right? Your son listens to me now!"Harvey warned, "Don't take him anywhere dangerous.""Relax! I know what I'm doing! Beau needs to follow my lead if he wants to grow into a real man!"…Elara returned to the boxing gym, where Beryl had been training Bambi for over half an hour.Bambi wore pink boxing gloves, and her hair was tied up in cute little twin buns. She punched the sandbag in a steady rhythm, while Beryl, who was holding it in place, took the brunt of her strength.Sweat poured off Beryl's body, drenching his shirt as if he had just been pulled from a lake.He asked while panting heavily, "You good? Need a break?"Meanwhile, Bambi hadn't broken a sweat. "I can hit it a hundred more times! One, two, three!"Even her voice was still full of energy.An hour later, Beryl collapsed onto the floor, clutching the sandbag in pure exhaustion. He
Harvey rushed into the children's room and saw Beau lying on the bed, and his body was covered in red rashes. He was having an allergic reaction again!"Call Dr. Keller," Harvey ordered with furrowed brows.The staff hesitated. "Mr. Beau's condition is serious! He might not make it in time for the doctor to arrive!"Without a second thought, Harvey picked up Beau and sprinted to the garage.By the time Harvey carried Beau out of the car at the hospital, the hospital director was already waiting at the entrance with a team of pediatric doctors."Mr. Fisher!" The director greeted him with the utmost respect.Harvey placed Beau onto a gurney, and the nurses wheeled him straight into the elevator. One of the doctors loosened Beau's collar and checked his pulse."Does Mr. Beau have any known drug allergies?" the doctor asked.Harvey turned to Mary.Mary stammered, "I—I don't know!"Lowering her head, she added softly, "Mrs. Fisher would know…"Harvey gave a sharp command. "Call E
Harvey reprimanded her coldly. "Are you really holding a grudge against a child? Beau's throat is swelling—his condition is critical.""Mr. Fisher, sending a million dollars takes you only three seconds," Elara replied.A sharp breath escaped Harvey's nose. He hated being manipulated like this."Elara Jones! You're heartless! You don't deserve to be a mother!"Even as he spoke, he transferred one million to Elara.The moment she received the notification, she relayed Beau's allergy history to the doctor over the phone."Harvey." Elara's voice came through the speaker.The man scoffed. "What? Got the money and had a change of heart?""Forget it. I was going to remind you about something, but I don't think it's necessary anymore." She hung up immediately.She had wanted to tell Harvey about Beau's habit of needing his own pillow, bedsheet, blanket, and pajamas if he had to stay overnight at the hospital.In the past, she always prepared those things herself whenever she took Be
Elara immediately turned and walked away. Time was running out. She needed to find a place with power and internet access as soon as possible to complete the online competition.She headed to a nearby café, only to discover that it also had no signal. Pressing the emergency call button, she dialed Finnegan."Finn, can I use the Internet at your gym? I lost all signal at home."Finnegan's voice came through, "I'm sorry, Elara. The gym was just shut down due to fire safety regulations.""What?"How could it be such a coincidence?Finnegan also found it strange. "Even my rental properties lost power today. I'll call the power company and check.""No need," Elara replied. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."Finnegan quickly realized why Elara felt guilty. His expression turned grim. "Was it Harvey? Did he cut off your signal?""Finn, I have something really important to do. I believe things will work out."Elara didn't have time to explain further. She ended the call, clutchi
Harvey's tone was firm. "I can turn any signed contract into worthless paper. You're welcome to take me to court and let the judge decide how much I owe you after seven years of marriage."He wanted Elara to understand—everything he had given her before was simply because of his generosity.Now that he no longer wished to give her anything, she would finally see how cruel reality could be.Yet, standing in the face of this overwhelming force, Elara felt an unprecedented calm. Because her heart was resolute."Harvey Fisher, I know power and class divisions will always exist, but you won't stay at the top forever."Harvey froze inside the CEO's office. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.Then, he found it utterly ridiculous. "Are you still dreaming, Elara? No matter how hard you work for the next 30 years, you'll never stand on equal footing with me."The gap between them had been set at birth. She was absolutely beneath him.A country girl brought to the capital at 18—so w
Elara sat in the passenger seat, feeling slightly out of place. "This car…""Seven years ago, I bought it at a Chester's Auction. I even lit the lamp to get my hands on it."Lit the lamp was an auction term, meaning that no matter how high others bid, the one who lit the lamp would always outbid them. It signified an absolute determination to win."Corona"—this very car—had set a world record for its auction price seven years ago.Elara chuckled. "So, you were the one who bought it."She reached out, running her fingers over the car's sleek body with deep nostalgia. "You know this car is…"Before she could finish, Theodore seamlessly completed her sentence. "I know—you were Corona's first owner."Not only did he know, but he had once watched her race it on the track, dominating every turn. He had seen her remove her helmet, eyes alight with exhilaration.Nothing had ever struck him more deeply than the sight of her radiant smile.Staring straight ahead at the gray, rain-soaked
Beau couldn't help but complain and continued to grumble."Beau!" Niamh's voice rang out, and Beau instantly sprang up from his seat."Niamh! Why are you late?""Because I went to buy you this!" Niamh pulled out a mechanical crossbow from behind her back."Wow!" Beau's eyes lit up as he took in the sleek, all-black weapon.Niamh smirked. She knew exactly what he liked, and understood this was something Elara would never even let him touch."Don't you feel powerful with this crossbow?"Beau eagerly grabbed it, striking a cool archery pose. "Niamh, where are the arrows? Give me the arrows!"Niamh handed him a container filled with finely crafted metal arrows.Beau marveled at their cold, metallic surface, unable to hide his excitement. "Finally, real arrows instead of plastic ones! Niamh, I really love you!""Boys should play with real crossbows and real arrows—that's how they develop a true warrior's spirit!"Unable to contain his excitement, Beau placed an arrow into the cro
After seven years, Elara once again sat in Corona's driver's seat. It felt as if countless dormant cells in her body were suddenly reawakened, pulsing with energy in sync with the engine's roar.Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the wheel, and she could hear the rapid pounding of her own heart. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly alive.Seated in the passenger seat, Theodore relished the raw power of acceleration.Today, the Corona was different—it had been reborn in Elara's hands."Go ahead, speed all you want. I'll cover the tickets."Elara suppressed the thrill surging inside her. "No need. If I get caught speeding, it's my license that'll take the hit."Corona tore through the highway, its roar drawing the attention of pedestrians."What just flew past?""Was that a swallow? It zipped by in a flash!""In this season? No way! I think I just saw a ghost!"People on the sidewalks murmured among themselves.On the road ahead, a group of wealthy young
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