Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 361 to 370)

Chapter 361

“Did you run into him again this morning?” Stewart asked, raising an eyebrow as he sipped his coffee.

Charlene sighed, replying, “Yeah.”

Going through the divorce process while running into your ex-husband all the time was a real pain. But since their companies had a partnership, occasional

encounters were unavoidable.

After a busy couple of days back at the office, Charlene found herself tagged in a group message by Quincy on Wednesday morning. Stewart was on a flight to another state, so when Quincy explained the issue, Charlene packed up her things and headed out to Neural Nexus Tech with a team of tech specialists in tow.

This was the first time she was visiting Neural Nexus Tech since Thorne had handed it over to Vesta. As they pulled up to the building, Charlene noticed Dalton Ramirez getting out of his car too. He had an ongoing collaboration with Neural Nexus Tech that hadn’t changed with the change in leadership.

With the switch from Thorne to Vesta, Dalton’s business discussions had a new face, but the business remained the same. As they saw each other, both Charlene and Dalton quickly averted their eyes.

As Charlene, Dalton, and their crew walked into the Neural Nexus Tech building, they immediately spotted Vesta. It appeared she was once again being pursued by a particularly persistent admirer, who was clutching an extravagant bouquet of red roses.

Facing the entrance, Vesta noticed Charlene at the same time. This was the first time Vesta had seen Charlene since learning that Granger Harden had taken an interest in her. Her expression turned icy as soon as she laid eyes on Charlene.

Dalton, noticing Vesta’s discomfort with her suitor, stepped forward, “What’s going on here?”

Charlene wasn’t interested in their drama. She turned her attention back to her team and headed straight for the elevators.

About three minutes later, as they were still waiting for the elevator, Vesta’s voice drifted over, “Thanks for stepping in.”

“No problem,” Dalton replied, concern etched on his face. “Isn’t there building security? Why aren’t they handling this?”

Vesta sighed, “He bribed the security.”

Dalton frowned, “So he can just keep doing this?”

“He won’t,” Vesta replied, her tone calm and assured. “I’ll talk to Thorne about it later. He’ll sort it out.”

Dalton seemed to mull this over, his gaze dropping to the floor before he replied, “Good to hear.”

By the time the elevator arrived, Dalton and Vesta had caught up with Charlene and her team. Everyone filed into the elevator together.

The employees from PrimeStar, who frequently accompanied Charlene to Neural Nexus Tech for work, were well aware of the change in ownership.

Recognizing Vesta, they greeted her warmly, “Ms. Hawkins.”

Previously, when Vesta was the director of a project, she was known as Director Hawkins. Now, as the rightful owner of Neural Nexus Tech, the title had changed to reflect her new position.

Vesta nodded in response, “I appreciate all your hard work on the project.”

PrimeStar’s tech team responded quickly, “It’s our pleasure.”

Vesta was polite and courteous to everyone, which made Charlene’s cold demeanor stand out even more. Dalton noticed Charlene’s frosty silence towards Vesta and pressed his lips together in discomfort.

Although the PrimeStar tech team had accompanied Charlene or Stewart to Neural Nexus Tech several times, they had never directly encountered any tension between Charlene and Vesta. Now, noticing that Charlene was ignoring both Dalton and Vesta, and they were ignoring her in return, it became clear that there might be some underlying issues.

An awkward silence settled in as the elevator ascended, leaving everyone to their thoughts.

Chapter 362

As the elevator dinged softly, signaling Charlene’s arrival at her desired floor, she stepped out without sparing another glance at Vesta and the others. Her mind was already elsewhere, diving straight into the whirlwind of her bustling workday.

Time flew by unnoticed until Charlene, deep in conversation with Quincy, caught a glimpse of familiar figures at the department’s entrance. It was Katie, Georgina, Maureen, and Leah. Quincy noticed them too.

Assuming Charlene didn’t recognize them, he leaned in and whispered, “That’s Mr. Hawkins’s family.”

Charlene merely nodded, her expression indifferent.

Katie and her entourage had spotted Charlene too. Given that PrimeStar Technologies and Neural Nexus Tech were collaborating, it wasn’t a shock for Katie and the others to see her around. Their gazes were cool, barely acknowledging Charlene before they moved on, as if she were a stranger.

Leah, however, seemed rather pleased. Seeing Charlene indirectly working under Vesta gave her a certain smug satisfaction, and Georgina shared in the amusement with a small, knowing smile.

Leah led the group toward Charlene’s desk. They had first visited Neural Nexus Tech the very afternoon Thorne Henderson officially handed it over to Vesta, eager to evaluate the company he had gifted her. By now, everyone at Neural Nexus Tech was familiar with Katie and Maureen’s faces.

As they approached, Quincy set aside his work, greeting them with a polite, “Good afternoon, Katie, Georgina, Mrs. Hawkins.”

Katie and Georgina returned the greeting with warm smiles, feigning interest in the company’s progress. “We heard there were some issues with the autonomous driving system. How’s it being handled?” Katie inquired.

“Pretty smoothly,” Quincy assured. “We should have it sorted by this afternoon.”

Katie nodded, still ignoring Charlene, and said to Quincy, “That’s good to hear. Keep up the good work.”

“Of course, ma’am. It’s our duty,” Quincy replied, about to introduce Charlene when Leah interjected, her eyes fixed on Charlene with a mocking glint.

“I haven’t been at Neural Nexus Tech for long, yet the system’s had multiple hiccups in this short time. I wonder if it’s someone’s incompetence or a lack of dedication that’s requiring all these updates and maintenance,” Leah said, clearly targeting Charlene.

Quincy was momentarily taken aback. He knew Leah wasn’t familiar with their technical work and was about to defend the team when Charlene spoke up, her tone cool and composed.

“If you doubt our competence or commitment, you’re welcome to propose terminating the contract,” she said.

Leah was momentarily at a loss for words. Though she liked to stir things up with her words, she wasn’t ignorant. She knew PrimeStar had become a leading authority in Al within the country. Questioning anything was fair game, but challenging PrimeStar’s technology could risk angering Stewart Ferguson, which would cost Neural Nexus Tech dearly.

She scoffed, “You talk big. Anyone listening might think you run PrimeStar.”

Charlene replied, her voice steady, “Whether I do or don’t, Ms. Spencer, you can draft the breach of contract, and you’ll see if I’m bluffing.”

Chapter 363

If someone defaults without a valid reason, there’s always a penalty to pay.

Charlene wouldn’t mind parting ways with Neural Nexus Tech as long as the compensation for breach of contract was settled.

“You!”

Leah was taken aback and almost retorted.

It wasn’t just about her not having the authority to decide for Neural Nexus Tech; even if she could, breaking ties with PrimeStar would mean crossing Stewart. Everyone knew that both Vesta’s family and others were keen on maintaining a good relationship with Stewart.

Taking such a rash decision would be akin to making an enemy out of Stewart.

This was clear to Georgina, Katie, and the others.

Seeing Leah left speechless by Charlene’s boldness, Georgina felt a twinge of discomfort.

Even Maureen, who had been watching Charlene, seemed to grow colder.

They hadn’t expected anyone to speak so brazenly.

But Maureen wasn’t about to let it get to her. She looked at Charlene with a frosty gaze and said, “You talk a good game, but are you sure your signature holds any legal weight?”

Quincy was shocked to see Charlene going head-to-head with members of the Hawkins and Spencer families.

He worried about things escalating further, so he tried to intervene by gently tugging on Charlene. However, she shrugged him off and stared Maureen down with an even colder look. “Whether my signature holds up legally or not, we can find out. But I’m guessing some people are too afraid to test it.”

Charlene was confident.

Maureen pursed her lips.

Ever since Vesta started dating Thorne, both the Hawkins and Spencer families had been comfortably shielded, rarely facing any confrontations.

Especially not from someone like Charlene.

“What’s going on here?”

Vesta approached, curious about the commotion.

Charlene seized the moment and spoke before anyone else could. “Ms. Spencer here claims that our PrimeStar isn’t competent enough, which is why our team frequently needs to visit Neural Nexus Tech for maintenance. I suggested that if they really believe we’re lacking, they should just terminate the contract. But Ms. Spencer said I couldn’t make decisions for PrimeStar. So, I asked them to draft a breach contract for me to sign, to prove whether I could act on behalf of PrimeStar.”

“And this lady”-Charlene gestured at Maureen-“questioned the legality of my signature. I challenged them to draft that breached contract and see for themselves. It’s funny how they insult us freely but hesitate when asked to back it up. So, Mr. Hawkins, what do you say?”

Vesta pressed her lips together, surprised by the turn of events.

With Charlene laying it out like that, Vesta was almost certain that if the breach contract were drawn up, Charlene’s signature would indeed hold legal standing.

But actually signing such a contract would mean paying hefty penalties and scrambling to find a new partner, which could severely delay their autonomous vehicle launch. That would be a costly setback.

Charlene, noticing Vesta’s hesitation, added, “So, Mr. Hawkins, are you afraid too? You all questioned PrimeStar’s capability, yet when it comes to drafting a contract, everyone’s suddenly silent. What’s the matter? Do you think your status gives you the right to bully others?”

“It’s a minor issue,” Vesta replied coolly. “No need to blow it out of proportion, Ms. Ross.”

“Your cousin insults us at will, and your mother supports her despite knowing she’s in the wrong. Now, Mr. Hawkins, you also know your family’s in the wrong but refuse to apologize, instead accusing us of overreacting…”

Charlene looked straight at her and continued, “I’ve often heard Mr. Hawkins is fair and reasonable. But now it seems neither you nor your family are as understanding as people claim.”

Chapter 364

Maureen and Vesta exchanged glances, their expressions subtly shifting.

Usually, in situations like this, they’d have Leah apologize straight away to prevent any unnecessary drama that might tarnish their image.

However, when Charlene threw out the suggestion of terminating the contract if they doubted her capabilities, both the Hawkins and Spencer families became more focused on whether Charlene could really lead PrimeStar.

Even if Leah was at fault, Maureen and Vesta thought they could always deal with Charlene later and decide on an apology. But this time, being a bit too relaxed about the situation allowed Charlene to steer the narrative in her favor.

The technicians from PrimeStar and the staff from Neural Nexus Tech were oblivious to the ongoing feud between Charlene and the two families. They were outsiders, and Charlene’s signing authority wasn’t their main concern.

From their perspective, whether it was Leah questioning Charlene’s authority at PrimeStar or Maureen dismissing the legality of her signature, it all seemed like the Spencer and Hawkins clans were just covering for Leah.

Clearly, Leah was in the wrong, yet instead of making Leah apologize, the families seemed to gang up on Charlene, applying undue pressure.

Leah wasn’t the most likable person, but Vesta and Maureen, along with Katie, usually came across as well-mannered and reasonable. Honestly, even Quincy and the others were surprised by their behavior today.

Vesta was quick to apologize, “I’m sorry, Ms. Ross. Both my boyfriend Thorne and I value our partnership with PrimeStar. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have chosen to collaborate in the first place.”

“We trust in PrimeStar’s technology. My mother and I are just used to protecting my sister. In our haste, we said some inappropriate things, and that wasn’t our intention. Please, Ms. Ross, don’t take it to heart.”

Mentioning Thorne didn’t seem to faze Charlene.

Charlene replied, “So, what’s your point? Are you suggesting we just let this slide, Ms. Hawkins?”

Vesta knew Charlene wouldn’t back down easily.

She restrained her emotions, trying to sound conciliatory, “What would you consider a sincere gesture, Ms. Ross? Please, feel free to let us know, and we’ll do our best to meet your expectations.”

Charlene simply tossed the ball back into her court. “Figuring out how to show sincerity is your responsibility, Ms. Hawkins.”

Vesta paused, glancing at Charlene, “You’re right, Ms. Ross. Perhaps a dinner to make amends-“

“We’re quite busy, and socializing isn’t part of my agenda,” Charlene cut in, adding, “If you have anything to say, please discuss it directly with Mr. Ferguson.”

With that, she turned away, leaving the Spencer and Hawkins families behind, and got back to work.

Vesta watched her for a moment, then apologized to the rest of the PrimeStar team before leaving with Maureen, Katie, and the others in tow.

As they walked away, Leah couldn’t help but vent, “It was just a minor issue. Charlene’s just upset because her brother-in-law handed the company to you, and now she’s making a big deal out of nothing-“

Vesta and Maureen silently agreed.

Regardless, Charlene managed to force them into an apology and tarnished their image a bit in the process.

It was clear they’d miscalculated today.

Maureen turned to Leah, “You’re not a kid anymore, Leah. Try to think things through before you act.”

Chapter 365

Around noon, Charlene found a moment to talk to Stewart. She said, “We need to shift the focus of this conflict a bit.”

Stewart paused for a moment, then quickly caught on to what she was suggesting. He chuckled, “Got it, I know just what to do.”

Not long after, Stewart received a call from Vesta.

He answered casually.

Vesta started, “I was wondering if Mr. Ferguson is aware of what happened this morning?”

Stewart replied with a smile, “Are you referring to the incident where your family ignored the facts and accused my company of incompetence, claiming that we haven’t been diligent in fulfilling our contractual obligations?”

Vesta apologized, “I’m sorry, Mr. Ferguson. It was my cousin’s mistake, and I-“

Stewart interrupted her, “Furthermore, I heard that after learning the details, Mr. Hawkins accused my employees of overreacting when they defended our company. Is that true? Mr. Hawkins, how do you intend to address this?”

Vesta responded, “Mr. Ferguson, it was indeed our fault. I assure you, I’ll make sure my cousin doesn’t let something like this happen again-“

Stewart listened but then chuckled, “Mr. Hawkins, you must be joking. This issue isn’t just about your cousin.”

“After knowing the details, if Mr. Hawkins believes that my employees were overreacting in defending our company, it suggests that he also thinks our company is incompetent and neglectful in our duties.”

“Ms. Hawkins, your actions have slandered our company and infringed on our reputation. In a partnership, basic respect for the facts is essential, and if that’s lacking, I can’t continue working with someone like you. I expect compensation for the damage to our reputation and a swift termination of our partnership.”

Vesta’s expression shifted.

She had always thought of this as a minor issue, assuming that even if Stewart decided to stand up for Charlene, it wouldn’t amount to much.

She hadn’t anticipated Stewart would bypass Leah and bring the matter directly to her.

She started to speak, “Mr. Ferguson, this matter-“

“I have other matters to attend to. I hope Ms. Hawkins can provide me with a satisfactory response soon.” With that, Stewart ended the call, not giving her a chance to reply.

Then, he called Charlene. “It’s done, and I’ve got the recording.”

Charlene laughed, saying, “Thanks for the effort.”

She had guessed that when Vesta faced Stewart, she’d likely try to resolve the issue quickly by softening her stance. Moreover, she suspected that Vesta would think the issue was mainly Leah’s fault. With Stewart recounting the facts, if Vesta admitted her mistake and apologized, it would indirectly confirm her disregard for the facts and malicious defamation of their partners.

Having the recording gave Charlene and Stewart more leverage in handling the situation.

Stewart remarked, “It wasn’t any trouble at all.”

Then, with a hint of frustration, he added, “Ultimately, this mess is Thorne’s doing. Even knowing we have a partnership with Neural Nexus Tech, he had to give Vesta that company? Out of all his businesses, couldn’t he have picked another one? Why Neural Nexus Tech?”

Thorne’s actions showed no consideration for how this would affect Charlene’s position and feelings when she worked at Neural Nexus Tech in the future.

Charlene understood what he meant, but she remained calm and said nothing.

Chapter 366

Vesta was on the phone while sitting with Maureen, Katie, and the others in a fancy private dining room, waiting for the waiter to bring their food,

When Vesta hung up, her face looked troubled. Maureen noticed and asked, “What’s going on? What did Stewart say?”

Vesta gripped her phone tightly and replied, “Stewart wants to terminate our contract and is demanding we compensate for his company’s reputational damage.”

“What?!”

Maureen, Katie, and Leah were all taken aback.

Leah, visibly upset, burst out, “We’ve already apologized for the whole mess. Didn’t Charlene say to contact that guy, Davis, and sincerely apologize to get this sorted? How did it escalate to contract termination and a demand for compensation?”

Maureen, keeping her cool, quickly deduced, “She did it on purpose.”

Leah was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Vesta explained, “Charlene wants our two companies to sever ties to slow down the launch of our self-driving cars.”

With numerous companies around the world developing self-driving technology, any delays could significantly affect their product’s future competitiveness.

Ending the contract with PrimeStar meant they’d need to find a new partner, and matching PrimeStar’s tech prowess wouldn’t be easy. Plus, finding a new partner would cost a fortune. Canceling the contract costs money, and finding a new partner costs money. If their self-driving cars become less competitive in the market, the financial loss would be unimaginable.

Leah was stunned, having never imagined the situation could get this dire. Vesta and the others were equally blindsided. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have naively thought a phone call apology, maybe even some cash compensation, would suffice.

Leah slammed her hand on the table, “We can’t let this contract end! Absolutely not!”

Everyone knew that terminating the contract wasn’t ideal. But whether the contract ended or not was no longer in their hands.

Katie, with a serious expression, suggested, “We should find another opportunity to talk to Stewart. We could renegotiate the contract terms, and maybe offer him some compensation. Business is business, he wouldn’t turn down money. Besides, breaking the contract with us means he loses money too. If we can make a compelling offer, he might reconsider.”

Vesta remained silent. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk to Stewart; she just wasn’t confident that any offer they made would sway him. Stewart would incur losses by breaking the contract, but the fact that he was willing to do so for Charlene’s sake suggested he cared a lot about her.

Maureen had considered this angle as well. However, she thought it through and said, “This issue is significant, but there’s room to maneuver. Even if PrimeStar sued us to terminate the contract, they might not win.”

Leah’s eyes lit up, “Exactly! If they can’t win, they’ll have no choice but to keep working with us.”

Vesta wasn’t as optimistic. She pointed out, “Lawsuits are

time-consuming and troublesome. Even if they can’t win, they’ll have already slowed us down. And if they do win? By the time we find a new partner, we’d have missed even more opportunities.”

Leah was at a loss for words.

Georgina looked equally grim, “She always seemed like such a pushover, but turns out she’s got a devious mind. We really underestimated her!”

Thorne had always supported their side, having invested far more into both companies than Charlene ever had. Vesta had assumed Charlene was powerless, yet she managed to pull off this unexpected move.

No matter what, avoiding a lawsuit and keeping the contract intact was in their best interest.

With that in mind, Maureen turned to Vesta and said, “Let’s talk this over with Thorne.”

Chapter 367

Vesta had the same thought.

But…

The whole thing started with them.

She always had a good image in Thorne’s mind. If Thorne found out about this mess, would he think that she and her family were bullying Charlene? That could really tarnish the way he saw her.

Maureen understood Vesta’s concerns perfectly.

No one understood the importance of maintaining a good image better than she did.

After all, that’s the secret to keeping a man head over heels for you!

Katie was also well aware that the reason Thorne adored Vesta so much was because she was special and flawless in his eyes.

If this incident reached Thorne, it might indeed affect how he viewed Vesta.

Even if they handled it well, it certainly wasn’t a positive turn of events for Vesta.

She glanced at Leah, speaking in a calm voice, “Leah, you’re not a kid anymore. You really need to be careful with what you say and do from now on.”

Handled poorly, this could be disastrous for their family!

“I, I-” Leah, who initially thought it was just a minor issue, was now scared. She hadn’t been seriously reprimanded like this in ages. Feeling wronged, she had to admit her mistake, “I understand. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Katie fell silent, her tone conveying the gravity of the situation.

Seeing Katie scold her granddaughter, Georgina felt uneasy. But this all started because of Leah. If it truly affected the future of Neural Nexus Tech’s self-driving cars, the loss would be immeasurable. Compared to that, Leah getting scolded was nothing.

So, despite her discomfort, she didn’t defend Leah.

No matter what, they couldn’t keep this under wraps forever.

If PrimeStar insisted on terminating the contract, Thorne would find out sooner or later.

Vesta understood this, as did Maureen and Katie.

The food had long been served, but none of them touched it. Their appetites had vanished along with their good mood

Vesta clutched her phone, thinking for a moment before taking a deep breath. She left the dining room to call Thorne

Thorne picked up quickly on the other end. “Hello?”

“Thorne,” Vesta said, “we’ve got a bit of a situation here…”

She recapped the events briefly and added, “Charlene’s attitude was a bit aggressive. I couldn’t stand her speaking about my mom like that, and I got swept up in it, which led to this whole situation.”

Thorne listened and then said, “You made a mistake. If this goes to court, they won’t just seek to terminate the contract and claim damages for their company’s reputation. They’ll also demand you pay a penalty fee because, on the surface, it’s your fault that the collaboration can’t continue. Terminating the contract is a loss for PrimeStar as well, and they won’t let that go.”

Vesta was taken aback. “Stewart didn’t mention that on the phone.”

“He did that on purpose. He downplayed the situation to make you think there was room to maneuver so you’d let your guard down. Calling Stewart to admit fault and apologize was the perfect chance for him to trap you.” After a pause, Thorne added, “If I’m not mistaken, Stewart likely recorded your conversation.*

Vesta was stunned, realizing, “So Charlene deliberately set me up to call Stewart? To leave evidence against us?”

Thorne confirmed, “Exactly.”

Vesta pressed her lips together, surprised at how cunning Charlene was. She now realized the situation was far more complicated than she had imagined.

After pondering for a while, she asked, “So, what can we do about this?

Thorne was honest, “I might not be able to fix this. PrimeStar has government backing, and I can’t touch Stewart.”

What about approaching the Ross family?

Though Vesta thought it, she knew better than to voice it aloud. If Thorne didn’t suggest it himself, she couldn’t bring it up.

Would Thorne consider it for her sake even if she kept silent?

They talked a bit more before ending the call.

Back in the dining room, Georgina asked anxiously, “What did Thorne say?”

“He said he’d try to mediate, but he’s not sure he can stop Stewart from wanting to terminate the contract,” Vesta replied.

Maureen was more concerned with something else. “And did Thore say anything about the situation?”

Despite the importance of the self-driving car project, nothing was more crucial than Thome.

Whether Thorne’s feelings for her daughter had changed was the real question.

Maureen didn’t spell it out, but Vesta understood.

Her heart filled with a sweet warmth as she said, “Thorne told me not to worry, that he would help handle things. Not a word of blame.”

Hearing this, Maureen was finally at ease.

Katie and Georgina also breathed a sigh of relief.

Leah brightened up, saying, “I knew it! There’s no way Thorne would stop loving you or blame you over something like this!”

Thome’s love made her happy, of course. But today, Vesta had taken a hit to her pride and her wallet.

Vesta calmly said, “Thorne and I are one thing, but Leah, I don’t want anything like this happening again, okay?”

It was the first time Vesta had ever been this serious.

Leah felt a chill run down her spine and nodded quickly, “I, I understand. I promise I won’t speak out of turn again…”

Chapter 368

That afternoon, Charlene had just returned to PrimeStar Technologies when her phone buzzed with a call from Thorne.

If they broke the contract with Neural Nexus Tech, it would be a massive blow to the company.

The moment Charlene saw Thorne’s name flash on her screen, she knew exactly why he was calling.

She didn’t answer.

Thorne called twice more, and when Charlene still didn’t pick up, he turned to Stewart.

Stewart, well aware of Thorne’s intentions, picked up the call.

Without any pleasantries, he asked, “Mr. Henderson, you’re calling about the Neural Nexus Tech issue, aren’t you?”

Thorne replied, “Yes, Mr. Ferguson, what can we do to resolve this?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Henderson, but Mr. Hawkins’ actions have crossed a line for me. I can’t compromise on this,” Stewart said coolly. “Is there anything else you need to discuss?”

Thorne pressed, “Is there really no room for negotiation?”

“None,” Stewart confirmed. “I’ll be handling this matter with my legal team. I expect you to respect my company’s employees and not bother them. Otherwise, I’ll have to assume you, like Mr. Hawkins, lack respect for our partnership. That would force me to reconsider our ongoing collaboration.”

Knowing Thorne couldn’t break the deadlock with him, Stewart anticipated he’d turn to Charlene next.

Not that Thorne could do much to Charlene, but if Thorne decided to target the Ross family for the sake of Vesta Hawkins, it would be a disaster.

An unnecessary disaster and one best avoided.

The conversation was a veiled warning to Thorne: steer clear of the Ross family, or risk jeopardizing their mutual projects.

Stewart added, “If our collaboration hits a snag, it could be quite the scandal, Mr. Henderson. I trust you understand my point?”

The word had already spread that The Henderson Group’s project was set to compete with international counterparts.

There was a national buzz, with high expectations placed on The Henderson Group.

PrimeStar was the ideal partner for The Henderson Group’s project.

If Thorne let personal matters with his girlfriend disrupt their cooperation, and word got out, it would be all over the news. The project and The Henderson Group’s image would be tainted with scandal.

This sort of fallout would infringe on the interests of The Henderson Group’s other stakeholders.

With both internal and external pressures mounting, Thorne would face significant losses and stress.

Stewart didn’t lay it all out, but Thorne understood the underlying threat. He chuckled softly, “I understand your point, Mr. Ferguson.”

Stewart knew Thorne grasped the gravity of the situation. He asked icily, “Anything else, Mr. Henderson?”

Thorne replied, “No, that’s all.”

With that, Stewart ended the call abruptly.

As soon as he hung up, Stewart dialed Charlene.

She answered promptly.

“Thorne called me. We just talked,” Stewart informed her, then asked, “Did he try reaching out to you?”

Chapter 369

“He called just a few minutes ago.”

Stewart let out a sarcastic laugh, “Guess he got to you first.”

Vesta reaching out to Thorne for help, potentially stirring up trouble for the Ross family, was something they had anticipated for a while.

Thorne probably figured they’d use the Henderson Group’s tech collaboration with PrimeStar as leverage, so he tried contacting Charlene first, hoping to find a weak spot there.

But Charlene didn’t give him the chance.

So, Thorne turned to him.

The reason Stewart was handling the talks with Thorne was straightforward: on paper, he was the head of PrimeStar, making him the more suitable spokesperson for these discussions.

Thinking about how Thorne tried to manipulate Charlene to help Vesta, assuming Charlene was an easy target, made Stewart both angry and worried for her. He asked, “You doing okay?”

Charlene, calm as ever, replied, “I’m fine.” Then she inquired, “How’s the business trip going? Smooth sailing?”

“Yeah, all good.”

They talked a bit more before hanging up.

The legal team for Neural Nexus Tech was under Moran Albright’s wing.

By the afternoon, Moran had already caught wind of PrimeStar’s decision to terminate their contract with Neural Nexus Tech.

Later that evening, in a private booth…

Upon hearing that Thorne had already spoken with Stewart and that Stewart was firm on terminating the deal with no room for

negotiation, Moran cursed under his breath and echoed Georgina Spencer’s sentiment, “Charlene seems so quiet and unassuming, but man, she’s got some hidden depths.”

He added, “Then again, she did drug you and played innocent afterward, so it’s clear she’s not all sunshine and daisies.”

Granger Harden listened, his lips barely moving, but before he could say anything, Moran jumped in with, “Is there really no way out of this?”

Thorne replied, “Not at the moment.”

Moran sighed, “If Granger and I hadn’t pulled out our shares from Neural Nexus Tech, maybe we could step in and talk to Stewart. It might have been easier.”

But they were no longer shareholders and thus had no authority to intervene in the mess between Neural Nexus Tech and PrimeStar.

Vesta, sitting quietly, glanced at Granger beside Moran. She noticed that Moran was the one doing all the talking and planning on her behalf, while Granger hadn’t said a word. He didn’t seem inclined to help her at all.

Her lips tightened.

With things escalating this far, it seemed like the termination of the contract was inevitable.

Henley Hawkins and Laverne Hawkins were promptly made aware of the situation as it unfolded.

Realizing Thorne and Granger were out of options, Henley said, “I’ll try talking to her later.”

By “her,” he meant Charlene.

Katie Hawkins, with a calm demeanor, added, “I’ll go with you.”

Just as Laverne was about to speak, Vesta interjected, “Don’t bother. It’s pointless. Thorne said if you go after her, she and Stewart will just see it as harassment. It’ll make any legal action even messier.”

The faces around the room-from the Hawkins family to the Spencers-grew even darker at her words.

Chapter 370

Leah Spencer was absolutely flabbergasted.

She never expected that even Thorne’s involvement wouldn’t resolve the issue.

“I just don’t get it,” Leah stammered, “This is clearly just a minor issue. Can they really file a lawsuit and terminate the contract over something so trivial? That can’t be right!”

Vesta chimed in, “I had our lawyer review the original contract between Neural Nexus Tech and PrimeStar. It clearly states that if one party damages the reputation of the other, the injured party has the right to terminate the contract.”

“But, even if this incident did harm their reputation, the impact was minimal-“

Vesta explained, “True, the impact isn’t huge. Normally, in such situations, we’d just need to mitigate the issue’s impact on PrimeStar, offer an apology, and compensate for any losses. But-“

Henley interrupted, “If Vesta had acted immediately upon learning what you said and made sure you apologized, PrimeStar wouldn’t have had any grounds for termination.”

“But instead, Vesta didn’t immediately act to protect PrimeStar’s interest or prompt you to apologize. Instead, when PrimeStar’s employees stood up for their company, she blamed them for overreacting. This gives Stewart a valid reason to terminate the contract if he feels we’ve gone too far and can’t trust us anymore.”

“In business, if someone wants to achieve a particular goal, all they need is a small conflict that they can blow out of proportion.”

Leah protested, “But my cousin did apologize as soon as she realized her mistake!”

“They can still argue that we only apologized because we realized the severe consequences of the contract termination, not out of genuine respect for the facts.”

Leah was at a loss for words.

Henley asked, “Is Stewart really that unwilling to budge?”

If they could persuade either Charlene or Stewart, the crisis could be averted.

Charlene was out of the question, but what about Stewart?

Vesta replied, “He was pretty firm about it on the phone.”

Everyone present understood that Stewart’s insistence on terminating the contract was largely due to Charlene.

If they could somehow convince Stewart…

But how could they persuade him? They had no leverage.

Even Thorne couldn’t sway Stewart.

The contract termination was a serious blow to Neural Nexus Tech. Despite Stewart’s firm stance, Vesta decided to give it another shot.

That night, Vesta called Stewart again.

He didn’t pick up.

Undeterred, she showed up at PrimeStar first thing the next morning to wait for Stewart.

When Charlene arrived at the office, she spotted Vesta waiting downstairs.

Their eyes met.

Vesta’s expression hardened, her fists clenching in frustration.

This time, she had underestimated her opponent.

Next time-

Charlene ignored her, turning on her heel to enter the elevator.

Shortly after Charlene stepped into the elevator, Gaylord Hearst arrived at the office and also noticed Vesta waiting outside.

He’d heard about the incident at Neural Nexus Tech the previous day.

However, the news about PrimeStar’s intention to terminate the contract hadn’t spread within the company, and only Charlene and Stewart were aware of it.

So, Gaylord was unaware of PrimeStar’s firm stance on the contract termination.

He quickly averted his gaze from Vesta and continued toward the elevator. But before he could reach it, Vesta called out to him, “Gaylord.”

He stopped and turned to face her, “What’s up?”

“I’m here to speak with Mr. Ferguson. Is he coming to PrimeStar today?”

“Mr. Ferguson is on a business trip and won’t be in the office today,” Gaylord replied.

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