Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 391 to 400)

Chapter 391

Gaylord had been hoping for a chance to go rafting with Charlene, but it hadn’t happened yet.

However, at dinner, he once again “bumped into” Charlene and the Ross family. Charlene’s aunt and uncle warmly invited him and his friends to join them for dinner.

Upon learning he was from the Hearst family, Vernon Ross asked curiously, “What brought you back to the States all of a sudden?”

Recalling his reasons for returning, Gaylord paused momentarily before answering, “I have a keen interest in PrimeStar’s programming language CUAP and their latest project, Infinite-CM. I wanted to join PrimeStar to learn more, so I decided to come back.”

The Ross family, being aware of Charlene’s involvement with PrimeStar, exchanged knowing smiles and glanced at Charlene, who quietly focused on her meal.

Gaylord didn’t think much of it. He knew Charlene was highly skilled, but he also knew she had only joined PrimeStar last year. CUAP had been around for quite some time, and the industry widely credited Kenton Wagner with its development. It seemed natural that such an impressive language would be his creation.

As for PrimeStar’s latest project, Infinite-CM, Gaylord genuinely believed it was led by Stewart. He had interacted with Stewart a few times in meetings since joining PrimeStar and could tell that Stewart was indeed very capable. However, he hadn’t interacted with Stewart enough to compare his skills with Charlene’s, though it seemed Charlene was always collaborating with Stewart. This led Gaylord to assume Stewart was the more skilled of the two.

The Ross family was cultured, welcoming, and engaging in conversation. By the end of the meal, Gaylord had developed a positive impression of them. After dinner, Charlene and her family left the area to head home, so Gaylord and his friends didn’t linger much longer in the park.

The next day, Charlene received a call from Jasmine, who was planning to return home. Jasmine said, “Mom, Dad will be back in a couple of days. Are you free? I’d like to come over and spend time with you and Great-Grandma.”

Remembering how Helena had mentioned Jasmine a few times recently, Charlene paused for a couple of seconds before replying, “Sure, come over.”

On the last day of the holiday, Jasmine arrived at the Ross family home, bearing gifts for Charlene and Helena. Helena and Vernon were delighted with their presents. Charlene noticed there were two more gifts in Jasmine’s suitcase, presumably for Thorne and Vesta, but she didn’t comment on it.

After distributing the gifts, Jasmine, still excited from her travels, soon succumbed to fatigue. Before falling asleep, she cuddled up to Charlene, finding a comfortable spot in her arms. Even though Jasmine hadn’t bathed, Charlene couldn’t bring herself to wake her when she saw how peacefully she slept. Once Jasmine was deeply asleep, Charlene gently moved her to the bed.

Chapter 392

Two days later, Stewart headed off to Silvercross for the International Al Conference.

Much like last year’s Future Tech Expo, this conference was a fantastic opportunity for industry professionals to catch up on the latest AI developments and swap ideas.

Joining him on the trip were Charlene, Gaylord, and a few other engineers who had recently joined PrimeStar.

The reason Stewart brought these new hires along was quite strategic. Since they hadn’t yet been exposed to the company’s core secrets, there was no risk of any sensitive information being leaked.

When they arrived at Silvercross and walked into the conference venue, the place was already buzzing with people.

This event was rumored to have attracted some big names in the global Al community.

At the last Future Tech Expo, Stewart had garnered significant attention just by being a Kenton student.

With PrimeStar’s recent rise in prominence, the moment he entered the hall this time, nearly everyone turned their heads to notice him.

As soon as he was spotted, a crowd gathered to greet him, keeping Stewart on his toes.

Charlene and Gaylord stood nearby, watching Stewart handle the meet-and-greet, when Charlene heard a familiar voice.

“You guys made it too?”

Charlene turned around.

It was Granger Harden.

Beside him stood Lanny.

Charlene nodded, “Mr. Harden, you’re here too?”

Typically, Granger wouldn’t need to attend such events himself. He could have just sent some executives and key tech people like Lanny.

But it had been a while since he last saw Charlene, and knowing she’d surely attend, he decided to come along.

As he exchanged pleasantries with Charlene, he noticed Gaylord giving him a frosty look.

Granger chose to ignore it, and just then, Thorne arrived.

This time, though, Vesta wasn’t with him.

Before Charlene and Stewart could react, they saw the event organizers politely escorting a distinguished-looking man in his sixties into the venue.

Charlene and Stewart were both well-versed in the influential figures of the global Al scene.

At first glance, they recognized him as Kevitt Smith.

Kevitt Smith was a towering figure in the Al field.

Charlene and Stewart had been puzzled about why Vesta wasn’t at Thorne’s side earlier.

Now, seeing Kevitt Smith made everything clear.

Vesta was standing right next to him, clearly familiar with him.

Recalling some background info on Kevitt Smith and Vesta’s PhD studies in Goldland, Charlene and Stewart quickly pieced together that Kevitt Smith must be her doctoral advisor.

Being a doctoral student of Kevitt Smith was no small feat for Vesta.

After all, Kevitt Smith had made significant contributions to deep learning and Al, although he wasn’t one of the founding figures, his impact was undeniable. Because of that, most people in the industry recognized him instantly.

As soon as he appeared, the room was abuzz with excitement.

“Kevitt Smith! Can you believe Kevitt Smith is actually here at our conference? This is unreal!”

“You’re telling me! I wouldn’t even dare to dream of this. Yet, here we are, living the dream!”

Just then, an acquaintance of Kevitt Smith approached him for a friendly chat. After exchanging a few words, the person noticed Vesta standing beside him and asked, “And who might this be?”

Chapter 393

Kevitt Smith glanced around the lively room, his students gathered around him like a constellation of eager minds. Among them stood Vesta, the lone face from the East, standing out like a cherry blossom in a garden of roses.

The crowd buzzed with whispers and admiration as they learned that Vesta was not only a brilliant PhD student under the legendary Kevitt Smith, but also the girlfriend of Thorne Henderson, an enviable position that seemed to embody all the luck and beauty the world could offer.

“Wow, I can’t believe she’s Kevitt Smith’s student. That’s incredible!” someone exclaimed, nearly spilling their drink in excitement.

“And she’s stunning to boot! It’s like the universe just handed her everything on a silver platter. So unfair!” another lamented.

“Don’t even get me started! She’s also dating Thorne Henderson? How is that even fair? I give up!” a third person groaned theatrically, rolling their eyes.

Vesta, oblivious to the whirlwind of envy and admiration swirling around her, became an instant focal point. People jostled to introduce themselves, hoping a bit of her brilliance might rub off on them.

One of the more outgoing attendees, eyes twinkling with mischief, nudged Thorne and said, “Mr. Henderson, it seems like you’ve got all the good fortune wrapped around your little finger.”

Thorne chuckled, about to respond when Kevitt Smith gave his shoulder a friendly pat. “Not bad, young man. But I hear you two have been together for a couple of years now. Why haven’t you tied the knot yet? Is my student’s heart that hard to win over? If so, you’d better step up your game. I’m rooting for you!” he teased warmly.

Laughter rippled through the crowd, the lightheartedness infectious. Not everyone was amused, though. Charlene and Stewart stood off to the side, their expressions remaining neutral, while Dalton Ramirez, having just arrived, found himself caught in the undercurrents of the gathering.

Dalton, fresh off a briefing about Kevitt Smith’s illustrious past in Al, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness as he overheard the playful chiding about Thorne and Vesta’s relationship.

Charlene and Stewart noticed Dalton’s arrival but chose to keep their distance, a silent acknowledgment of the tension that had been simmering between them.

Dalton, having recently seen Stewart in a new, less flattering light, decided to make the first move, approaching Stewart with a formality that was a far cry from their previous camaraderie. “Mr. Ferguson,” he greeted curtly, the warmth gone from his voice.

Stewart, unfazed, simply smirked. “Mr. Ramirez, if you’re not inclined to exchange pleasantries, I won’t force the issue. Let’s keep things strictly professional from now on, shall we?”

Dalton nodded, not missing a beat. “As you wish, Mr. Ferguson,” he replied, his tone icy as he cast a quick, frosty glance at Charlene before turning away.

Stewart almost laughed at the absurdity of it all, but before he could dwell on it, Kevitt Smith spotted him.

In the realm of Al, Stewart had carved out a name for himself, his reputation reaching far and wide. It was no wonder that Kevitt Smith, a titan from the previous century, had made Stewart the target of his visit.

Approaching with genuine enthusiasm, Kevitt extended his hand. “Mr. Ferguson, it’s a pleasure. I’ve been following your work on PrimeStar’s Infinite-CM project closely. I’d love to chat with you about it.”

PrimeStar’s groundbreaking work had disrupted the industry, knocking Goldland’s monopoly on AI technology off balance.

Engineers and industry leaders worldwide were eager to uncover the secrets behind Stewart’s success.

Kevitt Smith was no exception. Here was his chance, one he wasn’t about to let slip through his fingers.

Chapter 394

Kevitt Smith’s so-called wish to have a deep conversation with him was really just a ploy to grasp the core technology of Infinite-CM.

As Stewart shook his hand, he replied smoothly, “Mr. Kevitt Smith, you flatter me. I must have read your papers on ‘Recurrent Neural Networks and Attention Mechanisms’ a dozen times. They’ve been incredibly inspiring. It’s truly an honor to converse with you.”

Naturally, Kevitt Smith was eager to chat more with Stewart.

But the opening ceremony of the conference was about to begin.

Before they could exchange more than a few words, a staff member ushered them to their seats.

After the host of the conference gave their welcome speech, Kevitt Smith, Stewart, and other esteemed guests gradually took the stage for their keynote speeches.

Everyone was eager to make connections with Stewart and Kevitt Smith.

Once the first round of discussions ended, Stewart and Kevitt Smith found themselves surrounded by a throng of experts, scholars, and corporate representatives.

Charlene, Granger, Gaylord, and Dalton didn’t need to push forward to be near Stewart and Kevitt Smith. So, they stood at the edges, observing.

Thorne didn’t need to be in the thick of it either, but since he was with Vesta, he found himself at the center of the crowd.

He unscrewed the cap of a water bottle and handed it to Vesta.

This simple act earned Vesta envious glances from the women nearby.

Those who were aware of Thorne and Vesta’s relationship couldn’t quite comprehend why someone of Thorne’s background and accomplishments chose Vesta as his girlfriend. Sure, she was attractive and well-educated, but her family’s status was relatively unimpressive.

However, now that they knew she was a student of Kevitt Smith, it all made sense.

Previously, due to Thorne, they treated Vesta with some courtesy. But upon learning of her connection to Kevitt Smith, their demeanor shifted to genuine warmth.

Whether it was the jealousy from the women or the newfound respect from the business executives, Vesta noticed it all.

She accepted the water from. Thorne took a sip, smiled silently, and then glanced over at Charlene, Dalton, and the others watching from the outskirts.

Vesta, being a doctoral student of Kevitt Smith, indeed surprised Dalton.

His gaze was filled with admiration and wonder, impossible to hide.

Vesta, of course, noticed.

She wasn’t surprised by his reaction.

She looked at Charlene.

Charlene’s expression was calm, seemingly indifferent to the whole scenario. Internally, Vesta scoffed.

Was she truly indifferent, or just putting on a facade of nonchalance? After all, Vesta was Kevitt Smith’s doctoral student, an achievement Charlene could only dream of reaching.

Charlene could only look up to her.

Charlene caught the disdain in Vesta’s eyes.

Though unsure of her exact thoughts, Charlene could guess.

Finding it amusing, Charlene returned her gaze, cool and unfazed.

Vesta assumed she was just pretending to be strong.

She turned her attention to Granger and Gaylord but noticed Gaylord was focused on Charlene, seemingly oblivious to her presence.

However, Gaylord wasn’t someone who judged by appearances alone.

Having witnessed her brilliance, how could Gaylord possibly hold Charlene in higher regard?

Therefore, seeing Gaylord’s apparent interest in Charlene didn’t concern Vesta in the least.

As for Granger, he was staring in her direction, lost in thought.

Vesta smiled.

He knew she was impressive, but perhaps not to this extent?

Would he still favor Charlene?

Kevitt Smith indeed longed to engage with Stewart

Unfortunately, neither Stewart nor the event organizers provided an opportunity

During lunch, Stewart excused himself on the grounds of another engagement and left with Charlene and the others.

As Charlene and Stewart passed by Thorne and Vesta, Charlene kept her gaze forward. Thorne, absorbed in conversation, didn’t acknowledge her departure.

Kevitt Smith’s schedule wrapped up the day after the International AI Conference opened.

He was disappointed that there would not be a deeper dialogue with Stewart.

Yet his disappointment was short-lived.

Before departing, he shared his excitement with Vesta, saying, “The latest issue of NMI has a submission of exceptional quality and innovative perspective. We reviewers were all pleasantly surprised. Once the journal is published, I hope to discuss it with the author.”

Besides being a renowned university professor, Kevitt Smith was also a reviewer for a top-tier AI journal.

As a reviewer for such a prestigious publication, revealing any details about a paper before its official release was prohibited, including personal opinions.

However, given his standing in the Al community, he wasn’t worried about anyone exposing his minor breach of secrecy.

Vesta, intrigued by Kevitt Smith’s high praise for the paper, couldn’t help but look forward to its publication.

Fortunately, the release of the latest NMI issue was just around the corner.

Moreover, she understood that Smith sharing this with her signified his high expectations.

She replied, “I understand, Professor. Once the journal is out, I’ll thoroughly read and study the paper.”

Kevitt Smith nodded, satisfied. “Good.”

After seeing Kevitt Smith off at the airport, Vesta caught a cab back home.

Chapter 395

A few days after attending the International Artificial Intelligence Conference, Charlene found herself heading to a hotel for her aunt’s stepson’s wedding reception after work.

As she stepped into the elevator, just as the doors were about to close, she heard someone call out, “Hold the door!”

A hand shot out to stop the elevator from closing, and when Charlene glanced up to see who it was, her eyes widened slightly in recognition.

It was Jacques Hawkins. He seemed just as surprised to see her. They had only met a few times before, with their last encounter being a couple of months back, but he remembered Charlene well.

He nodded at her in greeting just as Katie Hawkins appeared at the elevator entrance. Katie, too, seemed taken aback when she saw Charlene, but quickly averted her gaze and stepped inside, acting as if she didn’t recognize her.

Jacques reached to press the elevator button but noticed the 18th floor was already lit. Seeing Charlene as a familiar face, he turned back with a smile, clearly intending to chat. However, Charlene looked away, her expression cool and distant.

Jacques hesitated for a moment, sensing her reluctance to talk, and decided to remain silent. He wrapped an arm around Katie’s shoulder, who chuckled softly and patted his hand affectionately. Charlene observed them quietly, saying nothing.

Before long, the elevator reached the 18th floor. As the doors opened, a wave of chatter and laughter flooded in. Following Jacques and Katie out, Charlene was greeted by the sight of a bustling lobby. Henley Hawkins and Maureen Spencer, both dressed to the nines, were stationed at the welcome desk, greeting guests arriving for Katie’s birthday celebration.

Yes, today was Katie’s seventieth birthday. As soon as Charlene saw. She, dressed in festive and elegant attire, remembered the occasion.

Katie’s arrival didn’t go unnoticed, and soon someone exclaimed, “Look, here comes our birthday star!”

People began to turn their heads, and someone noticed Charlene standing behind Katie. Impressed by her poise and striking appearance, they remarked, “Mrs. Hawkins, is this your granddaughter? No wonder she’s caught the eye of Starfall City’s finest young men. She’s stunning, and she carries a hint of your youthful charm. You truly are blessed!”

Charlene wanted to slip away immediately, but the throng of people made it impossible to move through easily. The Spencer family and Henley were not far off, and their eyes were already on her.

Realizing Charlene and Katie had arrived together, they were momentarily under the impression that Katie had invited Charlene to join the party. But they quickly deduced that couldn’t be the case. Charlene must be here for the wedding next door. It wasn’t uncommon for first-timers at the hotel to get mixed up, as it had happened earlier, too.

As Charlene’s face turned icy at the mention of her having a resemblance to a young Katie, she was about to speak up when Katie interjected in a calm tone, “You’ve got the wrong person. She’s not my granddaughter. I don’t know her.”

Just then, Thorne and Vesta stepped out of the elevator. Someone immediately recognized Vesta and said, “Oh, you’ve got your wires crossed! There’s the real granddaughter.”

All eyes shifted to Thorne and Vesta. With their striking looks and graceful demeanor, they made a handsome pair. Coupled with their prestigious backgrounds, the guests couldn’t help but shower them with compliments, “Ah, the student of a scientific genius, such poise is unmatched.”

Chapter 396

“Isn’t that so?”

Dalton and Moran Albright were there too. They didn’t know about the long-standing feud between Charlene and the Hawkins and Spencer families. So when Katie mentioned the guests had mistaken someone’s identity, they barely reacted.

Henley and Laverne Hawkins listened quietly, not bothering to defend Charlene. Leah Spencer observed all of this, feeling quite pleased with herself.

Janetta looked on, wanting to say something, but with so many people around, she kept her head down and remained silent.

At that moment, Helena, Nadine, and Carl Ross stepped out of the elevator.

“Cousin?”

Nadine and Carl barely had a chance to process the crowd before spotting Charlene about to leave. Hearing Carl’s voice, Charlene turned around and saw her grandmother and her cousins.

Soon enough, Carl and Helena noticed Thorne, but Helena also saw Henley, Maureen, Katie, and the others.

Charlene pressed her lips together, turned on her heel, and returned to Helena’s side. “Grandma, the wedding reception is over there,” she said, gently supporting Helena.

Katie had invited a mix of family, friends, and local New York City elites to her birthday celebration. Some of these guests were aware of the Hawkins and Ross family’s history. Though it had been a while since they’d seen Helena, they recognized her immediately.

When they heard Charlene call Helena ‘Grandma’ and saw Charlene looked to be in her mid-twenties, they quickly pieced together that this striking young woman must be Katie’s other granddaughter. This granddaughter hadn’t been part of the Hawkins family ever since Katie’s son divorced his first wife.

They had heard rumors that after Katie’s son remarried, she had disregarded her previous granddaughter entirely. What they had thought were just rumors seemed to hold some truth, judging by Katie’s indifferent and dismissive demeanor towards the girl.

Even Henley, the biological father, stood by without uttering a word, showing no intention of acknowledging his daughter.

Years ago, when Henley decided to divorce the Ross family heiress to marry a woman of modest means, people thought he’d lost his mind. However, over the years, the Ross family had nearly gone bankrupt, losing their former glory, while the Hawkins family had risen to prominence, thanks to the granddaughter from that modest background.

Word had it that Katie’s grandson was also quite remarkable.

Witnessing the Hawkins family’s current prosperity, compared to the Ross family’s decline, people realized Katie and Henley’s choices had been right all along.

Because of the Hawkins family’s newfound status, when they received invitations, many had traveled all the way from New York City to attend Katie’s celebration. Among them were some of New York City’s most elite, people who previously wouldn’t have associated with the Hawkins family. Yet, today, they made the effort to attend, honoring the Hawkins family’s invitation and cementing their elevated status.

Chapter 397

The folks in New Albury recognized Helena Ross the moment she walked in. But seeing that neither the Hawkins nor the Spencer families said a word about it, everyone immediately understood that the Hawkinses didn’t want any old drama with the Rosses getting dragged back into the spotlight.

So, even though people clearly recognized Helena, not a single person went over to say hello.

Instead, a few people glanced over at Vesta and Jacques Hawkins. Right in front of Charlene Ross and Helena, someone turned to Katie Hawkins with a big, flattering grin and said, “Mrs. Hawkins, your grandkids-both of them-are just outstanding! Looks, brains, you name it. You sure hit the jackpot.”

Vesta and Jacques were, no question, the pride and joy of the Hawkins family. Katie didn’t spare so much as a glance for Charlene.

Instead, she gazed at her grandchildren with nothing but affection and replied, laughing, “Oh, you’re too sweet-“

Charlene didn’t catch the rest. She and Helena had already slipped past the crowd, heading further into the reception.

As for Thorne Henderson, after catching a glimpse of him earlier, Charlene didn’t pay him any more attention.

Dalton Ramirez and Moran Albright hadn’t expected to run into Charlene here, of all places and even more awkward, someone had mistaken her for Vesta. They watched her leave, unsure what to say.

Just then, Granger Harden’s secretary came over, carrying a gift box, and handed it to Katie.

When they learned Granger wouldn’t be able to make it to the birthday party in person, both the Hawkins and Spencer families looked a little deflated.

But, if anything, the Spencers seemed even more disappointed than the Hawkinses.

And not just disappointed-they were anxious too.

After all, Leah Spencer had gotten herself into trouble recently, both Rhoda and Georgina Spencer were desperate for Leah and Granger to hit it off and pull the family out of its current rut.

So Granger’s absence today was a real blow.

Moran was genuinely surprised when he heard Granger couldn’t make it. As far as he knew, Granger didn’t have anything in particular going on today.

Vesta hadn’t expected Granger to skip out either. She frowned, clearly troubled.

Thorne, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care one way or the other.

Meanwhile…

Charlene, Helena, and the others found their seats in the banquet hall. They’d barely sat down when Charlene’s phone started buzzing.

It was Jasmine Henderson calling.

Charlene hesitated; she hadn’t planned on answering. But Helena, sitting right next to her, took one look at the caller ID and remembered how Thorne and Vesta had shown up at Katie’s party together, but Jasmine was nowhere in sight. Helena guessed that Thorne must’ve left Jasmine at home.

Feeling a pang of sympathy for Jasmine, Helena nudged Charlene, urging her to pick up.

Charlene had the same thought. Not wanting to ignore Jasmine’s call in front of her grandmother, she excused herself and stepped into a quieter hallway. Jasmine sounded thrilled that Charlene picked up. “Mom! Mother’s Day is this Sunday! I got you a present. Can I come see you then?”

Mother’s Day. That was always a big deal.

Charlene paused for a moment, then said softly, “Of course.”

She added, “Are you home alone right now?”

“Yeah,” Jasmine answered. “Dad’s not back yet.”

Charlene didn’t say anything for a moment.

The truth was, Jasmine was actually Katie’s great-granddaughter. Vesta liked to claim she doted on Jasmine, but she hadn’t even thought to bring her along to Katie’s birthday.

Was this what real love for Jasmine looked like?

Couldn’t Thorne see something so obvious?

But knowing Thorne, as long as Vesta gave him any excuse at all, he’d believe her-no questions asked.

Chapter 398

Sunday was Mother’s Day.

Jasmine arrived at the Ross family home on Saturday.

Thorne’s driver dropped her off.

For her Mother’s Day gift, Jasmine gave her mom a handmade card. On the front, in careful handwriting, it said, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.”

“Isn’t it pretty? My teacher said I could ask Dad to help, but he’s been super busy lately. So I did everything myself, from the design to drawing and sticking on the hearts and everything.”

Charlene realized it had been a while since she’d actually watched Jasmine do her homework.

Her handwriting was getting neater and neater.

As Charlene looked at the card, she suddenly remembered last year, when she’d flown all the way to Goldland just to spend Jasmine and Thorne’s birthday with them. But Jasmine had been preoccupied, polishing a bracelet for Vesta.

And, if Jasmine’s words were anything to go by, that bracelet had been a team effort between her and Thorne.

Charlene kept her expression calm as these memories flickered through her mind.

She slowly closed the card and said, “It’s beautiful, thank you.”

The day after Mother’s Day, Charlene got a call from Kenton Wagner. That evening, she headed straight back to the base.

York Watson walked into the data center and paused when he saw Charlene hard at work.

She didn’t notice him right away.

A few minutes later, as she picked up her mug, took a sip of water, and set it down, she finally caught sight of York standing not far away, facing her.

She paused for a second, nodded at him, then turned back to her computer. York was in the data center for a reason.

When he finished his meeting, he noticed Charlene was still at her desk. He walked over and said, “It’s getting late. Aren’t you going to grab something to eat?”

Charlene glanced up, saw who it was, and replied, “I will. In a bit.”

York nodded, not wanting to interrupt her.

Charlene kept working for a while longer. When she finally left the data center to go get dinner, she saw York waiting outside. It looked like he was expecting someone.

He heard her footsteps, turned around, and smiled, “All done? Heading for dinner?”

Charlene nodded, “Yeah, are you-?”

“Wanna join me?”

She blinked, realizing he’d been waiting for her.

York, it seemed, didn’t want to disturb her while she was working-so he’d waited outside.

He looked at her and said, “You probably saw the footage from my mission last week. Honestly, you saved my skin.”

Every pilot had their own flying style.

Those habits came from years of experience and sharp instincts. But these days, with Al advancing so fast, those habits could also be turned into data that the enemy could track.

Charlene had taken his mission history and the enemy’s patterns. So, last week, when he almost acted on instinct, the system flagged it, suggested he do the opposite, and predicted exactly where the enemy would be, giving him the best escape route.

Thanks to the system and her work-he’d gotten out safe.

Charlene understood straight away.

She said, “That’s what we’re supposed to do. Besides, you kept your cool and made the right call. You saved yourself.”

Maybe it was her job, but after that day, whenever York came to the data center, he heard everyone praising Charlene’s skill with data and analysis.

She had an incredible sense for the big picture.

York was about to say something when Kenton strode over and said, “Charlene, come with me.”

Chapter 399

Charlene nodded quickly, then turned to York. “Sorry, I can’t make it to lunch with you.”

York smiled warmly. “No worries.”

With that, Charlene left.

York watched her and Kenton walk away, then headed to the cafeteria for lunch on his own.

He hadn’t taken a real break in quite a while.

A couple of days after he met Charlene, his official vacation finally started.

He didn’t see Charlene at all during those two days.

When he got home, his family didn’t realize he was on leave, so everyone was busy doing their own thing, and the house was pretty much empty.

Once word got around that he was back, his friend Dalton invited him out for dinner.

Over burgers and fries at their usual diner, Kelvin Scott couldn’t resist some gossip. “Honestly, I didn’t expect Ms. Hawkins-you know, the one Dalton’s into, to be Dr. Kevitt Smith’s PhD student. That’s pretty impressive, actually.” York didn’t know much about the history of AI development, let alone who Kevitt Smith was.

Kelvin knew that. Truth be told, he’d only learned about Kevitt Smith thanks to Dalton anyway.

York wasn’t really interested in the topic.

But then, as if something had suddenly popped into his mind, he asked, “Between Kevitt Smith and our own Mr. Kenton, who’s had a bigger impact on AI?”

Kelvin shrugged. That was beyond him.

But Dalton knew the answer. “Mr. Wagner, definitely.”

Back in the day, Kenton Wagner had single-handedly made groundbreaking breakthroughs in AI research. He led a team that broke through international tech barriers and helped push the country’s AI industry forward. The guy was basically a legend; foreign competitors were always wary of him. The way Dalton saw it, without Kenton, their country’s Al wouldn’t be anywhere near where it was today.

Kevitt Smith was great, sure, but there was just no comparison.

Dalton didn’t exactly like Stewart Ferguson, but he could separate his feelings; Kenton was Kenton, and Stewart was Stewart. No need to mix them up.

York rarely asked about things that didn’t concern him. The fact that he brought this up today was a little unusual.

But considering Kenton’s reputation and the fact that they all knew the guy, Dalton and Kelvin didn’t think much of it.

Once the conversation drifted away, Dalton suddenly grinned. “Oh, by the way, last time I had dinner with my mom and some of the aunts, they mentioned they’re trying to set you up with someone again. Looks like you won’t be able to dodge those blind dates this time, now that you’re back.”

To be fair, York was at that age. His family had been bringing up the marriage thing since early last year.

He hadn’t minded much before, wasn’t opposed, but didn’t have any strong feelings about it either.

But now…

He lowered his gaze, not responding.

That night, York had barely spent any time with his family before his phone rang. His vacation was suddenly cut short, and he had to rush back to the base.

He wasn’t sure if Charlene had already left the base or was just busy with something else.

Three days later, after another mission, York returned to the data center, but Charlene was nowhere to be seen.

A couple more days passed. Still no sign of her.

Finally, four or five days later, after another assignment, he spotted Charlene in the cafeteria, hunched over her meal.

York paused, watching her for a moment.

Then he walked over and sat down across from her.

Charlene looked up and smiled. “Back already?”

“Yeah, just got in,” he said, meeting her eyes. “I didn’t see you last week. I thought maybe you’d left the base.”

Charlene shook her head. “Nope, I’ve been around. Just not holed up in the data center.”

York nodded, then asked the question that had been on his mind. “So, when are you heading out this time?”

Charlene assumed it was just small talk. “Tomorrow.”

York blinked in surprise. “That soon?”

“It’s not that soon, really. I’ve been here for over ten days already.”

As she finished up her meal, Charlene dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Alright, I’m done. Take your time-“

Before she could get up, York suddenly blurted, “So, uh, Ms. Ross, do you have a boyfriend?”

Charlene was caught off guard, totally not expecting that.

Before she could respond, York went on, “If not, what do you think about me?”

He realized how abrupt he sounded, but honestly, with his crazy schedule and Charlene not coming to the base all that often, chances for them to run into each other were rare. Who knew when-or if-they’d see each other again? If he didn’t speak up now, someone else might.

It took Charlene another moment to realize he was actually asking her out.

Seeing how shocked she looked, York quickly added, “You don’t have to answer right away. I just thought, if you ever want to date or settle down, maybe you could consider-“

“Sorry,” Charlene interrupted, suddenly flustered. “Thank you, really, but I’m… I’ve already been married.”

Chapter 400

As soon as the words left her mouth, York barely had time to react before Charlene’s phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, she muttered, “Something urgent came up at the data center. I have to run,” and hurried off.

The next morning, Charlene left the compound early. After a much-needed day at home to recharge, she headed back to work at PrimeStar Technologies. PrimeStar had recently kicked off a partnership with Henderson Tech Solutions. On the day Charlene returned, Stewart was just about to head over to Henderson for a meeting.

Previously, when it came to hashing out contracts with Thorne, Charlene could leave it to Stewart or Livingston to handle the discussions. But for this joint project between PrimeStar and Henderson, her involvement was essential.

The meeting was all about the core technologies at the heart of their collaboration, so Charlene joined Stewart as they made their way to Henderson Tech’s headquarters. Gaylord Hearst and a few other tech leads came along, too.

As they reached the conference room, Thorne, his two assistants, and Josh appeared from the opposite hallway. Thorne greeted Stewart with polite small talk.

Since Charlene had left Henderson, Josh hadn’t really seen her around. He’d only heard from Coy about her new gig at PrimeStar. Stewart had dropped by Henderson a couple of times lately, but Charlene hadn’t been with him, so they just assumed she wouldn’t be coming back. Apparently, they were wrong. Thorne spotted Charlene and Gaylord but only gave them a brief, indifferent glance before heading inside with Stewart. Gaylord was happy to leave it at that; he didn’t want anyone knowing he and Thorne had any history.

Charlene and Josh had always gotten along pretty well, so when she saw him again, she gave him a nod and said, “Hey, Josh, long time no see.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while,” Josh replied, smiling.

Gaylord caught the exchange and asked, “You two know each other?”

“I used to work here,” Charlene explained.

Gaylord didn’t know the details about her and Thorne. From her answer, he just assumed she’d been a tech at Henderson, nothing unusual. Besides, they had business to get to, so he didn’t press further.

Charlene and Gaylord had barely settled in when the door opened again. This time, it was Professor Mack from Evermore College who was also involved in the project.

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting,” Professor Mack said as he entered.

“We just got here ourselves,” Stewart replied.

Professor Mack’s gaze lingered on Stewart. Being a Kenton graduate already made Stewart noteworthy, but lately, he’d become something of a prodigy in the AI world; anyone in the field knew his name.

With a warm smile, Professor Mack said, “You must be Mr. Ferguson! I’ve been hoping to meet you. It’s a pleasure to finally put a face to the name.”

“You flatter me, Professor,” Stewart said, shaking his hand.

After a few pleasantries, the meeting got underway. Charlene focused on the discussions; while the heavy technical talk was handled by Stewart, the Henderson engineers, and Professor Mack, she and Gaylord mostly took notes and listened.

The meeting ran from a little after nine until noon. When it wrapped up, Thorne invited everyone out for lunch.

As they left the conference room, Professor Mack turned to Thorne and said, “By the way, I haven’t seen Vesta in ages. I heard she’s staying in Starfall City for work, so it’ll probably be harder to catch up in the future. Would you mind if I invited her along for lunch?”

Stewart, already suspecting Professor Mack knew Vesta, nodded with a friendly smile. “Not at all.”

Thorne asked, “You two know each other?”

“I was her advisor in college, Professor Mack replied, grinning. “Even back then, she was exceptionally talented. Now that she’s Dr. Smith’s PhD student, she’s really living up to her potential.”

“I’ll give her a call,” Thorne said.

Half an hour later, Charlene and the group arrived at The Oak & Ivy, a local favorite for business lunches. Just as they pulled up, Vesta and Leah were getting out of their car.

Seeing Professor Mack, Vesta hurried over. “Professor! It’s been too long!” They chatted for a moment before Professor Mack turned to Stewart. “Mr. Ferguson, I believe you already know Vesta?”

Stewart glanced at Vesta and replied, “We’ve met.”

Professor Mack beamed. “You two are among the brightest in your field. You should definitely connect more.”

Vesta noticed the way Stewart looked at her, a look no different from before. She’d assumed that, now he knew she was Dr. Smith’s doctoral student, he’d see her in a new light, maybe even as a peer. After all, they had a lot in common when it came to their area of expertise. But from the way Stewart regarded her, nothing had changed at all.

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