Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 411 to 420)

Chapter 411

They chatted as they played golf, but honestly, it was pretty clear that Abelard and Darius were far more interested in their conversation than the actual game

At first, they talked about world events, but soon enough, Abelard and Darius got caught up in a lively, on-the-spot strategy game using coffee mugs and salt shakers to simulate a battlefield right there on the green.

Charlene and Stewart stood by, listening in, while Thorne and Vesta hung back as well, trying not to look too left out.

Maybe picking up on this, Darius glanced over and said, “Why don’t you both weigh in? I’d love to hear your thoughts.”

Charlene spoke up after a moment, “With enemies on all sides, charging in solo is a bad idea. So honestly, playing it safe and holding our ground seems like the smart move right now.”

Vesta blinked. She had to admit, it was a pretty solid point, something she probably wouldn’t have thought of herself.

Darius gave Charlene an approving nod, smiling. “Nicely put.”

Stewart, quick on the uptake, shuffled two cups across their makeshift map. “I’d go for a pincer movement flank from both sides.”

Abelard and Darius both grinned at that, clearly pleased with his tactic.

Then all eyes turned to Thorne and Vesta; it was their turn.

Vesta studied the ‘battlefield’ but drew a blank. She looked to Thorne for backup.

Thorne spoke up, “We don’t have enough troops left to defend the city, but if we swing through the northwest and cut off their retreat, we might just turn the tables.

Abelard clapped his hands. “Brilliant! And what about you, Vesta?”

Vesta hesitated, then gave it some thought. Slowly, a plan formed. “If we pull forces from the southeast and push hard on the northwest, we could take the city in one go.

That move directly challenged Charlene’s earlier plan to hold steady.

Charlene raised an eyebrow, her voice cool. “The troops you’re redeploying are right in the hottest contested zone. If you move them, every setup we’ve made falls apart.*

Vesta froze, realizing she’d missed something big. Stewart chuckled. “Didn’t catch that, huh, Ms. Hawkins? That spot’s basically the key to everything.”

Everyone had assumed it was obvious, but Vesta honestly hadn’t noticed.

She might not have known all the ins and outs of military tactics, but she understood enough to realize she’d just undone the entire game.

With that, the mock battle was over no point playing it out any further.

Suddenly, Vesta felt the sting of her mistake. Up until her turn, everyone’s strategy had been solid. Now, she was the one who’d messed it up. She tried to hide her embarrassment, managing a sheepish smile. “Sorry, this is my first time with this kind of game. Didn’t mean to spoil the fun.”

Darius just laughed. “It’s only a game, Ms. Hawkins. No harm done.”

Neither he nor Abelard seemed the least bit bothered. After all, they were just out here for a round of golf. So, they picked up their clubs and carried on.

As they played, Darius, Abelard, and even Hickey went out of their way to chat with Charlene, treating her with genuine warmth and making sure she felt included.

Watching them, Vesta couldn’t help but notice how much they liked Charlene and how casual they were with her, always calling her by her first name. With Vesta, though, it was always “Ms. Hawkins.” All this, just because of one research paper?

And Charlene? She handled their attention with total ease, chatting with Darius and the others as if it were the most natural thing in the world no sign of nerves or awkwardness.

Vesta smirked to herself. She had to admit, Charlene had a pretty thick skin. Still, even though she had her suspicions about Charlene’s paper, Vesta kept quiet. Without proof, opening her mouth could easily backfire.

Charlene and Darius kept up their easy banter as they played, not paying any attention to Thorne or Vesta.

By the end of the morning, she and Thorne had barely spoken, keeping their distance and making it look like they had nothing to do with each other at all.

Chapter 412

After their round of golf, Charlene Ross and Darius still had other plans for the afternoon.

Thorne Henderson and Vesta Hawkins had joined them midway but seemed to sense that Charlene’s group had somewhere else to be. Not wanting to intrude, Thorne offered, “We have some things to take care of, so we’ll leave you all to it.”

Darius and Abelard Ramirez didn’t try to persuade them to stay. “Alright then. Next time, let’s all get together again,” Darius said with a smile.

Thorne nodded, still smiling, and left with Vesta.

Stewart Ferguson had actually been worried Thorne and Vesta might tag along for lunch or tea, so seeing them make their exit on their own accord put him at ease. He leaned over to Charlene and murmured, “At least he knows when to bow out.”

Charlene smiled. “He does.”

A little ways down the path, after they’d left the others behind, Thorne broke the silence. “You look a bit down.”

Vesta had indeed been feeling glum after her lackluster performance twice in a row, no less. And it didn’t help that Darius and the others seemed so taken with Charlene.

Even though she knew they were only charmed by Charlene’s surface, it still left a sour taste in her mouth. But she didn’t say any of this out loud. Instead, she forced a wry smile. “I made a fool of myself more than once today. I have to admit, it’s a little discouraging. Clearly, I still have a lot to learn.”

“You’ve got strengths of your own. Don’t let a minor setback get to you,” Thorne told her.

His words did help lift her spirits a little.

Watching Charlene handle herself that afternoon, Vesta had to admit she was impressed. Charlene was quick on her feet, always thinking two steps ahead of something Vesta hadn’t quite expected.

And she could tell Thorne was also surprised by Charlene’s performance, maybe even seeing her in a new light.

But that was as far as it went. Thorne didn’t seem any more interested in Charlene because of it. On the other hand, he clearly wasn’t bothered by Vesta’s less-than-stellar showing. In his eyes, her appeal hadn’t faded a bit.

Truth was, neither of them had any plans after golf. Vesta realized Thorne had only suggested leaving because he noticed she was upset and didn’t want her to feel worse.

With that thought, the gloom lifted from her heart.

That afternoon, a little after three, Charlene finally made her way back to the Ross estate after having tea with Darius and the others.

Jasmine Henderson spotted her coming in and ran over for a hug. “Mom, you’re home!”

“I am,” Charlene replied.

Jasmine hadn’t been thrilled when she’d learned her Mom was going out that morning and hadn’t brought her along. Still, she seemed in good spirits now. Apparently, even without her mother around, Jasmine had enjoyed her day at the estate.

Jasmine was just about to say something when her phone rang.

Seeing the caller, she quickly answered, “Dad?”

Whatever Thorne said made her nod enthusiastically. “Okay, I got it.”

After hanging up, Jasmine turned to Charlene. “Mom, Dad’s taking me out. He’s sending someone over to pick me up.”

Charlene’s expression remained calm. She didn’t try to keep Jasmine from going. “Alright. Have fun.”

In truth, Jasmine was a little reluctant to leave her mother, but Thorne had promised to take her somewhere she’d been wanting to go for ages.

So when Thorne’s driver arrived at the Ross house, Jasmine hopped in and left without a fuss.

Once she was gone, Charlene headed upstairs to take care of her own work.

On Tuesday, Charlene filled in for Stewart and went to Henderson Technology for a meeting.

When she arrived, Josh personally came down to greet her and Chester.

“Ms. Ross, this way, please,” Josh said politely.

Charlene nodded, following him. She assumed the meeting would be held in one of the conference rooms.

To her surprise, Josh led her straight to Thorne’s office.

It wasn’t an unfamiliar place; she’d worked as Thorne’s secretary before and had been “fortunate” enough to set foot in his office a few times.

It hadn’t even been a year since she was last here, but it already felt like a lifetime ago.

Thorne was inside, sorting through paperwork. When he saw her enter, he looked up and stood, greeting her with courtesy. “You’re here. Please, have a seat.”

Chapter 413

Charlene nodded and settled onto the sofa by the coffee table.

Thorne gave another instruction. “Have someone bring in some coffee.”

Josh responded promptly, “I’ve already taken care of it.”

No sooner had he spoken than Sunny Fields appeared at the door, carrying a tray and knocking politely before entering.

She paused when she saw Charlene. “Ms. Ross?”

Sunny had been the one to take over Charlene’s position at The Henderson Group after she’d left. Since then, the two had barely kept in touch.

Charlene greeted her with a warm smile. “It’s been a while.” “It really has,” Sunny answered, returning the smile.

But with Thorne present, Sunny knew it wasn’t the time for small talk. She quickly set the cups in front of Thorne and Charlene, then turned to leave. Halfway to the door, something seemed to occur to her, and she turned back to give Thorne a brief work update.

After listening, Thorne replied, “Understood. I’ll be free this afternoon, have him come by before three.”

“Of course,” Sunny said. She gave Charlene a friendly nod before hurrying out.

Charlene watched her go, quietly stirring her coffee.

As the team lead in the admin department, it was standard for her to report to Thorne’s office, but back when she held the position, she’d been strictly required to communicate only through Thorne’s two secretaries.

During her two-plus years as team lead, she’d only entered Thorne’s office herself when Coy and the others were overwhelmed and she’d been allowed to deliver his coffee. But as for reporting work directly to him, not once.

Thorne had always kept her at a distance, and he’d done it thoroughly.

Thinking about those days, she lifted her coffee and took a small sip.

When she’d been preparing to leave the company, Sunny had asked her to teach her how to make coffee. Charlene remembered teaching her carefully.

Yet as soon as the coffee touched her lips, she could tell it tasted a little different from the way she’d taught Sunny.

She took another small sip. The flavor wasn’t quite the same, but it was very good.

Setting her cup down, she noticed Thorne sampling his as well, looking quite pleased with Sunny’s handiwork.

Back when she was young and naïve, she’d felt a secret pride that Thorne seemed to prefer only the coffee she made.

But now…

It was just coffee.

If you lost one flavor, you found another. It wasn’t such a big deal.

Thinking back, it struck her as rather silly, almost laughable, how she’d once felt.

Lost in these thoughts, she heard Thorne speak. “Where did I leave off with Mr. Ferguson last time? Did he fill you in?”

“Yes,” Charlene replied, pulling her mind back to the present. “We can pick up right where you left off.”

“Good,” Thorne said. “About the hybrid-precision computational architecture we discussed last time regarding the scaling parameters, I think your team’s proposal is excellent. I’ve got some ideas of my own I’d like to discuss with you in more detail.”

“Absolutely,” Charlene agreed.

They delved into the technical details, Charlene explaining the latest improvements in processing speed with careful clarity.

It was deep, specialized knowledge, confidential, the kind of thing only those closely involved would understand. Coy and Josh, sitting nearby, could only listen in silence, lost.

But Thorne and Charlene were fully engaged, trading ideas back and forth.

As the conversation went on, Coy noticed a change in Thorne. His gaze lingered on Charlene with a mix of surprise and admiration, a look Coy had never seen before.

Thorne was focused, a slight smile playing at his lips, as though he was genuinely enjoying the discussion.

Coy was taken aback. And he wasn’t the only one. Josh had noticed, too, and looked equally surprised.

After more than an hour, they’d finished exchanging ideas when Professor Mack and Professor Hancock arrived.

Charlene had already met Professor Mack on a previous occasion.

She’d been introduced to Professor Hancock last year after returning to PrimeStar Technologies at a banquet Stewart had taken her to. Professor Hancock had known then that Charlene was Kenton Wagner’s student, and they’d had a long conversation at a tech expo not long after.

He was well aware of Charlene’s professional abilities. He’d even read her recent journal publication.

Now, as they met again, Professor Hancock greeted her warmly. “Charlene, good to see you again.”

“It’s good to see you too, Professor Hancock,” Charlene replied, shaking his hand before taking her seat. They quickly got down to business.

Another hour passed, the room alive with animated discussion, when the door suddenly opened.

Vesta stepped in.

Charlene showed no surprise at all.

Seeing the room so full, Vesta paused. “Sorry, I didn’t realize

you were all in here working. I thought the office was empty, so I didn’t knock…”

Both Professor Hancock and Professor Mack were well aware of Thorne and Vesta’s relationship.

As Thorne’s girlfriend, it was perfectly normal for her to come and go from his office without knocking. They simply smiled, unconcerned.

Vesta, preparing to leave, said, “I’ll let you get back to it. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

But the heavy business talk had mostly wound down. Professor Mack grinned. “No worries, we’re just chatting now.”

Chapter 414

Professor Hancock had no idea about the tension simmering between Charlene and Vesta. He picked up on Professor Mack’s words and added warmly, “That’s right, we were just discussing some recent developments in our field. Ms. Hawkins is also in AI, more minds, more ideas. It’s perfect for her to join in.”

Vesta responded with a measured, “Is that so…” Her eyes drifted to Charlene as she spoke.

Charlene, for her part, had been looking for an excuse to leave ever since their business discussion wrapped up. But Professor Mack and Professor Hancock’s enthusiastic questions kept her in her seat a little longer. Now, with Vesta’s arrival, she had the perfect opportunity.

She stood up, gathering her things. “It’s getting late, and I have another engagement. Mr. Henderson, Professor Hancock, Professor Mack, let’s catch up again soon.”

Besides Charlene’s own paper, several tech companies have made some groundbreaking strides in AI lately. During their conversation, Charlene had immediately zeroed in on the core of these new breakthroughs. The exchange had been invigorating, and both Professor Hancock and Professor Mack were reluctant to see her go.

Professor Hancock spoke up quickly, “You’re leaving already? I was hoping to pick your brain about some questions with embedded engines.”

Although they all collaborated with the Henderson Group, most of their work coordination was already settled.

Opportunities to sit down and delve into technical discussions like this were rare.

Professor Mack chimed in, “He’s right, why not stay a little longer? No rush to leave, is there?”

Charlene smiled politely. “I really do have somewhere to be. Next time, I promise.”

Seeing her insistence, the professors, though disappointed, knew better than to press further.

After saying her farewells to Hancock and Mack, Charlene turned to Thorne, offering a handshake. “Mr. Henderson, until next time.”

It wasn’t just the professors who had enjoyed the conversation; Coy and Josh had also noticed Thorne seemed quite engaged with Charlene. When she made her move to leave, they half-expected Thorne to ask her to stay.

But Thorne merely shook Charlene’s hand and replied courteously, “Until next time.”

Then he turned to Josh and said, “Would you see Ms. Ross out for me?”

Josh glanced at Vesta standing nearby and suddenly understood why Thorne hadn’t tried to persuade Charlene to stay. If Vesta hadn’t been present, knowing Thorne’s professional admiration for Charlene, he might well have spoken up. But with Vesta there, it was clear Thorne cared more about Vesta’s feelings; given his history with Charlene, any extra effort might be misinterpreted.

Catching himself, Josh smiled at Charlene. “This way, Ms. Ross.”

Charlene nodded and, without another glance at Thorne or Vesta, left the office with Josh and Chester accompanying her.

Vesta watched Charlene’s retreating figure, recalling how eager Professor Mack and Professor Hancock had been to continue their technical discussion with her. She managed a smile and asked, “So… what’s all that about?”

Professor Mack answered first, sighing as he did. “Ms. Ross has an astonishing breadth of knowledge and such innovative ideas that it’s rare to find someone so versatile in Al. Frankly, she’s brilliant. Just talking with her opened my mind to new possibilities. That’s why Professor Hancock and I wanted to keep the conversation going. It’s a pity she had to go.”

The longer he spoke, the more regretful he sounded, ending with a heavy sigh.

Vesta hadn’t expected that. Her smile faded a touch, but she kept her reaction subtle. “I see….so that’s how it is.”

At her words, Professor Hancock chuckled, unable to keep from adding, “Charlene really is an AI prodigy. Smart, talented, and beautiful to boot, Stewart’s a lucky man, that’s all I can say.”

An Al prodigy? Charlene? And Stewart is the lucky one?

Professor Hancock’s praise couldn’t have been higher if he’d tried.

Vesta didn’t know how Charlene had managed to keep up the act in front of Mack and Hancock, but seeing their admiration for her reminded her of Darius, Abelard, and the other men who’d all been taken with Charlene as well.

All this, just from a single paper. It was impressive, no doubt. Charlene clearly knew how to work a room.

But Vesta thought to herself, no matter how much praise Charlene garnered, smoke and mirrors never last. Sooner or later, her lack of real substance would be exposed. For now, everything Charlene had was fleeting, no more solid than a mirage.

With that thought, Vesta lowered her gaze, a faint, knowing smile on her lips, and said nothing more.

Chapter 415

Professor Hancock’s assistant had no idea that, just like Stewart, Charlene was also one of Kenton’s students.

When Professor Hancock commented that Stewart was the real beneficiary of being paired with Charlene, Stewart spoke up. “Last night, during an interview, Mr. Ferguson mentioned that as Mr. Wagner’s student, he was always held to incredibly high standards. Mr. Wagner constantly pushed him to keep up with the latest developments in the field, and made sure he thoroughly understood every technical breakthrough. Whenever he hit a wall, Mr. Wagner would help fill in the gaps.”

“Ms. Ross is quite talented herself, and now that she’s working with Mr. Ferguson, she also gets his guidance. That means she’ll probably advance even faster.”

“So, really, being with Mr. Ferguson is a great opportunity for Ms. Ross.”

That much was true.

But…

One of the doctoral candidates Professor Mack had brought along paused at this point. “If that’s the case, then the views Ms. Ross just presented are actually a synthesis of Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Wagner’s research?”

In other words, Charlene wasn’t quite as brilliant as they’d thought.

Although Professor Mack’s student didn’t say it outright, everyone in the room-including Vesta, understood what was being implied.

Realizing this, Professor Mack hesitated, a hint of disappointment flickering across his face.

He had genuinely believed Charlene was a rare, all-around genius in AI, but now…

Thorne, too, hesitated.

Noticing the reactions of Professor Mack and Thorne, Vesta’s lips curled ever so slightly.

So, what Charlene had just explained was actually a blend of Stewart and Kenton’s technical analyses. No wonder Professor Hancock and Professor Mack had mistaken her for some kind of AI prodigy.

As for Thorne, although he hadn’t openly praised Charlene the way the professors had, he’d been present when she discussed recent breakthroughs in the field. He must have been just as impressed as the others.

But now, judging by his expression, he seemed to realize that Charlene’s supposed brilliance was really just a reflection of Stewart and Kenton’s work.

In truth, Charlene probably didn’t have that level of expertise.

Professor Hancock, however, was well aware that Charlene was also one of Kenton’s students.

He’d discussed technical matters with her before, and he knew that the renowned programming language developed at PrimeStar had been spearheaded by Charlene herself.

So, her technical skills were undoubtedly formidable.

Granted, if every idea Charlene had showcased earlier was entirely her own, it would seem almost superhuman. But, given that she was Kenton’s student, it wasn’t inconceivable.

Which is why Professor Hancock genuinely believed that Charlene’s insights came from her own research.

Of course, all of this was confidential, and he couldn’t say so publicly.

So, even though he knew Thorne and the others were underestimating Charlene, Professor Hancock could only watch in silence, unable to defend her.

Charlene herself had no idea what Professor Mack and Thorne were thinking.

After leaving The Henderson Group, she returned directly to PrimeStar.

During lunch, Sunny messaged her, offering heartfelt congratulations: [Ms. Ross, I never expected you to do so well after leaving the company. Congratulations!]

Sunny still wasn’t clear on the nature of Charlene’s new collaboration with The Henderson Group, but the fact that Charlene was negotiating with them as an external partner meant she had to be in a significant position now.

Charlene replied: [Thank you. It looks like you’re doing well at The Henderson Group, too. Congratulations to you as well.]

After sending that, she added: [And by the way, your coffee this morning was delicious. Thank you.]

Sunny’s reply was both happy and a little embarrassed: [But I think your coffee is still the best, Ms. Ross. No matter how hard I try or how carefully I follow your methods, Mr. Henderson just doesn’t like mine as much. In the end, I even asked a barista friend for help, and I only barely managed to get it right after lots of practice, just to keep my job.]

Charlene and Sunny chatted a little longer before wrapping up the conversation.

That afternoon, Stewart returned from his business trip.

Later that day, their lawyer updated them: Neural Nexus Tech had already paid PrimeStar $200 million in damages, but it would take a bit longer for Vesta to come up with the remaining $100 million or so.

Stewart scoffed. “Isn’t Thorne supposed to be so generous with Vesta? He bought her a house without blinking, gave her a company, and immediately helped her land Aether Innovations as a partner after they broke their contract with us. Our settlement is just over $300 million, but it’s taken them forever to pull the funds together. Are they doing this on purpose?”

“I don’t think so,” Charlene guessed. “It’s probably that the Hawkins family doesn’t want to trouble Thorne anymore. They want to pay the penalty themselves.”

That did make sense.

Stewart clicked his tongue. Considering the Hawkins family’s resources, scraping together two or three hundred million in cash while keeping the company running isn’t exactly easy. Still, even under pressure, Vesta is insisting on paying us herself. The two of them really do care about each other.”

Charlene agreed.

Though honestly, she’d already seen the depth of their feelings back when Vesta was willing to risk her life to save Thorne, and Thorne insisted on leaving her for her own safety.

Chapter 416

After finishing their conversation, Charlene and Stewart shifted gears and started talking business.

A short while later, Professor Hancock called Charlene, asking if she was available to attend a panel discussion on artificial intelligence at St. Aurelia’s University the following week.

Truth be told, St. Aurelia’s had sent an official invitation to PrimeStar nearly two weeks ago. Back then, Stewart had been their primary invitee. But after Charlene’s recent paper was published-with its impressive depth and originality, her reputation soared. Now, the university hoped both Stewart and Charlene would join the panel. Charlene hadn’t seriously considered attending before. Since her paper’s release, she’d kept a remarkably low profile, refusing all interview requests. As a result, the public only knew her name, Charlene, but little else. Curiosity swirled around her.

At this point, Charlene and Stewart had become the poster figures for the next generation of Al researchers in the country. Countless students majoring in artificial intelligence dreamed of meeting them in person and asking questions face-to-face.

After some gentle persuasion from Professor Hancock, Charlene finally agreed to attend the event.

The AI panel at St. Aurelia’s promised to be just as grand as the last international conference on artificial intelligence, drawing experts, scholars, and industry leaders from across the country.

On the day of the event, St. Aurelia’s University was buzzing with excitement.

Vesta, head of Neural Nexus Tech, was also present. Ever since her recent trip to China with Dr. Kevitt Smith, word had spread in the industry that she was his doctoral student. Now, she was gaining quite a bit of recognition herself.

Professor Hancock, having met her before, greeted her warmly when she arrived.

Many student representatives were in attendance as well. When they found out Vesta was Dr. Smith’s doctoral student, they were awestruck. After all, simply being Dr. Smith’s student was an achievement well beyond their own reach.

Some bolder students gathered around Vesta, peppering her with technical questions once she’d finished exchanging pleasantries with Professor Hancock. Answering undergraduates’ questions was effortless for Vesta, and she quickly drew admiring glances from all around.

A few specialists also took the initiative to introduce themselves, and before long, Vesta found herself surrounded by a small crowd.

Just then, Charlene and Stewart arrived.

Dr. Kevitt Smith’s name carried weight everywhere, but word had already spread that he’d flown out specifically to PrimeStar, hoping for an in-depth exchange with Charlene and Stewart. If even someone of Dr. Smith’s stature wanted to meet them, it was no wonder the students were eager to see them in person.

The moment Charlene and Stewart stepped into the hall, a ripple of excitement swept through the crowd. Heads turned; all eyes were on them.

Until now, Charlene had been something of an enigma. Many had read her work, but almost no one knew what she looked like. When news broke that she’d be attending the panel, it wasn’t just the students who were thrilled; even the professors and researchers were visibly excited.

Since Charlene had been personally invited by Professor Hancock, it was only fitting that he greet her himself.

Turning to Vesta, Professor Hancock said politely, “Excuse me, Ms. Ross and Mr. Ferguson have just arrived. The president and I should go welcome them.”

Vesta’s smile faltered for a split second, but she nodded in understanding.

Suddenly, it wasn’t just Professor Hancock and the university president; dozens of students surged toward Charlene and Stewart, eager for a glimpse or a word.

In an instant, Vesta found herself standing alone. The once-friendly crowd had melted away, and for a moment, it was as if she were invisible.

Chapter 417

After greeting Stewart, Professor Hancock, and the others, Charlene took her seat at the front of the hall, right near the center aisle. Stewart joined her, while Vesta ended up in the second row.

As rising stars in the field, both Charlene and Stewart had been invited onstage to share their approaches to research and learning, hoping to inspire the students in the audience.

Once their talks wrapped up and the floor opened for discussion, it wasn’t long before the leading experts in the room all gravitated toward Charlene and Stewart, eager to speak with them.

These were well-known scholars, each with their own specialty. Whether the conversation turned to convolutional neural networks, embodied intelligence, multimodal interaction, or some other cutting-edge topic, Charlene held her own with ease. She offered fresh perspectives and practical suggestions for thorny issues-like missing modalities or computational bottlenecks-that had been troubling even the most seasoned researchers. With every answer, the experts’ eyes lit up, and it seemed they’d have happily talked with her all afternoon.

There were plenty of heavyweights in attendance, and it didn’t take long for them to judge Charlene’s capabilities. Just a few minutes in conversation, and her depth was obvious.

At one point, a scholar waiting his turn grumbled, “Alright, Sinclair, you’ve monopolized her long enough. It’s my turn, isn’t it?”

“Exactly! Let the rest of us have a chance. You can’t keep her to yourself forever.”

“Relax, I just have one more question, let me finish-“

“Oh, please! I know exactly what you’re going to ask: how to fix problems with scaling up applications. That could go on forever. By the time you’re done, we’ll all be old!”

Meanwhile, Vesta was fielding her own conversations, though her mind kept wandering to the front row. She found herself watching Charlene almost unconsciously, tracking every exchange and gesture. So when someone called her name, she didn’t respond right away.

“Vesta,” Maureen Spencer, who had come with her, nudged her gently. “Teague wants to ask you something.”

Snapping out of her reverie, Vesta smiled apologetically. “Sorry, Teague. I got a little too absorbed in their discussion up there, couldn’t help myself.”

Teague laughed it off. “No worries, it’s fascinating stuff.”

Once she’d regained her focus, Vesta dove back into conversation with Teague, but Maureen, ever the perceptive mother, had already noticed that Vesta had seemed distracted for at least half an hour. She had a pretty good idea why. She’d caught bits of the chatter about Charlene, and she could see for herself how the top experts were vying to speak with her.

After Teague moved on, Maureen glanced over at Charlene and leaned in. “What’s going on?” she asked quietly.

Vesta pulled her gaze back and said, “Now I understand why Professor Mack and Professor Hancock spoke so highly of Charlene the other day. She really does seem to have something special.”

Several of the experts clustered around Charlene were familiar to Vesta by reputation. They had strong track records and impressive résumés. The fact that they not only sought out Charlene’s input but clearly valued her advice made a big impression. The more Vesta listened, the more she realized just how broad and deep Charlene’s knowledge was; there were entire stretches she couldn’t even follow.

No wonder Professor Mack had called her a ‘polymath’ in AI.

If, at The Henderson Group a few days ago, Charlene’s technical talk with Professor Hancock and the others had relied on secondhand insights from Stewart or Kenton, now she was clearly in a league of her own. Her conversation with Professor Sinclair and the others was too informed, too wide-ranging, to be mere parroting.

Maureen paused, her expression unreadable as she looked toward the knot of experts around Charlene. “Well,” she said quietly, “she’s been with Stewart for ages now, always tagging along when he meets with Kenton. With two of the best minds in the field mentoring her, of course, she’s come this far. Isn’t that only natural? Otherwise, why would she go to such lengths to keep you and Stewart apart?”

She squeezed Vesta’s hand. “Honestly, if you’d had the same access to Stewart and Kenton, I’m sure you’d have done even better than she has.”

Chapter 418

A while back, when Kevitt Smith-someone she deeply respected in the field-flew in from overseas just to meet Charlene and Stewart, he’d casually mentioned to her that if she’d joined PrimeStar last year, her professional growth would have been extraordinary. At the time, she wholeheartedly agreed. She’d even resented Charlene for blocking her path to PrimeStar, feeling she’d been robbed of a pivotal opportunity.

But now, watching Charlene standing confidently by Stewart’s side, seeing how much she’d grown in less than a year, she realized she’d lost far more than she’d ever imagined.

After all, it wasn’t just Stewart. There was Kenton, too.

Kenton was a powerhouse, not only was he formidably skilled, but his position also gave him first access to the most comprehensive and cutting-edge information in their field.

That kind of advantage was a massive boost for both Stewart and Charlene.

Her mother had always said that if she’d landed a job at PrimeStar, with her intelligence and work ethic, she would’ve outpaced Charlene in no time.

But there are no “what ifs” in life.

All of that was just wishful thinking now.

The realization made her eyes go cold as she watched Charlene across the room. “No wonder she was willing to walk away from The Henderson Group back then. So that’s why…”

Thinking back on the way Charlene had orchestrated her departure from The Henderson Group, maneuvered close to Stewart, and blocked her own daughter’s path into PrimeStar, it all seemed less like coincidence and more like a careful game of chess. Looking at everything Charlene had now, Maureen finally saw her for who she was: someone not to be underestimated.

She murmured, “I never realized how calculating she truly is.”

Charlene was chatting with someone nearby when she glanced over and caught the icy stares from Maureen and her daughter. In the past, whenever the two of them looked her way, it was always with a mixture of disdain and indifference. Today, though, their attitude had shifted, and their eyes were cold-almost hostile.

She noticed, but didn’t care enough to dwell on it. With a cool indifference, Charlene turned her attention back to her conversation.

To Vesta and her mother, Charlene’s reaction looked smug, almost triumphant-like she’d already won, like she’d left them in the dust.

Truthfully, Charlene was having a spectacular day.

Given the impact of her latest paper, it was fair to say that, professionally, she was already ahead of them.

But-

Charlene had Stewart, and she had her expertise.

But Vesta still had Thorne.

Maureen’s expression settled into something calm again. “She won’t be riding high for long,” she said quietly.

She refused to believe there wouldn’t be some upheaval between Charlene and Stewart.

Thinking about Thorne’s feelings for her, and about her daughter-who, despite growing closer to Charlene lately, still genuinely preferred her-Maureen’s confidence returned. Vesta, too, felt her composure settle. When she looked at Charlene, her gaze was once again laced with contempt.

Still, she admitted, “I’ve definitely been slacking off in my research lately. It’s time I got back to work and focused on my studies again.”

Even if the people around her weren’t quite as brilliant as Stewart or Kenton, she believed that, with long-term dedication, it was impossible to say who would ultimately achieve more in the field, her or Charlene.

Maureen, of course, agreed. “You should let Thorne help you.”

Vesta’s lips curled into a smile. “I know. All I have to do is ask, Thorne would do anything for me.”

With that, she stopped paying attention to Charlene and melted back into the crowd, joining another conversation.

But this time, instead of mingling with business representatives, she found herself among the top experts and scholars at the symposium.

Chapter 419

Although Charlene and Vesta both attended the panel discussion at St. Aurelia’s University, their paths never crossed that day.

By mid-afternoon, around three or four o’clock, Charlene and Stewart were ready to leave the campus. As Professor Hancock and the university president walked them out, Professor Hancock extended another invitation, “We’re holding a symposium downtown on Saturday. I wonder if you both might be interested…”

Charlene paused mid-step, her gaze landing on Maureen just a short distance away. She quickly looked away, pressing her lips together before replying, “I’m sorry, I have something important to attend to on Saturday, so I won’t be able to make it.”

After saying their goodbyes, Charlene and Stewart got into the car and drove out of St. Aurelia’s. It wasn’t until they were on the road that Stewart finally spoke. “You seemed a little off back there. Did something happen?”

He had noticed the flicker of emotion on Charlene’s face when Saturday was mentioned, and her eyes fell on Maureen. There were too many people around earlier for him to ask.

Charlene kept her eyes down, her voice quiet. “Saturday is my mother’s birthday.”

Stewart’s voice tightened. He knew all too well that Charlene’s mother had been confined to a care home for years, all thanks to Maureen and her family. No wonder Charlene’s mood had soured around Maureen and Vesta.

After a long moment, he asked, “What are you planning to do about the Hawkins family and the Spencers?”

Charlene clenched her fist. “I don’t want to make things easy for them, but-“

But with Thorne protecting them now, even though PrimeStar was thriving, going after them would be incredibly difficult.

She didn’t need to say it out loud; Stewart understood.

He tried to reassure her. “What goes around comes around. I’m sure you’ll get your chance. Don’t lose hope.”

Charlene nodded. “Mm.”

On Saturday, Charlene and Vernon Ross baked a cake together before driving out to the care home.

They hadn’t seen Sybil Ross in some time, and she looked even thinner than before.

Watching the staff warmly celebrate Sybil’s birthday, seeing her sitting at the center of it all yet lost in her own world, oblivious to the laughter and well-wishes, was agony for Charlene and Helena Ross. Their hearts twisted with pain.

Just then, the director approached. Seeing the grief on their faces, she hesitated for a moment before speaking. “We ran a checkup on Sybil this morning. I’m afraid her condition has worsened; several of her organs are showing signs of failure…”

Charlene and Helena turned pale. “How-how could this happen?!”

The director explained gently, “She’s been under a great deal of emotional strain for years, and her appetite has suffered. Over time, it’s taken a heavy toll on her health. Her immune system is extremely weak now, so-“

“So…?”

If “We need to run more tests to be certain, but her condition is very poor. Things keep deteriorating at this rate, I’m afraid, well, I’m afraid there may not be much time left.”

Charlene and the others understood all too well.

Helena stumbled, nearly fainting.

Back at the Ross home, Helena drifted off to her room in a daze.

No matter how much pain they felt, life still had to go on. Evening had come, and though no one had much appetite, dinner still needed to be made.

Charlene grabbed her phone and headed out to the supermarket for groceries. She wandered through the aisles in a fog, picked up a few things, and went to the checkout.

As she reached the counter, someone called out, “Cousin!” Charlene turned.

It was Janetta.

Charlene nodded at her, polite but distant.

Janetta smiled at first, but noticing Charlene’s pale face, she hesitated. “Charlene, are you… Okay?”

Charlene shook her head, not wanting to talk.

After paying, she picked up her bags and was about to leave when Janetta hesitated, then blurted out, “Um… Mr. Henderson is having dinner with the Hawkins family tonight. He’s with them right now.”

Charlene understood. Thorne was having dinner with Vesta’s family.

Her expression didn’t change, but her grip on the shopping bag tightened. She just gave a quiet, “Okay,” and walked away.

That evening, the Ross house was heavy with tension.

Charlene locked herself in her room with a book. It wasn’t until nearly eleven that she looked up, realized her phone was dead, and plugged it in to charge before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

When she came out, she noticed several missed calls.

She paused when she saw Padgett’s name, then called him back first.

He answered immediately. “Ms. Ross, you finally picked up! Here’s the thing: I just got a call from Mr. Henderson’s attorney. All the paperwork regarding his assets has been settled. You can officially begin the divorce proceedings now.”

Chapter 420

On her mother’s birthday, Charlene received a divorce reminder from Thorne.

How fitting.

Padgett spoke up again, “Mr. Henderson’s office said if you’re free

Monday morning, he’d like to schedule the paperwork for next Monday at

9 a.m. at City Hall. What do you think, Ms. Ross?”

Charlene replied, “I’m available Monday morning.”

“Alright,” Padgett said. “I’ll let Mr. Henderson’s attorney know.”

“Okay.”

Aside from Padgett’s call, Charlene also noticed a missed call from Thorne.

She could guess Thorne’s reason for calling it was probably the same as Padgett’s.

So, she didn’t bother to call him back.

After spending the weekend with her family, Charlene drove out early Monday, just after eight.

When she pulled up outside City Hall, Thorne was already there.

She hadn’t taken their marriage certificate with her when she moved out, so Thorne had brought both the certificate and the divorce agreement with him.

Back when they got married, Thorne had left immediately after the paperwork, his expression cold, not sparing their marriage certificate so much as a glance. Naturally, the certificate had always been in her care.

She’d nearly forgotten where she’d put it, but now, for the divorce, Thorne hadn’t even needed to ask her-he’d managed to find it himself and bring it along, perfectly intact.

When she arrived, Thorne got out of his car and handed her the divorce agreement. “Do you want to go over it one more time?”

The marriage certificate in his hand was open, their photo clearly visible. It seemed he’d just been looking at it before getting out of the car.

Charlene looked away without a word, took the papers, and returned to her car to read through the agreement.

By the time she finished, it was almost nine o’clock. She got out and headed straight for City Hall.

Thorne followed behind her, and the two of them entered together.

Their documents were all in order, and with nothing left to dispute, the process went quickly.

As they stepped back out into the morning air, Thorne said, “Once the waiting period is over, we’ll need to come back for the final paperwork.”

“I know.” Charlene didn’t meet his eyes. She brushed past his car and got into her own.

Thorne didn’t say anything else. He got in his car as well.

Their engines started up almost in unison, and within moments, their cars had vanished from the curb outside City Hall, each heading in a different direction.

Afterwards, Charlene drove back to PrimeStar.

She and Stewart still had a meeting at The Henderson Group that day.

When she walked in, Stewart glanced at the clock. “You’re late today. I thought you weren’t coming in.”

“Had to go to city hall for divorce paperwork,” Charlene said, her tone even.

Stewart blinked, then caught on. “So it’s official? You and Thorne are finally divorced?”

“Not quite. We still have to wait out the mandatory period before it’s finalized.”

“…Alright.” He hesitated for a moment, then asked, “You still going to the Henderson meeting?”

“Yes.”

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Stewart smiled. “Okay.”

Twenty minutes later, Charlene and Stewart arrived at The Henderson Group. By the time they reached the conference room, Thorne and his team were already seated.

When they walked in, Thorne greeted them politely. “Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Ross. Glad you could make it.”

Charlene and Stewart both nodded coolly and took their seats.

The meeting began promptly.

Throughout, Charlene kept her focus on work, and Thorne, maintaining a cordial demeanor, spoke with Stewart and the others.

The conference room was full, but aside from Stewart, no one knew that Charlene and Thorne-who seemed to barely interact-had seen each other that very morning at city hall, quietly finalizing the end of their marriage.

お金金

SEND GIFT or GCASH: +63.936.139.8714 or Buy Me Coffee

COMMENT

Subscribe

♡
Prev | Next