Chapter 175
I pushed open the office door and had just sat down in my chair when a cup of steaming coffee was gently placed in front of me.
I looked up—it was William.
Wearing his usual warm and caring expression, he sat down in the chair across from me.
"I heard from Emily about your mom," his voice was soft, with a comforting tone. "Thank goodness she's okay. A real blessing in disguise."
He paused, looking into my eyes, and said seriously, "The company's major projects have all entered a stable phase right now, so things aren't particularly busy."
"If your family needs you, you can take some time off to take care of Ms. Murphy and Milly. Come back when everything at home has settled down."
"Don't worry about work."
I picked up the warm coffee and took a small sip. The bitterness mixed with rich aroma helped ease my tense nerves a little.
"No need, William. This won't break me."
"My mom and my aunt need me to hold up their sky."
"My Milly needs a strong and reliable mother. I can't fall, and I can't stop."
William listened quietly without immediately responding.
He looked at me with a complex expression—admiration, understanding, and perhaps a hint of barely noticeable sympathy.
After a long moment, he sighed softly, his voice even gentler than before, "Grace, actually, I'd rather you could just be yourself first."
Those words were like a small pebble, gently dropped into the lake of my heart, creating subtle but clear ripples.
My eyes unexpectedly stung.
Be myself?
That Grace who once had eyes only for George, gradually losing herself in marriage.
That Grace who's now being pushed by life, forced to become strong.
Which one is the real me?
Whichever it is, I like who I am now.
I took a deep breath, pushing down that sudden wave of emotion, and said to William with a smile, "Thank you, William."
"I am being myself."
"A version of myself that protects my family and takes responsibility, even if it's different from before."
William's pupils moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded, "I was trying to find an excuse so you could rest with peace of mind."
"I've briefly mentioned your situation to Ember, Daniel, and the others. Everyone understands and supports you."
"If you need any adjustments or help with work, just say the word."
"As for Ms. Murphy's company transformation, I still have that suggestion—I do have a few investors I'm on good terms with who are interested in emerging projects. I'll organize their contact information and send it to you later. You can reach out and learn more about them first."
William's sincerity and help were like a perfectly warm cup of tea on a winter day—warm but not scalding, just right to dispel some of the chill in my heart.
Compared to George's coldness and favoritism, I truly felt that the difference between one man and another can sometimes be greater than the difference between species.
One can give respect, understanding, and just the right amount of support to friends and partners.
The other can inflict coldness, calculation, and merciless suppression on his legal wife and her family.
How ironic, yet how clear?
But precisely because William genuinely considered me a friend, I couldn't keep consuming the resources and connections he offered.
This pure goodwill should be cherished, not taken for granted.
So when William offered to give me the contact information for those good investors, I chose to decline.
I looked at him, my tone sincere, "William, thank you, but last night I already tried reaching out to a few people I knew before who had a good impression of me. I want to see how that goes first."
I paused, a hint of unwavering stubbornness in my voice, "I appreciate your kindness, but let's keep it in reserve for now."
"I want to try my own strength."
"I don't want to be looked down on by certain people."
William was smart enough to immediately understand who I meant by "certain people."
He didn't point it out, just smiled knowingly, his expression showing understanding and a touch of approval, "Alright, when you need it, just say the word. Between friends, no need to be formal."
"Thank you." I thanked him sincerely, then changed the subject, "In a bit, I'll test that new core code I wrote again to see if there's room for optimization."
"Good, you handle it," William agreed, then as if remembering something, added, "By the way, your situation is special right now, running between home and the company. We all understand. And don't forget, you're also one of the company's shareholders. You can make many decisions yourself—you don't need to report everything, and you don't need to feel too much pressure."
I knew he was trying to comfort me, worried I'd feel guilty about work because of family matters.
I smiled, my tone serious, "Still, I can't be too willful. Shareholders also need to make money for the company and take responsibility. The work that needs to be done, the responsibilities that need to be shouldered—not one bit less."
Hearing this, William's smile deepened, with a hint of teasing, "You're right, but if everyone at the company was as hardworking and conscientious as you, our Star Tech would probably have secured those big investments long ago and moved up to the next level."
After the joke, his expression became serious. He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, "But there's something I want to discuss with you."
"Someone saw that satellite orbit coordination core code you wrote for Stellar Tech last time through special channels. They're very interested and want to talk to you personally."
He observed my expression and continued, "If you have time recently and your condition allows, I'll arrange it. The other party is very sincere and specifically asked to meet you."
Looking at William's expression, I could tell this wasn't an ordinary business meeting invitation, but rather carried a sense of caution and barely contained excitement.
My intuition told me this person, or this opportunity, might be very important to William and to Star Tech.
So I asked curiously, "Who is it?"
William spoke a few words, "Harris Aviation Technology Group."
I was slightly stunned, then more surprise and confusion welled up.
"Harris Tech?" My voice carried disbelief. "That Fortune 500 company, one of the top players in aerospace and cutting-edge communications? That Harris Tech?"
William nodded affirmatively.
My confusion deepened, "Why would they approach Star Tech for cooperation? Logically, with their size and needs, if they're looking for technology partners or suppliers, their first choice should be those powerful tech companies under the Smith Group, right? After all, George's company does currently have stronger overall capabilities and market share than our Star Tech."
This was an objective fact. Though I didn't want to admit it, George's business ability and the Smith Group's foundation were not to be underestimated.
William shrugged, indicating he wasn't clear on the specific reasons either, "Harris Tech is a true giant. We really can't fathom their strategic planning and selection criteria."
"But since they've extended an olive branch, it means Star Tech, or rather, you Grace, must have something they value, even highly value."
His gaze fell on me with unprecedented gravity, "I take this opportunity very seriously."
"Moreover, they specifically stated they're coming for you, for your technical abilities."
"So I need a fairly definite timeframe from you. With your family situation, your mom's health, and other things you need to handle, I don't know if you can make time recently to focus on this meeting."
Almost without hesitation, I nodded immediately, "Of course I have time."
Opportunities are fleeting, especially from an industry giant like Harris Tech.
No matter what, I had to make time.
But the doubts remained.