Chapter 93
I didn't reply to Violet's text message.
It wasn't that I didn't want to—I was just truly exhausted, both physically and mentally, with no energy left to weave any well-meaning lies.
Let this silence speak for me, at least for now.
I thought the drama from that night would settle down, but I didn't expect an even bigger surprise waiting for me the next day.
I had just arrived at Star Tech that morning when William called me into his office.
His face looked terrible, his brow furrowed, and he irritably loosened his tie. "Grace, do you know where George and Sarah went last night?"
I shook my head, a bit confused.
After George hung up on Sarah last night, hadn't he rushed off to their usual spot?
Was there more to the story?
William let out a cold laugh, dripping with sarcasm: "They went to Mr. Thomas's house last night!"
My heart sank.
William continued: "I happened to be having dinner at Mr. Thomas's place last night, enjoying his good coffee, when George showed up with Sarah for an unexpected visit."
"George was pretty direct. After some small talk, he got straight to the point. He told Mr. Thomas that if he was willing to take Sarah as his student, mentor her, and bring her into core projects, then the Smith Group would provide full—or rather, unlimited—funding support for the deep space probe preliminary research project Mr. Thomas is currently preparing."
I listened quietly, my heart feeling like it was soaking in ice water, growing colder bit by bit, yet surprisingly, it didn't stir up much emotion.
Perhaps too many things had already drained the last of my shock and pain at George's favoritism.
William was clearly furious. He grabbed his glass of cold water and took a big gulp before continuing: "Mr. Thomas didn't blow up on the spot, and he didn't directly point out that Sarah's abilities weren't even close to catching his eye. He just said very formally that he would consider it."
He set down the glass heavily, his voice full of contempt and indignation: "Sarah really knows how to put on an act. She played the part of someone humbly seeking guidance, full of passion for aerospace. She even took the opportunity to mention that if Mr. Thomas felt she wasn't qualified enough, she could start as an assistant—like being Nightingale's assistant to learn from her."
"How shameless can she be? Wanting to be your assistant? In her dreams!"
I listened quietly, my fingertips unconsciously rubbing the side of my coffee cup.
So, for Sarah's sake, George could not only forget about my birthday gift and leave me to meet her, but he could also take her directly to my mentor's door, using massive investment as leverage to pave a shortcut for her into the technical core.
Seeing me remain silent with barely any expression on my face, William seemed surprised and concerned.
He leaned in closer, studying my face carefully: "Grace? Why aren't you reacting at all? Are you too angry to speak? That's your man, and he's using money that should be part of your marital assets to pave the way for another woman, throwing money at your mentor! And you can stand this?"
I looked up and pulled my lips into a self-mocking smile: "It's not surprising, William."
"Sarah has always held a special place in his heart. For her, he's willing to break his principles, willing to spend lavishly—that's nothing new." I paused, thinking of how others evaluated George: "Besides, George has never been purely love-struck. He has his ambitions and calculations."
William's brow furrowed, as if digesting my words.
I continued calmly analyzing: "Have you forgotten how people evaluate him? The Smith family legend, who took charge when Mr. Walter Smith fell ill, holding up the Smith Group, expanding into multiple fields, even rising to Deputy Director of the Aviation Administration. Though he stepped down because of Mr. Walter Smith's illness, he's equally successful in finance. His ambition and vision are no less than yours."
"Having Sarah become Mr. Thomas's student—on the surface, it's to enhance Sarah's credentials and pave her way, but deeper down, he probably wants to use this to get the Smith Group, or rather the tech sector under his control, more deeply involved in the periphery of core aerospace technology, maybe even get a piece of the pie."
"Sarah is a chess piece for him to break into that heavily guarded circle, a front, someone he's willing to invest in and believes he can control—one of his own people."
When I said "his own people," a bitter taste rose in my throat.
I thought of myself.
I managed household affairs for the Smith family, bore children for him, and even stood by his side when the Smith Group needed support most.
For him, for the Smith family, even for certain Smith Group projects, I quietly devoted six years of my life.
But he never once thought about paving any path for me.
In his eyes, I was probably just an accessory that didn't require additional investment—or maybe not even that.
Because I wasn't worth a single bit of his thought or resources.
I shook my head, firmly suppressing this self-pity.
Thinking about this now was pointless.
I looked at William, my tone still flat: "So don't be too angry. Mr. Thomas has his own considerations. As students, as outsiders, we can't influence his decisions."
"Taking a step back, even though I'm his final and most important disciple, and Nightingale has some reputation in the industry, how much weight does that really carry against absolute power and massive funding?"
William immediately objected: "But we can't let someone like Sarah succeed. She wants to get into the Aviation Administration core? Wants to climb up using Mr. Thomas's name? Dream on!"
"And if she really has the nerve to try coming to Star Tech, no way. Star Tech is my heart and soul, and your battlefield. I absolutely won't allow her to come stir up trouble."
William's protective and determined attitude warmed me a little.
I nodded: "I understand. Star Tech is ours."
"However, we still have ongoing projects with the Smith Group. The money's been invested, agreements signed. It's not worth completely burning bridges with George over Sarah and throwing away partnerships we've secured."
"No matter how capable Sarah is, she can't change business collaborations that are already set."
"No matter how much George dotes on her, he won't gamble with confirmed, profitable projects."
Hearing me say this, William's emotions calmed down a bit: "You're right, business is business, but I'm still curious, Grace—why can you be so calm?"
"If it were me, seeing my spouse paving the way for another woman like this, even approaching my mentor, I would have confronted her long ago. Emily's temper definitely couldn't take it either."
"Because," I said softly, "I've already been angry."
"Each time I was treated coldly, ignored, watching him break his principles for Sarah again and again, even hurting Milly and me..."
"My heart has already hurt, hated, and struggled."
"Now, all I have left is numbness." I looked at the sky outside the window—the sunlight was beautiful. "When you compete with someone who already lives in his heart and has become part of his future plans, you can't win."
"All the fighting, questioning, and struggling—aside from making yourself more miserable and consuming what little dignity and energy you have left—won't lead to any results."
I thought of my foolish, stubborn past-life self.
Fighting for a bit of pitiful attention, I fought until I was battered and hysterical, losing myself and losing Milly.
Only after I died did I realize how ridiculous and futile that one-sided struggle had been.
"Sarah..." I withdrew my gaze, my tone becoming calm and objective again. "Her credentials are impressive—overseas master's degree, shiny resume. Her abilities are decent among ordinary people. She even knows how to use men's resources to pave her way."
"But," I lifted my chin slightly, my eyes sharp, "that doesn't mean I'll lose."
"Her path was bought with George's money, connections, and privileges—seemingly smooth and broad, but actually unstable at its foundation, dependent on others."
"Once her backing wavers, or if her abilities can't match what she's been given, her fall will be even worse."
"As for me," I looked at William, my eyes determined, "my path is one I've walked step by step myself—from pulling all-nighters drawing diagrams in college, to debugging code in labs, to stunning competitions as Nightingale, to now starting fresh at Star Tech."
"Each step may have been difficult, may have been slow, but what I'm standing on is my own sweat and ability."
"I don't need anyone to pave my way. I have my own wings. Though they were once broken, they're growing back."
"George can buy Sarah a highway to heaven, but the sky that belongs to me, Grace—I'll fly up there myself, higher and steadier."