Chapter 16
Adele didn’t know about Franklin’s return. Nobody had told her.
It had been half a month since she moved out of the villa. During this time, she had gradually grown acctistomed to and come to enjoy de cimet, leisurely life of living alone.
Today was weekend, and she had slept in a bit. After getting up and washing, she opened the curtains to find perfect sunshine outside,
She stretched, watered her plants, and was about to make herself a simple breakfast when the doorbell rang. It was Mrs. Smith from across the hall.
“Adele, hope I didn’t disturb you?”
Adele replied gently: “Not at all, I was already awake.”
“That’s good.” Mrs. Smith warmly said: “These
are
freshly made pies and pasta from our home this morning. Brought some for you to try.
“Thank you, this is too kind.”
“It’s the least we could do. If you hadn’t saved
Tommy from that mad dog the other day, who knows what would have happened.
We’ve been wanting to properly thank you, but my husband and I have been so busy with work, we couldn’t find the time… we feel quite embarrassed…”
“It was nothing, Mrs. Smith, you’re too kind.”
After some more pleasantries, Mrs. Smith left.
Back inside, Adele ate breakfast while studying the algorithmic mechanism of an AI system she’d been researching recently.
In the afternoon, a news notification about T University’s centennial celebration popped up on her phone.
Adele paused, checked the date, and realized it was indeed T University’s birthday.
Checking online, she found several trending topics about #T University Centennial#.
The celebration’s high publicity wasn’t just because T University was the country’s top university, with every move closely watched, but also because this was its first centennial celebration.
As a result, an exceptional number of honorary alumni had been invited back for the ceremony.
These honorary alumni were prominent figures across various fields.
Adele looked at the screen several times. Her hands trembled holding the phone as she recognized several familiar faces in the footage.
Memories of her university days flooded back. Her heart suddenly felt chaotic.
If she hadn’t entered marriage right after completing her undergraduate degree, perhaps she too might have been among the honorary alumni invited back for today’s ceremony?
Adele closed her laptop and, after some hesitation, drove to T University.
It was already afternoon. Many of the VIP guests invited to the ceremony had left.
Yet the campus was still crowded. As she wandered aimlessly around campus, a familiar voice called out to her near the familiar laboratory building.
“Mag?”
Twenty minutes later, in a teahouse outside T University
Johnny poured her a cup of tea: “How have you been lately?”
Adele held the teacup, looking down with a faint smile: “Quite well, just… preparing for divorce.”
11:50
He Faked Death for Mistress,I Faked It for Revenge
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Chapter 18
Johnny hadn’t expected ilds answer, paused. “Tij karty
It’s fine
“What are your plans new? Would you consider coming back to the company?”
I’ve thought about it, but…”
Johnny didn’t know her concerns but spoke earnestly: “Mag, the company needs you. You’re charge.
“I… I…” Looking at Johnny’s serious expression, Adele couldn’t express her difficulties.
still a shareholder, and I hope your core back to the
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to. But Al development had advanced so rapidly. She’d been away from the field for six years.
Even if she returned now, she feared she couldn’t keep up with current developments, let alone lead the industry as she once had.
Though Johnny and Adele had rarely met in recent years, even from their few encounters, he could see how far she had fallen from her foriner brilliant self.
Thinking of how Adele used to be, Johnny never dreamed that the word “insecurity” would one day apply to her.
He didn’t know much about Adele and Franklin’s married life. But he knew enough.
Though he had his suspicions, he didn’t voice them, instead speaking earnestly: “It’s okay to fall behind temporarily. Your ability and talent aren’t comparable to ordinary geniuses. Mag, as long as you still want to walk this path, it’s not too late to start again.”
“Don’t forget, you were the professor’s most satisfying student in his teaching career.”
Adele smiled at this: “If the professor heard that, he’d probably snort and say he was forced to pick the tallest among dwarfs.”
