(God’s POV)

    Lydia gripped Olivia’s wrist tightly, her fingers digging into skin with enough force to leave marks. Pain shot through Olivia’s arm, but she refused to show weakness.

    In Lydia’s eyes, Olivia’sck of formal education made her earlier words sound like pure provocation. “So what if her mate is Matthew Kane?” she thought bitterly. “My father is the director of the pack enforcement bureau, and I never unt my connections.”

    She despised she–wolves who relied on their mates to get ahead. The very sight of Olivia’s beautifulposed face made her blood boil.

    “Today, if you don’tpete with me, don’t even think about leaving,” Lydia dered, her voice sharp with authority.

    Killian stepped forward and firmly pulled Lydia’s hand away from Olivia’s wrist. His ice–blue eyes shed with protective anger.

    “That’s enough,” he said coldly.

    Matthew, watching from a distance, saw the ufortable expression on Olivia’s face as she rubbed her reddened wrist. His jaw tightened imperceptibly.

    Commander Garrett Flint felt a headacheing on. He recognized that Olivia’s qualifications viere bing a sensitive issue that could spiral out of control.

    To cate the increasingly aggressive Lydia, he proposed diplomatically, “Miss Olivia, how about one more round? Let’s convince Miss Milespletely.”

    Faced with Commander Flint’s suggestion and Lydia’s relentless pressure, Olivia had no choice but to nod in agreement. “Fine.”

    As the group moved toward the stage, Matthew descended to make room for them. He took a seat in the front row alongside the other officials, his golden eyes never leaving Olivia’s figure.

    Olivia deliberately avoided his gaze, focusing on the path ahead. But as she passed him, her wrist was gently held.

    She looked up to see Beta Tristan, before Olivia could process the surprise, Beta Tristan wrapped her sore wrist with a warm towel.

    “Thank you,” Olivia murmured softly.

    She continued to the stage, walking past Matthew without another nce. The familiar scent of his presence made her heart race, but she forced herself to remainposed.

    Matthew sat with the head of the Information Technology Department, his expression perfectly calm. But his eyes were fixed on Olivia’s hands as they moved across the keyboard with practiced precision.

    He noticed the faint scars on her fingers from two days ago, which she hadn’t bothered to treat. Her hands. were bare, the emerald ring conspicuously absent.

    The sight of her naked ring finger sent a sharp pang through his chest.

    Amid the murmurs and gasps from the audience, he watched her work. Her fingers flew across the keys with an almost supernatural speed and uracy.

    She won against Lydia decisively, but her face showed no excitement. Only a hint of boredom, as if her opponent was too weak to be a real challenge.

    Still, she refused to look in his direction.

    “A narrow victory!” one expert eximed, though his voice carried obvious surprise.

    Loric Steele and several other topputer engineers exchanged shocked nces. They murmured among themselves, “It’s hard to tell who’s better.”

    But they all knew the truth. Lydia was a top talent among the new generation. Anyone who could go head–to–head with her was extraordinary.

    Their gazes fell on Olivia’s delicate figure, marveling at the hidden strength beneath her elegant exterior.

    Commander Flint quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “You are both incredibly talented,” he said diplomatically.

    He turned to Lydia with a conciliatory smile. “Miss Miles, if Miss Olivia needs your help in the future, please don’t refuse.”

    For Lydia, one narrow victory could be dismissed as an ident. But two consecutive defeats felt like she was beingpletely overpowered by Olivia.

    A sense of unease settled in her heart. A growing fear that Olivia’s true strength was far beyond what she couldprehend.

    “It can’t be,” Lydia told herself desperately. “It must have been a fluke.”

    Seeking to regain her footing, she said with forced confidence, “Computer skills are multifaceted. You might be faster and have a lower error rate in a million–level concurrent cache elimination mechanism, but that doesn’t mean your other abilities are stronger than mine.”

    She paused, then added with a hint of smugness, “Ultimately,puter applications are judged by the products they create! I heard from Commander Flint that you have a techpany.”

    At the mention of herpany, Olivia looked at Commander Flint with surprise. He mentally cursed himself for telling Lydia about it during their earlier conversation.

    “What does yourpany do? What are your products?” Lydia pressed, sensing an opportunity to regain face.

    The other experts leaned in, their curiosity piqued.

    “Security software,” Olivia replied simply, her voice steady.

    The room erupted in barely containedughter. Several experts exchanged knowing looks.

    “I’d advise you to upgrade,” someone chuckled condescendingly. “Security software is so basic these days.”

    Lydia finally felt like she had regained some face. She smiled mockingly and handed Olivia her business card with theatrical flourish.

    “If you can’t think of a new product, you’re wee to visit mypany, Shadowtech Industries, for a tour

    Olivia’s purpose for being there was towork and learn about potentialpetitors. Her dim eyes finally lit up with a spark of genuine interest.

    “Can I bring my employees along to learn?” she asked with sincere earnestness.

    Her genuine request caught Lydiapletely off guard. The invitation had been purely sarcastic, meant to humiliate rather than help.

    Faced with Olivia’s clear, gentle gaze, Lydia found herself trapped by her own words. “You can bring one or two,” she agreed reluctantly.

    As they left the stage, Lydia noticed Killian anxiously approaching Olivia. Knowing his feelings for her, Lydia’s mood becameplex and bitter.

    She nced at Matthew, then turned to Killian with forced brightness. “Professor, will you join us for dinner?

    She knew he wouldn’te unless Olivia did.

    Before he could answer, Olivia’s excited voice cut in, “Killian, let’s go!”

    Matthew nced over, his gaze brieflynding on Olivia’s animated face. Then he turned and left with the other officials, not a single word exchanged between them.

    Killian’s gaze on Olivia grew noticeably warmer. “Alright,” he agreed softly.

    The group arrived at The Sovereign’s Table, a new restaurant specializing in Northern Territory cuisine that Lydia had rmended. A series of ssic dishes were served, all of which happened to be Clivia’s favorites.

    “The taste is so authentic,” she praised after taking a bite of moonberry venison. The familiar vors brought back memories of her time in the Northern territories.

    She happily chatted with the other experts, learning about their products and market positions. Relief washed over her as she realized no one was developing protection systems, leaving the market wide open for herpany.

    In a very good mood, Olivia excused herself from the table. “I’ll be right back.”

    As she came out of the restroom, she ran right into a familiar figure. Theodore stood there, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her freeze.

    He looked at her and said quietly, “Olivia, I am innocent. I have been released.”