Cullen excused himself to answer his ringing phone, stepping outside just as the servers arrived with their meal. Nate' probing question about the paper's authorship hung in the air, conveniently sidestepped by the interruption.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect—or more frustrating for those harboring doubts. The alleged genius behind the revolutionary paper that had the entire engineering community buzzing sat right before them, calmly picking up her fork.

As they ate, Silas and his students couldn't contain their curiosity any longer. They bombarded Veronica with questions, from specific methodologies to experimental data interpretations that had puzzled seasoned researchers across the globe.

Veronica fielded each question with remarkable poise. Her responses flowed effortlessly, addressing complex theoretical concepts with precision and offering insightful perspectives on problems that had stumped them in their own research pursuits.

Niall observed silently, her expression carefully neutral despite the turmoil within. Watching Veronica speak with such authority and confidence was unsettling. The woman certainly acted the part of a brilliant researcher convincingly.

But was it all an elaborate act? The question plagued Niall's thoughts.

Given Dario' exceptional intellect and influence, if he had decided to credit Veronica as first author, he must have prepared her thoroughly for the inevitable scrutiny. When Niall first heard Dario declare Veronica as lead author, she'd been completely stunned.

Yet if this groundbreaking paper truly was Veronica's independent research as claimed, wouldn't that make her intellectually superior to her own advisor, Preston? The notion seemed preposterous.

Veronica wasn't Dario. While the world had its fair share of geniuses, not everyone could reach his caliber of brilliance. The more logical conclusion was that Dario had authored the paper himself and was using it to elevate Veronica's standing in their community.

Having convinced herself of this reality, Niall cast a dispassionate glance toward Veronica. She watched her engage confidently with Silas and the others before deliberately looking away, refusing to give her another moment of attention.

Penny and Bonnie had arrived at similar conclusions. Bonnie, particularly incensed by the charade, seethed quietly as she watched Veronica audaciously offer suggestions to someone of Silas's stature. She nearly rose from her seat several times, tempted to expose what she believed was an obvious fraud. Only the restrained reactions of Penny and Niall kept her silent, though her anger continued to simmer.

Maverick too had initially questioned Veronica's capabilities. However, seeing Silas's genuine engagement and excitement during their discussion made him reconsider. The renowned professor wasn't easily impressed, yet here he was, hanging on Veronica's every word. Could there be more to her than met the eye?

The luncheon stretched well beyond its scheduled time. Before the group dispersed, Veronica and Silas exchanged contact information—a telling indicator of the impression she'd made.

"I apologize, Mr. Dennis," Silas said to Cullen with sincere regret. "Once we delved into technical matters, I completely lost track of time."

Cullen responded graciously, "That's precisely why I arranged this gathering—to foster connections that will facilitate smoother collaboration in the future."

As everyone began collecting their belongings, Marco seized a brief moment to approach Veronica.

"Congratulations," he said simply.

"Thank you," she replied with equal brevity.

Nate observed their interaction without much interest, assuming it was merely a collegial pleasantry.

Cullen also noticed the exchange. His eyes flickered toward them momentarily before turning away, his expression revealing nothing.

Niall, however, watched with tightly pressed lips. Did Marco genuinely believe in Veronica's professional abilities? Was that the foundation of his apparent attraction to her?

But then again, Marco had shown interest in Veronica before Valerie Corporation and DataPulse began their partnership. His feelings clearly predated any knowledge of her supposed intellectual prowess.

"What's occupying your thoughts?" Cullen's voice suddenly interrupted her musings.

Niall startled slightly, drawn back to reality. Looking at Cullen, who had barely acknowledged her presence throughout the meal while Veronica commanded everyone's attention, she forced a light smile.

"Nothing important," she replied softly.

Whether Veronica's abilities were genuine or fabricated ultimately made little difference. The painful reality remained unchanged—in Cullen's eyes, Niall might as well be invisible.