Preston's unexpected visit to Ophelia had occurred after he discovered the impressive paper he'd enthusiastically endorsed during peer review was authored by someone from DataPulse. He'd made the journey specifically to meet with Veronica and Dario.

During that conversation, his words still echoed in Niall's mind: "If you had joined DataPulse when you returned to Ophelia last year, your career trajectory would have been remarkably different."

At the time, she had wholeheartedly agreed with him, convinced that Veronica had deliberately sabotaged her chances of entering DataPulse, robbing her of a pivotal career opportunity. But now, observing the undeniable growth Veronica had achieved in less than a year under Dario's mentorship, Niall realized the magnitude of what she'd truly lost was far greater than she'd initially comprehended.

The ecosystem around Dario was incredibly valuable—not just his own brilliance, but also Malcolm's formidable expertise. Malcolm's command of cutting-edge information and resources in their field had clearly accelerated both Dario's and Veronica's professional development at an astonishing rate.

Her mother's earlier assessment rang true: had she successfully secured a position at DataPulse back then, with her natural intelligence and capabilities, her progress would have undoubtedly outpaced Veronica's.

But dwelling on hypotheticals was pointless. That opportunity had vanished, leaving her with nothing but bitter reflection.

As these realizations crystallized in her mind, Niall's gaze hardened when it fell on Veronica across the room. "It's clear why she was so willing to leave Dennis Group. This was her endgame all along."

The sequence of events now appeared as calculated strategic moves—Veronica departing Dennis Group, cultivating proximity to Dario, blocking Niall's path into DataPulse—all leading to Veronica's current position of prominence. Surveying everything Veronica had achieved, Penny finally saw her in a different light.

"I never suspected she possessed such cunning," Penny remarked coldly.

Across the room, Veronica continued her conversation with fellow researchers, but when she momentarily turned her head and noticed the mother-daughter duo watching her, she registered the icy hostility in their stares.

This marked a shift from their usual expressions of dismissive contempt whenever they encountered her. Yet Veronica showed no curiosity about this change—she simply turned away disinterestedly, unwilling to waste mental energy deciphering their shifting attitudes.

To Niall and Penny, however, this dismissal only reinforced their interpretation—that Veronica had grown insufferably arrogant, as if they were beneath her notice.

Today, Veronica was unquestionably the center of attention. Her apparent pride seemed justified considering the exceptional quality of her research paper, which demonstrated expertise that now surpassed Niall's own.

However...

While Veronica had Dario and technical prowess, Niall had Cullen.

Penny composed herself and stated with quiet confidence, "Her time at the top won't last forever."

She harbored serious doubts that the relationship between Veronica and Dario would remain stable indefinitely.

When Niall considered Cullen's feelings for her and how Sabrina seemed to prefer her company over Veronica's—despite Veronica having raised her—she found her equilibrium returning, mirroring her mother's calm.

Looking toward Veronica again, her gaze reloaded with its familiar contempt. "I must acknowledge I've grown complacent in my research lately," she admitted. "It's time to refocus and recommit to my academic pursuits."

Even without the professional support network that Dario and Malcolm provided Veronica, Niall believed that with persistent effort and continued learning, the final determination of who would achieve greater professional heights remained unwritten.

Penny naturally endorsed this perspective. "Cullen can assist you," she pointed out.

Niall's lips curved into a self-assured smile. "I know. Cullen will unquestionably support me whenever I ask."

With that settled, she dismissed Veronica from her thoughts entirely and rejoined the symposium crowd to continue networking. Unlike earlier, when she had primarily engaged with company representatives, she now purposefully sought out conversations with the symposium's leading academic experts.