[

BONUS

Chapter

for reaching 400 GT! Thank you all! ????]

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As Eve drove away, Daniel stood in the parking lot, watching her car disappear around the corner.

A mixture of happiness and frustration churned within him. He had wanted to ask her to dinner, but now she was gone, and he felt that he had missed another opportunity.

With a deep sigh, Daniel ran a hand through his hair, scratching his head in exasperation.

Why was he so indecisive?

He had promised himself he would seize every chance to be with her, yet when it mattered most, his nerves had gotten the best of him.

Daniel understood that Eve wasn''t ready for a new relationship. The shadows of her past with Cole still lingered, and he respected that.

Yet, all he wanted was to help her heal, to bring some joy into her life.

He had seen glimpses of her smile today, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about Sebastian, and it made his heart swell with hope.

Daniel felt a strange mix of contentment and longing. At least Eve noticed him now, and he cherished the connection they were slowly building.

It felt as though the distance between them was beginning to shrink, like the gentle drawing together of two stars in a vast night sky.

Just thinking about it made him smile. Each small step they took together felt like a victory.

He recalled the warmth of her laughter, how it wrapped around him like a cozy blanket on a chilly day. That alone was enough for now.

Daniel turned to the spot where her car had been parked, his heart racing with excitement to meet her on Monday.

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Michael took a sip of his cold coffee and stuck out his tongue in disgust. "I let my secretary handle those things. I only meet important people in person now."

I nodded, grinning. "That''s right. It''s important to maintain an air of exclusivity, after all. It adds to your value!"

"Speaking of value, the Fays have offered me a huge sum for QuantumLyfe," he said, suddenly serious.

"How much?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Ten billion," he replied.

My eyes widened in shock. Ten billion was a staggering amount, especially for a startup company like them!

"They said I could keep my position and pay me an annual salary of a hundred million as long as I delivered results," he added.

"And what''s the catch?" I asked. I knew the Fays well enough to suspect that a deal like this had strings attached.

Michael''s expression grew grave. "They want me to develop NanoTech that can regenerate limbs."

I paused, realizing what the Fays wanted. I remembered Leanna Fay, Cain''s beloved wife and Cole''s mother, who had lost her legs in an accident while she was pregnant with Cole and Lina.

"Is it possible?" I asked.

Michael sighed. "QuantumLyfe is still in its early stages, so we will get there eventually, but not anytime soon. It''ll take years, and I don''t want to rush it. I like how QuantumLyfe is developing right now, and I want to maintain control over every decision and direction we take."

"So you didn''t sell, right?" I asked, relieved.

Michael shrugged. "No, I don''t like being bossed around by higher-ups. Even if I wanted to, it''s not mine to sell. Have you forgotten you own 70 percent of the shares?"

I chuckled a little. "Oh right! I completely forgot about that."

"It''s because I''m the one managing everything. You should come here and help out more often," he said, shaking his head.

"Me? What could I possibly do? I''d just confuse investors with my age and I lack of any scientific knowledge to help around here. I''ll leave everything in your capable hands," I replied with a grin.

Michael rolled his eyes, returning to his work. "I shouldn''t have ask. So what brings you here?"

"Oh right! I came to pick up some medicine for Sebastian." I almost forgot about that part.