bChapter /bb73 /b

Jacob was the first to dart toward the foyer at the sound of Brian’s return.

Madeline tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ears, ignoring Sylvie’s existence. She put on a warm,posed smile as she gracefully went downstairs.

“Dad, is Mom still noting home tonight?” Jacob peered hopefully behind Brian.

“She has got some things to wrap up,” Brian breplied/bb, /bHe maintained his usual stoic expression, but there was a subtle lightness in his demeanor, His mood had clearly lifted.

The impending court date no longer concerned him. In his view, Jessica’s return was inevitable. It was just a matter of time.

“Wee back, Mr. Atkinson. Madeline stepped forward. “Jake was diligent today. Hepleted all his assignments wlesslyb./b”

Brian wasn’t surprised to see her. He

le gave her a nod before turning bhis /battention to Jacob.

Sylvie rolled her eyes at Madeline but held her tongue because of Brian’s presence.

Madeline, always conscious of appearancesb, /bpolitely chose this moment to take her leave and promised to visit Jacob another day.

Before departing, she crouched to Jacob’s eye level and bsaid/b, “Take those snacks to school tomorrow and share with your friends.”

“Thank you, Maddie!” Jacob’s face lit up.

For a child whose mother rationed treats over health concerns, sharing those snacks was enough for bJacob /bto buy an entire ssroom’s friendship.

“You’re very wee,” Madeline smiled sweetly.

bShe /bnced at Sylvie and hoisted these ostracized grocery bags that Sylvie had deliberately left by the front door. Each oversized bag bulged with

Brian watched this silently, offering no mention of reimbursement. Other than overtime pay, he rarely mentioned covering her expenses, but the finance department always bmade /bsure to slip something extra into her paycheck.

“Goodnight, Jake. Mr. Atkinson… See you.” Madeline waved at Jacob, her gaze lingering in bBrian’s /bdeep eyes before she left. She wanted to say “goodnight” to him too, but in the end, she held herself back.

The operation had seeded beyond expectations. Not only would Brian reimburse her snack expenses twofold, but she had also nted seeds for future reputation–building. When she married Brian, Jacob’s ssmates would remember her generosity.

bthose /bextra payments were clear signs of Brian’s

What was more, the monthlypensation dwarfed her official bsry/b. To the rest of thepany, Javoritism. Anyone who saw the numbers wouldn’t believe Madeline and Brian weren’t involved bin /baffairs.

Brian remained oblivious

Madeline came from a difficult background. Her father was a gambler who constantly harassed her bfor /bmoney. A young woman living balone /bin the city had it tough. So he often gave her triple the standard overtime rate.

The next bday/bb, /bat Atkinson Group, Jackson presented his surveince report. “Mr. Atkinson, Herbert Laurier, a secretary from bGrant /bGroup’s executive office, made three bdessert /bruns before noon.”

Brian listened in silence, lowering his gaze slightly as Jackson ced the detailed records before him. Even the vors and sizes of each cake were recorded.

Chapter 73:

Among them, the cheny ple stood but it had been purchased both yesterday and today.

This confirmed that Jessica was really pregnant. A warn feeling flickered in Brian’s chest.

“Contact that five tarred pastry chef. Charter a flight for him and airlift fresh cherries, strawberries, coconut… Brian listed every fruit Jessica had traved during her first pregnancy.

Jackson’s memory was sharp. He absorbed Brian’s instructions.

As Jackson turned to leave, Madeline knocked and entered the office. “Mr. Alkinson, Michael Hooper, the president of Hooper Group, approved myte night proposal. He’s offering the 27th project for coboration.”

With that, she presented a bstack /bof paper. “This is the contract draft. Please take a blook/b.”

Brian nced at Madeline and then skimmed through the contract it bwas /bindeed from Hooper Group.

He was somewhat surprised. He thought, ‘Madeline stayed uptest night and still managed to deliver bquality /bwork. She’s really hardworking. No wander Jessica trained bher /bso well.

He nodded. “Well done.”

The 27th project was closely tied to local economic development. For Brian, this cooperation was indeed a major deal

Madeline’s heart pounded at Brian’s praise. “It’s my honor to contribute to Atkinson Group,” she smiled, checks flushing.

Only when back in her office did she release a triumphantugh. That unmistakable admiration in Brian’s eyes made her believe that she could outshine

Yet her smile faded as Madeline thought about the cooperation with Hooper Group.

Ever since she had asked Michael for an invitation, they bhad /bkept in touch. He had helped her once. When Atkinson Group had bids or big projectsing up, it would be her turn to return the bfavor/b.

Soon after, news of Madeline securing a major contract spread throughout thepany.

At lunchtime, bshe /bwalked into the cafeteria with her chin raised slightly. Many employees greeted her with unusual warmth.

But soon,

they whispered, “Madeline is just a secretary. How did she win such a big contract with Hooper Group? That’s way outside her responsibilities.”

b“/bExactly. Maybe Mr. Atkinson pulled the strings and just gave the credit to her to build her reputation.”

“You think so? Is she really about to make it to the top

e curious about this

Mary employees were i

As Madeline left the cafeteria with a tray in her hand, she caught ba /bclip of whispering behind her. She straightened her spine as she thought, “Yes! I’ll definitely make it.‘

She nned to leave work ten minutes early to pick up Jacob and bring him here to bvisit /bBrian. A calcting gleam passed through bher /beyes.

At Grant bGroup/bb, /bJessica double–checked the contract details before signing.

Within easy reach, she had ba /bsmall tray of pastries and a warming pot of soup, which had been specially prepared by the maid. The soup was lightly seasoned, with barely any fishy smell. She could manage half a bowl

Unbeknownst to her, just hours after Herbert bought these treats, Brian bhad /balready received a full report

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Jessica rarely indulged unless she was especially craving something. But even a little here and there added bup /bacross the day

As Herbert finished cing the snacks, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He stepped out and returned momentster. “Ms. Grant, Mr. Atkinson requests lunch at Salia Restaurant to discuss interpany coboration.”

Jessica nced at her Silent phone. She thought, “Brian couldn’t reach me directly, so he went straight through official channels to book ba /bmeeting?

“Decline it,” she replied calmly.

Herbert added, “He emphasized that should you refuse, byou /bmust eat lunch

ch on time.”

Jessica was speechless, thinking, “Since when did Brian turn into such a mother hen!

b-d /bbgift /b