Chapter 5

Meeting Room

Once they were seated, George finally realized just how striking the woman in front of him was.

Not the bold, aggressive kind of beauty Wendy had, but something colder and more fragile, as if she were a piece of ice that would melt at a single touch.

There was a faint, clean scent around her. Not perfume. More like someone who had spent years surrounded by nature, quiet and calming in a way he couldn’t explain.

George’s throat worked as he swallowed.

He owed his entire career to Wendy. Without her, he would never have secured a six-figure position.

When he didn’t respond, Jennie asked softly again, “Can you help me?”

A tear fell from her reddened eyes at the perfect moment, sliding down her pale cheek.

George’s heart lurched. He snapped back to himself and instinctively stepped back to put distance between them.

Jennie thought he was rejecting her.

But the next second, George reached inside his suit, pulled out a business card, glanced at the security camera down the hall, and quickly pressed the card into Jennie’s palm.

He lowered his voice. “There are surveillance cameras.”

Jennie understood instantly.

She tucked the card away, her expression returning to calm. Then she took out her phone and called William.

He answered almost immediately. “What’s wrong?”

Jennie kept her voice soft and even. “You forgot to give me the car keys. I can’t get inside. I went back upstairs, but the assistant said you went to meet with the partners.”

Fabric rustled faintly on the other end, followed by William’s raised voice. “I’m almost done here. Go wait for me in the café downstairs.”

“I can wait here,” Jennie said gently. “I won’t wander.”

“Go downstairs,” William said firmly.

“Why?” Jennie tightened her grip on the phone, her voice innocent and trembling. “William… are you hiding something from me?”

Before he could answer, an office door behind her swung open.

“Jennie.”

It was William’s voice.

Jennie turned slowly, stunned.

He shouldn’t be—

At the same moment, the director’s office opened.

Wendy stepped out, speaking into her phone with a serious expression. She slapped a file onto George’s chest and said briskly, “Notify everyone. Meeting in ten minutes.”

Then she walked right between William and Jennie without looking at either of them, as if she’d never seen them before.

William, for his part, acted as if Wendy were a total stranger. He strode quickly to Jennie’s side, brow furrowed. “Hide what? What’s gotten into you today?”

Jennie knew very well that without evidence, William could easily twist the whole situation into her being unreasonable. If things blew up, her entire family would become a laughingstock.

She could file for divorce as the plaintiff, but she could never afford to become the defendant.

“It’s nothing. Probably just a bad dream from last night.” Her voice softened. “Are you done?”

Her gentle obedience smoothed the tension between his brows immediately.

He nodded and laced his fingers with hers. “Dreams aren’t real. Don’t overthink.”

Jennie nodded.

William squeezed her hand, smiling. “I’m done. Come on. Let’s go celebrate your birthday.”

Around the corner, Wendy watched them leave together, their closeness stinging like ice in her chest. Her expression darkened. She curled her hands into fists.

They had settled in Ridgeview City, and three days ago, they arrived in Redwood City.

William said they had two reasons for coming:

One was to meet a new business partner.

The other reason, supposedly the more important one, was to celebrate Jennie’s twenty-fifth birthday.

Redwood City was home to the largest national botanical garden in the country. Jennie, being a botanist, was obsessed with rare plants.

William never cared about “flowers and greenery,” but he always remembered everything she loved.

Six months ago, he had promised to bring her here. But he got busy.

Busy for half a year.

Only because this trip doubled as business did he finally bring her.

Jennie lowered her eyes.

She hadn’t expected to uncover something far bigger on this trip.

He hadn’t just brought her to Redwood City.

He had a whole other life here.

June sunlight drifted through the sycamore branches outside the car window.

Jennie sat in the passenger seat and immediately rolled the window down.

William still smelled faintly of Wendy’s perfume.

They drove in silence.

William tapped the steering wheel with one hand, glancing at her. “Why aren’t you talking? You wouldn’t stop begging to come to the botanical garden. Are you in a bad mood?”

Jennie rubbed her thumb against the buckle of her seat belt, staring out at the passing streets.

After a moment, she asked quietly, “Do you know blue gum trees?”

William blinked. “Those from Australia? I remember they can be pretty harsh.”

“Yes. Blue gum is a very domineering tree.” Her voice was soft. “It releases chemicals that make it hard for other plants to grow around it. But there’s a bird that makes its home in blue gums.”

He played along. “What bird?”

“The lory.” She adjusted her posture. “It helps pollinate the tree, and the tree gives it food and shelter.”

William slowed the car and glanced at her. “Have you ever seen a real blue gum?”

Jennie's lips parted, but before she could speak, he reached over and stroked her cheek.

“I don’t know about blue gum,” he said gently, “but I already found my lory.”

Something twisted painfully in Jennie’s chest.

She pressed her lips together and didn’t answer.

He didn’t know she had never been his lory.

---

Two hours later, the car pulled into a reserved spot at the Redwood Ecological Botanical Reserve.

Jennie woke with sleep still clinging to her lashes. A huge expanse of green filled her view.

Before William could even say a word, a cheerful male voice boomed from ahead.

“Dr. Lawson, you’re finally here!”

The director, a plump middle-aged man, hurried toward them.

He gave William a brief nod. “Mr. Simmons.”

But when he turned to Jennie, his entire face lit up. “We’ve been waiting for you. We recently brought in a batch of rare specimens, but we’ve been stuck on the cultivation phase. A friend recommended you highly and said you were the only one who could solve the problem.”

Several staff members stood behind him, all looking at Jennie with anticipation.

Jennie was a little embarrassed but nodded. “May I take a look?”

“Of course!” The director grinned and gestured forward. “The research wing is ready. Everyone’s waiting.”

William stood off to the side, forgotten entirely.

His frown deepened. He tried to follow them, but the director stepped in front of him. “Sorry, Mr. Simmons. Only specialists are allowed inside. The area contains several endangered species. We have strict protocols.”

A tour guide stepped over politely. “Mr. Simmons, if you’d like, I can take you to see the main exhibit first. We just opened a new floral showcase today.”

William’s face tightened.

All this fuss over plants?

“Can’t she just bring me with her?” he asked coldly.

The director smiled but remained firm. “It’s the rule. If anything goes wrong, no one can take responsibility.”

The air grew awkward.

Jennie loosened her grip on his hand, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Wait for me outside. Or rest in the car. I won’t be long.”

William’s irritation grew.

He remembered telling her earlier to go nap in the car.

Now she was throwing his own words back at him.

He swallowed the anger and forced out, “Fine. I’ll wait. Then we’ll walk around together.”

Jennie gave a faint smile before following the director away.

The tour guide tried again. “Mr. Simmons, would you like to start with the tropical garden?”

“No,” William replied sharply and strode toward the parking lot.

---

Research Lab

Henry had just reached toward the specimen in front of him when a sharp voice rang out.

“Don’t touch that!”