Chapter 6

Ethan was two years Autumn's senior in university.

A few years ago, when his company hit a bottleneck, their professor recommended Autumn to him.

She didn’t let the professor down.

With her team, she developed the earliest version of AI-based medical diagnostics in the lab.

After the project successfully went to market, Ethan promised to give her a twenty percent stake in the company as compensation.

Over the years, the company earned significant profits from that project, and Ethan kept his word.

Every quarter, he sent her dividends directly into her account.

That technically made her one of the company’s shareholders.

Three years ago, Julian told her he wanted her to learn financial management, so one day she could take charge of the family’s finances.

She believed him.

She gave up her field of expertise and worked diligently in his company, managing the books down to the smallest detail.

Every cost estimate she handled was calculated to the lowest possible margin to ensure healthy cash flow.

But what did she get in return?

With that thought, she replied to Ethan, “I’ll accept the invitation this time.”

As soon as he saw her response, Ethan called. "You’ve made up your mind? You’re coming back?"

Autumn glanced at the documents in her hand.

"Yeah. I’ve made up my mind. But I’ll need a month to finish my resignation."

There was a pause on the other end before Ethan spoke again.

"I’m really glad you’re coming back. Honestly, I didn’t expect it. Autumn, the company truly needs you. Come back."

Thinking about how she had been away from the field for three years, Autumn started to feel unsure.

"AI has developed so fast over these years. I’ve been out of the loop for so long. I don’t know if I can still keep up."

Ethan dismissed the concern. "That algorithm you created? No one’s been able to surpass it even now. Stop being so modest.

"By the way, there’s a CADD conference next week. They’re hoping you’ll attend. Interested?"

Autumn nodded. "Yeah, I’ll go."

Since she had already decided to return to her field after resigning, there was no reason to turn down such a good opportunity.

"Got it."

After hanging up, Autumn quickly shifted back into work mode.

Thankfully, she hadn’t completely let go of her professional knowledge over the past three years.

She had just been too focused on Julian, prioritizing family over everything else, and had gradually let other things slip away.

After work, Autumn went home and sat in front of her computer, catching up on recent developments in the industry and brushing up on technical material.

Julian still wasn’t back by dinnertime.

Autumn ate a few bites without much interest before setting her utensils down.

Seeing how little she ate, Zoe couldn’t help but ask, "Ma’am, your appetite hasn’t been great lately. Are you feeling unwell?"

Autumn walked over to the sofa, crouched down, and tore the page marked “2” from the calendar, tossing it into the trash.

"No, it’s probably just the heat. I don’t really feel like eating."

Even Zoe, someone outside the family, had noticed.

But Julian, her husband, acted like he was blind to everything.

Zoe didn’t say anything more.

She figured Autumn had no appetite because her husband hadn’t come home in days.

After taking a shower and stepping out of the bathroom, Autumn saw Julian coming upstairs with his briefcase.

She paused for a moment, surprised he had come home at all.

Since the affair, he rarely returned.

Was he back because something had happened?

But after just a few seconds, Autumn acted as if she hadn’t seen him and picked up the hairdryer to dry her hair.

Julian merely glanced at her before heading into the study on the second floor.

Though she had grown used to this, a flicker of disappointment still passed through her heart, but it faded quickly.

After drying her hair, Autumn opened her laptop and continued reading up on materials related to CADD.

She had given up so much for Julian over the past three years.

Now that she’d come to her senses, catching up would take even more effort than before.

In the study, Julian was going through emails.

After a while, he began to feel parched.

His hand reached out to the side out of habit but found nothing there.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Autumn hadn’t brought him water.

She used to do that without being asked, always coming to him the moment he got home, asking what he wanted to drink and preparing it for him.

She’d remind him not to stay up too late, to cut back on coffee, and to get more rest.

Of course, he’d never really paid attention.

Was she still throwing a tantrum?

Fine!

He picked up the cup on his desk, got up to pour himself some water, then took a few sips before returning to work.

Just then, the phone on his desk vibrated.

Julian unlocked it and saw a message from Luna, along with a short video clip.

In the video, the woman wore a silky, revealing nightgown.

Her eyes were hazy as she held a glass of red wine, tilting it until the liquid spilled down onto her collarbone, the rich burgundy trailing slowly across her pale skin.

It was alluring and dazzling.

A direct hit to every nerve.

Luna texted, “Room 1008, at the hotel next to your home. Master, are you done with work? Hungry? Want a quick bite?”

Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

The shadowy calm in his eyes gave way to a rising heat.

He tugged at his collar and typed a short reply with one hand.

“On my way.”