Chapter 5

Three days later.

When I brought Julian to the main research institute, Chase was in the middle of discussing project data with his assistant, looking entirely in his element.

I recognized the girl. It was the same intern who had picked up his phone the other night.

Chloe Vance—no relation to me, just an intern.

She was petite, wide-eyed, and practically designed to trigger a man's protective instincts.

I had no idea when they had crossed the line. Maybe around the time Chase started freezing me out.

Maybe much earlier than that.

Seeing me enter, Chase walked over. Out of sheer habit, his hand reached out to grasp mine.

Then, reality seemed to hit him. We were over.

His fingers curled back awkwardly, his voice stiff. "What brings you here today?"

"Giving someone a tour. I plan to put him in charge of an upcoming core initiative," I replied casually. After all, Chase was still the Chief Research Officer on paper.

At that, Chase’s sharp gaze snapped to the boy standing just behind my shoulder.

Julian was still zipped up in his dark techwear windbreaker, mask firmly on, shielded from the world.

Chase’s brow furrowed deep. "I don't think he's a good fit."

I arched a brow. "In what way?"

"He doesn't look like he fits in with the team."

The sheer absurdity made me laugh out loud. Chase had clearly erased his own past from memory.

He had been the solitary, awkward, gloomy boy who couldn't utter a full sentence without panicking. It took seventeen years of my patience and resources to mold him into the confident tech star standing here today.

And now he was using those very labels to dismiss someone else.

"Fit in? With whom? And why should he care? Chase, he doesn't need to fit in."

"In the world of ugly ducklings, a swan is always guilty of standing out. All he needs to do is be brilliant."

Chase stared at me, his gaze swirling with a chaotic mess of emotions. "Just like I used to be, right?"

I met his eyes, cool and detached. "You two are entirely different."

A long moment passed.

Chase forced out a bitter smirk. "Fine. If you want him here, he can stay."

"I just can't promise he'll survive in this environment."

"His results will speak for him," I smiled faintly.

Behind me, Julian went completely still. In the blind spot beyond my view, his lowered gaze fixed upon me, the subtle corner of his mouth curving into a tiny, hidden smirk.

"I hope your judgment hasn't gone completely blind," Chase sneered.

I pursed my lips. His words were certainly rich, coming from him.

Once Julian’s workspace and clearance were settled, I offered a few parting instructions and turned to leave.

Suddenly, a hand caught my wrist, pulling me effortlessly into the blind spot of the security cameras in the corridor.

Julian looked down at me, his eyes brimming with quiet grievance.

"Are you planning to raise me the exact same way you raised Chase?"

"One failed, so you're just starting fresh with another...?"