“Jake is still so young,” Brian continued, his voice gentle but firm. “Our divorce will hurt him a lot. Jessi, can we please not divorce for Jake’s bsake/b?”

He exhaled, holding his breath as he waited for her response.

“No.” Jessica sighed. “Jacob won’t stay upset for long. With Madeline around, he’ll ept the reality soon enough.”

Brian furrowed his browsb, /bthinking to himself, “Why does she bhave /bto mention Madeline? Is she really that bothered by how Jacob trusts and likes her?

Brian snapped, “I’m asking you to think about Jake before deciding on the divorce. What does Madeline have to do with it?”

“Brian, are you pretending to be dumb, or do you think I’m an idiot?” Jessica shot back with sharp sarcasm.

She scoffed in her mind, thinking, “What’s your rtionship with Madeline anyway? You’ve convinced yourself, or do you really think I’m blind?‘

“Dad, can you help me with this question?” As the argument between Brian and Jessica escted, Jacob, who had been secretly eavesdropping at the door, rushed out to interrupt them. He didn’t want his parents to fight.

Brian paused for a moment, about to say something, but realized that Jessica had already hung up.

Jacob lowered the hand he had raised, the light in his eyes dimming. Seeing that his mother didn’t even want to talk to him, he walked back upstairs to his room, feeling deted.

The next day, Jackson knocked on the door to Brian’s office and entered with two intricately designed invitation cards. “Mr. Atkinson, here are the invitations to Grant Group’s party.”

Brian barely looked up, replying with a brief nod before diving back into the folder in front of him.

Jackson ced the invitations on the desk and turned to leave, but Brian stopped him and said, “Get a top–tier tutor for Jacob. Arrange some extra lessons for him.”

Jackson was a bit surprised, but he then nodded and replied, “Understood, Mr. Atkinson.”

As Jackson left, he couldn’t help but think back to when Jessica was still around–Jacob didn’t need a tutor back then. But now, with all the turmoil between Brian and Jessica’s marriage, it seemed like things had changed drastically.

Thinking about Brian’s closeness with Madeline, Jackson shook his head, but he soon pushed the confusing thoughts aside. He was just an assistant, after all. What happened in his boss’s private life was none of his business.

As soon as Jackson left, Madeline entered Brian’s office with a stack of documents.

“Mr. Atkinson,” she said, her eyes ncing up at him with a hint of admiration before she gently ced the documents on his desk. Her gaze thennded on the two invitations resting on the side.

Her eyes lit up as she casually remarked, “Mr. Atkinson, would you like me to apany you to Grant Group’s party?”

Madeline knew that Grant Group, like Atkinson Group, was an influential powerhouse. She assumed that it was only natural for Brian to receive an

invitation.

Madeline thought, her mind calcting, ‘If I attend with Brian, it will make people assume there’s something more between us. Plus, this kind of event could help me build connections with more big shots.

Brian didn’t even look up, instinctively ready to nod. But then, Jessica’s image suddenly shed in his mind. He responded without hesitation, “Don’t bother.”

Madeline’s smile, so simr to Jessica’s usual graceful one, froze just slightly at the edges. Inside, she thought, ‘He turned me down? Is he really not going to take me to this kind of event? With Jessica not around, who else would he take?

She still maintained herposure and replied with a professional smile, “Got it, Mr. Atkinson.” Then, she left the office.

However, just as Madeline reached the door, she nced back. She couldn’t understand Brian’s refusal, but she swore to herself that she would attend the party.

Madeline returned to her own office and searched through her contacts. After a moment, she picked up the phone and dialed a number.

11.17 AM

Once the call was connected, she said, “Hello, Mr. Hooper, this is Madeline, Mr. Atkinson’s secretary. I’m not sure if you remember me.”

She paused, smiling with ba /bhint of mischief. “I bhave /bba /bsmall personal favor to ask. Would you be avable to meet? It’s about the invitation to Grant Group’s party