Alice gripped the table. "Let go!"


    Jack stepped in front of Noah."If you want to cancel the contract, you can leave now. Alice isn''t your pet; she has the right to choose."


    Noah, defeated, agreed. They went to the restaurant.


    Noah looked at Jack.“Doctor Wilson, I didn''t expect you to have such diverse interests beyond your profession."


    Jack''s tone was cool. "I''ve never had my family suppress my interests in the name of ''fairness."


    Alice smirked; he was subtly criticizing Noah.


    Noah countered smoothly, "Then what does Dr. Wilson''s family do?"


    Alice became alert."Why are you asking? It''s irrelevant to work."


    “Just curious.” Noah remained wary of Jack. On the way, he''d realized Jack was behind everything. If Alice hadn''t solved the firewall issue, the partnership would have been cancelled. Jack leaned back, one hand on the table, revealing a glimpse of his wrist. "My family does... small business.”


    Andrew Yates choked on his drink. The audacity! If Jack''s business was "small," then everyone else''s was microscopic.


    Alice realized she knew nothing about Jack. He''d said he was traveling for work, but she knew nothing about it. Their connection was fragile.


    Noah pressed on."Small business? You must have apany. What''s the name?" Andrew Yates tried to smooth things over."Mr. Noah, you''re interrogating him. You''re so thorough."


    “Dr. Wilson took my sister away. As her brother, I have a right to know. Don''t you think SO, Dr. Wilson?"


    Alice felt ufortable."He''s just a friend. Your questions are making things awkward. Have you considered my feelings?"


    Noah calmed down.“Fine. If you''re unhappy, I won''t ask.”


    Alice lost her appetite. She nced at Jack; she knew he disliked being interrogated. Jack texted Alice: [Eat properly.]


    Alice, surprised, looked up. She replied: [I didn''t expect second brother to ask. I''m sorry.】


    [I''m not angry.]


    Alice rxed slightly. The mood improved.


    Alice went to the restroom, feeling conflicted. She knew nothing about Jack, Outside, Jack leaned against the wall, scrolling through his phone. His profile was partially hidden


    in shadow.


    Alice approached."I didn''t expect you to be back."


    "I finished


    my business.” He put down his phone, his


    gaze


    on her. "Why were you at your second


    14.38


    23.9%


    brother''spany? You didn''t mention it.”


    I was involved in that project; the firewall was my responsibility. His secretary called me for help; he''d been kind to me, and I didn''t want to see him struggle.” She''d helped for Secretary Davis''s sale


    Walking beside him, Alice felt her mood lift.


    Back at the table, Noah was agitated seeing Alice''s smile. She used to smile at him like that, but now, she didn''t even argue with him.


    Noah raised a ss towards Jack. A toast."


    Jack''s expression was cold. May her game be a huge hit."


    Exactly. Alice


    shares has


    in Windham Corporation.


    She''ll


    get


    dividends."


    Alice found this ironic. She nominally had shares, but in her past life, those shares were used to appease Chloe. She didn''t care about them.


    Andrew Yates interjected.“Jack''s also sessful. He''s diversified, investing in severalpanies; dared to look down on Jack? he''ll get dividends too. The Windham family dared


    Noah changed the subject. “Mr. Jack, do you have a girlfriend?"


    Jack''s fingers tightened around his wine ss. He seemed hesitant.


    Andrew Yates answered quickly. "Of course, he does."


    Alice dropped her chopsticks, her heart racing.


    She picked them up, her gazeplex, a pang of something bitter in her chest. Jack, seemingly resolved, said, “We''re getting to know each other.”


    Alice felt a buzzing in her ears, silencing other sounds. Jack subtly nced at her, but she was looking down. He knew what he was doing was cruel, but if she knew his true identity, it would be a thousand times crueler.


    It was better to nip this in the bud. He said casually, “It depends on how things develop.”


    Noah continued, "I know many eligible youngdies. Would you like to meet some, Dr. Wilson?"


    Alice''sshes fluttered. "It''s not necessary!"


    Noah was surprised. He thought it was necessary; he didn''t want Alice involved with Jack. If Jack was after money, he needed to know how to deal with him.


    Noah said pointedly, "Fine. Second brother will listen to you. But when you marry, you need a reliable man from a good family. Second


    a good family. Second brother will make


    brother will make sure of that."


    Alice remembered Chloe''s usations about her seducing Garrett Yates. What had Noah said then? That she was shameless and ambitious.


    Alice replied coldly, "Mr. Noah, have you forgotten we''ve severed ties?"


    Noah''s face fell. Alice, you can''t embarrass Second Brother in front of outsiders. Family matters should be kept private, don''t you understand?"