Chapter 95

Grace Li had only taken a few steps when she unexpectedly bumped into an old acquaintance—her former boss, Benjamin Harris, and his daughter, Scarlet Harris.

Grace knew Benjamin Harris well. Even though she had left the company, running into people from the industry was pretty common. She smiled warmly and greeted him first, "Mr. Harris, it's been a while! I didn't expect to run into you here."

Benjamin Harris responded with a big, friendly smile, "Grace Li, looks like you've been doing well since leaving the company. Just a few months into your new venture, and already getting invited by the Chamber of Commerce. That's impressive!"

Grace Li waved it off modestly. "I'm just lucky, honestly. It's all thanks to the support of friends. Without them, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to attend an event like this."

Benjamin raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "So, what projects are you working on these days? Maybe there's an opportunity for us to collaborate."

Benjamin's tone was still that of a former boss—authoritative, yet warm. Grace wasn't bothered by it at all; she smiled and responded openly. In fact, she was happy to share her latest project, since if Benjamin was interested, it could lead to new opportunities. "I've recently invested in a medical device project. This is Tom Wilson, the lead on the project. If you're interested, we could find some time to discuss the details. Who knows, it could lead to something great."

But before she could say more, Scarlet Harris suddenly chimed in, "Grace Li, remember the Brilliant Pharma inhaler project? You totally shot it down before—how is it that you're suddenly so into the medical industry now? That's a pretty big change."

Grace Li paused, surprised by Scarlet's bluntness but kept her calm. "Scarlet, every project is different. You can't just lump them together. With Brilliant Pharma's inhaler project, after evaluating the market, technical feasibility, and the team's strength, I saw significant risks, which is why I wasn't confident in it. But Hengyue Technology's smart medical device project is a whole different story. It has unique tech advantages and strong market potential."

Benjamin Harris nodded in agreement. "Exactly, Scarlet. Even within the same industry, projects can vary a lot—technically, market-wise, and in terms of the team behind them. You can't generalize. Grace Li's judgments are based on thorough analysis and experience."

Scarlet Harris rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Oh, I thought you were suddenly switching investment directions."

Benjamin Harris smiled but didn't let the comment bother him. "I'm going to catch up with some other people. We'll talk more about the project later, Grace Li."

"Of course, Mr. Harris. I'm looking forward to it."

After Benjamin walked off, Scarlet turned back and stopped Grace Li.

Grace turned, confused. "Scarlet, what's up? Something on your mind?"

Scarlet had been holding her frustration in for a while. Three people had left their team in the past few months, and she was convinced Grace had poached them. "I didn't want to bring this up in front of my dad, but you worked at our company for years. My dad treated you well. But after you left, you poached our people. Doesn't that bother you? Don't you feel guilty?"

Grace Li stayed calm and didn't let the accusation phase her. "Scarlet, I can assure you that I didn't poach anyone in an unethical way. I didn't offer them more than Nova Capital did. You might want to reflect on why they left. Employees leave for different reasons—career growth, dissatisfaction with the work environment, or the job itself—it's not always as simple as blaming me."

Scarlet got defensive. "What are you saying? Are you implying our company isn't good enough? Don't try to make excuses for yourself."

"I'm not saying that at all," Grace replied evenly. "I'm not trying to hurt Nova Capital's interests, nor have I made any moves to poach people on purpose. But my company does need talent. If someone applies, I can't reject them just because they came from your company. This kind of talent flow happens in every industry. People have their reasons for moving on. Instead of blaming me, maybe you should focus on strengthening your company culture and keeping your best people."

Grace Li didn't want to be too blunt, but her tone was firm and rational, just like the times she had advised Scarlet when they worked together at Nova Capital.

At that moment, a few guests nearby were talking in low voices. "Isn't that the heir to Silverstone Group?"

"Yeah, I heard he almost broke ties with his dad. After his dad had a heart attack recently, he came back and took over as acting chairman."

"He's definitely got the looks, and I've heard he's sharp. Wonder what changes he'll bring to Silverstone Group now that he's in charge."

Hearing the conversation, Grace instinctively looked in their direction—and froze.

About 20 feet away, Aiden Thompson stood tall in a perfectly fitted black suit that accentuated both his build and presence. He was walking next to an older man, leaning on a cane—none other than his father, Rex Thompson. Every now and then, someone would approach them to greet them, and Aiden would smile and shake hands, radiating confidence and charm. His composure and politeness were unmistakable, a clear reflection of someone raised in wealth.

Scarlet Harris was equally stunned. She had met Rex Thompson before—he was the chairman of Silverstone Group and a limited partner at Nova Capital. She had once witnessed Rex teasing Aiden during a dinner, making her think their relationship was tense, possibly even strained.

But now, she realized—Aiden was Rex's son!

She couldn't help but exclaim, "Aiden Thompson is Rex Thompson's son?! I always thought they had a terrible relationship!"

Grace Li's mind went blank. Her gaze fixed on Aiden from across the room. Even though they were only about 20 feet apart, it felt like there was an insurmountable gap between them. He stood like a shining star, drawing everyone's attention, while she felt like a distant speck of dust, helplessly gazing at him from afar. A wave of emotions hit her—shock, disappointment, and a feeling of betrayal—everything was tangled up in a way that made it hard to think clearly.

Scarlet turned to Grace Li, her voice dripping with suspicion. "Why didn't you tell me Aiden was Rex Thompson's son? Did you know all along and just keep it from me?"

Grace Li couldn't find the words to respond right away. The person she'd spent so much time with—eating, living, and sharing so many intimate moments—had turned out to be the heir to one of the most prominent families in the business world, and she hadn't known a thing. She'd always suspected Aiden came from money, just from his looks and demeanor. But she had thought maybe his family had fallen on hard times, and that's why he was out working. She even questioned if he had ulterior motives, whether he was trying to impress wealthy women or if his feelings for her were genuine. But never, ever had she imagined he was the heir to Silverstone Group.

Her thoughts swirled. She had always felt that there was a distance between her and Aiden, no matter how close they seemed. But now, that distance seemed to stretch impossibly far.