Just then, the sharp click of high heels echoed from the front entrance.
Xena swept into the foyer, radiant in an elegant evening gown, her smile warm and practiced. “Darren, Noah, you’re back!” she called pleasantly.
Noah’s face fell the instant he saw her. He scowled, blurting out, “I don’t like you! You’re a bad lady!”
Xena’s smile froze in place, her expression tightening.
Darren bent down, frowning sternly. “Noah, that’s no way to speak to Xena.”
“But I just don’t like her. She looks like a villain!”
“Noah!” Darren’s tone turned sharp. “That’s enough. You’re being rude.”
Noah’s lower lip trembled. Tears welled up and slid down his cheeks as he pulled his hand free from Darren’s and darted past Xena, running up the stairs without looking back.
Watching his son’s retreating figure, Darren felt a surge of confusion. Ever since Noah’s accident, he’d been avoiding Xena, but why? What could have caused such a strong reaction?
Xena gave a soft, understanding smile. “It’s all right. Noah’s just upset after being abandoned by his birth mother. That’s why he lashes out at me. If you want to blame someone, blame Ms. Lawson.”
The moment Xena’s accusation fell on Charlotte, Darren’s expression darkened. “The issues between me and Noah’s mother are complicated. Charlotte isn’t to blame for this.”
What was that? Xena felt as if the room had suddenly gotten colder. For the first time, she heard Darren openly defend Charlotte!
It had to be because Charlotte had recently made headlines—winning that international logic competition, then saving Noah’s life in the operating room. Darren must see her in a different light now, as if she were suddenly remarkable. A sharp pang of jealousy twisted inside Xena. She couldn’t lose to Charlotte, not to that unremarkable woman who’d barely even finished grade school!
“Darren, I’ve made my decision about the three offers you made me: twenty percent of the Harrington Group, two billion in cash, and the appointment as head of Astra’s Research Division.”
She smiled, meeting his gaze. “I want the appointment. Make me the director of Astra’s R&D Center.”

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