Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 342

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“Mr. Williams… he’s really not just a shrink, is he?” Camila thought, feeling more awed the more she learned about him. The higher she climbed in her field, the more untouchable he seemed—like he was up there on cloud nine while everyone else was still scrambling on the ground.

Around her, the room buzzed with low-key gossip as people eyed the VIP table set front and center—a spot reserved for only the most important guests.

“I heard that seat’s for NextGen Technologies,” someone whispered near the dessert table, where slices of cheesecake and tiny lemon tarts were laid out.

“NextGen’s coming too? No way!”

“Of course. When it comes to tech innovation here, who can really top NextGen?”

“Does that mean we’ll actually get to see Mr. Williams tonight?”

The usually composed CEOs around the room couldn’t quite hide their excitement at the prospect. Their faces lit up like kids about to meet Santa at the mall.

“Back in Cabinda, he was like Bigfoot—everyone’s heard of him, but no one’s actually seen him in public. Even if he showed up, it was always a big deal, and normal folks never got past security,” one executive said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Honestly, I’d love to just shake his hand,” another added wistfully.

Camila Davis found herself wondering, too. Would Mr. Williams actually put in an appearance tonight?

Their speculations were cut short as the lights dimmed and the summit officially began.

First up: the host’s welcome speech. The emcee, a government official in an impeccable suit, took the stage with all the gravitas of a man used to having people hang on his every word.

“First of all, let me thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend tonight’s summit,” he began, his voice echoing off the marble pillars. “Everyone here is a leader in their field, representing the most influential and promising enterprises in the country…”

After the perfunctory thanks, he got down to business.

“I’m sure you’re all curious about the purpose of this summit. So, let’s be direct: the government is looking to identify cutting-edge tech companies with extraordinary potential for future collaboration and support.”

That woke the crowd up. People who’d been starting to nod off over their cold coffee suddenly sat up straighter, murmurs rippling through the hall.

No one had expected this. They’d all thought it was just another awards ceremony—nothing more than a chance to network and maybe snag a trophy. But this? This was a game changer.