Wedding My Ex's Uncle (Kaia and Alden) novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232 Study Abroad

Jude replied coolly, “Well, if you’ve already guessed it, Mr. Miller, why are you still asking?”

Alex nearly cursed out loud.

So he knew. This whole time, he knew–and kept it from me.

In that moment, everything clicked.

The Graves Group’s sudden generosity… the favorable

treatment…

It had all been because of Kaia.

A chill ran down Alex’s spine as the weight of it sank in.

And then another thought hit him–hard.

If I’d actually handed that partner spot to Ophelia, I’d be dead. So dead.

But along with the shock came something else—a warm rush in his chest, like he’d just hit the jackpot without buying a ticket.

Kaia wasn’t just sharp in court. She was connected.

With her around, the firm’s reputation could soar to a whole new level.

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*f of f f f

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During her Thursday court session, Kaia unexpectedly ran into Gilbert–it had been a long time since they’d last seen each other.

She offered a polite nod and a small smile. “Hello, Mr. Marsh.”

Gilbert returned the gesture, calm and easy. “Well, what a coincidence, Ms. Domont. You’re in court here today too?”

“Yeah,” Kaia replied, keeping her tone light and cordial. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“I heard you recently took on a legal aid case?” Gilbert said with a friendly grin. “Mr. Wayne mentioned it the other day. Said you were sharp–did an excellent job.”

Kaia’s smile faltered, just slightly. A flicker of shadow crossed her eyes.

“Let’s not talk about that,” she said quietly.

Gilbert immediately realized he’d hit a nerve. He had meant it as encouragement, but it had clearly backfired.

He let out a small sigh.

“Sounds like that case’s been weighing on you. But that’s normal

Chapter 232 Study Abroad

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-really. After a few more years in the field, you’ll get used to it. That kind of emotional toll, it dulls over time.”

Then, after a beat, he added, “You know, when you’re feeling stuck or uncertain, sometimes taking a step back to really focus on learning helps a lot. Have you ever considered going abroad for further studies?”

The question caught Kaia off guard. She hadn’t thought about that at all.

She gave a polite smile. “Thank you, Mr. Marsh. I’ll definitely think about it.”

As the hearing time approached, she said her goodbyes and headed upstairs.

Study abroad, huh?

The thought lingered in her mind.

After the hearing ended–conveniently, around four–Kaia got a call from Alex, who asked her to return to the firm as soon as possible, no matter how late it was.

As she left the courthouse and said goodbye to her client, she couldn’t help but wonder what was so urgent,

Alex had been clearly displeased with her ever since the Theresa case blew up. The thought crossed her mind-

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Chapter 232 Study Abroad

Is this it? A formal reprimand?

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Kaia knocked and stepped into the office. “Mr. Miller, you wanted to see me?”

Alex greeted her with an overly friendly smile.

“Ah, Kaia! You’ve been busy lately, huh? I heard you’ve taken on quite a few cases for the firm. I’m thinking we ought to give you an Employee of the Year award.”

Kaia raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

Sure, she’d been handling a lot of cases–but most of them weren’t high–profile, and they hadn’t brought in much revenue either.

Isn’t Mr. Miller laying it on a bit thick?

She kept her tone measured.

“The other attorneys on our team have been working hard too, Mr. Miller, Warren alone has ten active cases in court.”

Alex chuckled, awkward but persistent. “Yes, Warren’s doing great too. But you you landed that Graves Group follow–up. That was a huge win.”

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Chapter 232 Study Abroad

The moment he said it, a weight sank in Kaia’s chest.

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Still smiling, Alex continued, “I’ll have HR send out your promotion notice this Friday. You’ll be moving up to non–equity partner.

“I know some folks from other teams gave you a hard time before, but I promise that ends here. From now on, just focus on doing your work.”

A flicker of realization crossed Kaia’s eyes.

He already figured out what’s going on between her and Lucien.

“But isn’t that supposed to be decided at the end of the year?” she asked carefully.

Alex waved it off. “I’ve seen the work you’ve done. There’s really no difference between now and then. And don’t worry–no one’s going to say anything.”

Kaia’s smile faded slightly. That didn’t sit right,

To him, it sounded like all her hard work had been reduced to a convenient connection. Like her promotion had nothing to do with her effort–just influence.

She knew connections mattered in this field, but hearing it framed like that… it took the joy out of it.

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Chapter 232 Study Abroad

“You’ve earned this, Kaia,” Alex went on.

&

“We’ll throw a promotion dinner at the firm this week. And about that legal aid case–don’t let it bother you.

“From now on, you don’t need to take on those kinds of small–time assignments. They don’t help your advancement anyway.”

Kaia gave a tight, distracted smile.

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“Thanks, Mr. Miller. But there’s no need for dinner. If that’s all, I’ll get back to work.”

Alex noticed the shift in her expression but couldn’t quite figure out what he’d said wrong. He gave a sheepish smile. “Alright. Go on, then.”

As soon as she left his office, Kaia headed straight for Jude’s.

She stepped in and shut the door behind her. “Jude, did you tell Mr. Miller about me and Lucien?”

Jude looked up, briefly caught off guard. “I might’ve hinted at it. Why?”

Kaia’s voice was low, tight. “He said they’re announcing my promotion on Friday.”

Chapter 232 Study Abroad

“That’s great news,” Jude said, brightening. “Isn’t that what you’ve been working toward all year? You set that goal–and you’ve reached it.”

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Even so, Kaia couldn’t shake the uneasiness curling in her chest.

She let out a quiet sigh.

“Do you think I’m really qualified for this?” she asked, her voice low.

“If it weren’t for Lucien… would I even be close to this position?”

Jude could see it happening–she was spiraling again.

He stepped in before the doubt took root.

“Come on, Kaia. Plenty of peopl

want resources, and most of

them never get them. That doesn’t mean you don’t deserve what you’ve earned.”

He leaned forward slightly, voice firm but kind,

“There’s no contradiction here. You’ve got the skills, and you’ve got the connections. The two don’t cancel each other out.

“Your network gives you a boost, sure–but so what? That’s not a bad thing.”

Kaia nodded faintly. She knew he was right.

Chapter 232 Study Abroad

Deep down, she knew it was a good thing.

And yet… the knot in her chest wouldn’t budge.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “I’ll think about it.”

Jude frowned as he watched her go quiet again.

Think about it?

What’s there to think about, silly girl?

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You’re not really gonna turn down a promotion… are you?

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As usual, Kaia stayed late at the office. She was deep into research, but her mind kept drifting–to something else entirely.

Lately, she’d been seriously considering going abroad for further

studies.

The school she wanted most was Sciences Po. She met almost all the requirements, and if she committed now, the DELF exam was just a week away.

With two weeks of focused prep, she was confident she could score at least a 70.

Chapter 232 Study Abroad

But the decision wasn’t that simple.

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If she really chose to go, she wouldn’t be back for at least two years. The weight of that reality pressed down on her more than she expected.

And what worried her most… was Lucien.

Would he be willing to accept it? To wait?

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