Chapter 2

The next day, Ethan was at the university. He wasn't in his usual tailored suit, but in a simple, elegant cashmere sweater. The academic setting was a world away from his corporate battlegrounds. He was here to meet the student his foundation was considering sponsoring.

He felt surprisingly calm. The rage he expected to feel about Amelia was absent. It was as if a long, draining fever had finally broken, leaving only a quiet clarity. He had wasted enough of his life on her.

He took off his long coat, draping it over his arm. The gesture was unhurried, revealing the confident posture of a man used to being in control.

As he turned a corner, a young woman rushing past him bumped into his arm. A stack of papers and a worn folder scattered across the floor. A pen rolled under a nearby bench.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!"

She knelt quickly, her hands scrambling to gather the mess. He saw her pick up his pen that had rolled near her.

Her voice was clear and pleasant, with no hint of panic, just genuine apology. She stood up, holding his pen out to him.

"Here you go, sir. Again, my apologies."

Ethan looked at her for the first time. She was in her mid-twenties, with intelligent dark eyes and hair pulled back in a simple, functional ponytail. She wore no makeup, and her clothes were clean but faded. There was a resilience in her posture, a quiet dignity that he found immediately appealing.

"It's fine," he said, his voice softer than usual. "You must be Dr. Maya Sharma."

It was a statement, not a question.

She looked surprised for a moment, then her expression became professional.

"Yes, I am. And you are Mr. Hayes?"

"I am," he confirmed. "Let's find a place to talk."

They sat at an outdoor cafe on campus.

"Tell me about your research," he prompted. "Your file says you're on the verge of a major breakthrough in detecting dark matter signatures."

Maya's eyes lit up. She spoke about her work with a passion and clarity that was captivating. She explained complex theories in simple, elegant terms. She was brilliant.

"Your proposal is impressive," Ethan said, leaning back. "But it's also a lie."

Maya froze, her cup halfway to her lips.

"I don't understand."

"You state that your funding was redirected due to a university-wide budget cut," he said, his eyes fixed on hers. "The truth is, your funding was specifically pulled and given to another, less promising project. Why did you lie about that?"

Her facade cracked. A flicker of pain crossed her face, but she quickly suppressed it. She took a deep breath.

"Because it's not relevant to the quality of my research," she said, her voice firm. "Admitting I was a victim of academic politics makes me look weak. I prefer to be judged on my work, not my circumstances."

Ethan was impressed by her answer. She wasn't asking for pity. She was asking for a chance.

"Why was your funding pulled, Dr. Sharma?" he asked, his tone gentle.

She hesitated, looking down at her hands. "The student who received my funding... his name is Leo Vance."

Ethan felt a cold knot form in his stomach.

"And he is very close with my wife, Amelia Hayes," he finished for her, his voice flat and hard. "She sits on the university's philanthropic board. She pulled the strings."

Maya' s head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock. She had no idea.