Chapter 384

Alexander's phone buzzed before he could answer.

He excused himself to take the call outside. When he returned, servers were already bringing out the first course.

Oliver's unanswered question hung in the air, dismissed as easily as yesterday's news.

The brilliant mind behind the groundbreaking paper that had engineers worldwide scrambling for copies sat casually across the table.

As lunch progressed, Walter and his students couldn't resist peppering Isabella with questions about the paper's core concepts and experimental data.

Whether they asked about specific sections or broader industry challenges, Isabella answered each query with effortless confidence.

Victoria observed quietly, her expression unreadable.

Watching Isabella hold her own against Walter's intellectual probing almost made her seem... competent.

But was that truly possible?

Given Nathaniel's reputation, if he'd credited Isabella as first author, he must have prepared her thoroughly.

Her initial shock at Nathaniel's announcement still lingered.

If this paper truly represented Isabella's independent work as Nathaniel implied, wouldn't that make her more accomplished than her own advisor, Frederick?

Impossible.

She wasn't Nathaniel.

The world had many bright minds, but few reached his caliber.

More likely, Nathaniel had written the paper himself and was simply elevating Isabella's reputation.

Satisfied with this conclusion, Victoria cast a dismissive glance at Isabella before looking away.

Eleanor and Genevieve shared Victoria's skepticism.

Hot-tempered Genevieve grew visibly agitated watching Isabella dispense advice to Walter like some esteemed expert.

She barely restrained herself from exposing the charade. But with neither Eleanor nor Victoria speaking up, she bit her tongue despite her fury.

Dominic had initially doubted Isabella's credentials too. But seeing Walter's genuine excitement and focused attention as they spoke, his certainty wavered.

Could she actually be this brilliant?

The meal stretched on unexpectedly.

Before parting, Isabella and Walter exchanged contact information.

Walter, realizing he'd monopolized Isabella's time, turned apologetically to Alexander. "My apologies, Mr. Whitmore. Once we started discussing the research, I completely lost track—"

"Not at all," Alexander interrupted smoothly. "Today's lunch was precisely for everyone to become acquainted. It'll make future collaborations more productive."

As the group dispersed, Julian finally seized his chance to approach Isabella.

"Congratulations," he said simply.

"Thank you," Isabella replied.

Oliver noticed Julian's approach but dismissed it as mere politeness.

Alexander observed Julian speaking with Isabella, his expression unreadable before he looked away.

Victoria's lips pressed into a thin line.

Did Julian actually believe in Isabella's professional competence? Was that why he fancied her?

But no—that couldn't be it.

Julian had shown interest in Isabella long before Montgomery Enterprises partnered with VisionTech.

His attraction clearly had nothing to do with her supposed brilliance.

Alexander's voice broke her thoughts. "Something on your mind?"

Victoria blinked, composing herself.

Seeing how Isabella had stolen the spotlight today while Alexander barely glanced her way, she forced a light smile. "Nothing important."

Whether Isabella's competence was real or fabricated—it didn't matter.

In Alexander's eyes, she might as well not exist.