Chapter 462

The thought crossed Oliver's mind to share some gossip, but with Sophia and Richard present, he decided it wasn't the appropriate moment and kept quiet.

Alexander and Julian both had pressing matters demanding their attention.

After visiting Eleanor, Julian and Oliver didn't linger long in the hospital room.

Yet it had been ages since their group had shared a proper meal together.

Before departing, Oliver proposed, "If you can both clear your schedules, shall we have dinner tonight at The Grandeur?"

Alexander and Julian responded simultaneously, "Absolutely."

Alexander spent the remainder of the day at the hospital managing work affairs.

That evening, Catherine arrived to relieve him, allowing him to head to the reserved restaurant.

Sophia had returned to the Sinclair residence by noon, so Alexander went to dinner alone.

Upon arrival, Julian and Oliver were already seated.

Victoria was the last to arrive.

As she pushed open the private dining room's door, Alexander turned and spoke first.

"You made it."

Victoria offered a slight smile.

"Indeed."

Her gaze immediately noticed Julian's presence nearby.

When she'd first learned of Julian's growing affection for Isabella, shock had been her initial reaction.

But beyond surprise lay profound confusion.

She couldn't comprehend what qualities Isabella possessed—aside from physical beauty—that could possibly captivate someone like Julian.

Particularly considering how Julian had been utterly repulsed when Isabella drugged Alexander into marriage.

The drastic shift in his attitude—to the point of falling for her—defied understanding.

But now...

Recalling what she'd witnessed days earlier in the parking lot...

Discovering that NovaTech had been co-founded by Isabella and Nathaniel...

Realizing the Luminar programming language she'd long admired was developed under Isabella's leadership...

Remembering how affectionately Isabella had addressed Vivian...

Knowing Isabella played a significant role in NovaTech's success and revenue generation...

And piecing together all the fragments about Isabella's connection to NovaTech over the past six months—she finally understood exactly what Julian saw in Isabella.

In truth, Julian had likely known for ages that Isabella was Frederick's protégé.

He'd probably been aware of her NovaTech involvement all along.

Yet despite this knowledge, he'd never breathed a word to her.

She remembered her tireless efforts to impress him—her desperate hopes of gaining Frederick's notice.

How often she'd expressed admiration for Luminar's creator.

Now she felt like nothing more than a pitiful fool.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Clutching her handbag until her knuckles whitened, Victoria bit her lip hard to maintain composure.

Still, tears of humiliation shimmered in her eyes.

The realization struck her—Julian's romantic feelings for her had long since faded, quietly transferring entirely to Isabella.

These thoughts raced through her mind in mere seconds.

Alexander noticed her sudden stillness.

Turning to speak, he caught her unusually pale expression.

He paused.

"Are you unwell? You've gone quite pale."

At this, Oliver and Julian also turned to look.

Victoria's grip on her handbag had turned her fingers bloodless.

After a moment to collect herself, she forced a faint smile.

"It's nothing."