Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 133

Chapter 133 

When Tessa returned to the venue, her makeup was flawless, and her face was once again graced with a perfectly composed smile. 

As soon as she sat down, she received a message from Kyler. He said he had ordered champagne to celebrate with her. 

Tessa replied: [Why spend so much on me?] 

Kyler replied: [I’m not that broke student anymore. You don’t have to worry about saving money for me.] Tessa couldn’t help but laugh at his message. [Well, whose fault is it that you kept it from me back then?] Kyler texted: [If I hadn’t kept it from you, how else would I have found out you’re so good–hearted?] 

Tessa gave a knowing smile, tucked her phone away, and turned her attention to the upcoming bid 

announcement. 

Tyson turned to Aurelia and asked, “Are you nervous?” 

“A little, but I know you’ve got this,” Aurelia replied. 

She had full confidence in their proposal. 

Tyson’s only job was to handle the technical innovation and R&D. 

Aurelia took care of the rest, raising funds, bringing together resources, pushing the commercialization process forward, and crafting effective market strategies to give the project the best possible chance. 

By working together and focusing on their respective strengths, they boosted efficiency and kept the project moving forward at a rapid pace. 

The other companies at the venue didn’t really expect to win. They were just there for the experience. 

After all, in Ashmont, who could really compete with Honoria Capital? 

Some of them were already trying to cozy up to Cassian and Tessa, hoping to get a piece of the action. 

Even if it was just a small share, they’d take it. 

As for Aurelia, her side was practically deserted. 

Tessa gave a self–satisfied smile. 

Back when AeroMind and InquireMind faced off, she’d lost to Aurelia because of a careless mistake, and it really bummed her out for a bit. 

But Cassian didn’t give up on her. He even trusted her with an even bigger project, letting her show what she was really capable of. 

13:04 Tue, Dec 23 M… 

Chapter 133 

¢>0) 

‘Big deal if Aurelia won once, Tessa thought to herself. ‘She just got lucky. Luck doesn’t always go her way. 

Tessa, looking smug, turned to Alina and whispered, “When’s Dad getting here?” 

Alina answered, “He’s already on his way. He’ll be here just as the results come out. No way he’d miss a day like this.” 

With everyone she cared about supporting her, Tessa finally felt totally at ease. 

At 11:30, the organizers would announce who had won the bid. 

Karlie was waiting by the entrance for the delivery guy to drop off the flowers. 

She’d placed the order ahead of time, hoping to be the first to congratulate Tessa with a bouquet as soon as the results came in. 

Not far away, someone was heading her way, arms full with a massive bouquet of sunflowers. 

Karlie muttered to herself, “I didn’t order sunflowers. Did the shop mess up my order?” 

Still confused, she watched as the guy with the sunflowers was already almost at her side. 

When Karlie finally saw his face, she was left speechless in shock. 

But the 

guy didn’t even spare her a glance. He just walked straight into the venue. 

Karlie quickly shot Tessa a message. [Tessa, I just saw Gideon walk into the hall with a massive bunch of sunflowers.] 

Tessa was too focused on the results to even glance at her phone. 

Just then, the organizer announced the winner. 

Tessa already had a victorious smile on her face. 

But that confident grin froze mid–celebration when the organizer called out Regal Investment as the winner. 

Waves of chatter rippled through the room. 

Wade, who’d been watching the bid announcement closely, was the first to step up and congratulate Aurelia. 

The rest quickly realized what was happening and started offering their congratulations to Aurelia as well. 

Everyone was eager to make an impression, exchanging contact information and seeing if there might be a chance to work together in the future. 

Aurelia didn’t turn anyone away. 

While things were lively around Aurelia, Alina’s expression was sour. 

Right at that moment, Daniel called to ask how the bid had turned out. 

༼༢༣) 

Chapter 133 

He mentioned he’d already reserved a restaurant and wanted Cassian to join the family for a celebratory dinner that night. 

Alina’s expression turned icy. She didn’t say a word and just hung up the phone. 

Tessa’s face, already awkward and humiliated, darkened even more after Alina left. 

She’d worked herself to the bone for this project, schmoozing one group after another. Yet, this was how it all 

turned out. 

“Why are you still standing here? Trying to make us look even worse?” Alina snapped, face cold as ice, and 

walked off. 

Tessa chased after Alina, but right at the entrance, she bumped into Gideon, standing there with a huge bouquet of sunflowers in his arms, waiting. 

Tessa had been together with Gideon for seven years, so Gideon was no stranger to Alina. 

Seeing him posted up at the door with all those sunflowers, Alina was puzzled as she shot Tessa a questioning look. 

Tessa averted her gaze. 

Alina instantly caught on, and her face went from ugly to downright thunderous. 

Just then, Aurelia and her crew stepped out of the venue. 

Gideon marched straight over to Aurelia, clutching the sunflowers, and handed them to her in congratulations. 

Aurelia asked in surprise, “Aren’t you supposed to be out of the country for work?” 

Gideon was one of the project’s investors, and Aurelia always kept him updated. She was certain he should be overseas right now. 

So seeing him show up here with a huge bunch of sunflowers totally threw her for a loop. 

“No way I’d miss something this big,” Gideon said, handing Aurelia the sunflowers he’d picked out just for her. “Congratulations on reaching new heights.” 

“Thanks.” Aurelia beamed as she took the bouquet. She said, “Let’s have dinner tonight. It’s my 

treat.” 

Gideon gave her a regretful look. “Hold onto that dinner for now. When I’m back, I want you to treat me, just the two of us.” 

“You’ve got work to do?” Aurelia asked. 

“Yeah, negotiations aren’t finished yet. I need to get back and keep at it,” Gideon replied. 

He’d managed to squeeze in a quick flight home during a break in the talks, just so he could celebrate Aurelia’s big moment. 

Chapter 133 

Now that he’d handed over the sunflowers and said his congratulations, he had to dash right back. He didn’t even have a minute to spare. 

“I won’t hold you up then. Work comes first. Once you’re done, dinner’s on me,” Aurelia promised. 

“Deal,” Gideon replied. 

His ride was still waiting out front. After saying goodbye to Aurelia, Gideon jumped in and took off for the airport. 

His secretary asked, “Was it really worth flying forty hours round–trip just for a few words with Ms. Corin?” “It was,” Gideon said, eyes steady and sure. 

For Aurelia, no distance was too far, and no effort too much. 

The secretary saw how tired he looked and was at a loss for words. 

Things were looking pretty grim for Gold Gauntlet, and Gideon had barely caught any sleep since he got back. 

But no matter how rough things got, Gideon was always there whenever Aurelia needed him. 

And when she succeeded, he was always the first to show up and celebrate. 

***** 

Aurelia walked out of the venue with her bouquet in hand, and reporters instantly flocked around her. 

The crowd and excitement around her were a world apart from Tessa, who was left standing off to the side, completely overlooked. 

Karlie’s face was livid with rage. 

The delivery guy finally showed up with the flowers, but Karlie was so furious she didn’t even bother signing for them. She snapped at him, then tossed the whole bouquet in the trash without a second thought. 

When she looked at Aurelia again, her eyes were practically spitting fire with jealousy and hate. 

She’d been holding this in for way too long, and today, she just couldn’t take it anymore. 

Today, she was hell–bent on making Aurelia look bad in front of everyone. 

Ignoring Tessa’s attempts to hold her back, Karlie barged right up to the reporters, her voice cutting through the crowd. “You guys have no idea, do you? She’s the other woman, the one who stole someone else’s boyfriend!”