Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 291

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When the new semester had started at Whitvale School of Management, Gideon had showed up. But not only did Aurelia never come, he also found out she’d given up her chance to study abroad, all f Back then, he thought, ‘If that’s what she really wants, then I hope she’s happy.’ 

So for seven years, he never once reached out to Aurelia. 

It wasn’t until Jasper told him that Cassian and Tessa had reunited in Grendel City that Gideon rushed b home. 

“Now that you’re back, why not go for it?” Jasper asked. 

“You don’t really know Aurelia. If you push her too hard, it’ll just blow up in your face. I have to take my t Gideon replied. 

Honestly, he figured taking it slow wasn’t so bad after all. 

He liked her, but she was her own person. 

***** 

Today, Alina was riding high. She was as dazzling as it gets. 

Usually, she was just background noise, but today she’d transformed into the queen bee of the party. 

The ladies who used to give her the cold shoulder were suddenly falling over themselves to cozy up to her. Everyone was hoping Alina would bring them along for the ride. 

And no one was more enthusiastic than Carlee Gold, who was practically tripping over herself to get close to her. 

Carlee came back from a phone call, practically buzzing with excitement as she told Alina, “Mrs. Rowe, my husband just called. Professor Horton is throwing a mentorship party at the top of the Golden Bay Hotel in a week!” 

“A mentorship party?!” someone blurted out. “No way, for real?” 

“Of course it’s real! My husband is a partner at the Golden Bay Hotel, he just got the news,” Carlee replied. 

Alina was still a bit lost. “What’s the big deal about a mentorship party?” she asked. 

“Wait, you really don’t know? If you’re just a grad student, you don’t get a mentorship party. That’s only for the ones Professor Horton officially takes on as protégés, his chosen apprentices. Only they get invited to something that special!” someone explained, eyes wide. 

“Mrs. Rowe, Ms. Rowe is about to hit the jackpot!” another lady gushed. 

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“Mrs. Rowe, you have to let us in on the good stuff! If you get any new connections or resources, don’t forget about us,” someone else chimed in. 

“Right?! I’ve always said Ms. Rowe is a total genius. She’s got a PhD in finance from overseas, her fiancé is Ashmont’s hottest tech up–and–comer, and now she’s Professor Horton’s protégé. She’s going to be unstoppable!” another woman added. 

“Honestly, Mrs. Rowe, you’re the real powerhouse here. Not only is your daughter gorgeous, but you raised her to be so accomplished. You have to tell us your secrets for raising such an amazing kid!” someone else said. 

Alina was totally swept up in all the flattery, practically floating on air. She even swore she’d have their backs from now on. 

Just as the mood was at its peak, Alina’s phone rang. 

Seeing the caller ID, Alina’s face lit up as she told the other ladies, “It’s my daughter, she’s calling to share some good news!” 

“Answer it, answer it!” Carlee urged. 

Alina answered the call, her face beaming with pride. But after just a couple of words, her expression changed dramatically. “I’ll be right there.” 

“What’s wrong?” the ladies asked, all looking at her in confusion. 

Alina replied anxiously, “My daughter just fainted!” 

“Oh no! Which hospital is she at? We should all go visit her together, too bad we don’t have time to grab any get–well gifts,” someone said. 

Alina waved it off. “Oh, don’t worry about that! It’s the thought that counts.” 

So, the whole group hurried to the hospital, hoping to score some points with Alina and strengthen their 

social ties. 

When they finally arrived, they ran into a crowd of reporters blocking the entrance. 

“Are you guys serious? My cousin’s sick in the hospital, and you’re still trying to grill her?” Karlie snapped, standing anxiously in front of the door. 

“We’re not grilling her, we just want the truth,” the reporter replied, keeping his cool. 

Just as Karlie was at a loss for what to do, Alina showed up. 

“What’s going on?” she asked, her expression cold and serious. 

Carlee quickly cleared a path for her. “Make way, everyone! This is Tessa’s mom; she needs to see her daughter. Don’t block her way.” 

As soon as the reporters heard that, they immediately turned their attention to Alina, shoving microphones 

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in her face. “Mrs. Rowe, hello! We’re from the financial news channel. Can we get a quick interview?” 

Alina froze for a second. ‘Wait, the financial news channel? Isn’t that the one I asked someone to arrange?‘ 

She stopped in her tracks, nodded without missing a beat, and replied, “Sure.” 

Karlie called out, “Aunt Alina!” trying to stop her, but it was already too late. 

The reporter didn’t hold back. “Are you aware your daughter committed academic fraud?” 

“How do you feel about your daughter’s involvement in academic fraud?” another added. 

“We’ve heard your daughter’s name is on dozens of high–impact papers. Is there plagiarism in any of them? someone in the crowd shouted. 

The rapid–fire questions nearly knocked Alina off her feet, leaving her reeling. 

Her face, which had been beaming with pride just moments ago, instantly turned cold. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!” 

With that, she shoved the microphones aside and strode straight toward the hospital room. 

The people who had been trailing behind her all stopped dead in their tracks. 

They all exchanged stunned glances, completely thrown off by the sudden turn of events. 

‘Wait, so Tessa’s impressive academic record was all a lie? Oh my god!‘ they all probably wondered. 

Carlee was the first to react. “Oh, I just remembered, I need to pick up my youngest from school. I’ll have to head out.” 

The others quickly followed suit, making up excuses to leave. 

In less than five minutes, word about Tessa faking her academic credentials was already blowing up in the ladies‘ circle. 

Alina was shaking with rage, her whole body trembling. “Just what the hell happened?” 

Tessa looked pale as a ghost. She’d really passed out; she wasn’t faking it to dodge the drama. 

Even now, her hands were still shaking. 

Tessa could only stand there in silence, unable to muster a single word in response to Alina’s questions. 

She never saw it coming that Aurelia was the one who brought her down. 

Tessa couldn’t even begin to picture the looks she’d get from everyone now. 

‘Cassian, what would he think of me? Will he call off the engagement?‘ Her mind was a total mess. She couldn’t even think straight, let alone answer anything. 

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Alina took a long moment to calm down before finally asking, “So what’s this about Professor Horton throwing a mentorship party?” 

When Alina first heard about the mentorship party, she was genuinely thrilled. She thought Tessa was ab to skyrocket to the top. 

“Professor Horton… he’s taking Aurelia as his protégé,” Tessa said, her voice barely above a whisper, tremb with emotion. 

“How is that even possible?” Alina was floored. 

The room went dead silent, not a single sound for what felt like ages. 

After what felt like forever, Alina finally managed to ask, “And Cassian? Where is he?” 

******** 

The news about Tessa’s academic fraud exploded across the media that afternoon. 

It was front–page news. The whole scene was rocked; everyone was talking about it. 

Every group chat in the business was blowing up, and Aurelia couldn’t avoid it even if she tried. 

Everyone was fixated on just two things: Was HelixTech still gonna go public? Would Cassian dump Tessa? 

Even Mia couldn’t resist gossiping about it with her. “I bet a pack of spicy sticks, Cassian is totally gonna brea up with Tessa!” 

Her reasoning was blunt. “Guys are super pragmatic. Now that Tessa’s got nothing left to offer, why would he waste his time or resources on her? Breakup is guaranteed!” 

“I’m not so sure.” Aurelia’s pen froze for a second as she was signing the papers. 

After all, she knew firsthand just how much damage a first love could do. 

Aurelia worked a bit late that night before finally heading home in the car. As soon as they pulled into her neighborhood, Walter said, “That’s Mr. Locke.” 

Aurelia looked up from her papers, squinting as she peered ahead. 

It was Cassian standing under a streetlight. 

The dim glow from the lamp threw shadows over his angular brow, leaving his face completely unreadable. 

God knew what was on his mind. 

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