Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 36

**Faith Didn’t Survive Time – by Aadi Sharma**

**Chapter 36**

Renee turned her head, her eyes locking onto Jasper’s piercing gaze. “You know, whether it’s Genome Tech or the Spencer family, I believe the crux of the matter lies in the integrity of the research results. Ultimately, decisions should hinge on the merit of those findings. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Zeller?”

Jasper let out a light chuckle, amusement dancing in his eyes. “You’ve got quite a bit of confidence, don’t you?”

A smile crept onto Renee’s face, genuine and bright. “Thank you for the compliment. I do try to maintain a strong front.”

But before she could savor the moment, Jasper shot back with a sharp retort, “I bet you were just as confident when you married your husband.”

The words hung in the air like an unexpected storm.

Luke, sitting in the front, had just taken a sip of water when Jasper’s comment struck. The liquid went down the wrong way, and he found himself choking, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet room.

‘Damn, the boss has a tongue like a razor!’

He wanted to burst into laughter, but the risk of being caught in the act of amusement kept him silent. Instead, he coughed awkwardly, his face flushed with embarrassment. It felt like a punishment to hold back the laughter that threatened to escape.

Renee, who usually prided herself on her ability to maintain composure in front of others, felt her defenses crumble in the face of Jasper’s biting wit. That man had a way of cutting through her carefully constructed barriers. Feeling cornered, she pursed her lips, the silence stretching between them like an unspoken truth.

Because deep down, he was right.

When she had married Adam, she had been filled with an unwavering belief that he loved her more than anyone else ever could and that this love would endure through the trials of time. She had envisioned a future where they would grow old together, hand in hand, sharing laughter and memories. Now, however, that dream felt like a cruel jest, a mirage that had faded away.

Kayla’s eyes glinted with a mix of malice and envy as she sized Renee up, taking in every detail.

Renee wore a gradient dress that accentuated her pale, slender arms, hugging her curves in all the right places. The fabric draped elegantly, following the contours of her body with an almost ethereal grace. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face and making her porcelain skin appear even more striking.

Despite her outward disdain for Renee, Kayla harbored a secret jealousy, wishing for the other woman’s flawless figure and captivating beauty.

“But honestly,” Kayla continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “even if they tossed you onto Mr. Zeller’s bed, he wouldn’t even glance your way.”

The bitterness in her words stung, but the next sentence was Kayla’s version of brutal honesty: “You’re a married woman, not some naive little girl. Mr. Zeller has seen it all. He wouldn’t even consider someone who’s so obviously throwing herself at him.”

Renee felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Physically drained, but even more so emotionally, she had no desire to engage in a battle of words. The thought of slapping Kayla again felt like a distant memory, one she simply didn’t have the energy to revisit.