She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 177

With that, Hulda downed the glass in one smooth gulp.

She hated drinking, but she could hold her liquor. And tonight, this was a drink she had to take.

Caspian watched her finish the alcohol, his eyes darkening.

Hearing her display such humility, the researchers' displeased expressions visibly softened.

Then, Hulda's voice rang out again.

"That being said, I may be young, but I am not naive to the realities of office politics." Her tone shifted, sharpening with authority. "As the head of the R&D center, I expect my team to operate with mutual respect. I will not tolerate petty sabotage behind the scenes. We all work for The Conrad Atherton Institute. We rise together, and we fall together. I shouldn't need to explain that."

The researchers stared at her, slightly bewildered. Why the sudden pivot?

Was she implying someone at the table was playing dirty?

Then, the sharper minds in the room made the connection—the brazen reporter at the press conference who had aggressively questioned her personal life, trying to humiliate her on stage.

Before the conference, the press had been strictly briefed to stick to professional topics related to the tech.

Yet that reporter had actively tried to pry into her private life with the clear intent of dragging her reputation through the mud.

If she hadn't handled it flawlessly and defused the crisis, she would be drowning in a PR nightmare right now.

At first, they had assumed the reporter was just hunting for a cheap headline. But thinking about it now, how would a tech reporter even know about her multi-year resume gap?

Unless someone from inside the institute had intentionally leaked it.

Realization dawned on the group. They exchanged suspicious glances, wondering who among them was spineless enough to sell her out.

Seeing that her message had landed, Hulda smiled again. "But I have faith that every single one of us wants to see the institute thrive." She poured herself another drink. "A toast to you all! Let's leave work at the door tonight and enjoy the evening!"

Caspian's gaze landed on Herbert first, before lazily shifting to Justin. "And you are?"

Justin hurriedly pulled out a business card, presenting it with both hands. "Justin Jameson, from H&J Technologies. It's a real honor to meet you, Mr. Sterling."

Caspian pinched the card between two fingers, lowered his eyes to give it a cursory glance, and said nothing.

The silence stretched, freezing the air. Justin laughed awkwardly. "Were you here for dinner, or are you waiting for someone, Mr. Sterling? Do you need me to have the staff arrange anything?"

Caspian nodded faintly, his eyes sliding back to Herbert. "Waiting for my date to finish her dinner."

A date?

Could it be Hulda?

Whether it was the sheer shock or the alcohol flooding his system, Herbert felt his mind practically detonate. A deafening ringing filled his ears.