Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 138

Project Morning Star.

The text message hadn't mentioned that name.

Whatever Xavier had dug up, she hadn't seen the full report.

But now, the words 'Project Morning Star' had surfaced on their own.

Wren stared down at the old donor log, feeling as though a thick fog was slowly parting before her eyes. The name Vivian Vance was printed on the paper in tiny letters, yet it felt as if it were anchoring some heavy, long-buried secret.

"So the text about the old archives tomorrow night might not just be a scare tactic," she said.

Phoebe's expression darkened. "Or it could be someone trying to bait you into retrieving something, or testing you to see exactly how much you know."

Maya chimed in, "Wren, you can't walk into this trap alone. You're juggling a divorce lawsuit, the Stellaris project, and the history behind Project Morning Star all at once. If any one of those falls through, Langford Medical will blow it wildly out of proportion."

Wren closed the file.

"I know."

It wasn't that she was fearless.

It was just that fear was entirely useless now.

Just then, the front desk called, announcing that an invitation had arrived at Stellaris, addressed specifically to Wren.

Phoebe went out to grab it.

The crimson and gold invitation was promptly placed on the desk.

It was exquisitely crafted, the paper embossed with the emblem of The Southside Medical Foundation. Upon opening it, the title on the inner page made the conference room fall dead silent.

Cordially inviting Mr. Lawrence Langford and his wife, Mrs. Wren Whitaker.

Maya was the first to laugh.

A laugh fueled purely by anger.

"His wife? They have to be doing this on purpose."

Phoebe snatched the invitation and gave it a glance, her voice dropping to a chill. "This isn't a standard invite. This foundation has deep-rooted ties with the Langford family, and the old-school board members care deeply about appearances. Since your divorce with Lawrence isn't finalized, they are formally inviting you as Mrs. Langford for a public event."

Wren stared at that line of text.

Mr. Lawrence Langford and his wife, Mrs. Wren Whitaker.

It was so bizarre.

The identity she was desperately trying to sever was still being written out in beautiful, immovable calligraphy on someone else's invitation.

That realization inexplicably subdued the boiling frustration Lawrence had been carrying in his chest for days, replacing it with a dark, hidden thrill.

It wasn't joy.

He refused to admit it was joy.

But he had finally found proof that those impenetrable boundary lines Wren had drawn were not completely unbreakable.

She could refuse to return to the estate, ignore Eleanor's calls, shove the responsibility of their child back onto him, and snap at him over the phone, claiming 'because I'm his mother.'

But as long as this marriage wasn't officially terminated, it was impossible for her to completely detach herself from the name Lawrence Langford.

Lawrence gently pressed his fingertip against the edge of the invitation.

"Call her."

Xavier hesitated. "Right now?"

"Right now."

When the call went out, Wren was staring blankly at the very same invitation.

Her screen lit up, and Lawrence's name flashed across the display.