Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 258

Instead, Wren merely offered a faint smile.

"I was young back then. I didn't know how to say no."

Charles's smile froze for a fraction of a second.

Someone nearby let out an awkward cough.

Lawrence's eyes darkened noticeably.

Acting as though she hadn't noticed the shift in atmosphere, Wren pulled another invitation from her clutch. "Director Clarke, Stellaris is hosting a small, closed-door review next week. We would be incredibly honored if you could attend and offer your guidance from an industry ethics perspective."

She pivoted the conversation so smoothly that Charles had no choice but to drop his previous comment.

He accepted the invitation and glanced down at it.

"The 'Right to Silence' Initiative," he read the title aloud, his expression turning serious. "Now that's a rare topic."

"Because most systems are hyper-focused on how to harvest data," Wren replied. "But in a medical setting, the choice to opt out of being recorded is also a fundamental right."

Charles looked up at her.

This time, the patronizing warmth he usually reserved for Mrs. Langford was gone, replaced by genuine, calculating scrutiny.

"When your mother ran her projects, she was also uncompromising about patient consent."

Wren's fingers tightened imperceptibly.

Lawrence shifted his gaze to Charles.

Realizing he might have overstepped, Charles offered a quick, polite smile. "Vivian Vance certainly left a deep impression on the industry back in her day."

A knot formed in Wren's stomach.

She was desperate to ask for more details.

But this wasn't the time or the place for an interrogation.

She swallowed her emotions and kept her tone steady. "If you're willing to attend, I would love to ask you a few questions privately after the review about some of those older projects."

Charles studied her for a moment before tucking the invitation into his breast pocket.

"We'll see when the time comes."

It wasn't a hard yes, but it wasn't a rejection either.

Wren knew instantly that coming here tonight had been entirely worth it.

But right beside her, Lawrence interjected. "Director Clarke, I'll be sure to pay you a visit soon as well."

Charles nodded with a polite smile.

Wren lowered her eyes.

He didn't look surprised in the slightest.

Wren understood immediately.

This was the exact optics victory he had been hunting for.

Simply walking in together wasn't enough. Getting photographed wasn't enough.

He needed her up on that stage, in front of the entire industry, forced to act as a living prop in Langford Medical's charitable narrative.

The spotlight was blinding.

Someone nearby whispered, "Go on, Mrs. Langford!"

Wren didn't move right away.

In those few agonizing seconds, she remembered Leo asking her that morning, "Are you guys going to fight?"

She remembered Margaret telling her, "If you go, don't just go for nothing."

And she remembered Phoebe's advice: "Use his stage to walk your own path."

Wren lifted her chin and stepped up to the stage.

Lawrence extended his hand toward her.