The CEO’s Regret My Ex-Wife is a Tech Goddess novel Chapter 16

"Truth be told, no company ended up hiring me back then," Owen said, his eyes reddening. "I don't know how Lily found out, but she came to me. She said if I gave her your research data, she'd secure a position for me at Apex. I was desperate for a place to belong, so I..."

Hearing this, Alaina's heart dropped.

"I'm so sorry, Alaina," Owen lowered his head in deep shame. "I completely failed you."

Alaina kept her face entirely expressionless, maintaining her silence.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't devastated, but she gracefully replied, "It's actually fine. When I handed it over, my goal was to contribute to the research. Lily is brilliant, using it as a reference for her... isn't a bad thing."

Owen shook his head, burning with anger. "When I gave it to her, I told her she had to credit you for the parts that contributed to the development. She promised me she would, but she completely lied.

"I saw the data for the Apex lithography project. Most of what she submitted was directly copied from your work. When I confronted her about it later, she told me to shut my mouth, or else she'd make sure I could never find work anywhere again."

"..."

Time seemed to suddenly stand still. Alaina had never expected something like this to happen to her.

Three agonizing years of research—she knew better than anyone the blood, sweat, and tears it had taken.

She had slept on the lab floor and survived on stale sandwiches.

To save time, she skipped drinking water just to cut down on trips to the restroom.

Even with a 104-degree fever, she would rather take medicine and apply ice packs than step foot out of the lab.

She clenched her fists, a suffocating wave of fury burning like a raging inferno in her chest.

After politely seeing Owen out, she took off her hospital gown and headed straight to the CEO's office on the top floor.

Seeing her approach, Ms. Campbell quickly stood up to block her path. "I apologize, Mrs. Harrington, but Mr. Harrington is currently busy."

"Please announce me. I have urgent business."

"Mr. Harrington left strict orders that when he's busy, aside from Ms. Summers, no one else is to disturb him," Ms. Campbell said dismissively.

Her face cold, Alaina dialed Ethan directly. "I'm at the door to your office, and your secretary says you refuse to see me."

Ms. Campbell's face stiffened awkwardly.

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