Chapter 9 She’s Gone For Good
The color drained from Blair’s face in an instant.
His pupils dilated wide, and he stared at Dina in utter disbelief, his body frozen like a statue. He thought, ‘How could she possibly be Wonder Group’s chief?‘
“No… that’s impossible! She can’t be Wonder Group’s chief!” Belinda cracked first, jabbing a finger at Dina and letting out a piercing scream. She abandoned any pretense of her polished elegance, consumed by raw panic and frenzy.
She added, “Mr. Smith, you must have it wrong. Her name’s Dina. She’s just a team leader who got fired from Fighters Group. She…”
“Ms. Hobbs.” Tom cut her off icily. “Ms. Gardner is Wonder Group’s global chief R&D officer. The president personally pursued her for three straight years, pulling out all the stops to bring her on board. No one gets to question her credentials. But you…”
His voice dripped with open contempt and sarcasm. “You’re accusing Wonder Group’s chief R&D officer of stealing your work? That’s absurd!
“She single–handedly built the theoretical foundation and core architecture for our flagship ‘Bionic Neuron Matrix‘ project. Something like Soul Echoes? That’s child’s play for her. She could toss it together without breaking a sweat. Steal it? Give me a break!”
Tom’s eyes swept over them like a judge passing sentence, taking in Blair’s pallid face and Belinda’s wobbling stance before fixing on Blair. He pronounced each word with deliberate weight.
“Fighters Group, noted. Wonder Group won’t forget what you’ve done to Ms. Gardner today. Effective immediately, we’re cutting all global business ties and shutting down every channel of cooperation with Fighters Group, permanently!”
With a heavy thud, Belinda crumpled to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut, her face etched in gray despair.
Tom didn’t waste another glance on them, turning back to Dina as his tone shifted seamlessly to one of deep respect. “Ms. Gardner, shall we proceed to the venue now, or would you prefer a more comfortable conference room? Your time is too precious to squander on these irrelevant… curs.”
He spat the last words with a frigid glance at the sprawled Belinda and the ashen Blair.
“Let’s head in.” Dina’s voice was steady and composed. She smoothed out her rumpled collar from the earlier scuffle and walked toward the venue hall with calm, measured steps.
From beginning to end, she didn’t so much as glance at Blair or Belinda.
Tom and the cluster of Wonder Group executives trailed her like devoted bodyguards, flanking her protectively.
The crowd parted on its own, making way.
The looks of disdain and mockery from moments before had shifted to ones of deep reverence.
“Dina!” Only as she was about to cross the threshold into the venue did Blair‘ shake off the daze of his shock, clawing back a fragment of his wits.
His voice came out raspy, every word ground out through clenched teeth, laced with a desperate, defiant edge. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Joining Wonder Group? Do you even want to come back to Fighters Group? Do you want to stay by my side?”
He stepped forward, his eyes locked on her back with a tangled mix of emotions. “This whole spectacle today, it’s just to prove your value and make me cave, right? To force us back together? Fine! I acknowledge your talent. We can put the past behind us. The Fighters Group R&D department is yours again. Enough already, quit while you’re ahead.”
Dina paused mid–step. She turned slowly, regarding Blair with the detached gaze one might give a total stranger, laced with a touch of cold pity.
She said nothing, just coolly pulled a document from her handbag and held it up right in front of Blair.
His gaze zeroed in on the header, [Labor Arbitration Acceptance Notice]. And the filing date? Six days ago, the exact day he‘ d cut off her cards.
“Labor arbitration?” Blair staggered like he’d been punched, eyes wide with rage, his voice pitching up wildly. “You… you really…”
“Mr. Woodward.” Dina’s tone was crisp and icy, without a hint of feeling. “Next time we cross paths, it’ll be in court.”
She pulled her eyes away, like even sparing him another look was a chore.
“Dina! Hold on! We can-” Panic clamped down on Blair’s chest. He lunged forward instinctively, hand outstretched to grab
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Chapter 9 She’s Gone For Good
her.
“Blair… Blair… my stomach… it hurts so bad…” Right then, Belinda let out a whimper of agony, hands pressed to her belly, tears flooding her eyes. “The baby… our baby… Blair, get me to the hospital…”
Blair’s reaching arm froze in midair.
Months of this routine had wired him. He dashed to Belinda’s side on autopilot.
Dina let out a quiet, wry chuckle. The whole thing was so painfully familiar it made her stomach turn with reflexive disgust.
She didn’t linger another second, striding straight into the venue.
“Dina…” Blair’s hoarse voice broke in over the line. “I’m giving this willingly. I want to make things right…”
“Dina…” Blair stared at the shutting doors, a hollow dread carving through him, an overwhelming wave of loss spiraling out of control.
“Blair… blood… I think I’m bleeding…” Belinda’s eyes brimmed red as she clutched his shirt for dear life.
Blair eyed her twisted face in pain, then glanced back at the locked venue doors, caught in a whirlwind of turmoil like never before.
Ding–The elevator doors parted.
Katie hurried out, a small bag of meds in hand, scanning the area with worry. “Mr. Woodward, Ms. Hobbs, have you spotted Ms. Gardner? She forgot her medicine in my car. Her back’s in bad shape; doc said she needs it right on schedule…” “What medicine? What back injury?” Blair’s head jerked up, his bark sharp and urgent, a sinking dread seizing him. Thrown by his fierce glare, Katie blurted, “From… that day at the office. You shoved her, she smacked into the desk edge and messed up her lower back… She could hardly walk…”
Seeing his face go sheet–white, she murmured, “Ms. Gardner’s been through the wringer lately. The doctors know her on sight now. Heard she ended up in the hospital just days ago, high fever from freezing in the snow one night…”
Snowy night… fever… back injury… Every detail slammed into Blair like a hammer blow to the chest.
The morning after that storm, she’d strolled back like nothing happened, even packing her stuff. He’d figured she was fine… And that shove in the office? He’d barely touched her… He had no clue it was that serious.
Two hospital trips, and she’d never mentioned a peep. Back when a rose thorn would prick her finger, she’d pout and make him kiss it better…
A crushing flood of fear, remorse, and chaos hit him like icy waves, pulling him under, choking the air from his lungs.
It finally clicked, sharp and undeniable: this wasn’t some sulk. She was truly… done with him.
“Dina!” Blair bolted upright, charging desperately toward the venue. One burning thought consumed him. ‘Don’t let her go.”
“Blair! The baby… our baby…” Belinda whined pitifully, yanking at his sleeve. The baby needs you now…”
