Chapter 221: I can use this to my advantage.
Zachary’s jaw clenched further, the muscles tightening as if he were fighting himself. He couldn’t blame anyone but himself. He had been so consumed in joy when the system seemed to work that he had never considered the possibility of being tricked.
"No," he admitted bitterly. "This failure is mine—and my team’s. Our arrogance destroyed everything."
Riya’s fingers slid over his hand, squeezing softly. "Don’t drown yourself in regret. You’ll build something even greater, better than this one. And when you do, you’ll shock everyone."
Her words eased the storm inside him, his bad mood lifting a bit. He cast her a curious look. He had never expected that she would stand by him and comfort him like this.
"Why are you here with me?" he asked quietly. "Shouldn’t you be with your fiancé?"
Although he was touched that she had come to check on him, even though she had been with Liam at the event.
"My fiancé?" Riya scoffed. "He doesn’t care where I go or who I’m with. Don’t bring him up. I came for you. Tell me—how can I make you feel better?"
Something in his gaze softened, emotions flickering behind his usually hard expression. It had been so long since he felt this kind of care, this kind of loyalty.
"Do I really need to say it?" he murmured, almost teasing. "You already know what makes me happy."
Riya curled her lips into a sultry smile. "I know," she drawled as she leaned over to him with her arms around his neck. "And this part is my favorite."
She pressed her lips against his.
Zachary responded instantly, pulling her against his chest, their kiss deepening with hungry need. They lost themselves in each other, oblivious to the world.
But someone else saw everything.
Liam froze where he stood, his blood turning cold. He couldn’t believe what he had just noticed.
’She is with Zachary!’ he muttered in his mind.
Liam stood rooted to the spot, his heart thundering in his chest with shock and disbelief. The sight before him was a blow sharper than any blade — Riya tangled in Zachary’s arms, kissing him. Zachary was her uncle in relation, although they weren’t blood-related. The Grant family would never approve this relationship.
For a split second, his body lurched forward, ready to rip her away and confront them both. But he forced himself back.
This wasn’t the time to interrogate them. He needed to be patient, to think, to plan.
’I can use this to my advantage.’
As soon as that thought emerged in his mind, he raised his phone and sneakily took pictures of Riya and Zachary in a compromised position inside the car. His lips curled into a humorless smirk as he turned away, walking back toward the hall as though nothing had happened.
Liam’s stride came to an abrupt stop when he nearly collided with Zara in the corridor.
She had just stepped out of the hall, heading toward the restroom. For a second, his chest tightened, and his heart gave an involuntary jolt. He forced a small, awkward smile, feeling strangely self-conscious.
"Hey..."
Zara also paused in her tracks and returned his smile. "Hello."
"Are you feeling bored in there?" Liam asked, eager to stretch the moment into a conversation.
"No, not really," Zara replied calmly. "The presentation is on a short break, so I thought I’d get some fresh air." She tilted her head, studying him briefly. "And you? Were you looking for Riya?"
The question caught Liam off guard. He hadn’t expected her to guess so correctly. His expression stiffened.
"No," he denied, shaking his head. "I... uh..." His mind scrambled for an excuse. "I just went to the restroom."
"I see."
Trying to recover the moment, Liam offered, "Since we’ve got a break, why don’t you join me for a coffee? I... actually have something to tell you."
Zara thought for a while. She also wanted to speak with Liam. She had some burning questions inside her mind and wanted to clear them up. But the next presentation was Nathaniel’s, and she didn’t want to miss it. This was not the time to chat with him.
"Another time, maybe," she said apologetically. "Nathaniel will be on stage soon, and I don’t want to miss his presentation."
Liam’s expression fell, disappointment shadowing his features. He mistook her reluctance for avoidance, believing she was upset with him. "I know you must be wondering why I never revealed who I really am... why I kept my identity as a designer a secret. I have my reasons."
Zara tilted her head, curious as to what had prompted him to live a double life.
"Actually..." Just as Liam started to explain, Riya’s voice from behind interrupted him.
"Liam? Zara? What are you guys doing here?" She approached them, her eyes flickering from Zara to Liam.
Liam’s expression shifted instantly at the sight of her. The memory of what he had just witnessed—her intimacy with Zachary—flashed before his eyes. A wave of bitterness surged within him, curdling in his chest. Every fiber of his being urged him to confront her, to spit out the truth he was holding back. But before he could speak, Zara stepped in calmly.
"We weren’t doing anything," she said smoothly. "I was just on my way out when I happened to run into him."
With that, Zara lowered her head and walked away.
Liam’s eyes lingered on Zara as she walked away, his expression clouded with regret. He was convinced now that she was hurt by the secret he had kept from her. A deep urge tugged at him to call her back, to explain himself, but the words never left his lips. While he wrestled with his own thoughts, he didn’t notice Riya studying him closely.
"I know you’ve liked her since college," Riya’s voice drew him out of his thoughts.
Liam whipped his head toward her, his gaze narrowing dangerously.
"But she is married now. She is your friend’s wife... and my sister-in-law. It’s time you stopped entertaining such thoughts."
Liam’s patience frayed, his temper flaring. "You have no right to interfere in my personal life," he bit out. "I only brought you here because my father insisted. Don’t think for a second that I’ll stand here and tolerate your nonsense."
He shot her one last glare before storming into the hall.
A few minutes later...
The presentation started. Nathaniel beamed with a smile on the stage when everyone welcomed the AI system he had developed.
"Thank you, everyone." He bowed slightly, his tone steady yet full of pride. "I welcome you all to experience the AI system we have developed. This isn’t just a tool—it’s a partner designed to transform the way businesses operate."
He paused, letting the anticipation build before continuing.
"This program is built to identify problems before they even occur. Its problem-solving skill is flawless. Imagine running a business where you don’t wait for challenges to appear—you anticipate them and already have solutions ready."
The guests looked at each other, seemingly skeptical. They had just noticed what had happened just a few minutes ago. They thought it would also end up being faulty.
Murmurs of doubt hung heavy in the air. However, it didn’t affect Nathaniel’s confidence. His gaze swept over the hall full of elite people, his voice growing firmer.
"It eliminates errors and prevents fraud. It uncovers opportunities hidden in massive data sets, turning uncertainty into clarity. It can resolve complaints instantly, personalize experiences, and strengthen trust with clients. It provides real-time insights for decision-making. Companies can save millions by reducing wasted resources and making smarter investments."
Nathaniel smiled. "This AI system is the future of competitive advantage. Those who adopt it will stay a step ahead. I assure you, once you use it, you will wonder how your business ever functioned without it. Let’s see the demo now."
Everyone looked curious yet skeptical as the demo started.
"Allow me to show you," Nathaniel said. "A system like this must prove itself in front of you."
On the screen appeared a business dashboard filled with charts, numbers, and alerts. He typed a quick command, and the AI system sprang into action. Within seconds, the AI began scanning through mountains of data and sorted out problematic parts.
As soon as the problems were identified, the solution was provided.
He entered another query. Instantly, the AI resolved the issues.
A ripple of impressed murmurs spread through the hall. The doubts melted away.
"Our AI system not only identifies problems but also provides strategies. It’s faster, sharper, and more reliable." Nathaniel pointed at the screen. "You can see how it works. It’s error-proof, unlike other new AI systems."
Another wave of murmur spread through the hall. This time, it wasn’t about skepticism but about approval. The little doubts that lingered in their minds vanished as they witnessed the system’s flawless logic.
When Nathaniel wrapped up his presentation, the hall erupted in a wave of thunderous applause. Everyone was impressed by the flawless demonstration of his AI system, and many were already eager to integrate it into their businesses. The air buzzed with excitement and admiration.
Stepping down from the podium, Nathaniel’s eyes immediately sought out Zara. She was waiting for him with a radiant smile, her pride in him shining so clearly that it filled his chest. A boyish grin spread across his face. All he wanted was to go straight to her.
But before he could reach her, a flood of enthusiastic guests surged forward, blocking his path. Businessmen and investors crowded around him, peppering him with questions, eager to secure a chance to work with him.
Nathaniel, however, was barely listening. His focus was only on Zara.
"Please, speak with my team," he said politely, brushing past their insistence. "They’ll give you all the details. Excuse me..."
With a determined step, he finally made his way to Zara. The instant he reached her, he pulled her into his arms. Zara melted into his embrace, her heart full of happiness. She had never seen him shine this brightly, and it made her feel even more connected to him.
But while the crowd celebrated Nathaniel’s success, not every pair of eyes in the room held joy. Among the sea of congratulatory smiles, someone sat still, with a dark expression, resentment burning deep as she watched Nathaniel and Zara share their moment of triumph.
Riya clenched her fists at her sides, her gaze turning even sharper. Unable to hold back, she stormed out.