Chapter 327

Tristan Rutherford's approach didn't escape Declan Vaughn's notice.

His lips thinned into a displeased line, eyes turning icy as they landed on Tristan.

But Tristan pretended not to notice, striding toward them with unwavering confidence.

He stopped directly in front of Camille Hartwell, facing her squarely. "What are you two discussing?"

Camille, oblivious to the tension between them, shrugged casually. "Just work-related things."

The ease with which Camille conversed with Declan suggested he was highly competent in his field. Which meant, compared to Tristan, Declan shared more common ground with Camille.

Not to mention Declan now worked at NovaSight Labs. That gave him far more opportunities to interact with Camille than Tristan ever had.

This realization made Tristan's smile falter slightly.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Gabriel Ashcroft approached.

Seeing both Declan and Tristan standing beside Camille struck him as odd.

But he brushed it off, simply stating, "Everyone's gathered here."

No sooner had he spoken than Damien Harrington and Selene Lancaster joined them.

"Mr. Ashcroft," Damien greeted.

Gabriel responded with a perfunctory smile. "Mr. Harrington. What can I do for you?"

Damien said, "There's a potential collaboration I'd like to discuss. I was wondering if you'd be interested."

Harrington Group's tech division was a powerhouse in the industry, boasting an impressive portfolio of core patents and cutting-edge innovations.

Their upcoming product had already generated international buzz.

The moment Damien mentioned collaboration, Gabriel immediately grasped the implications. Truth be told, it intrigued him.

As one of the nation's leading enterprises, they bore responsibility for elevating domestic innovations onto the global stage.

For their products to truly compete internationally, no single company could do it alone. It required industry-wide cooperation and technological synergy.

So despite Gabriel's personal distaste for Damien and reluctance to work with him...

He didn't need to consult Camille on this matter. He already knew her answer would mirror his own.

"Now isn't the time for such discussions," Gabriel said smoothly. "If you're serious, come to NovaSight Labs tomorrow at a more appropriate hour."

Damien wasn't surprised by the response. He chuckled. "I'll see you then."

Gabriel, visibly annoyed, asked coolly, "Anything else, Mr. Harrington?"

"No, that's all." Damien replied before adding, "I won't take up any more of your time."

With that, he didn't spare Camille another glance, turning to leave with Selene.

Before departing, Selene's gaze lingered on Declan and Tristan.

Declan deliberately turned his face away.

Tristan remained silent.

The next morning, as Camille stepped out of her car at NovaSight Labs, she nearly collided with Damien and Colin Keaton, who'd just arrived.

She paused mid-step while closing her car door.

She'd known Damien would come to discuss the collaboration, but hadn't expected him this early.

"Morning," Damien greeted upon seeing her.

Camille didn't respond, turning toward the company entrance instead.

Since leaving Harrington Group, she'd barely seen Colin. In his mind, Camille remained the same woman who once clung to Damien's every word.

Now, faced with her cold indifference, he found it strangely unsettling.