Chapter 9 Washington D.C. , Fourth Aerospace Research Institute The lead scientist's brow furrowed deeply . " Due to magnetic field interference from the satellite , the space station's orbit has shifted slightly . We need to resolve this immediately . " Everyone's faces turned grave as they prepared to dive into calculations . Celeste also lowered her head , hand moving toward the screen , when the scientist tapped her shoulder . e . " ] " Come with me . " Celeste froze , then followed him out of the lab . In the week she'd been here , the scientist had been kind to her , but he'd never pulled her aside alone like this . She couldn't help feeling anxious . " Did I do something wrong ? " ] The scientist looked surprised . " You've been doing excellent work . It's just that a new member is joining today , and you're both back from studying in England , so I wanted you to greet him . You worry too much . " Only then did Celeste relax . Looking down , she saw her palms slick with sweat . [ ] This opportunity was once in a lifetime . She wanted to seize it , work hard , improve . Of course she was nervous . " I just want to do Every member here had " 1 . A master's and doctoral degrees . Her credentials were already at the bottom . If she didn't work harder , she'd fall behind . The scientist patted her shoul " You're this nervous meeting your colleagues ? Wait till you meet the new member - a mathematical genius we haven't seen in a century . Got two bachelor's degrees at 12 , started his PhD at 16. Don't let his age fool you - he already has two doctorates . Someone like that joining your project group means you're not inferior to any of them . " ] 1 " When you put it that way , I do feel pretty impressive , " Celeste said with a smile . The scientist waved toward the entrance . " There he is . " [ ] Celeste turned curiously . A tall figure stood in the doorway . Hearing them , the young man turned - a strikingly clean , refined face regarding her coolly . Washington's sky was clear today . But the moment Celeste met his ga she was transported back to that rainy London night - a young man removing his jacket to drape over her shoulders on a freezing bus , then vanishing into the rain before she could even turn around . [ ] Her heart skipped . " It's you . " [ ] The young man said , " You remember ? " | Celeste smiled . " You're not someone easily forgotten . " [ ] gaze , Even that fleeting glimpse had carved itself into her memory - that unique aura of quiet detachment he carried . [ ] Celeste walked over and extended her hand . " Thank you for that night . And me to the team . I'm Celeste Wren . " The man glanced down at her hand , then reached out and lightly grasped it . His voice matched his demeanor cool and distant . [ ] " Adrian Ashford . " ] England , the apartment ] Dominic stood before the floor to ceiling windows , his expression glacial . [ ] " You're telling me that even using every connection the Ashford family has , you can't find one Celeste Wren ? " ] The assistant didn't dare raise his head . He wiped cold sweat from his brow . " I've contacted every top - tier hacker domestically and internationally . None can breach that firewall . I'm afraid it's ... national level classified information , which is why ... " ] He risked a glance at Dominic . Outside , storm clouds gathered . Inside the study , a single dim lamp cast shadows across Dominic's face , obscuring his features . But the cold radiating from him seemed to drop the temperature several degrees . [ ] The assistant couldn't continue . After a suffocating silence , he heard Dominic say : " Get out . " [ ] bugar Daddy 2 07 Ngh . I Got a Phil and a Nerd ! Win Actually Respects Me 3340 Chapter 9 The assistant fled immediately . The moment he closed the door , a violent crash sounded from within . His heart lurched as he hurried downstairs . [ ] Inside the room , chaos , Everything on the desk had been swept violently to the floor , scattered in disarray . Dominic gripped the desk's edge , suppressing his fury . He raised his head to stare at the dark night outside , emotions surging through his chest like waves threatening to drown his rationality . [ ] In this moment , something had completely slipped beyond his control . [ ] A