Joyce glanced at the report, a cold smile tugging at her lips. In front of Zayne, she threw all the items related to her and Zayne from the box into the trash can.
Under Zayne's astonished gaze, she straightened her back and headed towards the elevator.
As she walked, she heard her colleagues' chatter incessantly.
"Joyce is such brilliance, but she was wasted on menial tasks."
"What do you know? I heard Gerald didn't punish her that harshly. But Zayne talked to him and told him that he was worried Joyce's work might delay Kacie's research. I think it's more about Joyce getting in the way of their romance."
"I think so too. Joyce desperately chased Zayne, but his love was cheap like that."
Their words stung Joyce like needles.
She took a few deep breaths. Although she felt pain once more, she resolutely stepped into the elevator.
The old hangar had been deserted for a long time, covered in dust everywhere.
She spent an entire day and barely cleaned it up.
By evening, she returned home, as her shoulders were sore. As soon as she opened the door, the aroma of food greeted her.
Zayne sat at the table and was transferring food from takeout boxes onto plates.
When he noticed her return, he walked over quickly and guided her to sit at the table. "Try these. I remember they're your favorites."
Zayne placed some food into Joyce's bowl. But she didn't move. He sighed softly, stood up, and sat beside her. He then held her hand. "I know you're upset, but I'm doing this for your own good. Didn't you say the lab felt like a cage, and you preferred research in a practical environment? The abandoned hangar is quiet, with no one to disturb you. You can focus on your work there."
Joyce looked down at their tightly clasped hands, and she was consumed by pain.
His words were just an excuse she had made to visit the base back then.
She had remembered every measure of those parts. Besides, Gerald had arranged for several assistants for her, so it was not necessary for her to go to the old hangar at all.
She told him she preferred research in a practical environment because she wanted to find an opportunity to talk to him back then.
Joyce took away her hand with a cold smile. Then she looked up and met Zayne's eyes. "Zayne, you make me feel ridiculous."
...
Since that day, she simply moved into the abandoned hangar and cleaned old parts every day while listening to her colleagues discuss the progress of the Eagle Project.
When she heard that Kacie decided to personally test-fly to prove herself, she inwardly sneered.
With Kacie's clumsy skills, who knows what might happen?
As Joyce expected, during the test flight three days later, the aircraft barely took off when the body kept shaking. The alarms echoed throughout the test site.
Zayne watched the plane anxiously. Upon learning about the program malfunction, he frowned and immediately rushed to the old hangar. "Fix the program right now! Kacie can't wait long. She must be safe."
He practically shoved the laptop into Joyce's hands. When she didn't move, he raised his eyebrows slightly and pulled out his phone. Then he thrust it in front of her. "Joyce, you don't mind yourself, but you can't ignore your foster mother, Ellen Holt, in the countryside, can you? I've already sent someone to bring her here in your name. What if something happens along the way…"
Joyce watched Ellen sitting unconsciously in the car's back seat on the phone screen. She suddenly stood up and grabbed Zayne by the collar. Her eyes were red with pain and hatred. "Zayne, how could you be so heartless? Where is Ellen?"
Zayne raised his eyebrows slightly and didn't respond to her question. But his gaze turned to the nearby laptop.
Joyce understood what he meant. Ellen was Joyce's only family, and she had no other choice.
She bit her lip lightly and picked up the laptop with trembling hands. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and sweat beaded on her forehead.
Half an hour later, the aircraft program returned to normal.
Zayne's eyes were filled with joy. He paid no attention to Joyce behind him as he rushed toward the test site.
She watched his anxious retreating figure and then turned her gaze to the phone beside her. There was a message from Gerald. "The divorce process is complete. The military sent some people to escort you. They are at the base entrance."
Joyce lowered her gaze slightly and gave a relieved smile.
As she got into the car, she glanced back at Zayne, who was tightly embracing Kacie. His face was covered with joy. He seemed to regain something lost.
A chill flickered in her eyes. "I'd rather destroy what's mine than leave it to you vultures!"
As the car started, she pressed the button to destroy the core files of the Eagle Project without hesitation.