The Divorced Military Queen Awakens (by Sadie Baxter) novel Chapter 588

**Chapter 588: Lingering Heartache**

The morning boardroom felt unusually frigid, a chill that Laura couldn’t attribute to the thermostat’s settings. As numbers flickered across the screen, her mind replayed Weston’s last words, echoing in her thoughts like a persistent winter frost that stubbornly refused to thaw.

The faces around her seemed to blur, but the eyes that met hers were dark and turbulent, like pools of ink stirred by an unseen tempest. Those depths appeared so profound, so unfathomable, that they seemed to draw her in. Below those stormy eyes lay a visage she could hardly recognize—a mask that had drained of all vibrancy, a hollow shell as if the essence of the person she once knew had temporarily retreated.

Weston had agreed to her request, just as she had implored him to do. By all standards of reason, this concession should have unraveled the tight band of anxiety that constricted her chest, yet the anticipated wave of relief never materialized. Instead, she felt an uncomfortable weight lodged within her, akin to a peach pit caught in her throat—too stubborn to swallow, impossible to spit out—leaving her stranded in a suffocating silence.

Was it a flicker of doubt that lingered in her mind, a fear that Weston might retract his promise? No, that thought was unfounded. Weston was many things, but he had never been known for his unreliability.

Laura inhaled deeply through her nose, reminding herself that a man of Weston’s pride, once he had spoken his truth in her presence, would never stoop to harassing her again.

Logically, that should have meant it was time to exhale, to allow the tension to dissipate.

From this moment onward, their paths were meant to run parallel, never again entangled in a snare or a knot.

“Ms. Wentworth!” The secretary’s sudden call shattered her reverie. Laura blinked, her focus snapping back to the present as she realized every pair of eyes at the long conference table had turned toward her. Fabian leaned in, his expression a mixture of curiosity and concern, his gaze flickering like a candle’s flame in a draft.

The young secretary leaned closer, the scent of her mint gum brushing against Laura’s cheek. “Ms. Wentworth, Mr. Fuller is awaiting your thoughts on the revised proposal.”

Laura cleared her throat, a discreet cough to mask her momentary lapse. “I’ll review the proposal in detail after the meeting,” she replied, letting her words fall with the practiced calm of someone who had rehearsed this moment countless times.

When the meeting finally concluded, Laura retreated to the sanctuary of her office and initiated a video call with Quinn.

On the screen, Quinn’s complexion had returned to its natural hue, and the hospital gown that had once draped her frame was replaced by a cozy hoodie that gave her a sense of normalcy, almost as if she had returned home from a long journey.

“Home already?” Laura inquired, noticing the stark, plain walls behind her friend.

“Yeah,” Quinn replied, nodding slightly. “By the way, I’ll finish up a few data sheets from home. Once they’re done, I’ll send them over to you.”

“Just focus on resting,” Laura insisted gently. “Regarding the drone app you’re working on, I’ve already arranged for someone else to take over the task.”

“No need for that,” Quinn countered, her tone firm. “Give me a week, and I’ll have it wrapped up. Bringing someone in now would only complicate things when all that’s left is debugging.”

Laura hesitated, running her fingertip over the notebook in front of her as she contemplated the timeline. “All right,” she conceded at last. “But there’s no need to force a seven-day deadline. What matters most right now is—”

“Keeping the baby safe, I know,” Quinn interjected with a laugh. “Relax. I’ll protect this little one with my life. And when the kid finally arrives, I’ll be sure to tell them their godmother never stopped reminding me to take it easy.”

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