My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

They were in the middle of their dinner when Nate suddenly remembered something important. Turning to Niall, he said, "By the way, DataPulse is on a major talent acquisition spree right now. Have you considered giving it another shot?"

Despite having spent the past several days abroad, Niall had kept herself informed about DataPulse's aggressive recruitment drive. The prospect was undeniably tempting. Working for a company at the cutting edge of technology would significantly accelerate her professional development and expertise.

Yet, something continued to hold her back.

Reading her hesitation, Nate flashed a knowing smile. "I bumped into an industry contact yesterday. Word is that Dario is personally reaching out to experienced management candidates, alongside technical specialists with particular expertise."

He leaned in slightly before continuing. "From the pattern of DataPulse's recruitment strategy, it seems Dario hasn't reserved any leadership positions for Veronica." His tone carried a hint of satisfaction.

The ongoing expansion and internal restructuring at DataPulse should have provided Veronica with the perfect opportunity to secure a powerful position within the company hierarchy. The fact that Dario wasn't saving her a seat at the management table suggested either that he was maintaining professional boundaries or that their relationship had already hit rocky terrain.

Either way, Veronica's diminished influence at DataPulse created an ideal window of opportunity for Niall to reenter the company landscape without facing the same hostility she'd encountered before.

Niall was genuinely surprised. She knew how protective Dario had been of Veronica—he had even publicly confronted her during the year-end banquet to defend Veronica's honor. The notion that they were experiencing difficulties so soon was unexpected.

After a moment of reflection, however, Niall realized this development shouldn't be shocking at all. She had always suspected that Veronica's hold over Dario wouldn't last forever. This shift was inevitable, just happening sooner than anticipated.

A subtle smile played across her lips. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll polish my resume and submit an application when I get a chance."

Nate grinned, shooting a playful glance at Cullen, who had remained silent throughout the conversation. "Cullen initiated a special project for you at Stellar. Your sudden departure might impact that initiative."

Without looking up from placing an extra portion of food on Sabrina's plate, Cullen responded casually, "It's not a big deal."

Niall felt a surge of affection watching him. Cullen had consistently supported her ambitions without reservation, never placing obstacles in her path or making her feel conflicted about her choices. His unwavering support was one of the countless reasons she loved him.

Marco, who had been overwhelmed with work since New Year's Eve and unable to meet with Veronica, simply lowered his head and remained quiet when he overheard the conversation between Nate and Niall.

Both Veronica and Dario were Malcolm's protégés. As the research team leader who developed Echo and spearheaded DataPulse's two latest breakthrough projects, Veronica's value to the company transcended any formal title. For someone of her caliber, positions were merely symbolic.

However, her apparent disinterest in securing an official role suggested she had alternative plans brewing beneath the surface.

In fact, Veronica had begun transitioning more of her focus toward pure research late last year. After discussing it with Dario, they had agreed to find a suitable candidate to manage DataPulse's operations while she devoted herself to innovation.

Following the New Year, Dario had started contacting potential executives, gradually compiling a shortlist of candidates. The recruitment process would be thorough and consequently time-consuming.

As for her latest research findings, Veronica had already compiled comprehensive documentation and forwarded everything to Malcolm three days prior. Now she was simply waiting for his response.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, her phone vibrated with a message from him.

"Come to my place tonight."