Chapter 385
385:
Greta said, “Mom, she has only graduated for a few years. Maybe everything from her lecture came straight from her college textbooks? The National Research Institute already has many top-tier graduates from international universities.”
Brenna chose not to defend her credentials. Accustomed to skepticism and underestimation, she had faced many rumors that she had advanced her career by currying favor with mentors.
She simply offered a smile, choosing to remain silent.
Danika was a wise woman. After watching Brenna’s lecture, she recognized its excellence. Casting a stern look at her daughter, she said, “That’s not true. Brenna is indeed exceptional.”
She then turned to Brenna with genuine interest as she said, “Brenna, when might you have some free time? How about next Monday? Our director is keen to meet someone of your caliber and would be thrilled to have you give a lecture at the National Research Institute.”
Brenna sensed the sincerity in the invitation—it wasn’t just a casual suggestion.
She responded with a courteous smile, “I’ll consider it.”
Danika interpreted Brenna’s polite “I’ll consider it” as a sign of hesitance.
Regardless of Brenna’s actual willingness about the matter, Danika took the opportunity to add her on WhatsApp, aiming to keep in touch.
Giselle then moved on to introduce another friend. “This is Mrs. Richardson, who works at the stock exchange. This is her daughter, Lilith, who is studying finance.”
Naya Richardson was elegantly dressed, her slender wrist adorned with an expensive bracelet, a gold necklace around her neck. Her navy blue dress was clearly from a high-end brand. She exclaimed with enthusiasm, “Giselle, your daughter is truly stunning.”
Brenna offered a polite greeting to her. She then noticed Lilith Richardson’s aloofness; she was wearing headphones and focused on her phone, showing no interest in talking to her.
Brenna simply offered her a polite smile and moved on. Normally, she would just ignore someone like that. But today, she was being extra polite.
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Giselle introduced another friend. “And this is Mrs. Rodriguez, who works in customs.”
Brenna observed that Marceline Rodriguez had arrived alone and appeared serious. This prompted Brenna to moderate her approach, only saying, “Hello, Mrs. Rodriguez.”
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from the doorway, “Brenna!”
Brenna turned to see Ethan, whom she hadn’t seen in several days. He was still dressed in his usual black suit, but his demeanor was unusually upbeat today. He wore a smile and was holding a bag.
“Happy Birthday!” he exclaimed, handing Brenna the bag, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Brenna was not surprised by his gesture. She looked inside the bag to find a white handbag, a limited edition that she had only seen in magazines previously.
“Thank you; I love it,” she said to Ethan.
Ethan, noticing the diamond tiara on her head, smiled with satisfaction. “You look beautiful.”
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