# Chapter 145: The Art of Elegant Deflection
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 145 of "REMARRIED AFTER I SECRETLY DIVORCED THE CEO" — a chapter where business strategies clash, hidden emotions flicker, and one woman quietly realizes just how thoroughly she had misjudged the man who was once her husband.
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The dining room hummed with the quiet tension of unspoken ambitions. Autumn sat gracefully, her fingers curling around the glass of juice that Ethan had thoughtfully placed before her. Across the table, Julian's gaze swept over her with that familiar cool detachment, as if she were merely part of the furniture rather than the woman he had only recently divorced. His expression was unreadable, but Autumn felt the sting all the same.
Julian turned to Ethan, his voice smooth and businesslike. "Mr. Sharp, the Lewis Group and Carter Group are working together. If we partner up, we won't let you down."
The words hit Autumn like a splash of cold water. Her heart skipped painfully. *They're working together? Already?* The divorce had barely had time to settle, and yet Julian was already moving forward—progressing with such speed that it made her earlier worries seem laughable. All those sleepless nights spent wondering if he might refuse the divorce, if he might fight to keep her... it had all been wishful thinking. Foolish, delusional wishful thinking.
*He probably couldn't wait to wash his hands of me,* she thought bitterly, a wry smile touching her lips as she took another sip of juice.
Ethan, ever the gentleman, poured a glass of juice and set it in front of Autumn before replying casually, "Mr. Lewis, you're quite well-informed. We haven't even announced anything yet, and you already know."
Simon, sitting beside Julian, looked momentarily flustered but quickly recovered with a polished smile. "What do you think of our proposal, Mr. Sharp?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table as if weighing the offer. He didn't answer immediately, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make the other party uncomfortable.
That was when Luna decided to step in, her voice confident and sharp. "Mr. Sharp, our company is preparing a new project. I've heard there's been some movement on the medical AI front. We've prepared a research paper that we're planning to submit directly to Mr. Lee. If it passes, we might get the opportunity to collaborate with them."
The implication was clear—Luna had connections. She could bypass the usual rigorous screening process and submit her work straight to Wilson Lee himself, the gatekeeper of the medical AI initiative. This meant skipping the preliminary rounds and heading directly to the final review. If approved, her company would become the hottest name in the field, with other companies lining up to work with them.
*Medical AI,* Autumn thought, her mind racing. This was a national-level initiative. Collaborating with them would be a massive honor. Vanguard had only worked with them once, and that single collaboration had catapulted them into a top contender position in the industry over the past few years.
But Luna's confidence bordered on arrogance. With insider information in hand, she clearly believed her credentials would be enough to pass the review. Yet among the competitors, Vanguard wasn't even the most outstanding in terms of background or experience. Their only real edge was AI diagnostics—and now that more contenders had appeared, the selection would be much stricter. Whether Vanguard would even make the cut was an open question.
Ethan, of course, understood the subtext behind Luna's words perfectly. What she didn't know—what she couldn't possibly know—was that Wilson Lee had already reviewed the opening of Autumn's paper. And he had been deeply impressed. Her work had already captured his attention.
So no matter how talented Luna might think she was, she was already a step behind. It was truly baffling where she found such confidence to believe she would stand out from the crowd. Once the official notice from the medical AI department went out, applicants from all over the country would be competing for a single spot. Getting early intel meant nothing if the skills didn't measure up. Giving her more chances would only waste precious resources.
Ethan paused for a moment, letting the weight of the silence settle, then said with a faint smile, "If Miss Lewis is that confident, then we'll look forward to seeing the results."
The words were polite, elegant—and a masterful sidestep of the investment topic. The matter had already been settled internally. Their information had simply come too late. Ethan wasn't about to reveal that, of course. He simply closed the door cleanly, without leaving even the smallest crack for rebuttal.
Autumn took another sip of her juice, hiding a small, admiring smile. *Now that was the voice of experience.* Years in the business world had made Ethan a true master of shutting down a conversation—gracefully, firmly, and without offering any room for argument.
She couldn't help but compare him to Julian. Where Julian used coldness and distance, Ethan wielded charm and precision. And in that moment, Autumn felt a quiet warmth spread through her chest. Perhaps not everyone in this cutthroat world was a predator. Some were protectors.
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
What a fascinating chapter! The tension was palpable, and every word carried weight. I loved seeing Autumn's quiet realization that Julian had moved on far faster than she ever expected—it added a layer of bittersweet reflection that made her character feel so real. And Ethan? What a gentleman! His subtle handling of Luna's arrogant proposal was nothing short of brilliant. The way he deflected without raising his voice or creating drama was a masterclass in business diplomacy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars**
## Next Chapter Prediction
Now that we know Wilson Lee has already reviewed Autumn's paper and is impressed, I have a feeling the next chapter will bring a major turning point. Luna is about to be humbled in the most spectacular way when she realizes her "direct line" means nothing compared to true talent. Meanwhile, Julian's cold demeanor toward Autumn might crack just a little when he learns just how capable his ex-wife truly is. Perhaps a confrontation is brewing—or perhaps Ethan will step up to protect her even more fiercely.
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