# Chapter 88: A Pearl Waiting to Shine
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 88 of "REMARRIED AFTER I SECRETLY DIVORCED THE CEO" — a chapter filled with quiet resilience, painful memories, and the glimmer of hope that refuses to be extinguished.
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The banquet hall buzzed with the refined chatter of business elites, crystal chandeliers casting warm light over the elegantly dressed crowd. Ethan was deep in conversation with a group of colleagues, his brow furrowed in concentration as he discussed some pressing work matter. But the moment his eyes caught sight of Autumn walking toward him, everything else seemed to fade away. He excused himself quickly and stepped forward to meet her, a hint of apology softening his usual professional demeanor.
"Autumn, I got held up just now. Are you alright?" he asked gently, his concern genuine.
Autumn shook her head, her expression calm. "I'm fine."
And she truly was. Conflicts with the Lewis family were nothing new to her anymore. They had become as predictable as the sunrise. If they *hadn't* tried to pick a fight whenever she got close to Luna, *that* would have been the real surprise. She had built an armor around her heart over the years, and these petty attacks barely scratched the surface now.
Ethan let out a relieved breath. "That's good."
Just then, a fresh wave of commotion rippled through the entrance. Autumn's gaze followed instinctively, and her eyes lit up with unexpected delight. There, walking into the banquet hall in a perfectly tailored formal suit, laughing and chatting with a middle-aged man, was Edwin Shaw.
She hadn't known he would be here today.
*What a pleasant surprise.*
Ethan followed her gaze and pointed at the man beside Edwin. "That's Mr. Wilson Lee," he explained.
Autumn gave a small nod of acknowledgment. But before they could make their way over, the Lewis brothers and Julian had already converged on the two distinguished guests, eager to greet them first.
Ethan paused mid-step and turned to look at Autumn, his voice soft with concern. "Autumn, are you okay?"
He knew her story. He knew what she had endured — a husband and both brothers who had all chosen to side with her stepsister instead of her. There was no way that didn't cut deep, no matter how strong she pretended to be.
Autumn shrugged, her shoulders lifting with practiced indifference. "What could possibly be wrong? It's just business — whoever's more capable gets ahead. As for *them*... I stopped caring a long time ago."
She paused, a flicker of genuine guilt crossing her face. "But because of my personal mess, I'm probably going to lose the opportunity you arranged for me."
That was the real sting. She didn't care about the Lewis family having the upper hand — in business, everything came down to skill and timing. What truly bothered her was the thought of wasting Ethan's effort and goodwill. That was the only part that left her unsettled.
Ethan looked at her with unwavering seriousness. "I've always believed that gold will shine no matter what. I have zero doubts about your ability. Right now, you're just a pearl covered by a black cloth. Once it's lifted, you'll shine brilliantly."
He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "If you're uncomfortable and don't want to go over there, then just wait until they've left before heading that way."
Autumn looked up at him, gratitude warming her heart. "Thank you for understanding."
He smiled and continued, "It's fine. You've written your thesis, haven't you? Once the banquet ends, we'll go find Mr. Shaw. I'm sure he'll be glad to see the progress you've made since coming back."
Autumn glanced over at the group now chatting and laughing as they walked further into the hall. Her eyes passed over Julian, over Luna, over the Lewis brothers — and she felt nothing at all. She was already used to being overlooked, to being pushed aside. What did it matter anymore?
On the other side of the hall, Julian was playing the perfect host. He exchanged a few polite words with Edwin and Wilson, then turned to introduce Luna with practiced charm.
"Mr. Shaw, Mr. Lee, let me introduce Ms. Luna Lewis. She's currently in a combined master's and PhD program at Highend University."
Wilson simply smiled and nodded politely. "Ms. Lewis, you're so young and already a top student at Highend — you have a very bright future ahead."
Luna flushed with flattery but responded with feigned modesty. "You're too kind, Mr. Lee."
After a brief exchange with Wilson, Luna turned her attention to Edwin. "Mr. Shaw, I revised a paper based on the suggestions you gave me last time. If you have time, could you take a look?"
Julian stepped in smoothly, adding his weight to the request. "Professor, I hope you'll do us the honor of reviewing Luna's work and offering your guidance."
Edwin's sharp gaze settled on Luna, his eyes unreadable. He knew exactly what Julian was trying to do — lacking real academic ability, he was now trying to leverage connections to push Luna forward. It was transparent, distasteful, and yet, in circles like these, it was business as usual.
But Edwin said nothing. He simply gave a noncommittal nod, his thoughts already elsewhere — perhaps on the pearl that was still waiting, hidden beneath her black cloth, for the moment she would finally shine.
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**Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:**
What a beautifully layered chapter! The contrast between Autumn's quiet dignity and the Lewis family's desperate scheming is masterfully drawn. I felt every ounce of Autumn's pain — not from being pushed aside by her family (she's long past that), but from the fear of letting down someone who genuinely believes in her. Ethan's faith in her is a balm to the soul, and Edwin's silent observation at the end hints at so much more to come. The metaphor of the pearl covered by a black cloth is simply gorgeous. This chapter earns a heartfelt ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.7 / 5 Stars.
**Next Chapter Prediction:**
I predict that the next chapter will see Autumn finally presenting her thesis to Edwin, and the moment her cloth is lifted, the contrast between her genuine brilliance and Luna's borrowed credentials will become painfully obvious to everyone. Julian and the Lewis family may try to sabotage her, but I have a feeling that Edwin already sees through their games — and that he's been waiting for *Autumn* all along. The real storm is about to begin!
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