Raegan inquired, concern evident in her voice.

"It's alright. I've delegated the necessary tasks. At present, your situation takes precedence," Mitchel assured, prioritizing Raegan's peace of mind over his professional obligations.

Raegan felt a surge of warmth and said sweetly, "Then travel safely, and try to rest on the flight.”

Raegan understood that Mitchel must be exhausted from the effects of jet lag and the intense workload he had endured in recent days. She harbored deep concern for him, yet she recognized that her best form of support was to offer understanding and encouragement.

"I understand. Once this project concludes, I plan to take an extended vacation to spend quality time with you and our children."

Since their marriage, Mitchel rarely traveled unless necessary. Their children were still young, and despite having ample support from nannies, Annis, and Luciana, he never felt completely at ease about leaving them.

Moreover, mothers in the postpartum period could be susceptible to psychological challenges, prompting Mitchel to reduce his workload to remain by Raegan's side as much as possible.

However, this project held critical importance for the company's expansion into the international market. Nations overseas had consistently employed diverse technologies to restrict Ambrosia, compelling Mitchel to support his homeland's endeavors by diligently pursuing expanded foreign markets, thereby bolstering his nation's influence.

His aspiration was for his nation's energy sector to become indispensable to other lands. As a result, he had bestowed significant importance upon this project and embarked on numerous journeys overseas.

However, these trips were fleeting, sometimes only 12 hours on foreign soil before returning, driven by his longing for his children and concern for Raegan's well-being back home.

Truly, it was a pivotal period, and after concluding the call, Mitchel capitalized on every available moment to prolong the discussion until it was time to depart for the airport.

While the project held significance, Raegan's emotional welfare held equal importance to him. On their wedding day, he had vowed never to abandon her to confront fear and sorrow alone...

Jarrod abruptly sprang to his feet to leave, scarcely grazing his meal.

Vicki, brimming with dissatisfaction, believed she caught a mention of Nicole's name during Jarrod's earlier phone conversation with Mitchel, escalating her mild unease into profound anxiety.

"Jarrod!" Vicki rose suddenly, clutching his arm.

Jarrod remained motionless, regarding her as though awaiting her words.

Their bond had progressively distanced. Despite their engagement, they resembled colleagues from disparate departments who exchanged mere nods upon meeting.

A woman's intuition could be nuanced, and Vicki sensed that Jarrod appeared to be evading her. He was either away on business trips or toiling through the night, scarcely finding any time to share with her.

Even their dinner tonight had occurred only because Vicki mentioned her visit to his family shrine, prompting Jarrod to reluctantly agree to join her for supper. Yet, he hadn't even tasted the soup she had labored over for hours.

Vicki's lips quivered as she stated, “I've spent six hours simmering this soup, and you haven't even taken a sip."