Chapter 245

No.1

Elisa stared at her phone screen. The name Helena Hawthorne burned in her mind.

She quickly typed a reply to Alastair.

Cyprian's grandmother? That is a massive conflict of interest. This is bad.

Alastair's response came through almost instantly.

Wrong, Faye. It's the best thing that could happen.Helena is an academic purist. She despises inherited wealth and nepotism. She hates her own grandson's lazy investments.

Elisa read the text twice. The tension in her shoulders slowly dissolved.

No.2

If Helena Hawthorne was truly an academic purist,then Allena's fake genius persona was about to crash into a titanium wall.②

On the other side of the backseat, August finally ended the FaceTime call. He tossed his phone onto

the leather seat next to him. He let out a short,irritated sigh.

He turned his head. He caught Elisa staring at her screen with a faint, calculating smile.

"Who are you texting?" August demanded. His voice was sharp, laced with a sudden, irrational possessiveness.

Elisa hit the lock button. The screen went black. She slid the phone smoothly into hér suit pocket.

No.3

"That is none of your business, Mr. Chambers," Elisa said. Her voice was flat and cold.

August's jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to argue,but the Maybach suddenly slowed down.①

The heavy car pulled to a smooth stop in front of a massive, classical stone building near Washington Square. The wide marble steps leading up to the entrance were crowded. Dozens of pharmaceutical executives in dark suits were mingling. Several financial journalists with large cameras were camped near the doors.

The driver put the car in park and stepped out to

open.the doors.

August turned to Elisa. He reached out and grabbed her left wrist. His grip was tight, his fingers digging into the fabric of her suit.

No.4

Elisa flinched. She tried to yank her arm back, but his hold was like a steel vice.

"Remember the agreement," August ordered. His voice was a harsh whisper, meant only for her ears."There are cameras out there. My mother's people are watching. Do not embarrass me."①

Elisa looked down at his hand on her wrist. She felt a wave of somatic disgust.

"Let go of me," Elisa said, her voice dropping to a lethal register. "I will play the part of your pathetic,devoted wife. Just don't touch me."

August stared into her dead eyes. He released her wrist.

The rear door swung open. The cold morning air rushed into the cabin, followed immediately by the rapid, blinding flashes of camera lenses.

No.5

August stepped out first. The furious, controlling

husband vanished instantly. He smoothed his tie and turned back toward the car, offering his hand with a perfect, charming smile.

Elisa took a deep breath. She forced her facial muscles to relax. She stepped out of the Maybach,placing her hand lightly on his forearm.

They walked up the marble steps together. To the cameras, they looked like the ultimate Manhattan power couple.

Suddenly, the loud, aggressive roar of a V12 engine cut through the chatter.

A bright red Aston Martin slammed on its brakes,stopping illegally in the bus lane right in front of the building.

No.6

The butterfly doors swung up. Cyprian Thatcher stepped out. He wore a bespoke charcoal suit, but his face was pale and slick with sweat. Devon Browning scrambled out of the passenger side,looking equally stressed.

Cyprian practically sprinted up the marble steps.He ignored the cameras. He stopped right in front of August and Elisa.

"August," Cyprian gasped, his voice tight with panic."My grandmother is in a foul mood today. She just called me from her car and screamed at me for funding garbage projects."

Cyprian ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair,ruining it. "She is going to execute someone today."①

August's confident smile faltered for a second. He realized the gravity of the situation. Helena Hawthorne was not someone he could buy.

But his arrogance quickly took over.

No.7

"Relax, Cyprian," August said smoothly, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Allena's clinical data is flawless.The project is solid. We have nothing to worry about."

Elisa stood silently holding August's arm. She listened to his blind, foolish confidence.

She looked up at the heavy wooden doors of the FDA building. A storm was coming, and August had just tied himself to the lightning rod.