Chapter 114 You’re in No Position to Bargain
I locked my eyes on him, unblinking, determined to catch every flicker of emotion.
My mother was writhing in agony, her body ravaged by this relentless illness, and I needed answers–now.
Philip’s pupils contracted slightly, a dead giveaway that I’d struck a nerve.
His eyes flickered like a cornered animal’s, searching for an escape, as if he was scheming something.
I could tell he knew how desperately I needed this cure, and he was trying to use it as leverage to get me to
set him free.
But that was absolutely out of the question.
Before he could even open his mouth, I snapped the whip with a c***k, the sound echoing in the room. My eyes burned with cold fury as I pinned him in place. “Don’t move a muscle, Philip. You’re in no position to negotiate with me.”
I paused briefly, then continued, “Even if you refuse to talk, rif uncover the truth, one way or another. This estate is a treasure trove of your dirty little secrets, right? Philip, do you think I can uncover what I need through the clues П’ll find?”
His face twisted in an instant, a mask of fear replacing his smugness. I could feel his breathing grow ragged, and after a moment, he crumbled, defeated. His voice cracked, raw and broken, as he confessed, “You’re right. Part of the Hartman family’s drugs were indeed supplied by me, including the ones you mentioned–the ones that control the nervous system.”
Hearing those words, my heart steadied, a wave of relief washing over me. I’d been waiting for this
confirmation for far too long
I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Where’s the antidote?”
Philip hesitated briefly before replying, “Aurora, there is no antidote. The damage to the nervous system is irreversible. Once the d**g is injected, it stays with you for life.”
Each word he spoke was a dagger, carving into my chest, making it hard to breathe.
No antidote?
What about my mother?
Was she doomed to linger, her life hanging by a fragile thread?
I refused to believe it!
I stared at Philip, but his face showed no guilt, it seemed he wasn’t lying.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, sharp and hollow. “Is that so?”
Philip nodded repeatedly. “I’ve got nothing to gain by lying to you now.”
I locked my eyes on him as he spoke again, “Aurora, you know Hodge Group is renowned for d**g
development. If you let me go, I promise III develop the antidote for you within six months. If you don’t trust me, we can sign a contract. What do you say?”
As Philip spoke, his eyes gleamed with confidence, as if he was certain I’d agree.
19 Pors
1 gave s cold laugh
Sure, i desperately needed the antidote, but I wasn’t foolish enough to fall for his terms. Someone as cunning
and malicious as him? The moment I set him free, he’d come after me without hesitation. And a contract?
What good would that do? if he killed me, the contract would be worthless. Yes, I needed the antidote, but there was always more than one way to get what I wanted.
Ignoring Philip’s plea, I turned to Cyril. “Do you have my phone?”
Cyril nodded, pulling my phone from his pocket. He’d even charged it for me–always so thoughtful. Without
wasting a second, I sent a message to Darian,
Back then, Philip had orchestrated a connection between the Hartmans and Prosperity Group, aiming to sell the neurological control drugs through my company. If my hunch was correct, those drugs were likely derived from the same source as the ones injected into my mother, though their effects were probably weaker.
Prosperity Group hadn’t officially started selling the d**g yet, but during the initial collaboration, the Hartmans had sent us a batch of samples. I still had some in my possession. My message to Darian was
straightforward.
Aurora: Send someone to deliver those samples to Philip’s estate.
I didn’t hide the process from Cyril. He raised an eyebrow slightly, but there was no trace of surprise on his face. At that moment, it clicked–Cyril must have already known that I was the head of Prosperity Group.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed so calm watching me message Darian. After all, while he knew Darian and I were acquaintances, I’d always insisted we were just childhood friends. If that were true, I wouldn’t have any knowledge of Prosperity Group’s upcoming ventures. The way I casually dropped the d**g’s name was all the proof he needed.
Cyril didn’t bat an eye. Not even a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Honestly, I was curious. I couldn’t pinpoint when my identity had been exposed, but it made perfect sense
that he’d uncovered it.
After all… his role in the Knightfall Group wasn’t exactly what it seemed.
Looking back, it was clear Cyril had pulled the strings behind the scenes, swiftly sealing the collaboration between Prosperity Group and Knightfall.
I flashed him a small, knowing smile, my eyes crinkling at the corners.
He blinked, his gaze softening as the realization dawned on him–I was done hiding my identity. It was a silent invitation to step closer, to deepen whatever was brewing between us.
While the air between us crackled with playful tension, Philip sat there, fidgeting like a man on death row.
He kept pushing, “Aurora, listen to me. Think this through. No one knows pharmaceuticals like Hodge Group.
you pass this up, you’ll live to regret it…”
If
I let out a soft chuckle, my voice dripping with calm confidence, “Relax, Philip. We’ll circle back to that soon
enough.”
He didn’t get it, but fear of what I might do next kept him silent. His lips twitched as if to speak, but no sound escaped.
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Chapter 114 You’re in No
Minutes dragged on like hours until, finally, my phone buzzed with a message from Darian. He’d delivered
exactly what I needed.
A sly smile played on my lips as I locked eyes with Philip. In two minutes flat, he’d be on his knees, pleading to whip up that antidote himself.
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