Chapter 449
Chapter 449:
“Stop wasting your time,” he said flatly. “Start over from scratch. The Daedalus Gauntlet is one month away p>
“Starting over is impossible!” Belle retorted, panic bleeding into her voice. “We need the core physics engine — without it, everything is meaningless p>
Grayson’s gaze was piercingly cold as he looked at her. “Then figure it out. Don’t make me regret this investment p>
He turned and left, his departure radiating unmistakable doubt in Belle’s abilities.
Belle stared after him, her panic twisting instantly into something darker. If she couldn’t win technically, she would ruin Isolde’s reputation. She stepped into the corner, clenched her phone, and dialed a gossip reporter.
“I have a scoop for you,” she said, her voice low and venomous. “Isolde Carson had an emotional affair during her marriage, and she stole trade secrets from the Lancaster family. I want the entire industry to see this p>
𝖬𝘰𝘴t r𝖾𝘢𝗱 𝗍𝗁i𝗌 𝗐𝗲е𝘬 оո
The atmosphere at the Carson Dynamics lab was a stark contrast.
Equipment ran smoothly. Isolde was calmly guiding the junior engineers through a wind tunnel test, her voice steady and professional, when Harper burst through the door, face livid.
“Isolde, look at the news! Belle bribed the media to smear you p>
Isolde took the tablet. The headline blazed across the screen: Scorned Heiress’ Revenge: Theft and Betrayal. The article cast her as a villain who had built her career by stealing technology from her ex-husband — paragraph after paragraph of fabricated malice.
She read it in silence. Then, instead of anger, a quiet smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“She’s panicking,” Isolde said, handing the tablet back. “That means our encryption lock worked perfectly p>
Night fell with a cool breeze that wrapped around Isolde’s apartment. In the bedroom, Isolde sat on the edge of the bed, reading a bedtime story softly to Effie, her fingers brushing the child’s hair. Effie’s eyes were closed, her breathing slowing as she drifted toward sleep.
The doorbell rang — sharp, urgent, and frantic, cutting through the peace of the room.
Isolde frowned. She tucked the blanket gently around Effie, whispered a few calming words, and made sure the child hadn’t stirred before stepping out and crossing to the security monitor by the entrance.
On the screen, Grayson stood outside the door, seething. His face was dark with fury. He clutched a crumpled newspaper in his hand, his knuckles white. Isolde let out a silent scoff. She had known he would come over the day’s scandal, but she hadn’t expected him this soon, or this unhinged.
She unlocked the door slowly, not stepping aside to let him in. “If you’re here about that article, you can leave right now,” she said, her voice cold as early winter frost. “It’s a lie Belle paid the media to print, and it has nothing to do with me p>
Grayson ignored her entirely. He shoved the door open and stepped inside without permission, standing in the entryway with a chill rolling off him.
“I know it’s Belle’s doing,” he said, his gaze sharp and hostile. “I’m not here about that p>