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Chapter 308
Matriarch Paige Murphy was practically spitting with rage as she rounded on Marcia, teeth clenched. “Well? Care to explain what this celebration dinner for Elissa is all about?! ”
Ever since Karol Murphy had been booted out of the development team, the entire project had been kept under the tightest wraps. Not a word leaked–until news of this celebration dinner swept through the entire Murphy Group, and only then, last night, did Paige finally hear about it herself.
Being caught off guard like this left Marcia fuming, and having to endure the old woman’s shrill voice made it even worse. She resisted the overwhelming urge to wipe her face clean right then and there, drew a steadying breath, and straightened her posture, projecting an air of composure and control. “Mrs. Murphy, if she wants to throw a party, let her. The bigger the fuss they make, the more they brag about this so–called miracle drug, the harder they’ll fall when things go wrong p>
Paige’s brow furrowed as she finally sat back down. “What exactly are you up to p>
“Our drug is about to enter clinical trials too,” Marcia replied smoothly. “We’re holding our own celebration dinner tonight as well, at the Marshwood Hotel p>
Paige fixed her with a cold, sharp stare. “I don’t care if you manage to develop a drug. What I want is for Elissa to fail. I want her to crash and burn p>
If Elissa really pulled this off, how could Paige ever hope to keep that girl under control again? The more she dwelled on it, the angrier she became. When had that ungrateful brat ever been this capable? Was it possible she’d underestimated her–just like she had with Rowan in the past, letting him grow into the untouchable force he was now? Was she about to lose her grip on Elissa, too?
Suppressing the nagging pain in her knee, Marcia struggled to her feet and approached Paige, pouring her a cup of tea with a cold, confident smile. “Don’t worry. I know exactly what you want p>
“Elissa will never succeed. She’ll never escape your grasp. Not in this lifetime p>
Her tone was absolute, as though every outcome was already set in stone.
That evening, Elissa arrived at the Marshwood Hotel with Aaron by her side.
Jacqueline had always hated crowded events. No amount of coaxing could convince her to come, but she’d promised to show up for the official launch when the drug hit the market.
Cliff and Tanya Foster were already waiting in the hotel lobby and came over as soon as they saw Elissa and Aaron walk in.
Before leaving, Jacqueline had complained that Elissa’s dress was too plain, dragging her back upstairs to change into a custom, embroidered black cocktail dress–elegant and perfectly suited for the occasion.
It was graceful and refined, with just the right touch of sophistication. The off–the–shoulder cut highlighted Elissa’s delicate neck and shoulders, and the expertly tailored waistline accentuated her slender figure. She looked more like a confident woman than the uncertain girl she’d once been–the transformation was subtle, but striking.
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Cliff was momentarily distracted, though he recovered quickly, greeting them with a smile. “Professor, Elissa. You made it p>
“Cliff,” Elissa replied, smiling softly as she took Tanya’s hand. Together, the group headed toward the elevator.
They had just reached it when a contemptuous laugh rang out behind them. Elissa turned to see Marcia–her makeup flawless, her strapless lavender gown glittering with rhinestones, dressed to the nines for the evening.
“Elissa. It’s been a while,” Marcia drawled, a sly smile curling on her lips. “I hear you’ve developed a miracle cure for cancer, too p>
Too. She lingered deliberately on that last word.
Elissa was well aware that Marcia’s team’s drug was also about to enter clinical trials. She kept her cool, simply answering, “That’s right p>
Marcia’s eyes sparkled with calculation. “Aren’t you worried your clinical trial might fail p>
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