Chapter 400
At this point, there was no longer any need to hide her true abilities.
Paige Jensen was terrified she would soar, so Elissa was determined to fly higher than ever. She would crush Paige so completely that she wouldn’t even have a chance to breathe.
More than that, she would make that murderer pay with her own two hands.
The revelation left not only Marcia Carson and Paige Jensen stunned, but also many others in the audience.
She was only in her early twenties, yet she claimed to have studied medicine for sixteen years.
Elissa felt a strange gaze on her. Following her intuition, she looked out into the crowd and met a pair of unsettling, mischievous eyes. He was a complete stranger.
From his seat, Finn Thornton made no attempt to hide his impolite stare. A smile played on his lips as he called out, “If I may ask, Ms. Drummond, under which esteemed master did you study p>
Marcia immediately seized on the point. “Exactly, Elissa. Are you saying you started studying medicine when you were eight or nine? Stop trying to fool everyone. Flipping through a few medical books at home doesn’t count as studying p>
“Eight or nine? What respectable mentor would take on a student that young?” someone else muttered. It sounded more like babysitting than an apprenticeship.
Aaron Blaine had heard enough. “Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it’s impossible,” he boomed, his voice cutting through the murmurs. “I happen to prefer younger students. Their minds are pure, allowing them to dedicate themselves completely to the art of healing. They’re not like some people, who reveal their ugly true colors for a sliver of profit p>
He gestured toward the stage. “Besides, this is Elissa’s own creation. It doesn’t affect your interests in the slightest p>
Seeing the student he had watched grow up being subjected to such humiliation, Aaron grew more incensed with every word, his tone dripping with righteous indignation.
Most people in the room may not have heard of Elissa before today, but everyone knew Aaron Blaine. He was a master of holistic medicine, a physician of legendary skill. His reputation was impeccable, and countless influential figures ved for his services, seeking his expertise for consultations and wellness plans.
“Mr. Blaine,” Paige began, forcing a respectful tone, “I’m aware that Elissa spent her four years of university with you, so I understand your protective feelings. But perhaps you don’t know her as well as you think watched that girl grow up She may seem obedient, but she’s incredibly manipulative p>
“Don’t you dare!” Aaron was practically apoplectic, all traces of his usual calm demeanor gone. He stormed over to Paige, spittle flying as he yelled, “I know exactly who she is, far better than a manipulative old witch like you! Stop trying to belittle her with your veiled insults p>
Marcia quickly dabbed at Paige’s face with a handkerchief. “Mr. Blaine, please calm down. You have countless students. Elissa isn’t even your official protégé. She’s not worth getting so worked up over p>
A few words, and he was already seeing red. Anyone who didn’t know better would think Elissa actually was his chosen apprentice.
“Who says she isn’t? She is!” Aaron
shot a look at Elissa and then, before the entire audience, declared in a powerful, measured voice, “In my
entire life, I have only ever taken one official student under my wing-and that is Elissa. I haven’t been teaching her for four years, but for sixteen p>
His voice resonated through the hall. “She began her studies with me at the age of nine, starting with identifying herbs and steadily building her knowledge step by step. She has treated countless patients, and now you people have the audacity to suggest she developed this drug through connections p>
He scoffed. “If you ask me, Rowan Murphy is the one who used his connections to convince her to develop it for his company p>
Cliff Riley chose that moment to speak up. “I’ll be honest with all of you. The herbal remedies from the Serenity Holistic Medicine Center, while publicly credited
to me, were, in fact, all developed by Elissa p>
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. No one had imagined that Elissa
Drummond was the one and only protégé of the great Aaron Blaine.