Chapter 401
Not only that, but she had been developing breakthrough remedies for years.
Many in the audience had used the formulas from the Serenity Center; some even kept them stocked in their homes.
Marcia and Paige were caught completely off guard.
Elissa… a student of medicine for that long? And with Aaron Blaine as her master?
Paige felt the world tilt, nearly fainting on the spot. Butler Murphy steadied her just in time. Marcia’s face drained of all color.
It was over. Utterly and completely over.
But Marcia refused to admit defeat. She clenched her jaw, her voice a low hiss as she glared at Elissa. “If you’re really that skilled, why didn’t you reveal it sooner p>
“That’s a question for Matriarch Paige, isn’t it?” Elissa retorted, seizing the opportunity she’d been waiting for. She turned her gaze to the older woman. “Grandmother, everyone says that after the Murphy family adopted me, you treated me so well p>
11
“That’s enough,” Rowan interjected, his voice calm but firm. He shot a look at the host.
The host quickly stepped in. “Ms. Drummond, we still have some time. Perhaps you could tell us about your original inspiration for developing this drug p>
Elissa’s words were cut off. She stared at Rowan for a long moment, her clear eyes unblinking, before a slow, ironic smile spread across her lips.
Good thing she’d never expected him to take her side. Just because he had provided for her for nine years didn’t mean he would stand against his own grandmother for her sake. Paige, no matter what she had done, was still his family. He would never allow Elissa to strip away her dignity in front of so many people.
Seizing the chance to escape, Paige grabbed Marcia and stormed out, her face a thunderous mask.
They didn’t stop until they reached the courtyard of Murphy Manor. There, Paige spun around and delivered a vicious kick to Marcia’s legs, sending her crashing to her. knees on the sharp gravel path-the same path Elissa had been forced to kneel on for years.
Marcia’s face contorted in agony. Before she could even react, Paige’s hand cracked across her cheek in a brutal slap. The rage only grew. She began striking her with both hands, again and again, until Marcia’s face was swollen and red.
“Is this what you called a foolproof plan?” Paige shrieked, feeling as if she might vomit from sheer fury. She had never been so publicly humiliated in her entire life. She had invested a fortune, and for what? To be made a laughingstock?
Marcia didn’t dare move, her body absorbing the blows. Soon, she was a battered mess, tears streaming down her bruised cheeks
Matriarch, I swear, I had no idea Elissa was Aaron’s student! I had known, I would have taken more precautions p>
That little bitch! How could she be so damn lucky? To have even Aaron Blaine as her mentor.
It wasn’t just Paige who was livid. At that moment, Marcia wanted nothing more
than to run Elissa down with her car. She would rather die with her than see her succeed.
*Smack p>
Another slap cut her off mid-sentence.
Paige took a deep, shuddering
breath as Butler Murphy handed her a glass of water and her blood
pressure medication. After swallowing the pills, she kicked Marcia again. “You said you envied Elissa, didn’t you?” She sneered “Well, the ground you’re kneeling on is where she knelt for years. So you can just stay here and kneel until you’ve had your fill p>
Marcia crumpled to the ground but scrambled back up, ignoring her throbbing
face to clutch at Paige’s dress. “Matriarch, please, give me one more chance! I
swear I’ll make sure she’s utterly destroyed p>