Chapter 456
Rowan’s chest tightened at her words. He stared down at her.
“Are my words just going in one ear and out the other p>
He had made his position perfectly clear: he was willing to step up and be the father. Why did it seem like she hadn’t heard a single word?
Just as Elissa was about to respond, the car slowed to a stop in front of Vistapeak Gardens.
Evan Murphy lowered the partition. “Sir, Miss, we’ve arrived p>
Elissa glanced outside but made no move to get out. “I want to go see the professor and his wife first p>
They were elderly, and this whole ordeal must have been terrifying for them. She wouldn’t be able to rest until she saw them with her own eyes.
Rowan lifted his chin slightly. “They’re in 2202 p>
After he’d hung up with Cliff, he had arranged for lan to get Aaron Blaine and Jacqueline out of their besieged home and settle them temporarily in his apartment across the hall.
Elissa let out a sigh of relief. She nodded, then eagerly opened the car door to get
out.
Rowan’s arm remained firmly around her waist. “Not even a thank you this time?” he teased. He had, after all, given up his own home for them.
Elissa couldn’t tell if he was serious or not, so she went on the offensive. “Why should I thank you? This whole mess started because of a Murphy Group drug, and my professor got caught in the crossfire p>
In other words, it was his problem to solve.
Her defiant attitude made Rowan raise an eyebrow. The pressure on her waist suddenly eased. “Go on, then p>
Elissa quickly got out of the car. Seeing him remain inside, she instinctively glanced back.
Rowan understood the question in her eyes. He reached out, his long arm extending to gently squeeze her soft hand. “You go on up. I have to get to the Murphy Group headquarters as soon as possible p>
“Okay.” Elissa knew that in crisis management, every second counted. The Murphy Group’s PR department had already been working while they were on the road, but many decisions still required Rowan’s final approval.
Her gaze fell on the large hand
holding hers, and an idea sparked. “If you need me to cooperate in any way, just let me know.” She could provide technical data and support at a moment’s notice. She had absolute confidence in the drug she had developed.
Despite the massive scandal, her face showed no trace of panic or anxiety, only a calm composure.
Rowan looked at her and smiled. “Alright p>
The little girl who had needed his protection at every turn was all grown up. And she had grown up well.
Once Elissa disappeared into the building, the black Bentley sped away.
Rowan’s phone, resting on the seat beside him, rang almost immediately.
It was lan. “Sir, we’ve confirmed it. DK Pharmaceuticals is behind this. The family members of the patients who posted online all had private contact with people from DK Pharmaceuticals recently p>
DK Pharmaceuticals might be able to act with impunity overseas, but this was Vistapeak City. Few things could escape the notice of the Murphy family.
“Understood,” Rowan said.
“Should we release the evidence and clear the air?” lan asked.
“Not yet.” Rowan’s eyes narrowed. “If we release it now, they could easily turn the tables on us p>
Public anger towards the Murphy Group and Elissa was at its peak. Releasing such evidence now would only make it look like the Murphy- Group was using its power to bully people, especially if DK Pharmaceuticals had another card up its sleeve.
However, one question had been nagging Rowan since the beginning.
His voice turned cold. “See if you can find any connection, any past grudge between
DK Pharmaceuticals and Elissa p>
Logically, there shouldn’t be one. Elissa had grown up in Vistapeak City, while DK Pharmaceuticals had been based abroad for the last twò decades. Their paths shouldn’t have crossed. But this move by DK was clearly not just aimed at the Murphy, Group. It was also aimed at Elissa In fact, the malice directed at her
seemed even greater.