Chapter 1411
Alaric’s perfectly constructed mask finally cracked, revealing a fleeting flash of absolute stiffness.
He narrowed his eyes, truly assessing the impossibly young woman standing before him for the first time.
What did she know? Or was she simply so instinctively sharp that she saw right through his manipulation?
But Serena’s radiant, flawless face betrayed nothing. She looked completely bored, as if her devastating accusation was nothing more than a passing thought.
Alaric’s fingers twitched slightly at his sides.
*Impossible,* he thought. *Even if Serena Lancaster is a genius, she couldn’t possibly know. The Sinclair family’s ties to the Obsidian Sun are buried beneath miles of dark web encryption. She couldn’t have found out. She’s just being difficult p>
Regaining his footing, Alaric forced a wounded, gentle smile. “That is a terrible accusation, Miss Lancaster. Everything I do is purely for the public good p>
“The public good?” Serena repeated the words lazily, her tone dripping with venom.
Despite her casual posture, Alaric felt a suffocating pressure, as if she could see every filthy secret hiding in his soul.
He shoved the paranoia down and maintained his dignified poise. “I believe we have gotten off on the wrong foot. My reputation in the global sector is pristine. I seek no fame. I seek no profit. I only wish to see your brilliant medical breakthroughs utilized to save thousands of lives. If a methodology can perform miracles, locking it in a vault is a tragedy p>
He played the role of the selfless martyr to absolute perfection.
A ripple of sympathy washed through the crowd. Every word he spoke claimed the absolute moral high ground. If Serena continued to attack him, she would look like an unhinged, selfish brat.
Seeing the crowd turn, Arthur Harrison breathed a sigh of relief. The Montgomerys were too eager, too sloppy. But Chairman Sinclair? He knew exactly how to trap someone on a pedestal until they choked.
1.n
Arthur stepped in for the kill. “Miss Lancaster, Chairman Sinclair is simply trying to help you. Medicine requires collaboration. This is especially true for Holistic Eastern Therapeutics. For decades our traditional methods have faced nothing but internationalscorn. The more they doubt us, the more transparent we must be. You have to provide irrefutable proof p>
He puffed out his chest, adopting the aura of a grandmaster. “If you are amenable, the Harrison family will gladly lend our resources. We have a century of expertise in integrated medicine. We will help you audit and validate your rescue protocols. It will solidify your legacy and prove to the world that the Lancasters aren’t just buying your fame with PR stunts. It protects you, and it protects your family’s honor. Isn’t that right p>
Clarissa Harrison added her sugary voice to the mix. “Please, Miss Lancaster. My father only wants to nurture your brilliance. The Harrison family has always elevated young talent. What you achieved in Severia is astounding. But raw talent isn’t enough in the medical world. You need the heavy backing of a prestigious medical dynasty to validate your work. Accepting our guidance will only elevate you p>
Her tone was nauseatingly sweet, but the sheer arrogance radiating from her was suffocating.
Serena’s gaze slowly drifted over the Harrison father and daughter. A dark, terrifying amusement danced in her eyes.
“Let me guess. The Harrison family wants to be my mentor p>