After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 321

A self-deprecating smile played on Raphael's lips. Out of the four members of the Evernight family, Aria had saved three. Any other family would have treated her like royalty, yet the Evernights had been utterly ungrateful. They had even tried to use a child to tie her to them permanently. If her body hadn't suffered that irreversible trauma, she might have been trapped forever once the baby was born.

"Saved you?" Aria asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. She had only given him a single dose of medication. That hardly counted as saving his life.

Raphael knew exactly why she was puzzled. The surgery she had performed at eighteen had been highly classified. Very few people knew that the patient on the operating table that day was him. Not even Aria knew. He had looked vastly different back then, so it was only natural she didn't recognize him. Furthermore, since she had no intention of exposing her identity as Dawn, he wasn't going to force her hand. He respected her boundaries.

"The prescription you gave me—wasn't that meant to save my life?" he replied smoothly.

"That doesn't count," Aria said with a soft chuckle. "When I finally crack the code on your genetic condition, that will be truly saving your life."

His words eased the weight on her chest. Raphael's kindness wasn't entirely baseless; he had a vested interest in her skills. No one in this world offered unconditional kindness. Since she was useful to him, it made sense that he would actively maintain their relationship. Taking another bite of her apple, she added, "When we reach the Phase 1 Clinical Human Trials, I'll let you be patient zero."

Watching her relaxed posture, Raphael masked the bitter sting in his eyes. "Deal. I'll be waiting."

***

Charles appeared at the door of Aria's office at exactly two-thirty. When Aria stepped out of the elevator, she found him already waiting.

"Come in," she said, unlocking the door.

Charles immediately followed her inside.

He had consulted his lawyers. Technically, Flora's actions didn't amount to corporate espionage for profit; she was merely trying to secure leverage. With Aria's formal pardon, she could receive a lenient sentence.

Aria raised an eyebrow. "Roxanne or Flora. Who are you choosing?"

Charles frowned. "What do you mean? Didn't Roxanne already pay back the hundred million dollars?"

"It seems she left out a crucial detail. I only demanded the money back. I never said I wouldn't press charges after she paid. And believe me, the severity of the charges changes drastically depending on whether she cooperates or not."

Aria propped her chin on her hand, watching him with genuine amusement. She wanted to see how he would handle this impossible dilemma. Charles had once accused her of abandoning her dreams for money, yet here he was, making the exact same kind of ruthless compromise.