She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 400

"Memory?"

The question had barely left Melanie's lips when Preston abruptly let go of her hand and turned his face away.

"...Never mind... I'll take you back to the office."

Without another word, he slid into the driver's seat.

Melanie didn't get in immediately.

She stood there, chewing over the cryptic question he had just asked.

"Do you really have no memory of it at all?"

What memory was he talking about?

Her impression of him?

Did that mean...

Had she and Preston met somewhere before?

She combed through her memories frantically, trying to unearth a face that matched his, but came up empty. Still lost in thought, she finally got into the passenger seat, and Preston drove her back to the Royce Group.

When they pulled up to the entrance, Melanie unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.

Suddenly, Preston reached out and gently gripped her shoulder.

"There is absolutely nothing between Elara and me. Please don't misunderstand."

He spoke with such earnest gravity that Melanie felt foolish for ever doubting him.

Besides, she wasn't his girlfriend. It wasn't like she had the right to be jealous anyway.

"Alright, I know," she smiled softly.

Preston slowly pulled his hand back, his palm still radiating a lingering warmth.

He kept the car parked out front, watching until Melanie disappeared entirely into the building.

Sitting alone in the driver's seat, he picked up his phone.

He opened the camera and switched it to front-facing mode, staring at the clear reflection of his own face.

It was a strikingly handsome face, flawless and commanding.

Yet, after studying his own reflection for a long time, Preston squeezed his eyes shut. A deep, heavy conflict etched itself into his brow.

That night, Melanie logged into her Schrödinger's Pill account. She compiled a meticulously researched review of various traditional medicine suppliers and posted it to the industry forum. Backed by undeniable evidence, she officially placed Herbanthus Remedies on her blacklist.

Just as she closed her laptop and reached for her phone to scroll through social media, a breaking news notification popped up.

Stellaris PharmaTech's holistic clinics had just issued a public statement: They were permanently severing all ties and refusing any future collaboration with Herbanthus Remedies.

The next day was her day off, so she luxuriated in bed. By the time she finally woke up and checked her phone, the news was everywhere. Just as she predicted, Herbanthus Remedies had declared bankruptcy.

At that exact moment, across town at an exclusive VIP club.

Aria sat in a private suite, staring at Evelyn.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Aria asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

It was autumn, but it certainly wasn't freezing out. Yet Evelyn was huddled inside a thick black hoodie, the oversized hood pulled tightly over her head. She was wearing massive sunglasses and a huge medical mask, looking more desperate than a disgraced celebrity trying to dodge the paparazzi.

"Evelyn, I know the entire internet is tearing you apart right now, but is it really that bad?"

Aria crossed her arms, her tone dripping with disdain.

She didn't need to play the sweet, innocent socialite with Evelyn anymore.

After all, Evelyn was the one whose reputation was completely destroyed, not hers.

And Evelyn had been the one begging for this meeting in the first place.

Evelyn sat down across from her. With trembling hands, she slowly pulled back the hood, took off her sunglasses, and finally pulled down the mask.

Aria gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Oh my God!"