She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 993

"What if I told you... I came here specifically to see you?"

Instead of avoiding Sebastian York's piercing gaze, Melanie Royce met it head-on, her eyes wide and unapologetically direct.

Sebastian froze for a fraction of a second, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

But on the surface, he remained entirely unreadable.

A moment later, a cynical smile curved his lips.

"I had no idea... my charm was potent enough to drag the CEO of the Royce Group all the way from Averin."

Melanie chuckled softly.

"That's a bit narcissistic, Director York."

The smirk on Sebastian's face stiffened.

"I came here to see you... because I want to discuss a partnership."

Sebastian raised a brow, remaining silent.

Melanie didn't miss a beat.

"The Royce Group and Stellaris PharmaTech are collaborating on a Novel Solid Tumor Targeted Therapy, and we're selecting a few hospitals for clinical rollout. The oncology department at Ruben Isle University Medical Center is one of the best in the world. If we want this drug to hit the ground running here, your department is the most logical channel, isn't it?"

Her pitch was perfectly reasoned, air-tight without a single flaw.

Yet, Sebastian found himself frowning.

A strange sense of disappointment settled in his chest.

So...

She really had traveled all the way to Ruben Isle and approached him purely for business.

Outside the window, the rain drummed relentlessly against the glass.

Occasional flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder illuminated the sky.

The stormy backdrop only made the silence in the lecture hall feel impossibly heavy.

Sebastian stared at her for a long time before finally loosening his grip on her.

Melanie carefully rolled her wrist, massaging the joint that had been restrained for far too long.

With that, she turned and left the lecture hall.

Outside, it was an absolute downpour.

Standing under the awning at the main entrance of the science building, Melanie stared at the impenetrable wall of rain, wondering how she was going to get back.

Just then, someone stepped up beside her and snapped open an umbrella.

"Ms. Royce, let's go. I'll walk you."

Melanie turned and saw Sebastian.

He was still wearing his pristine white coat, holding a crisp white umbrella. He looked every bit the picture of clinical perfection.

She was just about to politely decline when a familiar, deeply magnetic voice cut through the noise of the storm.

"No need to trouble yourself, Director York."

A tall, imposing figure dressed entirely in black materialized in the rain like a fortress, shielding her from the storm and the thunder.

Preston Whitmore, clad in his usual dark attire, held a pitch-black umbrella in his white-gloved hand.