The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 131

Chapter 131 The First Counterstrike

艙 Finished

Frost entered with his tablet, followed by Clara who immediately sat next to him. Interesting.

“Thank you for gathering on short notice,” Frost began. “Last night while you were at the gala, my monitoring system picked up increased activity around Nethys Medical. The forensic accounting firm has accelerated their investigation. They’ve found the paper trail we created showing Mr. Vex’s investments.”

“That was fast,” Drakonius said. “We thought we had another few days.”

“They’re good. Better than I anticipated. Which means we need to move up our timeline.” Frost pulled up documents on the conference room screen. “They’ve already started reaching out to business journalists, shopping the story. ‘Mysterious pharmaceutical heir secretly funding medical research company‘ is apparently too good not to run with.”

“When do we think it’ll break?” Elera asked.

“Within forty–eight hours. Maybe sooner if someone decides to run with it before doing full verification.”

“Then we beat them to it,” Drakonius said. “We release our own statement today. Confirm my investment, talk about why I did it, why I kept it quiet. Make it business–related so when Elera reveals her actual ownership in a few days, it’s a second bombshell that overshadows the first one.”

“I like it,” Clara said. “Layer the reveals. Give them time to process one story before hitting them with the bigger one. It’s a good plan strategy.”

“Can you draft something?” Elera asked.

“Already on it. I started writing last night when Frost first flagged the activity. Give me an hour to polish and we can send it to the major business outlets.”

While Clara worked on the statement, Elera found herself alone with Drakonius for the first time since the terrace. He was reading something on his laptop, or pretending to. She could see him sneaking glances at her every few seconds.

“We should probably talk,” she said finally.

“Probably,” he agreed, still not looking at her.

About last night.”

“I know”

“You can’t just kiss someone, tell them you love them, and then run away. That’s not how this works

“I’m aware

“So what are we doing here? Are we together or not? Are we taking this seriously or are we just pretending for the cameras?

He finally looked at her, and the expression on his face was so conflicted it made her chest hurt I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to be someone’s partner when I might not be here for the long

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Chapter 131 The First Counterstrike

haul.”

The treatment is working. You’re healing.”

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Finished

This time. But what about next time? What if it comes back? What if I relapse? What if you pour your heart into this and then I die anyway?”

“Then I’ll be sad. I’ll grieve. And eventually, I’ll move on, because that’s what people do. But Drakonius, I’d rather have whatever time we get together than waste it being scared.”

You say that now.”

“I’ll say it every day if I have to. I’m not going to stop wanting you just because you’re scared.”

He opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Clara bursting back in. “Statement’s done. Want to read it before I send it?”

The moment was broken. Elera sighed and turned her attention to the tablet Clara thrust at her.

The statement was perfect. Great and straightforward, making Drakonius’s investment sound logical and businesslike. Nothing scandalous, just two professionals in related fields collaborating on cutting–edge

research.

‘Send it.” Drakonius said. “All major outlets, business press specifically.”

“On it.” Clara started tapping on her tablet. “And done. We should start seeing pickup within the hour.”

She was right. By noon, every business outlet had run some version of the story. “Drakonius Vex’s Secret Medical Investment” was trending. Most of the coverage was neutral to positive, painting it as a smart business move by a man known for innovation.

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