The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134 A War Declared

Finished

“I understand this is a lot to process,” Elera continued. “But right now, my father and Zephyros Valdris are trying to take this company from me. From us. They’re using shell corporations and legal loopholes and they’re betting that I won’t fight back because I’ve been hiding for so long. But they’re wrong. I’m done hiding. And I need to know if you’re with me.”

There was a long silence. Then Richard spoke up again. “You built this company? Truly built it? Not your father?”

“Every patent, every research grant, every scientific breakthrough, that was me. My team. My vision. My father has never contributed a single dollar or idea to Nethys Medical. In fact, he didn’t even know it existed until a few weeks ago.”

Another board member, a woman named Patricia, leaned forward. “The research we’re doing, the Chimera Protocol, that was your design?”

“Every molecule of it.”

“Then I’m with you,” Patricia said firmly. “I’ve been on this board for eight years. I’ve seen the brilliant work coming out of our labs. If you’re the mind behind it, then you’re exactly who should be leading this company.”

“Agreed,” said another member. And another. One by one, they pledged their support.

Richard was the last holdout. He studied Elera for a long moment. “Why now? Why reveal yourself now?”

“Because I’d rather fight in the open than hide in the shadows. Because my secrets were protecting me but they were also limiting me. And because the people trying to take this company don’t deserve to win just because they’re willing to play dirty.”

Richard nodded slowly. “Alright, Dr. Mystral. Or should I say, Mrs. Vex? You have my support. But we’re going to need a strong legal strategy. This takeover attempt is smart.”

“I have the best lawyers in the business on retainer,” Drakonius said, stepping into the camera frame. “And I’m personally guaranteeing the legal costs of this fight. They want a war, they’ll get one.”

The meeting continued for another hour, with strategy and logistics and a whole lot of corporate legal jargon that made Elera’s head hurt. But by the end of it, she had unanimous support from her board and a battle plan.

After the call ended, she slumped in her chair. “Well. That went better than expected.”

“You were magnificent,” Clara said. “Commanding, clear and powerful. That’s the Elera the world needs to

see.”

“Now I just need to figure out how to tell the rest of the world without causing a complete media meltdown.”

“We’ll do a press conference,” Clara said. “Tomorrow morning. Big announcement with a controlled environment. You’ll explain everything, take a few questions, and then we shut it down before it gets out of hand.”

7:32 pm

Chapter 134 A War Declared

Finished

“Tomorrow?” Elera’s stomach clenched. “That’s fast.”

“It has to be. If we wait, Xan and your father will control the story. We need to beat them to the punch.”

She was right. Elera knew she was right. But that didn’t make it any less terrifying.

“Okay,” she said. “Tomorrow. Let’s do it.”

That evening, Elera was in her room trying to write notes for the press conference when Drakonius knocked. She was getting used to his evening visits, these quiet moments where they tried to figure out what they were to each other.

“Hey,” she said. “Came to help me prepare?”

“Actually, I came to give you something.” He held out a small box.

Elera opened it to find a delicate necklace. The pendant was a tiny raven carved from black onyx, its wings spread in flight.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“I saw it months ago, before I even knew Raven Shadowmere was you. I almost bought it then because it reminded me of the books. Now I’m glad I waited.” He took the necklace from the box. “May I?”

She turned around and lifted her hair. His fingers were gentle as he fastened the clasp, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

“Thank you,” she said, turning back to face him. “It’s perfect.”

“Wear it tomorrow. At the press conference. Let it remind you that you’ve been brave before. You revealed Raven to the world. You can do this too.”

“What if I mess it up? What if I say something wrong and everyone decides I’m a fraud?”

“Then you’ll handle it. Because that’s what you do. You face impossible situations and you figure them out.” He sat down next to her on the bed. “Elera, you’re about to become one of the most visible women in the business world. Everyone’s going to have an opinion about you. Some people will say you’re brilliant. Others will say you got lucky. Some will call you a fraud, others will call you a genius. And none of it will change who you actually are.”

“That’s remarkably wise for someone who’s emotionally constipated.”

He laughed. “I’m working on the emotional constipation. Therapy starts next week, actually.”

Elera’s head whipped around. “Wait, really? You’re going to therapy?”

“You said I needed to work on trusting myself. Therapy seems like a good place to start. And if I’m going to be with you, I need to deal with all the death anxiety and fear and whatever else is in here.” He tapped his

head.

“I’m proud of you,” Elera said softly. “That’s a big step.”

7:32 pm

P

Chapter 134 A War Declared

“You inspire me to be braver. Even when I’m being an idiot about it.”

“You’re not an idiot. You’re scared. There’s a difference.”

Finished

They sat together in comfortable silence for a while. Outside, the sun was setting over the ocean, painting everything gold and orange.

“After tomorrow,” Drakonius said. “After the press conference and the corporate battle and all of it, I want to take you somewhere. Justaus. Somewhere quiet where we can figure this out without any people needing our attention every five minutes.”

“Like a date?”

“It will be a weekend. Maybe longer. Somewhere we can just be Elera and Drakonius and not the CEO and pharmaceutical heir and all the other titles we wear.”

“That sounds perfect. Where would we go?”

“I have a house in Montana. It in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains. No one knows about it. It’s where I go when I need to remember I’m human.”

“You have a secret mountain house?”

“Everyone needs a secret mountain house. It’s in the billionaire handbook.”

Elera laughed. “Okay. After we survive tomorrow and the corporate warfare and everything else, we’ll go to your secret mountain house. And we’ll figure out what we are to each other.”

“It’s a date then.”

He stood to leave but Elera caught his hand. “Drakonius? Thank you. For the necklace and for the support, for being here. I know you’re scared and working through stuff. But you’re still showing up. That means everything.”

He squeezed her hand. “Always. Even when I’m being an emotional disaster, I’m still on your side.”

After he left, Elera touched the raven pendant at her throat. Tomorrow she would step into the spotlight as herself, all of herself, and tell the world exactly who she was.

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