The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164 Date Night Interrupted

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A few minutes later, Frost came back down to the lobby. He had a small cut on his cheekbone and his tactical gear was slightly disheveled, but he was otherwise intact. The police were arriving, their sirens wailing outside.

He walked over to Clara and for a long moment, he just looked at her, sitting there in her green dress at the security desk, surrounded by chaos.

“You’re hurt,” she said, reaching up toward his cheek.

He caught her hand before it could touch him but he didn’t let go. His grip was warm and firm. “It’s nothing.” His eyes searched her face. “You were incredible and completely reckless.”

“You were pretty incredible yourself,” she said, a grin breaking through. “Also, the tactical gear is a good look on you. My very ‘action hero.””

Frost almost smiled. Just a tiny quirk at the corner of his mouth. “We had a date.”

“We still do,” Clara said. “I’m just a little more dressed up for it than I planned. And I think we’ve already had the ‘exciting‘ part of the evening. The dinner part can be boring by comparison.”

This time, he did smile, a big real one. It transformed his face. “Boring sounds perfect.”

As they walked out past the police, hand in hand, Clara decided that while this wasn’t the first date she’d imagined, it was definitely one she’d never forget.

*

*

*

Back at the cliff house, Elera was waiting anxiously. She’d gotten a frantic call from Leo, then a terse update from Frost. When Clara and Frost finally walked in, looking a little worse for wear but fundamentally okay, she nearly collapsed with relief.

She hugged Clara tightly. “You idiot. You brilliant, brave idiot.”

“Hey, I saved your data. You can thank me with a raise. And maybe a vacation. Somewhere with

no servers.”

Elera laughed, her eyes wet. She turned to Frost. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “The threats were professionals and they were hired. We’ll trace them, but I doubt it will lead to anywhere useful. The important thing is they failed. The data is secure. And we

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Chapter 164 Date Night Interrupted

have a better idea of what we’re up against.”

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“They’re getting desperate,” Drakonius said, joining them. He looked tired from the confrontation with Lyra, but his focus was sharp. “A physical attack on the servers means they’re trying to destroy the research and not just steal it. They want to eliminate the cure as an option.”

“It means they think the cure is real,” Elera realized. “And that it’s working. That’s why they want to destroy it. They’re not just trying to hurt me financially anymore. They’re trying to kill you, Drakonius. For good.”

The room went quiet. The stakes had just been raised, yet again.

“Well,” Clara said, breaking the silence. “On the bright side, my first date involved taking down data terrorists. That’s going to be a tough act to follow for any future romantic prospects.”

Frost gave her a look. “There won’t be any future romantic prospects.”

Clara’s smile was radiant. “Good.”

As they all dispersed for the night–Clara to change out of her dress, Frost to file his report, Drakonius to check in with his legal team–Elera stood in the grand hallway, feeling the weight of the day settle on her shoulders.

Her father was a murderer. Her sister–in–law was an adversary. Her company had just been attacked. The man she loved was still healing. And through it all, she had to be the doctor, the CEO, the strategist and the rock.

She felt a hand slip into hers. Drakonius. He didn’t say anything. He just stood with her, looking out at the dark ocean through the front door, which was still open.

“They won’t win,” he said quietly, after a long time.

“I know,” she said. And she did know. They had evidence. They had a plan. They had each other and they had a very stubborn, furious will to survive that no amount of money or corruption could match.

Outside, the moon broke through the clouds, painting a silver path on the black water. It was a long, difficult road ahead. But for the first time, Elera felt like they were finally walking it in the right direction.

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