While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Chapter 97 The Same Boat

Dr. Harrison’s eyes lingered on the tablet screen.

Xavier Lala’s photo stared back at them. Round glasses. Calm expression. Dark hair neatly parted.

Dr. Harrison’s gaze shifted to Veyra. She was still looking at the photo. Her finger rested on the edge of the table and he studied her face. The set of her jaw. The steadiness in her eyes.

"You’ve already decided," he said.

She looked up. "What?"

"You’re looking at him like he’s already your partner."

Veyra did not deny it.

Dr. Harrison set down his water glass. The condensation left a ring on the white tablecloth.

"You understand what you’re getting into," he said. "The Zed family won’t forgive. They’ll block every move you make. Every contract. Every approval. Every expansion."

Veyra said nothing.

"I’m not trying to change your mind," Dr. Harrison continued. "I’m making sure you understand the cost."

She nodded slowly. "I understand."

"And you still want to proceed?"

"I still want to proceed."

Dr. Harrison shook his head. "You’re so stubborn."

"I’ve been told."

Veyra looked at the photo again.

"Mere boldness isn’t enough," she said quietly.

Dr. Harrison tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Boldness gets you into a fight. It doesn’t win it." She paused. "I need to know if he has more than that."

"You want to test him."

"I want to see how he thinks. How he handles pressure. How he responds when things don’t go his way."

Dr. Harrison was curious. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Veyra set the tablet down. She leaned back in her chair.

"He’s in the restaurant tonight," she said. "I saw him downstairs."

"You want to meet him now?"

"Immediately."

Dr. Harrison’s eyebrows rose. "What kind of test?"

She smiled and a small, mysterious smile.

"You’ll see."

Dr. Harrison studied her face. He had worked with many people over the years. Some were brilliant. Some were stubborn. Some were both.

Veyra was all three.

He reached for his phone. "I’ll have my assistant contact him. And the other four candidates."

Veyra blinked. "The other four?"

"The rejection notices. They need to know they weren’t chosen."

She nodded slowly. "Yes. They do."

Dr. Harrison typed a message. His thumb moved quickly across the screen.

"I’ll tell them the decision has been made. That the partnership has been awarded."

He paused.

"You’re sure about this?"

Veyra looked at Xavier’s photo again. The round glasses. The calm expression. The eyes that had not looked away when Caspian threatened him.

"I’m sure," she said and Dr. Harrison pressed send.

Veyra set the tablet down. She looked out the window. The city lights blurred.

And her thoughts went to the Zed family. The weight of their influence and the cost of standing against them. Right or wrong, she thought, we’re in the same boat now. She did not know if she had made the right choice but she had made a choice.

*

*

Downstairs, Caspian stood at the entrance of the restaurant.

He had been smoking for ten minutes. His cigarette was down to the filter. He did not notice.

His face was hard. His jaw was tight. The cool night air did nothing to calm him. His phone rang.

He pulled it out. The screen said Assistant Dan. He answered, his voice was eager and eferential.

"Assistant Dan. Good evening."

The voice on the other end was professional. Neutral.

"Mr. Thorne. I’m calling to inform you of the decision regarding the SN1818 partnership."

Caspian’s grip tightened on the phone.

"Yes?"

"After careful consideration, the partnership has been awarded to another candidate."

Caspian’s face went rigid.

The words did not make sense. They could not make sense.

"I don’t understand," he said. "Dr. Harrison said he would put in a good word for me. Professor Sterling recommended me. I was—"

"I understand your frustration, Mr. Thorne. But the decision is final."

Caspian’s voice rose. "Who? Who was chosen?"

A pause.

"President Xavier Lala. From Solstice Pharmaceuticals."

Caspian’s hand trembled.

Xavier Lala.

The man from the restaurant. The one who had stepped in. The one who had sided with Veyra and his face darkened. Cold fury settled into his bones.

"Xavier Lala," he repeated. His voice was flat. Empty.

"Yes, Mr. Thorne. The partnership is with Solstice Pharmaceuticals."

Caspian’s fist clenched around the phone.

"Why?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Thorne. I don’t have any further details."

The line went dead.

Caspian stared at the phone.

Why?

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