Chapter 393

Paige's eyes narrowed, the wrinkles around them deepening with calculation. "Are you certain this will be foolproof?"

"You underestimate me," Marcia said, brimming with confidence. Falsifying data and making false claims about a drug's efficacy was a death sentence for any researcher and their parent company. Elissa's career was finished, that was a certainty. The only question was how much damage the Murphy Group would sustain.

Marcia refilled Paige's teacup, her voice soft and persuasive. "If I fail, you can do whatever you want with me, and I won't say a word. But if I succeed, I hope you'll grant me one request." She took the opportunity to state her terms.

Paige, in a better mood now, glanced at her. "What is it?"

"I want..." Marcia's lips curved into a smile. "To marry Frank."

On her own, she stood no chance. But if Paige regained control of the Murphy Group and was willing to put in a good word for her, the Atwater family would have to weigh their options. With the baby in her womb as leverage... it wasn't entirely impossible.

A flicker of disgust crossed Paige's face, but she didn't refuse. "I can agree to that." Then her tone shifted, becoming icy and menacing. "But let me be clear. If you mess this up, not even the Atwater family will be able to protect you."

This woman, Marcia, had already taken hundreds of millions from her for research that had gone nowhere. Her only hope now was that Rowan and Elissa's project would fail spectacularly. If not, she would settle her accounts with Marcia personally. She would get her money back from the Atwater family, and she would have Marcia's life.

Paige's intense gaze sent a shiver down Marcia's spine, a flicker of doubt entering her mind. But she didn't dare show it, forcing a smile. "I am well aware that the Atwater family would not go against the Murphys for my sake. So, rest assured, if only to save my own skin, I will do everything in my power to drag Elissa down from her pedestal."

Paige finally nodded, satisfied. "Good. As long as you understand." That was precisely why she had chosen Marcia-her visceral hatred for Elissa. People driven by hatred were the most decisive, the most ruthless.

Meanwhile, Elissa was indeed sitting in the lab, looking just as troubled as Marcia had described.

Cliff looked up and saw her long face, letting out a small laugh. "What's wrong? Still agonizing over your speech for the press conference the final batch of clinical trial data had come inthat morning, and everything was perfect. The only thing left to worry about, as far as Cliff could tell, was the speech.

Elissa propped her chin on her hand. "I don't even know where to start." She was in her element in the lab, buried in research. Public speaking was far outside her comfort zone.

"Don't worry, there's still time," Cliff said with a gentle smile. "Besides, as long as your data is solid, no one will care what you say." In this world, the successful were celebrated no matter what they said.

Elissa pressed her lips together. "Cliff, can't you do it instead?"

"Elissa," Cliff said, amused by this rare, childlike side of her. "You can't hide behind the scenes forever. Your talent and ability destine you for greater heights" She was meant to shine, brighter and brighter, perhaps so bright that he would no longer be able to keep up.

Elissa, preoccupied with her speech, missed the flicker of sadness in his eyes. She forced a smile. "The higher you climb, the harder you fall." She

was well aware of how closely wasnd the Murphys were

Marcia

watching her.

Cliff's smile faded, his voice becoming warm yet firm. "Then you just focus on climbing. If you fall, your mentor and I will be there to catch you."

The anxiety in Elissa's chest eased. "I'm so lucky to have had you and him all

these years." Without them, she never would have made it this far.

And... Rowan. He was the one who had paved this path for her.

The drug launch wasn't just a big deal for her; it was a major event for the entire Murphy Group, and Rowan was just as swamped as she was.