Chapter 1037

*Three...*

Although she was entitled to three wishes, Theia stopped at two. She was afraid that if she asked for too much, the universe wouldn't grant any of it. Two was enough. As long as her children were safe, that was all she needed.

Opening her eyes, she grabbed the knife, hacked a slice of cake, and tossed the knife back onto the table. "Are we done here?"

"Why do you always have to be like this?" Corvus's fists clenched on the table, the veins in his eyes popping. "Aren't you afraid I'll—"

"You lay one finger on Silas, and I will gouge out my own eyes," Theia interrupted, her voice dead calm. "Missing a few fingers might not affect his research, but I'm pretty sure a blind woman isn't going to be much help to you."

"Theia!"

*Crash!*

Theia kicked her chair over, her face set in stone. "Open the door!"

They stared each other down in tense silence. Finally, Corvus broke. He signaled the guards to unlock the door.

They both knew she wasn't bluffing. She would do exactly what she said.

It was a terrifying stalemate; neither could afford to push the other over the edge.

Theia was escorted back to her quarters. When a guard casually mentioned that the doctor had already departed, her knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.

Silas hadn't recovered yet. He couldn't speak, and he couldn't hold a pen. Did he manage to get a message to their daughter? Did she understand?

...

Meanwhile, Corvus sat alone in the room, methodically eating the birthday cake as the steward reported on the doctor's visit.

"Two months?" Corvus scoffed, his eyes glinting. "This doctor certainly lives up to the hype."

"Indeed," the steward bowed. "And they made sure to demand their twenty million fee before leaving."

"Greed is good," Corvus said, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "For a project of this magnitude, I need people who are motivated by money."

"And what of Subterra Vanguard?"

Just hearing the name made Corvus's blood boil. He appreciated people who loved money, but that 'Specter character was out of their mind Eighty billion? Why not just ask for the keys to the entire organization while they were at it?

"They said as long as the funds are transferred, the doctor is ours," the steward replied dutifully. "They promised a smooth transition."

Corvus went silent, his dark eyes brooding.

"Is there a problem, sir?"

"It's too easy," Corvus murmured, his raspy voice filled with suspicion. "Nothing in my life has ever gone this smoothly."

When things were too perfect, it meant a trap was waiting.

"Keep stalling the negotiations with

Subterra Vanguard," Corvus ordered. "The Gene Modification Project is

too critical. Until we confirm their absolute loyalty, they are not to know the details of the operation."

"Yes, sir."

"And..." Corvus frowned. "What's the status on Celine Sherwin? I thought I told you to bring her in."

Celine was one of the original test subjects for the genetic

experiments. While he wasn't sure if the modification had taken hold examining a previous subject was vital for the project's next phase.

"We had an opening," the steward hesitated, looking nervous. "But recently, she

hasn't left Liberty Island. She rarely even leaves her estate."

Until she stepped off the island, grabbing her would be a logistical nightmare.

"However," the steward quickly added, "we intercepted chatter that she recently connected with a family member. We haven't verified the intel yet."

"A family member?" Corvus's face darkened before a cruel smile spread across his lips. "It seems luck is on our side. We just gained some leverage."

"Find out who this family member is. Immediately."