Chapter 11

.Rodger's temper snapped the moment Emilia finished speaking. His face clouded over, every muscle pulled tight with rage he couldn't mask.

"You only pulled through because luck favored you.Don't get too full of yourself," he wNarned,voice low.

A sly grin spread across Emilia's face, and her eyes flashed with challenge. "However it happened,the victory is mine. Now keep your word. You're the CEO of the Mitchell Group, aren't you? Surely a man of your position won't stoop to breaking a promise."

Emilia cut him off before he could object. "You might want to think this over. There are plenty of influential eyes watching, including Mr. Dixon. He vouched for me, and he's more than equipped to hold you to your word. And don't forget-I hold the treatment slot from Asclepius. If I decided to leverage that and partner up with the right people, Mitchell Group might just go under." She delivered each line with the ease of a breeze,yet there was a sharpness to her tone, each word coated in playful ridicule as she locked eyes with Rodger.

Rodger said through gritted teeth, "You really have the nerve to threaten me?"

Suspicion flickered in his mind. If Emilia truly held Asclepius's favor, she could make those heavyweights in the arena turn against him in a heartbeat.

Rodger doubted her claim, but he wasn't willing to gamble everything on a hunch. If he called her bluff and lost, his entire company would be wiped out.

After wrestling with his options, he knew what he had to do.

"That's exactly what I'm doing. I have the upper hand after all," said Emilia, her grin smug enough to make his blood boil.

His whole body trembled as fury swallowed him.Rodger's fists clenched harder until his knuckles whitened. He couldn't believe he had once overlooked how infuriatingly cocky she could be, how her very words made his teeth grind.

"Fine! I'llmake the arrangements at once. I'll contact the lawyers so the share transfer documents can be signed under their witness."

With no escape left, Rodger pulled out his phone and started dialing.

Their words faded into the background, the crowd left guessing at what passed between them. Though most people cared little for the details of their deal.All were waiting to see who would be chosen by Asclepius.

Not a single person dared step away, afraid of missing the moment the announcement broke.

Only when a cluster of sharply dressed men made their entrance did everyone's attention swing back to the center of the arena.

"Those lawyers are the top in Oticester. What business do they have here?" "Must be for the transfer of the Mitchell Group's shares. Still, what I really want to know is which patient the famous healer is going to pick."

"Can you believe that woman? She pulled off a win right before everyone's eyes and then forced Rodger to start the share transfer on the spot."

The audience's voices floated just above a whisper,their excitement barely contained. Meanwhile, a faint,satisfied smile ghosted across Elias's lips.

He admired how Emilia held her ground so fearlessly.That unshakable composure revealed her strength in ways that words never could.

Wilbur let out a soft click of his tongue and nodded with something close to respect. "She's nothing like the weepy, uncertain woman I imagined she'd be," he said.

The only answer Elias gave was a growing smnile,pride glowing in his eyes. Suspicion clouded Rodger's face as he glanced at the formidable legal team assembled in front of him."You think I can't be trusted?"

He always planned to use his company's lawyers, but Emilia had gone above and beyond, summoning the city's best.

Did she truly believe he was that unreliable?

Without sparing him much of a glance, Emilia said courteously to the attorneys, "I'll leave this in your hands. Thank you for your assistance."

"You can rely on us, Ms. Harris. Everything will be managed properly," one of them assured.

Rodger, ignored and dismissed, boiled inside. This was not the scene he had envisioned. How could Emilia be so firm, so indifferent to the history they once shared? That cold finality carved a hollow place in his heart.

It didn't take long before the transfer documents were signed and sealed.

Rodger's expression soured as he shot a final,frosty look at Emilia before walking away.

Then, just as he moved to leave, her voice rang out behind him. The words that followed made his expression sink to its darkest shade yet.