The Billionaire's Revenge Bride,She Married His Rival

I swallowed my irritation and was about to call security to have them thrown out.

But Carter spotted me from across the lobby.

"Amanda Henson!" He ground the words through clenched teeth. "I knew it was you hogging Nora's spot!"

I had no interest in getting tangled up with any of them. I turned and headed for the elevator bank on the opposite side.

I wasn't fast enough.

Carter seized my arm and slammed me against the wall. The back of my skull cracked against the surface, and a sharp ringing flooded my ears.

"The Hensons already wired you a million dollars. What more do you want? Why are you still stealing Nora's chance?"

"Do you have any idea—she can only get on the first trial list if she's part of this drug development project. Her heart can't wait any longer. Are you trying to kill her?"

Nora had congenital heart disease, yes. But she was nowhere near as fragile as they made her sound. It didn't take a genius to figure out she'd exaggerated her condition on purpose, just to wrestle the project away from me.

She leaned against Leila now, limp and doe-eyed, the picture of harmless innocence.

Carter's face was all tender concern—for her. The moment his gaze swung to me, it hardened into pure accusation.

"This project is a collaboration between DM Biotech and the Hensons. Have you no shame? You said you wanted nothing from the Henson family, and yet here you are, shamelessly stealing Nora's slot just to pad your medical credentials."

"One phone call. That's all it takes for me to have you thrown out."

My assistant rushed over, face tight with apology. "I'm so sorry," she said to me. "I had no idea this would happen."

Carter assumed the apology was meant for him.

He cut her off, bristling with fury. "Perfect timing. Get your director—Anna—in front of me within ten minutes. Otherwise, the Gilberts pull every cent of funding from this project."

Leila swept me with a venomous glare and snapped, "And if you don't remove Amanda Henson from the premises, the Hensons will withdraw our investment too!"

Nora watched me, a smug little smile curling her lips. Triumphant. Taunting.

As if she'd already won everything.

I couldn't fathom what she thought she was celebrating. The new drug development didn't need the Hensons' or the Gilberts' money. It was the other way around—they needed the social influence that a successful drug launch would bring.

Because of me, the Hensons and the Gilberts had been DM Biotech's strategic partners for years. This time, to demonstrate their commitment before the deal was even finalized, they'd sunk the bulk of their liquid capital into purchasing production equipment.

Keep pushing, Nora. Please.

The more they overplayed their hand, the clearer their true colors became. Once their capital was locked up with no way out, bankruptcy wouldn't be far behind.

My assistant stood in rigid silence. Carter's face had gone ashen. He forced the words out between his teeth.

"So you've even bought off a lowly assistant. Impressive, Amanda. Fine—I'll call Anna myself."

"And when I do, you can all get thrown out of this project together!"

My assistant moved to stop him. I held her back.

"Let him call."

Carter pulled out his phone. A few seconds passed.

In the quiet corridor outside the lab, a crisp ringtone echoed off the walls.

It was coming from me.