Chapter 3

The next day, Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals' stock price hit the limit down as soon as the market opened.

The news that "Wallace Group's core drug patent authorization was terminated" spread like a virus throughout the entire financial circle.

Media calls nearly blew up Reece's phone.

I lay peacefully in my hospital bed, looking at the news on the tablet Reece handed me.

Each headline was more sensational than the last.

《Business Empire Collapses Overnight? Wallace Group Pharmaceuticals Suffers Fatal Blow!》

《Who Is the Mysterious Patent Holder? Wallace Family Heir May Be Biggest Loser!》

I even saw photos of Aurora surrounded by reporters at the hospital entrance, her face ashen.

So satisfying.

At noon, Reece brought lunch.

It was my favorite dishes, light and delicate.

"Miss, the hospital has been taken care of."

"From today on, your security level will be raised to the highest. No one can approach this room without permission."

I nodded.

"Any movement from the Wallace family?"

"Thompson called an emergency board meeting to try to stabilize the stock price, but with little effect."

"Wallace... he seems to have been grounded by Thompson."

I scooped up a spoonful of porridge and drank it slowly.

"He won't stay quiet."

Given Wallace's personality, he would never sit still.

Sure enough, that afternoon, there was a commotion outside my hospital room. It was Aurora.

She was blocked outside by two tall security guards, crying and shouting hysterically.

"Prescott! You vicious woman! Come out!"

"You've harmed Wallace so badly, what are your intentions!"

"You think you've won? Let me tell you, Wallace said even if he dies, he won't be with a malicious woman like you!"

I pressed the intercom by my bed. My voice came through the speaker outside the door.

"Miss Aurora, this is a hospital. Please keep quiet."

"Otherwise, I'll call the police for harassing a patient."

Aurora's crying stopped for a moment, then became even shriller.

"Call the police? Fine! Go ahead! Let everyone see your true colors!"

"You ungrateful thing! Without the Wallace family, you'd be dead already!"

I turned off the intercom, not wanting to hear her noise anymore.

Reece frowned. "Do you need me to drive her away?"

"No need." I shook my head.

"Let her make a scene. The more vicious she is, the more the Wallace family loses face."

I wanted everyone to see that the future mistress of the Wallace family was such a vulgar shrew.

Aurora made a scene outside for nearly an hour until her voice went hoarse, then she was forcibly dragged away by security.

The world returned to peace. But this peace didn't last long.

That evening, Thompson came in person.

He looked even older than his voice sounded on the phone, his temples already graying.

He carried a fruit basket, with a tired smile on his face.

"Miss Prescott, about what happened during the day, that was my failure to discipline properly. I embarrassed you."

I said nothing, just looked at him.

"I've had Wallace reflect at home. When he comes to his senses, I'll definitely have him come apologize to you personally."

He placed the fruit basket on the table, his posture very humble.

"Miss Prescott, we've cooperated for three years, very happily."

"'Number One' is your life's work and Wallace Group's future. Neither of us can do without the other."

"What do you say, can we sit down and renegotiate the terms of cooperation?"

I finally spoke.

"My terms were stated yesterday."

The smile on Thompson's face froze.

"Prescott, leave some room for maneuver. It'll be easier to meet again in the future."

"You're still young. The road ahead is long. There's no need to be so ruthless."

"Are you threatening me, Mr. Thompson?"

I met his gaze without flinching.

"The thing I fear least is threats."

Thompson's expression completely darkened.

"You really think the Wallace family is made of clay?"

"Without 'Number One', Wallace Group will indeed be severely damaged, but it won't collapse."

"And you, Prescott, believe it or not, I have a hundred ways to make sure you never leave this hospital."

The air in the room instantly dropped to freezing point.

Reece unconsciously moved a step closer to me.

But I smiled.

"Mr. Thompson, you're welcome to try."

"Let's see if you can make me unable to leave this hospital first, or if I can get your Wallace Group delisted from the stock exchange first."

Thompson's pupils constricted sharply.

He probably didn't expect me to dare speak to him this way.

We faced off for a long time. Finally, he took a deep breath and turned to leave.

"You'll regret this."

He left that sentence behind and walked away without looking back.

I knew the real war had only just begun.