Chapter 387 Evil Spirit Pushed to the Forefront
"What do you plan to do with this information?" Ava asked Josselin.
With a calculating smile, Josselin replied, "It hardly matters whether he's truly a Yates by blood. The Yates Group assets will be mine soon enough, and either way, he's destined for poverty."
Ava and Josselin exchanged knowing glances, their eyes gleaming with greed and malice.
By eleven o'clock, Ethan's private jet had landed in the small town. The mountain retreat was still some distance away, so the couple decided to explore the local streets. Ethan, accustomed to metropolitan life, found himself charmed by the quaint surroundings.
"I never expected the locals to be so welcoming," Ethan remarked as they strolled hand in hand.
"That's small-town life for you," Ashley replied. "People here have a warmth you rarely find in the city, where everyone's so cold and distant."
"Is your business with William urgent?" Ethan asked.
Ashley shook her head. "Not particularly."
"Then shall we explore a bit more before heading up to the mountain?"
Ashley gave a mixed response, her cheeks flushing. "I'd love to, but I can barely walk."
Her embarrassment was evident—Ethan's passionate advances that morning had left her completely exhausted.
Realizing the implication, Ethan smirked. "I could carry you."
"Don't you dare," Ashley protested. "I'd die of embarrassment with everyone watching."
Ethan laughed heartily. "Let's get a room at that inn you stayed at before. You can rest a while, and we'll continue our sightseeing later."
At the town's only inn, the owner immediately recognized Ashley. "Back so soon?" she said with a knowing look. "And who's this handsome gentleman?"
The small town rarely saw newcomers, especially someone with Ethan's striking appearance and commanding presence.
"This is my husband," Ashley announced proudly.
The innkeeper looked them both over appreciatively. "What a gorgeous couple you make!"
Ethan raised an eyebrow at Ashley, who returned his glance with a smile.
In their room, Ashley immediately collapsed on the bed. Ethan joined her, and she rolled over, wrapping herself in the blanket. "No funny business," she warned.
"I promise," Ethan replied. "But at least share some of that blanket. You'll overheat in this weather."
"You promise?"
"Cross my heart."
Ashley reluctantly shared the blanket, only for Ethan to playfully renege, covering her face with kisses. Though he teased her mercilessly, he kept his word about not going further.
"Men and their promises," Ashley huffed in mock annoyance.
They fell asleep in each other's arms and didn't wake until after three in the afternoon. Ashley stirred first, carefully extracting herself from Ethan's embrace. She dressed quietly and checked her phone to find numerous urgent messages from Pauline:
[Ashley, why aren't you responding? Your paper has gone viral! The Yates Group wants to meet with you!]
[Please answer ASAP!]
[Your research has caught official attention. Everyone's talking about it! But there's a problem – a leading expert is challenging your claims, accusing you of exaggeration and demanding a public apology.]
[Ashley, please call me! I'm desperate!]
Bewildered, Ashley checked the news. Her paper under the pseudonym "Evil Spirit" dominated the headlines, with deeply divided public reactions:
[Anyone claiming to cure late-stage cancer with a single drug is either divine or a fraud.]
[This 'Evil Spirit' is clearly spreading misinformation. Oncology professors have already stated these medications don't work!]
[Why is everyone so skeptical? Her arguments make perfect sense!]
[Instead of arguing, let 'Evil Spirit' come forward and conduct clinical trials. Let science settle this!]
The controversy had reached a fever pitch, and it wouldn't die down without resolution.
Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Yaakov.
"Ashley," he said without preamble, "that viral 'Evil Spirit' paper is yours, isn't it? I recognize those drug formulations—they're identical to Panacea's proprietary compounds! That's classified information. How could you publish our formula for the world to see?"
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