Chapter 638

Chapter 638

The moment Bodhi saw the genetic match results, everything became crystal clear.

To think that after years of wielding absolute power, he'd been played by one of his own subordinates.

He let out a cold laugh and said to Jonathan, "How ruthless of you. To protect Eleanor and Lucas's child, you handed me an innocent baby instead."

His eyes narrowed, and the low-key demeanor he'd maintained for years shifted imperceptibly.

After years at the top, Bodhi couldn't help his arrogance. "Aren't you afraid I might do something to this child? That would be a sin on your conscience."

Jonathan had remained silent throughout.

Now, finally speaking, his tone toward Bodhi remained respectful. "I know you're not that kind of person. That's why I felt safe entrusting the child to you."

After all, that baby was completely innocent.

Jonathan truly couldn't bring himself to push an innocent child into a den of wolves just to protect Eleanor's baby.

He understood Bodhi.

Even after discovering the child was a decoy, Bodhi wouldn't hurt him.

Bodhi didn't deny this.

He stated matter-of-factly, "I've already returned the child. You can rest easy about that—I'm not capable of harming a baby."

The implication was clear: even if Jonathan handed over Eleanor's child, he wouldn't hurt him either.

Jonathan remained noncommittal.

The two children held different levels of importance.

The child he'd handed over was just an ordinary infant, worthless to Bodhi.

Rather than harm such a child, sending him away was the safer option.

But Eleanor's child was different.

That child would very likely be used for human experimentation.

Jonathan couldn't be certain what value they might discover in the child.

The only certainty was this: if Bodhi could snatch a child away today, who could say he wouldn't harm the child tomorrow when driven by even greater interests? No one could be sure.

No one dared gamble on that possibility.

Bodhi continued his shameless rhetoric: "You should understand the value in Eleanor's child. Studying him would contribute to the advancement of medicine for all humanity."

"Dedicating this child to a great experiment, allowing him to fulfill his true potential—that would be the best choice."

In Bodhi's tone, Eleanor and Jonathan and the others who refused to hand over the child had suddenly become the selfish criminals, willing to enjoy a fleeting reunion while disregarding humanity's progress.

Even Jonathan found this line of reasoning contemptible.

He never imagined that to extend his own lifespan, Bodhi would become so depraved, so twisted.

He could never hand the child over to someone like this.

Jonathan firmly refused. "I don't know what you want to do with the child, but I know one thing—no one should experiment on a newborn baby."

"It violates the most basic human ethics."

Bodhi sighed with disappointment. "Hopelessly stubborn."

He completely lost interest in continuing the conversation with Jonathan.

He simply waved his hand dismissively. "You've been working hard lately, doing quite a bit for me. It's time for a good rest. Go home."

With that, his subordinates directly escorted Jonathan out.

Jonathan said nothing. After getting in the car, his first move was to call Eleanor.

He needed to tell her that the baby swap had been exposed.

But after several attempts, none of the calls would go through.

Jonathan suddenly realized what was happening. He looked back at the shrinking silhouette of the nursing home, his expression turning ashen.

He was about to be placed under de facto house arrest.

Meanwhile, Eleanor's side remained calm.

She and Lucas were gauging Wendy's psychological defenses.

Their instinct told them Wendy couldn't sit still much longer. If she was going to make her move, it would likely be within the next few days.

Eleanor prepared herself for battle.

That day, when she received word that Wendy was visiting again, Eleanor didn't refuse. She let Wendy come upstairs.

The two women met in Eleanor's office.

The moment Wendy pushed open the door, Eleanor was hit with a wave of heavy perfume. She was dressed particularly flamboyantly today.

The subtext was clear: she'd dropped all pretense.

"Ms. York."

Wendy smiled brightly, looking at Eleanor with eyes full of provocation. She strutted over and slapped a document folder onto Eleanor's desk.

Lifting her chin, she said, "Take a look, Ms. York. I'm sure you'll find what's inside very 'interesting.'"

Eleanor raised an eyebrow and casually opened the folder.

After scanning the contents, her expression shifted slightly, though the smile at the corners of her lips remained composed. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Wendy scoffed. "Don't play dumb. This is dirt I've collected on your company's shady accounting."

She sat across from Eleanor with her legs crossed, adopting the posture of a victor.

She'd coaxed and wheedled until Clifford finally trusted her judgment and handed over some leverage against Eleanor's company.

Using this leverage to threaten Eleanor, Wendy didn't believe she wouldn't be afraid.

Then all she had to do was demand that Eleanor leave Lucas.

Naturally, that would lead to Eleanor and Lucas divorcing smoothly, allowing her to take her rightful position.

Wendy felt triumphant.

Eleanor's expression turned cold. She returned the documents to Wendy untouched, appearing utterly unconcerned.

She said calmly, "Seems like you never involve yourself in your company's internal affairs. Otherwise, you'd know this little bit of dirt can't threaten me."

She didn't believe Wendy had gone to all this trouble only to produce this paltry amount.

Since she'd already set the trap, she naturally wanted to catch the biggest fish.

She needed Wendy to lay all her cards on the table.

Wendy choked, not expecting Eleanor to be so fearless. Annoyed, she said, "I suggest you don't regret this!"

Eleanor said evenly, "Whether I'll regret it or not, I don't know. But what I'm certain of is that this little bit isn't worth divorcing Lucas over."

"You—"

Wendy shot to her feet, biting her lip. "I'll send all this to the IRS right now... believe me, I can send you to prison."

Eleanor looked dismissive. "Wendy, you're so naive."

"Are you really going to cling to Lucas like this?"

"It's not what you think," Eleanor adopted a matter-of-fact negotiating stance. "I just don't want to face the kind of losses I'd suffer from divorcing Lucas."

The implication was obvious.

Wendy caught on with eerie clarity.

She narrowed her eyes, testing the waters. "If you agree to divorce Lucas, not only will I not turn over this evidence, I'll also offer you a new partnership that's all upside, no downside. That should cover your losses."

"Think it over carefully. This offer won't last forever. Besides, you and Lucas have no feelings for each other anymore. Even if you lose a little, you'd gain your freedom back. Isn't that worth it?"