Chapter 35 *

Chapter 35 Chapter 35
Angelina's POV

Ashley's face flushed red. She closed her mouth immediately.

"Vaccine distribution in tropical regions loses thirty to forty percent efficacy due to temperature fluctuations. COVID exposed how fragile the system is. Companies are desperate for reliable cold chain partners."

I paused, aware that every eye was on me now. "The WHO estimated thirty-four billion dollars in annual losses globally from vaccine spoilage alone. That's not including insulin, cancer drugs, or biologics."

Sean made a choking sound. "Where the hell did you get those numbers?"

"WHO published a report in June. It's public data."

It was true. The report existed. But no normal sixteen-year-old would have read it, much less memorized the statistics.

Harrison knew that. I could see it in his eyes.

"If you had fifty million dollars to deploy in this sector, what would be your first move?"

It wasn't a quiz question. It was a real strategic problem, the kind I used to solve every day.

The entire Group A crowd was staring at me, waiting for me to fail. Ashley had her arms crossed, a smug smile on her face. Karen looked like she was trying to figure out how to damage control this situation.

I took a few seconds to actually think about it.

"I wouldn't deploy it directly. I'd set up a syndicate with local players who already have government relationships. Sixty percent local ownership, forty percent ours. Let them handle regulatory headaches while we provide capital and technology transfer."

Sean let out a low whistle. "That's actually exactly what we should've done in the Thompson deal."

Harrison nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving my face. "Smart. Very smart."

Then he turned to Karen and Ashley, and his voice went cold. "You were saying something about public school education?"

Neither of them had an answer.

Harrison walked past them, heading straight toward my parents. Dad looked like he wanted to sink into the ground.

Harrison extended his hand. "Nathan, right? I'm Harrison."

Dad stared at the offered hand for a moment, like he couldn't quite believe it was real. Then he reached out and shook it.

"Your daughter just gave me a million-dollar insight in five minutes." Harrison's voice carried across the patio. "That tells me two things. One, she's exceptionally intelligent. Two, you must have done something very right as a father."

Dad's eyes were shining with tears.

Harrison pulled out a business card from his jacket pocket. "Call me Monday morning. I have a consulting project that needs someone with integrity and fresh perspective. I think your family might be exactly what I'm looking for."

Dad took the card with shaking hands. "I... thank you. Thank you so much."

Harrison turned back to face Ashley and Karen. His expression was professionally neutral, but his voice had an edge like broken glass.

"By the way, GPA measures compliance, not intelligence. I've met countless Ivy League graduates with four point zero averages who couldn't survive a real board meeting."

Ashley's face was bright red now.

Harrison's gaze shifted to Karen. "And Mrs. Sterling, maybe instead of gossiping about your brother's financial troubles, you should be proud that his daughter is brilliant enough to solve problems your precious private school can't teach."

Karen opened her mouth, then closed it. She couldn't afford to argue with someone like Harrison.

Sean stepped forward, unable to resist adding his own comment. "Yeah, Karen. Maybe Ashley should transfer to Roseville High. Might actually learn something useful."

Someone laughed. Then another person. The sound rippled through the crowd.

I watched Ashley's face crumble. Watched Karen's carefully maintained composure crack.

Uncle Robert had been inside, but now he walked out of the mansion. I watched as he headed straight over to Dad.

I finally got a clear look at Uncle Robert's face.

It was an ordinary middle-aged face—unremarkable features, a slightly receding hairline, deep-set eyes with crow's feet at the corners, and a jawline that had softened with age.

The only impressive thing about him was how he dressed. Sharp suit, expensive watch. He looked like money.

"It's done. I couldn't have managed this without your help," Dad said, his voice tense with emotion as he exchanged a glance with Mom.

"Good," Uncle Robert said, letting out a breath. "I'm glad it worked out."

He turned to leave, then paused.

"The item you asked me to hold for you—it's still at my house. Stop by before you leave and get it."

"All right," Dad nodded.

Uncle Robert walked away.

The party ended and guests left. Originally, Dad was supposed to go to Uncle's house to pick up the item himself.

But during the second half of the banquet, Leo got drunk. Not just drunk—he had a headache and stomach pains. It was unusual.

So Mom and Dad decided to take him to the hospital, and Ethan had to help carry him.

That left me.

"Aria, grab the item and take an Uber home. We're taking your brother to the hospital," Dad said.

Then they left.

I didn't mind.

Uncle's wealth was obvious—his other mansion was built deep in the California mountains.

Sitting in Uncle's BMW 7 Series, I watched the scenery pass by, perfectly relaxed.

Besides Uncle driving, Aunt and my cousin were in the car with me.

No one spoke much.

Uncle Robert broke the silence occasionally.

"School okay?" Uncle Robert asked.

"Yeah," I said.

A pause. Then he tried again: "You're what, a freshman now?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Time flies," he muttered, more to himself than to me.

I said nothing.

Why is he suddenly so talkative? I thought.

The rest of the drive was filled with uncomfortable silence.

Then—

Pfft.

A soft hiss cut through the air.

My eyes narrowed instantly—that sound.

Then—BANG!

The tire exploded.

The car lurched violently to the right. Uncle Robert's knuckles went white on the steering wheel as the BMW swerved across the empty mountain road.

For a split second, we teetered on the edge—nothing but forest and a steep drop on one side.

But Uncle didn't panic. His hands moved with practiced precision, fighting the pull, easing off the gas. The car fishtailed once, twice, then straightened.

We came to a stop.

Silence.

I looked out the window. Dense trees on both sides. No other cars. No houses. No people.

We were completely alone.

"Robert, is it them...?" Aunt's voice trembled, her face frozen in fear. She knew something.

My eyebrow had lifted the moment before the tire exploded.

I'd recognized the sound immediately.

That tire had been shot out by a bullet!

And from Aunt's reaction, whoever was hiding in the shadows with that gun was here for Uncle's family specifically.

I narrowed my eyes, a flicker of interest rising in my chest.

In a situation like this, I felt no panic, no fear.

Instead, I found myself watching Uncle with curiosity.

Looks like Uncle's family isn't so simple after all.

As that thought crossed my mind, figures emerged from the treeline ahead.

A dozen of them, maybe more. Each wore a black tactical mask.

Uncle Robert's face went ashen. His hand trembled on the steering wheel.

"Rogues," he whispered, his voice cracking. "They're here for me."

He turned to look at the rest of us, fear breaking through his composure. "Get out. Run into the woods. Don't look back—just run!"

I sat in the backseat, watching it all unfold.

My heartbeat remained steady.

Rogues.

Interesting.