Chapter 87
Brent forced a laugh while making excuses, signaling Ursula with his eyes to quickly escort the nearly collapsing Leila away.
Ursula, also frightened, hurriedly supported the dazed Leila and slipped through the crowd amid contemptuous glances and amused stares.
The farce ended with a whimper, and Diana's expression remained unchanged throughout.
She took the still-indignant Elisa's arm, picked up the documents slammed on the table, and turned toward her laboratory.
"Not worth getting angry over people like that," she said quietly.
Just as they were about to leave the crowd, a trembling yet stubborn voice called from behind.
"Diana."
Diana didn't stop.
"Diana!" Ursula's shrill voice rang out as she and Leila rushed forward to block their path.
Leila's body still trembled, but her eyes had changed. Gone was the fragile vulnerability—replaced by desperate determination.
The crowd, which had been about to disperse, immediately regrouped at the prospect of more drama. Curious gazes shuttled between Diana and Leila.
Leila took a deep breath and forced a smile more painful than tears. "Diana, don't be angry. Ursula... she meant well, just spoke too directly."
She paused, adopting a tone of compromise. "If you really find it difficult... then forget it. But if you're willing to spare two projects for our team, we'll only take seventy percent of any future profits. The remaining thirty percent will go to your team—consider it our... our gratitude for your help."
Her words plunged the hall into an eerie silence.
After several seconds, Elisa reacted as if she'd heard the century's best joke—first staring in disbelief, then bursting into laughter.
"My God, did I hear that right?" She wiped away tears of laughter. "Everyone, listen to this new-age philanthropist! She contributes nothing—the staff belong to the institute, the equipment belongs to the institute, the projects are ours, and the startup funding... I'm guessing we'd have to front that too."
"She just moves her lips and walks away with seventy percent of the profits! She's not here for a slice of cake—she wants the whole bakery!"
Suppressed laughter rippled through the surrounding crowd.
"Shame is a wonderful thing—too bad she doesn't have any."
"Seventy percent? Why not just ask for the entire institute?"
Ursula's face reddened with embarrassment, but she stubbornly defended their position. "What do you know! Leila is compromising! Do you have any idea how much thirty percent of the profits would be? Only a fool would refuse free money!"
"We're the fools?" Elisa laughed incredulously at her twisted logic. "If we do it ourselves, we get one hundred percent. Why would we give you seventy percent for charity? Do you think Diana is God, here to bless you?"
Leila swayed, clutching Ursula's arm to keep from falling. Ignoring the whispers around them, she fixed her bloodshot eyes on Diana.
She couldn't believe Diana would remain unmoved by her sister's plea in front of so many people. Surely she would give in, if only to maintain some semblance of decency.
Diana, silent until now, finally moved.
She raised her eyes, her clear gaze settling on Leila with calm detachment, though her lips held a hint of mockery.
"Projects?" Diana's gaze swept over Leila as she continued unhurriedly. "Isn't the York family supposedly one of Seaside City's elite? I recall the news always saying Mr. Bodhi York treasures you like a jewel. Don't you have all those brothers who adore you and would do anything for you?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the hall.
Leila's face turned ashen inch by inch, her lips trembling, unable to form words.
Diana stepped closer, leaning in slightly to ask in a measured tone only they could hear, "What's wrong? Can't even raise startup funding for two new projects, so you've come to me... begging?"
The word "begging" exploded in Leila's mind, shattering whatever self-respect she had left.
Blood rushed back to her pale face, flushing it red as hatred filled her eyes, impossible to disguise.
"You—" She wanted to lunge forward and tear Diana's composed face apart.
But Diana had already straightened up and, without sparing her another glance, said to the astonished Elisa, "Let's go."
The two turned and left.
Only after Diana had completely disappeared down the hallway did the crowd thaw, erupting into even more unrestrained discussion and laughter.
"Begging... haha, what a perfect word!"
"An heiress reduced to begging her sister for projects—that's more explosive news than her academic fraud."
"Serves her right! She brought this on herself!"
Leila could no longer hold herself up. Her vision darkened, and she collapsed limply to the floor amid Ursula's panicked screams.
---
Back in the laboratory, Elisa closed the door and could no longer contain herself.
"Wow! Diana! You were absolutely badass back there!" She excitedly mimicked Diana's tone and demeanor. "You should have seen Leila's face—like a color palette! Priceless!"
Diana placed the files on the desk and opened her computer, her expression returning to its usual calmness, as if the sharp-tongued person in the hall hadn't been her.
"Getting angry over people like that accelerates cellular aging," she remarked, pulling up experimental data models without looking up.
"But I am angry!" Elisa plopped down in the chair across from her, gulping water indignantly. "How could she have the nerve to make such demands? And that Ursula—reaching new heights of stupidity! Did they leave their brains at home?"
"They brought them," Diana's fingers flew across the keyboard, code streaming across the screen. "It's just that those brains are different from those of normal humans."
Elisa laughed, her anger mostly dissipating.
She leaned closer, studying Diana's focused profile. "Seriously though, aren't you worried Brent might target you from now on? You didn't leave him any dignity today."
"He wouldn't dare," Diana replied simply.