Chapter 171 Calculated Bites

Chapter 171 Calculated Bites


Elena’s eyes rested on the design drafts spread across her desk.

Once the order reached the public ear that Farrington Corporation had cut off Cassandra, the ripple would move fast. Damian would not stay silent. As the second son of his pack, he would call. He always did when the balance shifted.

Among the ruling circles of the capital, secrets never stayed buried. Now that Elena herself had ended the partnership, people would see it as a strike. A calculated bite meant to weaken Cassandra and reclaim old blood debts.

The news moved with the speed of a full moon rise. By the time Cassandra's agency sensed danger, the media world already smelled conflict. Old ties were dragged into the light. Stories of Drake and Elena surfaced again. Cassandra's studio rushed to silence the noise, but the storm had already formed.

Elena stepped out of the meeting hall. Her phone vibrated before she could speak to Dolphus. Damian's name glowed on the screen.

She glanced sideways. Dolphus stood near her. She lifted her phone slightly. “I’ll take this,” she said. “Lunch later. I asked my housekeeper to prepare everything.”

Dolphus nodded with warmth in his eyes. “Alright.”

Elena turned toward an empty meeting room. Dolphus walked into the elevator. Behind them, the executives slowed. Small groups formed. Quiet voices rose.

“The two heirs seem calm,” one said. “Nothing like the sisters from RushGreen Group.”

Another shook his head. “Do not trust calm faces. Wolves bare their teeth only when ready. They smile now, eat together, and show unity for the pack leader. But in the dark, claws come out. Inheritance wars always draw blood.”

Outside the room, Florence and Melvin stood firm like sentries. Inside, Elena leaned back in her chair and answered.

“Damian,” she said smoothly. “I heard you have been busy across the border.”

“I just finished,” his voice flowed easily and polished. “ I wanted to invite you to lunch. And congratulations on your new position.”

“Thank you,” Elena replied. “Lunch is filled up already. Dinner would be better. We can invite Samson. At least, it will keep the wolves from howling.”

Her laugh stayed light. The last time she had eaten with Damian, cameras swarmed. Now, with her rise, the noise would double.

She also knew Dolphus's nature.

Damian chuckled. “Then let's make it tonight. May I pick you up?”

“Let us meet there,” Elena said. “The roads are terrible.”

They ended the call.

She stayed seated for a moment, fingers resting on the arm of the chair. Then she rose and walked straight to Dolphus's office.

She spoke without delay. She told him about the dinner and her plan with Damian.

Dolphus pressed his lips together. His eyes sharpened. “This is not easy.”

“I know,” Elena said. “While he is still here, I had Florence push our branches to end all shows with Cassandra. Quietly. Her agency already knows. Damian would not call if he did not.”

Her voice stayed even. “At dinner, he will ask why. That is when I mention the so-called life-saving favor. Damian renewed her contract for four years. If this lie breaks now, it hurts them all. They built her image as pure and loyal. They cannot afford exposure.”

She had no plan to reveal the truth before. But business was war. Every secret was a blade.

“It is not about favors,” she continued. “It is about balance. I stay silent. Damian works with us on a shared product. They gain ground here. We show the world we still hold this.”

Her fingers tapped the desk once. “A scandal now would crush them. Even if they cut her loose, damage would remain. You remember Pony Brand. One fall ruined them. Damian will not risk that.”

Every move had been measured. She would not waste power for a short victory. A true alpha waited for the right strike.

Dolphus watched her. Then he spoke. “Any word from Zentex Group?”

She nodded. “Their Commerce director plans to visit California with tech leaders. Talks have started. I want Damian Thompson settled before this breaks.”

This dinner was pure business. Dolphus inclined his head.

A knock sounded. Richard entered.

Dolphus removed his glasses and wiped them slowly. “I will pick you up when you are done,” he said.

Elena smiled without holding back. “Alright. I will be back for lunch.”

Elsewhere, Morrin paced. She waited for Drake's call. She believed once he learned Elena stood behind Durok Biotech, he would reach out.

Instead, news struck her that Hamilton Corporation had fallen into bankruptcy.

Anger burned. She tried calling Drake but no answer.

Her thoughts shifted. She turned to Cassandra.

The call connected. Cassandra sat in a hospital room beside Drake's bed. Tears streaked her face. The number was unknown. She hesitated. It rang again and again.

She stepped into the bathroom and answered, voice shaking.

“Hello…”

“Hello, Miss Cassandra. This is Morrin.”

The voice slid through the phone. Morrin spoke slowly, calmly, and politely. “You may not know me. I am the niece of the chairman of the Farrington Corporation. By blood, I am Dolphus's cousin and Elena’s aunt.”

The moment Elena’s name landed, Cassandra's spine snapped straight. Her fingers tightened around the phone. “Why are you calling me?” she asked.

“I reached out to Drake earlier about a possible partnership,” Morrin continued. “Then I heard that Hamilton Corporation has fallen. I cannot reach him now. So I thought perhaps you could help me pass along a message. Whether we work together or not, he should answer me.”

Cassandra stayed guarded. “Drake is not taking calls at the moment. I will tell him when I can.”

“That will do,” Morrin replied. “Please let him know that if he stays silent, I will find another pack to hunt with.”

The call ended.

Cassandra lowered the phone and stepped back into the hospital room. Drake lay against the pillows, eyes open. Relief crossed her face.

“You are awake,” she said quickly. She moved to him and slid a cushion behind his back.

Drake studied her face. Dark circles framed his eyes. After a pause, he spoke. “Cassandra, I agreed to keep our bond for two more months. But now that my company has fallen, I have nothing left to give you. No shield. No strength. We should end this now.”

“I know Damian cares for you,” Drake went on. “He stayed away because you were mine. You would be better with him.”

Cassandra shook her head at once. “If I leave you now, what will my followers say? That I ran when the den burned? I cannot abandon you. My name would be torn apart.”

Her voice rose. “And Elena. What if she tells Damian that I lied about saving your life?”

“She will not,” Drake said without hesitation. “If she said she would not speak, then she would not. That is who she is.”

The way he defended Elena cut deep. Tears slid down Cassandra's face.

“I went to her,” she cried. “I begged her to see you. She refused. She said you are only an ex. She told me to take care of myself. She said she stayed silent only because Damian did not ask. But what if he does? She will tell him. She will.”