Braeden took the report, then turned to the nurse. "Just give us the answer."
Eleanor immediately pulled her hand back, tension knotting her shoulders and her heart pounding in her chest.
With a cautious glance at Austin, the nurse remarked in a soft voice, "There's no trace of this gentleman's DNA in Miss Lloyd's wound."
Austin's glare cut through the silence, icy and filled with doubt. Was he really wrong about Eleanor?
A wave of relief washed over Eleanor, making her stand a little taller. "See? I kept telling you, I wasn't the one you were looking for!"
She secretly rejoiced that the test had come back clean. Maybe scrubbing the wound with antiseptic after her shower had done the trick, or perhaps the DNA had simply faded away with time. Either way, luck was on her side for once.
Braeden cast a cautious glance at Austin. "Sir, do you want us to release her now?"
Without waiting for an answer, Eleanor spun around and dashed for the nearest exit, desperate to leave them all behind.
"Don't take another step." Austin's command cut through the corridor, cold and commanding.
Eleanor froze mid-stride, nerves jangling, a tremor running through her.
"Braeden, transfer her a million," Austin said, voice low and final.
A shaky breath escaped Eleanor. She spun around, a hint of panic in her eyes. "There's really no need. I'm not interested in your money. I—"
Without waiting for her to finish, Austin strode forward, casting a long shadow over her. His presence radiated dominance, making the air heavy with authority.
Eleanor swallowed her protest, the weight of his gaze leaving her breathless. She fumbled for her phone, quickly pulling up her bank account details.
Braeden got to work immediately, sending the money to her account without a word.
Barely pausing, Eleanor whispered a rushed thanks and made her escape, darting away without so much as a glance back.
As the hallway fell quiet again, Braeden looked to Austin. "Do you want us to keep digging into Miss Lloyd's background?"
"Of course." Austin's reply was quiet but firm.
"You think she's still hiding something? Did you give her the money just to make her let her guard down?" Braeden considered the situation aloud.
A shadow passed over Austin's features. "Eleanor's behavior was odd. Something doesn't add up."
Braeden mulled it over, then nodded in agreement. "At first, Miss Lloyd was visibly shaken and tense, but the moment she heard the test results, she seemed almost relieved. Maybe she's covering up something bigger. We can't afford to overlook any threat, not when your safety is at stake."
The nurse arrived in a rush, announcing that the hospital director needed to see Austin right away for something urgent.
Inside the office, the director gestured for Austin to take a seat, then slid a folder across the desk. "Mr. Carter, we've completed the analysis of Miss Lloyd's blood. Not only does she have an extraordinarily rare blood type, but we also found a compound in her sample that's never been documented."
Austin's eyes narrowed with interest, focusing on the report.
Braeden spoke up, curiosity piqued. "What sort of compound are we talking about? Do you know its effects?"
Shaking his head, the director replied, "At this stage, all we can tell is that it's a complex substance, likely developed or introduced after birth. We'll need advanced testing to learn more."
Braeden glanced over, reading Austin's expression. "Should we arrange for further tests?"
The director spread his hands in a gesture of frustration. "Unfortunately, there's not enough of Miss Lloyd's blood left to continue, and we're limited by our current lab technology."
Braeden hesitated before turning to Austin. "Mr. Carter, would you like us to request more samples from Miss Lloyd?"
Pausing for a moment, the director added thoughtfully, "One more thing—I suspect that the large dark mark on her face may not be something she was born with. It could be directly linked to this unidentified element in her blood."
Austin absently tapped his fingers against the tabletop, his mind turning over the implications.
Watching Austin's expression carefully, the director offered a suggestion. "Mr. Carter, if we can isolate and study that compound, we might be on the verge of something groundbreaking. Perhaps we could—"
Before he could finish, Austin pushed back his chair and shot the director a cold, sidelong glare. His eyes were as sharp as steel.
Nervousness overtook the director. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he quickly reassured, saying, "You have my word, Mr. Carter—this stays between us."
Without another word, Austin straightened his suit and walked out.
In the car, the atmosphere felt heavier than ever. Braeden's voice matched the tension. "Mr. Carter, what if that substance in Eleanor's blood isn't just some coincidence? Your episode and meeting her at the same time—maybe it wasn't an accident at all."
Austin's gaze turned lethal, his eyes cold and calculating. "Send the blood sample and the test data to our main pharmaceutical lab. Let the Carter Group's team handle it."
Braeden nodded, but worry lingered in his voice. "I'll make arrangements, but... there really isn't much of the sample left."
Austin's answer was curt. "Have them start with what we have."
As the car rolled on, Braeden couldn't help glancing at Austin's pale face, signs of poison still lingering. A note of regret slipped into his tone. "If only Professor Benjamin Lloyd were still alive..."
The moment the name left his lips, Austin's head snapped up, his stare turning glacial, slicing through the quiet like a knife. The chill in his eyes seemed to freeze the entire car.
Braeden's heart hammered, and sweat dampened his back as he realized he might have crossed a line.
