Chapter 436

The laboratory's glass walls reflected a cold glow. Evelyn Roland's fingers trembled slightly as she handed the latest data report to Sebastian Valdemar.

"Phase one results are 12% above projections." Her voice held suppressed excitement.

Sebastian paused mid-page flip. His pen hovered over the project name field before etching three bold characters—Starlight Initiative.

At precisely 3:00 PM, Valdemar Group's official blog updated without warning.

Against a pure black backdrop, silver star trails swirled into the hashtag #StarlightInitiative. The caption read simply: "We reach for the stars."

Financial reporter Lina Yue choked on her coffee when her phone erupted with notifications. The cup clattered onto the table. "Valdemar's blog...alive?" Her shaking fingers opened the post to discover shares multiplying by thousands per second.

Medical forums exploded.

[Isn't this last year's Nobel laureate's theory?]

[Valdemar actually obtained experimental data!]

Entertainment sections reeled.

[The reclusive Sebastian Valdemar?]

[Check the stock price!]

Commissioner Victor Galatea frowned when the entryway sensor light failed to activate. His fingers brushed dampness instead of the light switch. "Scarlett?" The answering sob came from the couch.

Light flooded the room. Scarlett Galatea curled among throw pillows like a wounded cub, her swollen eyes squinting. She lunged forward, gripping her father's silk tie as dark stains bloomed across the fabric.

"That bastard Sebastian!" Victor whirled toward the door, but his daughter's nails dug into his wrist.

"Not him..." Scarlett choked out, thrusting her phone at him. The screen displayed Valdemar Group's blog. "My press conference...he'd rather post this than..."

Victor's gaze caught on the unhealed needle marks above her collarbone. Understanding dawned. He knelt, wiping smeared mascara with his uniform sleeve. "Foolish girl. Did you think a publicity stunt would force him out?"

"Those lab samples came from my blood!" Her scream fractured on the last word. She hurled a pillow at the television broadcasting Valdemar Group's stock surge.

Victor gripped his daughter's shaking shoulders, noticing the peeling edge of her scent suppressant patch. Alpha pheromones leaked through the fissures in her glands, mingling with salt tears to weave an invisible net in the air.

The night deepened, the top floor of the Valdemar Tower still ablaze with lights.

"President, here's tomorrow's schedule."

The assistant handed over the file just as Sebastian Valdemar removed his gold-rimmed glasses. His gaze skimmed the densely packed itinerary before his pen slashed through a few lines. "Keep the morning clear."

By the time he left the office, it was already nine at night. A sharp pang shot through his stomach as he leaned back in the driver's seat, eyes closed. Neon lights outside the window cast a lonely silhouette against his sharply defined profile.

His black suit jacket lay carelessly tossed on the passenger seat, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he started the engine.

The doorbell rang for a long time before it was answered.

Evelyn Roland stood in the foyer, a robe draped over her shoulders, water still dripping from her hair. She arched a brow at the unexpected visitor. "To what do I owe the honor, Mr. Valdemar?"

"I wanted to see you."

Three simple words, delivered with crisp efficiency. The corner of Evelyn's lips twitched upward involuntarily.