Chapter 1807

Harley gritted his teeth, glaring at her as if he wanted to press further, but before he could act, Karina was pulled back.

Wilfred fixed him with an icy stare. "This isn't your place to lay a hand on anyone."

"Wilfred!"

Ignoring him entirely, Wilfred turned to Karina and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Her wrist was red, but as she looked at his serious expression, any discomfort seemed to fade. She shook her head. "It doesn't hurt. With you here, he wouldn't dare go too far.

"Still, there's no point wasting time on him. Let's go."

Wilfred nodded. Before leaving, he glanced coolly at Harley and left him with a parting shot.

"This bet? I won. Relay this to your mentor and tell him to keep the association's hands out of Birkham and Atlantis. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to make sure his reputation is shattered, no matter his age." With that, they left the corridor.

Karina didn't turn to see Harley's expression, but as they walked away, she couldn't help voicing her concern. "With what you just said, are you completely severing ties with them now? What about Professor Zeller?"

She worried about the fallout. Professor Zeller's reputation was renowned, even to someone like her, who barely engaged in medical circles. She feared Wilfred might be in trouble.

He glanced at her, his cold demeanor softening into something more reassuring. "Don't worry. There won't be any trouble. We've been at odds for a while now."

*

His calm confidence put Karina at ease.

After the surgery, Xavier continued with medication to regulate his cell division rate. His recovery would need to be monitored for several months, but he was content.

He expressed his gratitude to Karina with a faint smile. "Thank you. Without you, I might have been stuck in that research facility for the rest of my life." Karina blinked, momentarily stunned. This was the first time Karina had seen Xavier smile.

She had to admit, good-looking people truly had an edge when they smiled-especially someone as striking as Xavier, who looked like a snow spirit brought to life. She almost lost her composure, staring in a daze, until Xavier coughed softly, catching her attention with a subtle glance.

Before Karina could respond, Wilfred appeared, holding the latest blood test results. His expression was cold, his tone brisk and professional.

"These are the test results. This one

shows the red blood cell count, and this one is for regular cells. The

division rate has significantly slowed compared to before the surgery."

His delivery was swift and clinical, but Karina couldn't help but feel he seemed... unhappy. Surely it was just her imagination.

"That's fantastic!" she exclaimed, beaming. "If the numbers stay stable through the observation period, Xavier, you'll be able to leave the hospital officially!"

Xavier shifted his gaze between Wilfred and Karina, who seemed oblivious to the subtle tension in the air. With a faint smile, he said, "I'm afraid that won't be possible." Karina frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm the CEO of a securities firm," he

explained, his tone tinged with frustration. "I had to step away when

I fell ill, but now that I'm recovering, I need to return. If I don't, the O company will be in chaos."

"But your body isn't fully recovered yet..." Karina began, her concern evident.

Wilfred cut in, his tone practical. "He can apply for at-home recovery. Hire a competent private doctor and schedule regular check-ups at the hospital. Staying here full-time isn't necessary."

Karina slapped her forehead, exclaiming, "Right! I completely forgot that was an option!"