Chapter 2

A month later, at the Aromport International Conference Center.

The National Medical Summit was in full swing, drawing medical experts and pharmaceutical company representatives from all over the world. As the chief sponsor, Carson Group's exhibition booth took center stage, right at the heart of the venue.

Ethan, dressed in a sharp dark blue suit, was speaking with ease and confidence to a group of foreign experts. His fluent foreign languages and poised demeanor drew appreciative glances from the crowd.

Charlotte stood by his side, dressed in a Chanel suit with a "Distinguished Young Doctor" badge pinned to her chest, her smile perfectly composed.

"Mr. Carson, you're truly impressive for your age. The way Carson Group is making moves in the medical field is really something to admire," a Gerinheimian expert praised.

Ethan smiled modestly. "We still have a lot to learn."

Then, a sudden commotion broke out at the entrance.

A young woman walked in, surrounded by a group of people. She was dressed simply in a white shirt and black pants, her long hair casually tied into a low ponytail. Sunglasses hid her face, but she radiated an undeniable aura.

"Who's that?" someone whispered.

"No idea, but she's got quite the entourage. Look at the people with her. Aren't they MedTech executives?"

"MedTech? That medical tech giant? Isn't their Azrythia president always shrouded in mystery?"

Ethan caught sight of the commotion, his brow knitting in concern. MedTech was the company they'd been chasing for ages, but those guys were notoriously hard to approach. Every time they tried, it went nowhere.

Charlotte slipped her arm through his and whispered, "Ethan, is that really the president of MedTech? She looks so young."

Then, the woman took off her sunglasses.

Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief.

Elena? No, that's impossible. Elena, the president of MedTech? She wass just a regular orphan girl. How could this be?

But that face, there was no mistaking it. It was Elena.

Elena noticed him too, a slight smile on her lips as she nodded. Then, surrounded by her entourage, she headed straight for the VIP section.

Her demeanor made it clear he was nothing more than an insignificant stranger to her.

Ethan's face turned grim. He'd spent the past month trying to get in touch with Elena, but it was like she'd disappeared off the face of the earth.

Her phone was always off, and her apartment was deserted. He thought she'd left Aromport for good, never expecting to see her here, and as the president of MedTech.

"Ethan, how is that even possible?" Charlotte stammered, her voice trembling as she recognized Elena too.

"Stay calm," Ethan murmured. "Maybe it's just someone who looks like her, that's all."

But Ethan's denial was crushed almost instantly.

At the opening ceremony, the host announced with utmost respect, "Now, please welcome Ms. Elena, special expert of the International Medical Alliance, founder and president of MedTech, to the stage!"

The crowd was stunned.

Elena stood up calmly and strode to the podium under the spotlight. She was dressed in a perfectly tailored white suit, sharp and elegant, a far cry from the mess she'd been at the party just a month ago.

"Hello, everyone," Elena began, her voice carried across the hall through the microphone. "It's an honor to be here at this summit. Today, I'd like to talk about how artificial intelligence is being applied in precision medicine."

Her speech was both accessible and insightful, supported by detailed data, and her ideas were innovative and forward-thinking. The audience broke into applause from time to time, and even the international experts kept nodding in approval.

Ethan sat in the audience, restless and uneasy. He couldn't wrap his head around it. His wife, the woman he'd dismissed and scorned for three whole years, was actually this extraordinary figure.

After her speech, during the Q&A session, a reporter raised his hand. "Ms. Lancaster, you've always kept a low profile, hardly ever appearing in public. Can you tell us what you've been doing all this time?"

Elena gave a small smile. "For the past few years, I had to deal with some personal stuff, so I stayed out of the spotlight for a while. Now that things are sorted, I'll be taking a more active role at MedTech."

"There are rumors that you're married. Is that true?" a reporter pressed.

Ethan froze, his heart skipping a beat at the question.

Elena's face didn't change at all. "I was married once, but that's already over. I'm single now."

Another wave of commotion rippled through the audience.

Ethan's expression was beyond words. His face twisted with rage and disbelief. He clenched his fists so hard, his nails bit painfully into his palms.

As soon as the Q&A session ended, Elena got off the stage and was instantly swarmed by people. Some wanted to talk business, others were hoping for an interview, and a few just wanted to make her acquaintance.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, but still walked over.

"Ms. Lancaster," he said, his voice noticeably strained.

Elena turned to him, her smile cool and detached. "Mr. Carson, is there something I can help you with?"

That single "Mr. Carson" drew a clear boundary between them.

Ethan took a deep breath. "Can we talk in private?"

"Sorry, I have other engagements," Elena said, glancing at her watch. "If you'd like to discuss a partnership, please reach out to my assistant to schedule a meeting."

With that, she turned to leave.

"Elena!" Ethan couldn't hold back anymore, his voice rising. "What are you trying to pull?"

The crowd went dead silent, everyone staring at them.

Elena paused, turned around, her eyes steady and cool. "Mr. Carson, I'm not sure what you're getting at. If you have any feedback about my speech, you're welcome to share."

"You know that's not what I mean!" Ethan snapped, gritting his teeth. "Why did you hide who you really are? These three years..."

"What?" Elena cut him off, her voice suddenly cold. "Mr. Carson, if I'm not mistaken, we're already divorced. I don't think my life is any of your business anymore."

She paused, a mocking smile curling on her lips. "Or what, are you regretting it now? Regretting not treating that 'nobody orphan' you used to look down on any better?"

Ethan was completely shut down, unable to utter a single word.

Elena didn't spare him another glance. She turned to the people around her and said, "Excuse me, I need to step away."

As she walked away, she paused briefly beside Charlotte, lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear. "Charlotte, 'Distinguished Young Doctor,' huh? That award-winning paper of yours. Wasn't it plagiarized?"

Charlotte's face went ghostly pale.

"Don't worry, I have no intention of exposing you for now," Elena said with a soft, mocking laugh. "Enjoy your last bit of glory while you can."

With that, she strode straight toward the VIP lounge.

Inside the VIP lounge, Lucas was already waiting for her.

"Boss, Ethan's reaction was even more dramatic than we expected," Lucas said with a grin. "Did you see his face? He looked like he was about to turn green."

Elena took the water he handed her and took a sip. "This is just the beginning. How's the evidence against Charlotte coming together?"

"We've got everything. She didn't just plagiarize her paper. She also falsified her research data and bribed the reviewers. Once this is exposed, forget about her 'Distinguished Young Doctor' title. She'll lose her medical license for good," Lucas said with a smirk.

"No rush. We'll expose her on the very last day of the summit," Elena replied coldly. "I want her to crash from the peak of her glory."

"Got it," Lucas said, pausing. "Also, the Goodwin family reached out. They want to talk about a partnership."

"The Goodwin family?" Elena arched an eyebrow. "Ryan Goodwin?"

"Yes. Ryan himself came to Aromport. He wants to meet you," Lucas replied.

Ryan was the heir to the Goodwin family from Roynfort and CEO of Goodwin Group. The Goodwin family was one of the most prestigious clans in the country, with businesses spanning the globe, far outclassing the Carson family.

"When?" Elena's tone was calm.

"Tonight, at the rooftop restaurant at Summit Grand Hotel. Ryan will be hosting," Lucas replied.

Elena paused, then nodded. "Alright. Make the arrangements. I'll go back to the hotel and change."

At seven o'clock that evening, in the rooftop revolving restaurant at Summit Grand Hotel.

Ryan was already waiting in the private suite. He looked to be in his late twenties, dressed in a custom black suit. His features were strikingly handsome, almost chiseled, and he carried himself with a commanding presence and quiet dignity.

When Elena walked in, he stood up and offered his hand. "Ms. Lancaster, I've heard a lot about you."

Elena shook his hand. "Mr. Goodwin, it's a pleasure to meet you."

They took their seats, and the waiter began serving the dishes.

"You're even younger than I expected, Ms. Lancaster," Ryan said, his eyes lingering on her with a hint of admiration. "Under your leadership, MedTech has been growing at an incredible pace these past few years."

"You're too kind, Mr. Goodwin. Goodwin Group is the real powerhouse in this industry," Elena replied with a polite smile.

After a few pleasantries, they got down to business.

Ryan pulled out a document. "Goodwin Group wants to partner with MedTech to build the largest medical AI R&D center in Azrythia. This is the preliminary proposal. Please take a look, Ms. Lancaster."

Elena took the document and flipped through it carefully. Ryan's proposal was detailed, and the terms were generous. It was clear he'd put a lot of thought into it.

"I appreciate your sincerity, Mr. Goodwin," Elena said as she closed the document. "But I do have one question. Why partner with MedTech? With your group's resources, you could easily do this independently."

Ryan smiled. "It's not just MedTech's technology I'm after. It's you, Ms. Lancaster."

Elena arched an eyebrow.

Ryan said, "I've gone through all your papers and patents. Your vision is truly ahead of its time. Medical AI isn't just about stacking up tech. It demands genuine medical insight, and in that respect, you're second to none.

"Besides, I heard you've got some personal matters to deal with here in Aromport. The Goodwin family has some connections in the city. Perhaps we could assist."

He was definitely trying to win her over.

Elena caught on right away. Ryan had clearly looked into her. He knew all about her bad blood with the Carsons. He was hoping to use that as leverage to seal a deal.

"You're well-informed, Mr. Goodwin," Elena said, her expression unreadable.

"Aromport's not exactly a big place," Ryan said with a smirk. "Ethan never realized what he had. He let a treasure slip right through his hands. Lucky for me, that means I get my shot now."

His straightforwardness took Elena aback.

"Mr. Goodwin..." Elena hesitated.

"Just call me Ryan," Ryan said, locking eyes with her. "Elena, this isn't just business. I'm inviting you to join Goodwin Group, or let us join you. We could be the perfect partners, or maybe something more..."

He paused, leaving his sentence unfinished, but his intentions couldn't have been more obvious.

Elena was quiet for a moment before smiling. "Mr. Goodwin, we're only just meeting for the first time today."

"But I've been following your work for a long time," Ryan said. "Ever since your very first paper. You were overseas back then, and then you dropped off the radar for three years. It was only recently that I managed to track you down again."

Elena felt a flicker of surprise. She never imagined a man like Ryan had been following her career for so long.

"We can discuss the partnership," she said. "But for anything else, I'll need some time."

"Take all the time you need," Ryan replied with a smile. "Let's toast to our collaboration."

"Cheers," Elena said.

They clinked their glasses, the red wine shimmering as their glasses met.

After dinner, Ryan escorted Elena back to her room. In the elevator, he suddenly asked, "Need any help dealing with the Carsons?"

"No," Elena replied, shaking her head. "Getting even is way more satisfying when I do it myself."

"If you ever need anything, just say the word," Ryan said. "The Goodwin family has plenty of influence in Aromport."

"Thanks," Elena said.

When they reached her room, Elena was about to go in when Ryan called out, "Elena."

"Hmm?" she turned back.

"Next time, just call me Ryan," he said with a gentle smile.

Elena grinned. "Alright, Ryan. Good night."

"Good night," he said softly.

Back in her room, Elena stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the night view of Aromport.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Lucas: [Boss, just got word. The Carson Group's finances are tanking, and Richard's been offloading assets on the sly.]

Elena replied: [Keep an eye on it. Also, check out Richard's connection to that shady overseas medical scam group.]

[Already on it. Should have something soon.]

Elena set her phone down, a cold, mocking smile curling on her lips.

Richard, Ethan, Charlotte, your nightmare is about to begin.