?Chapter 1481:

    Jules looked up sharply. “Are you certain?”

    “What choice do I have?” Corrine offered a faint smile, though the weariness beneath it was unmistakable. “Is there any path left other than walking straight into it myself?”

    Jules looked away, eyes dropping to the floor, as though the weight of her resolve was too much to bear. “If I could take your ce, I would.” But they both knew that fate offered no such kindness.

    A silent sigh pressed through Jules’ chest.

    When they arrived at the research institute, Eaton was sprawled across a stool with his legs crossed, calmly sipping his coffee like he had not a care in the world.

    The moment his eyesnded on them, he jolted upright, nearly spilling his drink. “Why on earth did you bring Corrine here?”

    “She came to see your research,” Jules replied, his gaze sweeping the eerily quietb. “Where is everyone? Off to celebrate without you?”

    Eaton waved it off with a dismissive flick. “Team-building retreat. You know how it goes.” He tugged Corrine closer, enthusiasm bubbling as he pointed toward theb bench. “Come,e! Behold mytest breakthrough.”

    Corrine arched a brow, arms folded. “And this breakthrough of yours is…”

    “I have cracked one more substance!” Eaton puffed out his chest and thumped it proudly. “Three thousand, eight hundred and twenty-six days. That is how long I toiled. Now I may be the first to ever achieve this. History might finally remember my name.”

    Jules gave a tight-lipped smile that did not quite reach his eyes. “So that is where two hundred million of my money went? Just that small achievement?”

    “Small achievement?” Eaton’s pride snapped into outrage. “You speak as though this was a stroll through a park! Do you have any idea how many nights I spent without sleep? Look at me! My beard has turned white from stress, my hair too!”

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    Jules shot him a sideways nce, unimpressed. “You dyed themst week. I was there.”

    Eaton blinked, and the silence stretched.

    “You insolent brat!” Eaton finally exploded, mbering onto a nearby stool to tower over Jules. “Mind your tone or… or I swear—apologize this instant or else!”

    Jules raised a brow, calm as ever. “If you poison me, I will cut your funding.”

    That shut Eaton up.

    He froze mid-threat as realization dawned. One does not spit at the hand that keeps the lights on.

    Grinding his teeth, he switched tactics and slumped dramatically against Corrine’s shoulder, his voice wobbling with false grief. “Corrine, you have to defend me. Here I am—a brilliant doctor—trapped in this cold, mechanical prison, working day and night with nothing but machines forpany. I gave so many years to this project. And now he threatens to cut me off like I meant nothing at all!”

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