?Chapter 557:


    Indifference flickered across Elliana’s face as she regarded Wilbur.


    Positioned at the helm of Ublento Medical University, Wilbur’s presence radiatedmerce rather thanpassion. There was calction in every tilt of his head, every measured smile.


    Nothing about Wilbur suggested a true healer’s soul. Instead, Elliana recognized in him the same calcting nature as Murray—men who treated medicine as a business first, a calling second. Profit, not progress, had always been their motivation. That same greedy impulse made them easy prey for the fake Milena. How else could they have greenlit the Psychephrenia project without rigorous vetting? Psychephrenia, such a rare disorder, hardly deserved the status of a full-blown research initiative.


    Academic pursuit never truly mattered to Wilbur. His real aim had been to p Milena’s name on the building and rake in grant money, turning the university into a fundraising machine. But with the fake Milena now exposed, he wasted no time shifting his strategy, eager totch onto the real Milena and continue the hunt for prestige—and cash.


    “What project do you have in mind?” Elliana asked, keeping her tone even.


    Hesitation barely showed before Wilbur suggested, “Would you be interested in joining the Psychephrenia study?”


    “Actually, I do have an interest in studying Psychephrenia,” Elliana responded, not letting her expression reveal a thing.


    Excitement sparked in Wilbur’s eyes for a brief moment before Elliana added, “But cases are almost unheard of, and willing research participants are even scarcer. Nearly all previous work on it has been privately sponsored or done as a passion project. It simply isn’t worth establishing a formal,rge-scale project around it.”


    Embarrassment rose in Wilbur’s cheeks as he bobbed his head. “Of course, of course…” Persistence kept him pushing. “Perhaps there’s another area you’d like to explore? We’re open to all possibilities.”


    Secret amusement flickered inside Elliana. This relentless pursuit of her name for profit was the same short-sightedness that created the entire fiasco.


    “No, thank you,” she said, her words clipped and final. “I have no intention of working with Ublento Medical University.”


    Wilbur’s hopeful expression faded, yet he clung to politeness. “Understandable. Maybe another time. If a new project sparks your interest someday, Ublento…”


    Medical University will always wee you.”


    Nothing more than a cool, dismissive smile crossed Elliana’s lips as she let the silence speak for her.


    From across the room, Cole couldn’t tear his eyes away, Elliana’s recent words looping in his mind. She had imed she was interested in researching Psychephrenia. Questions buzzed inside his head. How far had her research progressed? Did she actually stand a chance at curing him? If she could cure him, why keep it a secret and go along with the divorce?


    Meanwhile, Ruben sidled up to the disguised Elliana, trying to mask his eagerness. “Dr. Atkinson, my health has given me trouble for years. Might I ask for your professional opinion?”


    Elliana saw through his pretense at once. He wasn’t worried about his own health—he was angling for a chance to talk about Cole’s being haunted by Psychephrenia privately. This was exactly why she’d revealed herself as Milena today.


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