Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Lyra leaned back with a smirk curling her lips. "Well, Uncle Raymond, I'm not sure you resemble anything in particular... but I trust Alex's opinion on the matter."

Raymond snorted so hard it nearly rattled the phone line. "uh! I have no idea how that tiny fraud managed to brainwash you. What's his secret?"

She shrugged with practiced indifference.

"Beats me. Maybe it was just meant to be. Anyway, the clock is ticking. You've got half a day left before our bet closes. If you're still as healthy as an ox by sunset, I'll hand over the goods I promised. But I hope you've set aside your 'payment' for the cure if-and when-you need it."

Raymond's voice turned coarse. "Payment? You're not talking about those rare herbs from my vault, are you?"

Lyra's eyes rolled skyward as if she couldn't believe his stupidity.

“Don't get confused, Uncle. The bet is simple: I wager my entire herb plantation; you wager that precious stash of yours. That's separate from any cure you might suddenly find yourself begging for."

Raymond burst out laughing, the sound harsh and biting. "Oh, you think you'll make a quick buck off me? Fine, let's entertain your nonsense. If I do end up poisoned-and that's a pretty big 'if'-what's your asking price?"

Lyra's smirk grew predatory. "I hear you own Cheval Blanc, the biggest fancy hotel and restaurant in all of Vancouver. Let's have that."

Raymond scoffed, though there was a nervous edge to it. "My Cheval Blanc Hotel? Aren't you ambitious!" 1 "Go big or go home, right? Shoot for the stars, and if you fail, at least you land on the moon,” Lyra quipped. He gave an exaggerated sigh. "Sure, sure. But don't come crying to me when you lose your precious herb plantation. I'm guessing you've already prepared the contract?”

Lyra let out a quiet chuckle. "All drawn up and ready. Just waiting for your signature later today. And I hope you've done the same-wouldn't want you to keel over before you transfer Cheval Blanc to Alex, right? Could be messy finalizing that paperwork after you drop dead."

"Funny," Raymond said through clenched teeth. "Laugh all you want. In half a day, I'll prove that your little miracle worker is nothing but a worthless con artist!" He ended the call with a slam.

Still fueled by his own amusement, Raymond dialed another number right away.

"Hey, Joe Thompson, it's your old pal. Get that plantation contract ready. Because by tonight, it's going straight into my pocket."

worries, old friend. My daughter's got the papers all set. One signature from

tea, rolling his eyes. “I don't get it, Joe. Your daughter's brilliant, but she

laughed. "It's called

your daughter says she wants my

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Chapter 166

outplayed

your luck." Joe barked a short, humorless

back his tea-only to freeze when a stabbing jolt shot through his chest

first, he tried to ignore it, but the pain swelled, gouging deeper and deeper until he

he'd just run a marathon in a

he croaked, calling for his bodyguard,

through gritted teeth, clutching his chest. As

came out as a ragged

the helicopter, heading to

with a hundred

food. Why the hell would sign away my

on the hospital's helipad, Tony practically dragged him through the doors, shouting at staff like a

tests followed, but the conclusion was as humiliating as

him uncertainly. "Are

erupted in a raspy snarl. "You think I'm faking this? My chest is on fire! Why in

we can't find anything wrong. You might want a second

amateurs!" Raymond

across town to two more hospitals, but each time, it was the same conclusion:

a painkiller, but

the hell can they all be

the relentless agony twisted in his

prided himself on decades of healthy living, but this pain

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