Chapter 398 One Hundred Billion Regrets +8 Pearls

Wyatt’s voice came through the radio, heavy with frustration. “When you made that final call, why didn’t you tell me what was really going on? I spent ten billion trying to get you out, and you stayed inside?!”

“Ten billion?!” Yunice’s voice cracked with disbelief.

Wyatt gave a sharp laugh. “You could spend your whole life treating patients and never earn ten billion.”

Yunice didn’t see it as generosity. All she could feel was the gut-wrenching waste, the sheer stupidity of it all.

“Are you insane? Got money burning a hole in your pocket? What a waste on Elsie—ten billion down the drain!”

Her voice brimmed with heartbreak—over the money, not the man who spent it trying to save her.

The more she thought about it, the more it gnawed at her. She asked cautiously, “Since I didn’t make it out… can you get that money back? I mean… ten billion—I really can’t pay that back…”

Wyatt took a slow, audible breath. “You think this is about the money? The problem is, even with that money, I still couldn’t get you out. So tell me, what should I have done instead? You teach me.”

Yunice huffed. “I wanted to leave. Owen drugged me—he knocked me out with anesthesia!”

Wyatt cut her off, furious. “And before that? You contacted Laurie. You contacted Taylor. You said your goodbyes to every irrelevant person in your life. But you never once told me the truth.”

“If you had told me what was really going on from the start, do you think things would’ve escalated like this?”

Yunice fell silent for a long time before finally saying, “There’s still no treatment plan for this outbreak. Mr. Gerardo’s assistant was young and strong, and he died within 36 hours. Mr. Gerardo himself isn’t doing much better.”

She paused for a few seconds, then added, “I didn’t want anyone else to risk getting infected, especially you.”

“But when you sent someone to pick me up… I really did want to go. I thought, if I got infected, at least Wellinges Pharma could use my case for research. It’d mean something.”

Wyatt didn’t respond immediately. Neither did Yunice.

But they both understood.

When death was a possibility, money and power couldn’t guarantee anything. Even if Wyatt had pulled her out, if she’d already been infected and no cure was ready… she’d still die.

After nearly a minute of silence, Wyatt finally spoke again. “I’ll give the radio to Laurie. You two work together and find a treatment. Fast.”

Yunice smiled—an honest, involuntary smile.

Wyatt heard it, and his tone immediately darkened. “You’re laughing? You think this is funny?”

“No,” Yunice said, still smiling. “It’s just… suddenly, you seem kind of admirable.”

Wyatt didn’t get it. “What?”

“You know what makes a man most attractive?” she asked.

Wyatt waited.

“It’s his ability to solve problems,” she said without hesitation.

Wyatt fell quiet again, then muttered, “Save the compliments for when you make it out alive.”

Just before he ended the call, he added, “And don’t forget—you still owe me ten billion.”

The mention of money made Yunice’s face collapse again. She was dead broke—still in debt to Quinton for another billion. Now with this new ten-billion tab, she didn’t even dare die anymore.

After hanging up, she stepped out of the lounge.

Owen was waiting by the door. The moment he saw her, he rushed to ask, “Did you tell Wyatt to contact our mom? She’s traveling abroad—if she can’t reach us, she’s going to panic!”

Lily was overseas. If she came home and couldn’t get in touch with Owen or Elsie, she’d be terrified.

Yunice’s eyes flickered. She hadn’t given a second thought to anyone in the Saunders family, not in a long time.

She’d remembered to consider Melina’s safety—but not once had Lily crossed her mind.

Owen grew angry. “That’s your mother!”

Yunice shot back, unbothered. “And if the roles were reversed—if she were the one who knew danger was coming—do you think she’d warn me?”

“You’re paranoid! You always think the worst of people, like everyone’s out to get you!” Owen fumed. “I got stuck in here because of you—have I said a single word about it?”

Yunice turned slowly to face him. Owen fell quiet immediately.

She gave him a cold, sweeping glance and said with crystal clarity, “If you want your sister to stay safe out there, don’t push me.”

She rattled the radio in her hand, her meaning unmistakable.

Owen’s face darkened. Remembering Wyatt’s earlier threat, his stomach turned.

“It’s all Wyatt’s fault—you’ve become just as vicious,” he said bitterly. “You’re both monsters. How could you, as a woman, be okay with what he threatened to do to Elsie?”