Oops! The CEO's Ex is a Secret Genius

The engagement party that rocked all of Avenlith ended in total disaster.

Overnight, the Sawyer family became the laughingstock of the entire city, a punchline in every café and dinner table conversation.

Inside the presidential suite.

"Well, look at you," Audrey teased through the video call. "Moving this fast? I've been keeping an eye on Avenlith even from abroad-I knew you'd take the Sawyer family down eventually, but I didn't think it would be this soon."

Briella gently set her laptop aside and, wearing a pair of white gloves, bent over an old, yellowed book. She flipped through it slowly and carefully.

"Penny was the first because she was the one who personally forced poison down my throat. I'm not letting a single member of the Sawyer family off the hook. This is just the beginning. And we both know Penny and Emmet aren't the real brains of the family."

"I know, it's Paige Sawyer," Audrey replied smoothly. "But honestly, with how pathetic the Sawyer family is now? Give me three days-hell, one day-and I'll have them stripped bare! You taking your sweet time with them is the real crime here!"

Briella didn't argue. She closed the ancient book and picked up a quill pen, quietly adding strokes to a sheet of white paper.

"I want them to watch the Sawyer family crumble before their eyes and be completely powerless to stop it. Otherwise, how could I ever face my brother's death?"

Audrey had something to say-something snarky, no doubt-but ended up sighing instead.

"Fine, fine. It's your show. But... you seriously used Duskwither? That stuff is priceless. Penny might've been scared out of her mind, but you really made her lose it with that?"

"Not entirely," Briella replied calmly. "But combined with a bit of howlgrass? That's a different story."

Audrey shot upright in her chair, eyes wide. "Wait-howlgrass? You used that just like that?! Families were fighting over it back in the day and you wouldn't give any of them a crumb! Briella, you reckless maniac! I swear you're going to give me a heart attack-"

"I'm hanging up."

"NO WAIT-!"

Briella set her pen down and massaged her temple. "Don't be so dramatic. I just finished reconstructing the lost formula for Axoryn pill. Auntie's illness isn't a problem anymore. Isn't that worth more than a little bit of powder?"

"WHAT?! You actually restored the Axoryn pill?! Briella, you're a goddess! I'd die for you-no, kill for you-"

Click.

Briella closed the laptop expressionless.

On cue, her phone exploded with messages from Audrey.

She peeled off her gloves, tapped out a single message:

[Keep talking and you'll be blocked.]

Audrey:

[I'm gone! Vanishing! Evaporated!]

-with a string of bowing emojis attached.

Briella couldn't help but smile faintly. She set the phone aside and reclined into the couch, closing her eyes.

Penny wouldn't stay crazy for long. The dose in that invitation was minimal. She had no intention of letting them off easy.

How ironic, though-turns out her body had once contained a mysterious toxin. A rare poison that could suppress facial features, even alter brain chemistry.

It was absurd. Such a precious toxin... wasted on her. Just a foster daughter.

But with treatment and recovery, her appearance had changed completely.

No one in Avenlith would recognize the former Sawyer family orphan now.

"MOMMY! We're back! Your dress is so pretty today!"

Moa was the first to rush through the door, throwing himself into Briella's arms.

Koa followed slowly behind, calm and cool as always.

Briella opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around Moa with a soft smile. "Where did you two go with Uncle Preston?"

Moa puffed out her cheeks and looked away, silent.

Briella blinked, wondering if something had gone wrong. Before she could ask-

"She spent the whole time eating," Koa said flatly, plopping down on the couch. "Didn't care about anything else."

Briella chuckled softly. Of course. Her daughter, after all...

"So what?" Moa huffed, glaring at her brother.

Koa didn't even flinch. "Just saying. Mommy, I'm going to change."

"Alright. Koa, you too. Did Uncle Preston not come up with you?"

"He said he had something to take care of," Moa replied, letting her mother steady her. "I'm gonna change now!"

Briella patted her soft cheek. "Go ahead."

Moa skipped off happily to her room.

Just as Briella stood to change herself, her phone buzzed across the coffee table.

"Skye," came a lazy drawl on the other end, "you left me hanging. We're still missing the ending formula for that new drug, and you ran off?"

Jules Keller.

Briella's brow lifted slightly. She answered with a teasing lilt, "Didn't know you cared so much, Mr. Keller."

"Tch. You and that smooth mouth," he muttered. "Seriously, when are you coming back? Once this drug hits the market, the entire medical board's gonna be howling to meet the genius behind it. I can't fend them off alone, woman."

He leaned back in his chair, legs crossed arrogantly, looking every bit the successful CEO-dark suit, tall build, clean-cut features. But those flirtatious eyes and wicked lips added just the right amount of trouble.

Briella closed her eyes slightly, her voice relaxed. "Well, since I've already dragged you in, might as well take full advantage. I've just completed the Axoryn pill's restoration. Let's launch it alongside the new drug. Think you can keep the elders off my back a bit longer?"

Dead silence.

One minute.

Two minutes.

She glanced at the screen. The call was still connected.

"...Jules, did you die?"

"Just pretend I did." His voice returned like thunder. "If I'm not dead now, I will be! Skye! You-you absolute freak of nature! You solved ten of the biggest problems in cardiac medicine in one go! What are you, huh?! Trying to hold hands with the sun?! You just love rubbing it in!"

Briella wisely held the phone away from her ear.

Experience told her... this was survival mode.

***