Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Half the market price? That was an irresistible offer. Even the usually composed Quentin showed an incredulous expression, extending a finger as he asked in a trembling voice, "Half? Is this for real?"
Hallie felt her heart sink. It was obvious that Quentin was already hooked by this unbelievable offer, completely forgetting everything they had just discussed.
"Of course it's true," Miles said with a polished, polite smile, addressing the two key figures confidently. "As a leading corporation in Hernland, Chandler Group believes in giving back to society and truly serving the public good."
When his gaze slid over to Hallie, it was laced with undisguised disdain. "Medicinal ingredients prices were never that high to begin with. The supposed relief they bring to ordinary people is minimal at best.
"That's why Chandler Group decided to tackle the real root of the problem by slashing prices on the most expensive item in the bills, which is the surgical equipment. Sure, we'll take a loss, but it means we can help so many more people in the end."
Every word landed like a deliberate blow, each line precisely aimed to undermine Hallie's earlier points.
Hallie bit her lip, rage bubbling up inside her.
If Chandler Group were truly doing this for the public good, she would've admitted defeat. But she had already uncovered enough clues that Chandler Group and Titania Biopharma were colluding for even bigger profits. In the end, it would always be ordinary people paying the price.
At that moment, both officials were fully absorbed in Miles' words. No one spared even a glance at Hallie, who stood quietly to the side. She took a slow, steady breath, then stepped forward. Good thing she had come prepared.
Just as the three men were deep in discussion, a clear, steady voice suddenly cut in. "You're slashing medical equipment prices by half, but what about all the other costs?"
Hallie's interruption instantly drew all three pairs of eyes back to her.
Miles' expression shifted ever so slightly. Though he quickly smoothed it over, Hallie caught that fleeting crack—confirming every suspicion she had.
From her bag, she pulled out a thin folder and handed it to Quentin. "Please, take a look at this."
"What's this?" the other official asked, leaning in curiously.
After reading just a few pages, the two men exchanged a glance, their expressions turning grave.
Miles, who had been watching the two closely, immediately noticed the scene. As he tried to step forward for a better look, his view was suddenly blocked, as Hallie had stepped right in front of him.
When he tried to sidestep her, she swiftly blocked his way again, smiling as she said, "That's confidential business information."
Miles clenched his jaw, forcing himself to hold back and maintain his composure. A few minutes later, Quentin finished reading through all the documents. He looked over at Miles, his earlier excitement completely gone.
Miles felt his heart sink. He thought, 'Oh no... the deal we thought was sealed is about to fall apart.'
"Mr. Carroway," Miles called out.
Quentin raised a hand to cut him off, then tapped the documents. "That's enough, Mr. Chandler. We'll take this into consideration."
Miles' eyes narrowed as he stared intently at those papers.
"Both of your presentations tonight were excellent," Quentin continued. "As for the bid—
"We'll evaluate the proposals from Chandler Group and Blair Group at the appropriate time. We'll do everything according to proper procedures."
With that final word, Quentin decisively turned and left with the other official. Hallie watched them walk away, a gentle breeze brushing past and carrying away the tension and anxiety that had weighed on her just moments ago.
'That was way too close,' she thought, her heart still pounding. 'After prepping all night, I nearly got outplayed at the last minute. Thank goodness I had a backup plan.'
"What did you write on those documents, Hallie?" A furious voice from behind snapped her out of her thoughts.
She turned to see Miles glaring at her, his towering frame advancing step by step, casting a shadow over her like an impending avalanche.
The bid he had been so sure of winning was gone, and Miles could no longer hold back his rage.
Meeting his murderous glare, Hallie frowned and instinctively took a step back. She thought, 'If he really tries to get physical, I don't stand a chance.'
Just then, a cold, detached voice interjected. "Can't handle losing, Mr. Chandler?"
Nelson stepped out slowly from behind a nearby thicket with one hand in his pocket. He positioned himself in front of Hallie, deliberately yet casually blocking Miles' path. Seeing this, Miles fumed with wary hostility. "Nelson, was this all part of your scheme?"
Nelson gave a faint, dismissive smile and chose not to answer. Then, with a mocking smirk, he said, "Compared to your underhanded maneuvers, this is child's play."
Suddenly, Miles' phone buzzed. He glanced down at the flashing screen and froze right away.
He shot the two of them a menacing glare and spat out, "Chandler Group will stop at nothing to win this bid. We could've made a fortune together, but Nelson, you just don't know what's good for you."
With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off in a hurry. Nelson withdrew his gaze, frowning slightly as he looked at Hallie. He asked, showing concern for once, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Hallie said, shaking her head as she recalled the close call, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "That dossier should give Chandler Group quite a headache for a while."
The thin file she'd given Quentin detailed Titania Biopharma's decade-long partnership with a hospital in a small country.
At first, Titania had supplied equipment at discounted prices in exchange for shares, but over time, they gradually took over the hospital, forced it into an exclusive drug supply agreement, and then jacked up the medication prices. The dossier also included evidence of several illegal operations behind the scenes.
Over the years, Titania had partnered with multiple countries. This document was just one isolated case, barely making a ripple at the time. Hallie had combed through endless reports to finally dig it up.
She knew that even if this evidence wasn't enough to bring Titania down completely, it would at least make Quentin and the others more cautious about Titania's so-called "benevolent discounts".
On the ride back, Hallie was completely drained—mentally and physically. She kept nodding off, fighting sleep.
Her head bobbed repeatedly, her eyes half-open and dazed. Gone was her usual sharp, cold composure. Now, she looked almost childlike, soft and defenseless.
Nelson turned his head and happened to glance over at her. He watched her quietly for a moment, and unknowingly, a faint smile appeared on his face.
In an uncharacteristically gentle tone, Nelson said, "Just sleep if you're tired."
"Mmm?" Hallie blinked drowsily, barely able to keep her eyes open as a blurry figure leaned closer. Then, she felt her head gently guided onto something warm and solid.
The comforting support beneath her head made her eyelids grow even heavier, and she let them fall shut. "Wake me up when we're home," Hallie murmured, her voice fading as she slipped into sleep.
"Just sleep," Nelson said softly.
He let Hallie's head rest against his shoulder. To keep her from slipping, he gently wrapped an arm around her. Just then, his phone started ringing, and he had to awkwardly answer it with his free hand.
As soon as he put the phone to his ear, Peterson's weary voice came through.
He said, "I took care of Miles and tried to send Regina home, but she refused. She insisted on coming back to find you and kept bombarding me with questions the whole way. She's driving me insane."
"Tonight is too important to risk any mistakes. Having her there would only cause complications," Nelson said calmly, though he was frowning slightly. Besides, if Miles tries anything with her, it'll be a huge mess. This is for her own safety."