Chapter 67

When Alexia still hadn't shown up, Serena stopped waiting and hurried to the kitchen.

A short while later, Alexia walked out holdng Ginger in her arms, stroking its fur. "You little rascal,hiding under the bed and making me look all over for you."

As she entered the living room, she was surprised to find Serena busy in the kitchen.

Serena turned her head with an awkward smile. "I smelled something burning while you were gone. When I lifted the lid, the stew looked a little charred, so I thought I'd try to fix it before it got worse."

Understanding what had happened, Alexia smiled gratefully. "Thank you, really."

Ginger jumped down from her arms and wandered over to Betsey, who immediately began petting and playing with it happily.

When Alexia stepped into the kitchen, she noticed Serena had already cut away the burnt sections of the ribs.

"Thanks again," she said warmly. "If you're not in a rush, why don't you stay for dinner?"

Serena paused for a moment. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose."

Alexia's tone was light and welcoming. "Absolutely! We're neighbors, aren't we? I ended up making way too much food tonight-no point letting it go to waste. And besides, I really like having Betsey around. Betsey,do you want to stay and have dinner with me tonight?"

Betsey's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? We can?"

"Of course!" Alexia grinned.

Seeing Betsey so happy, Serena couldn't say no. "Thank you for inviting us."

As the food finished cooking, a delicious aroma filled the entire space.

Alexia's cooking was exceptional, and even Serena, who rarely ate much, found herself reaching for seconds.

Betsey,meanwhile, was completely focused on her plate.

"Ms. Jenkins, you're seriously talented in the kitchen. Did you learn to cook on your own?" Serena asked earnestly. "These ribs are honestly the best I've ever tasted. Do you have a secret recipe or something?"

Alexia smiled and replied, "Of course. If you enjoyed them that much, I'll gladly share the recipe with you."

Serena's eyes lit up, and she looked at Alexia with open admiration. "That would be amazing. Oh,and I heard you teach at Afoross University? Under Prof. Ellis, right?"

Alexia nodded. "Yes, I did.Do you know him?"

Serena nodded with familiarity."Cosmo Biotech has been working with Afoross University quite a bit recently. Prof. Ellis's lab has played a major role in developing one of our company's newest projects. He's someone I deeply respect."

Alexia smiled. "He mentioned that Cosmo Biotech's newest product might be a game changer in the medical field. Congratulations in advance, Ms. Adams."

But to her surprise, Serena's expression dimmed. The excitement Alexia had expected didn't come. "It's still too early for congratulations. Right now, I just hope Cosmo Biotech survives long enough to even see the summit."

Alexia caught the change in tone and tilted her head, slightly puzzled. "Wait, is something wrong with Cosmo Biotech?"

Serena gave a faint, bitter smile as she began explaining how an unknown force had been targeting Cosmo Biotech through the stock market.

"That foreign short-selling force already crushed several biopharma firms overseas, and now it's our turn.We've tried to build up a defense bybringing in outside help, but honestly, it's an uphill battle." Serena exhaled. "Cosmo Biotech just doesn't have the clout to get backing from any real heavyweights."

Alexia seemed to read between the lines. "So you're banking on the summit, right? With all that international capital and attention, you're hoping to showcase the new product and attract a powerful backer to pul Cosmo Biotech out of this crisis."

Serena admitted, "it's the most realistic shot we have. Every company that's been hit by this short-selling group ended up bankrupt. If wetry to handle this alone, we won't make it."

Alexia suddenly saw Serena in a new light-she hadn't expected her to be this daring or ambitious. "But have you thought about what happens if this doesn't work?"

She moved her fork in a circle, then cut through it as if making a point. "That summit next month? It's not just a business meet-up. It's a power game between top political and corporate players. Whether it's Afoross or Dorbarrow, they already hold all the cards. Their networks are deep-rooted, and they play by their own rules. You think Cosmo Biotech can bounce back with one new product and suddenly draw in big investors and influential allies. But all that-your product, your data, your pitch-that's just your ticket to enter the room. The real battle starts after that."

Serena looked at her, slightly stunned by the clarity of her words. "I didn't expect you to understand financial politics so wwell."