Chapter 1815

Although Karina had no idea what they intended, with Harley already waiting outside her office, she figured she had no choice but to meet him. Taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, she entered her office. Harley stood by the window, examining her pot of red dianthus on the windowsill. Karina frowned. “Dr. Carter, that plant is mine. Please be careful not to knock it over.”
As soon as the words left her mouth-
Crash!
The flower pot toppled off the windowsill, shattering into pieces on the floor.
Karina jumped in shock, quickly followed by relief. At least it had shattered indoors and not fallen outside. Someone could have been seriously hurt if it had.
But that didn’t stop her from getting angry.
“Dr. Carter, what’s the meaning of this?” she snapped, her frustration evident.
She had barely finished warning him, and the pot had already fallen. Was that really just an accident?
Harley pocketed his hands and apologized with an infuriating nonchalance. “My apologies. How much was it? I’ll compensate you. Name your price. Heck, I’ll buy you a dozen replacements if you want.” Karina took a deep breath.
No wonder even someone as composed as Wilfred couldn’t stand him. He really was insufferable.
“That won’t be necessary. I can buy another one myself. Let’s get to the point, shall we?”
“There’s no need to explain,” Dr. Carter said casually, sliding one hand out of his pocket. The black earring on his ear caught the light with a subtle glint. “The person who came to find you earlier should’ve already made it clear. Professor Zeller wants to see you.” Karina’s grip tightened. “Professor Zeller wants to meet me? Why?”
She couldn’t think of any connection she might have with the renowned professor. Her interactions with Harley himself were minimal at best.
Harley’s lips curved into a faint
1.n
smirk. “No reason, really. He simply wants to meet you. After all, you’ve just accomplished something unprecedented in the medical field. You made quite a name for yourself, haven’t you?”
Realizing she would get nothing more from him, Karina sighed and cut to the chase. “Please relay my thanks to your mentor for the invitation. But I’m just an ordinary doctor with modest ambitions. I’m not interested in joining the association, nor do I see the need to meet with him. You can leave now.”
Her tone was firm but polite.
Harley chuckled softly, a casual arrogance lacing his laugh. He didn’t resort to mockery but instead changed the subject as if they were having a casual chat. “I heard you’re preparing for graduate school exams?” Karina’s hands clenched into fists. This was the last thing she wanted to discuss with him.
Though she remained composed, Karina’s gaze sharpened. “Dr. Carter, you’re not seriously playing the ‘threatening people’ card, are you? Saying something like ‘I won’t let you play anymore’-sounds like a grade-schooler’s tactic.”
Harley spread his hands nonchalantly. “I wouldn’t bother. But unfortunately, it’s just the truth.”
His calm demeanor only fueled Karina’s irritation. The smug indifference on his face seemed to say, “No matter how hard you try, a single word from us could erase all your efforts.”
And the most infuriating part? It wasn’t an empty threat.
The association, with its network of influential elites, held enough power to sway someone’s career or their entire future with the flick of a finger.
Karina knew she had no choice but to meet Professor Zeller now, but she couldn’t help but ask, “Why me?”
Harley pocketed his hands again, his fingers brushing his earring as he answered nonchalantly, with a hint of amusement. “Because you’re impressive. The professor has a thing for ambitious people.” Karina let out a cold laugh.
Without another word, she motioned for Harley to step outside and wait. Her expression remained icy as she removed her lab coat.
Even as she stepped outside, her expression remained unchanged.
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