Chapter 23
Chapter 23:
Brad showed no interest in further debate. He turned toward Rylie. “Back at school, you rescued Felix after a pneumothorax. Recent tests uncovered some complications. Would you be willing to examine him p>
Felix’s face drifted through Rylie’s memory — faintly familiar, but not enough for her to rush in. “If his condition isn’t too complex, the military hospital surgeons can take over. They’re highly competent. There’s no need for me to intervene unless it’s urgent p>
Brad didn’t press her, accepting her answer with a nod. “Very well p>
Without hesitation, Brad tossed the fake serum into a nearby trash can, his glare cold as it landed on Leland. “It seems the Kirk and Wilde families are experts only in deception p>
Marsha’s legs buckled; she grabbed the wall to steady herself, her voice pleading. “Mr. Morgan, the Wilde family’s reputation is real! We’ve all been duped by Stacey. I’ll have my grandmother personally oversee your Nexo-7 next time — at the next conference, I’ll deliver it myself p>
Without another word, Brad stepped into the elevator alongside Rylie, not bothering to look back.
Leland was left completely bewildered. What hold did Rylie have over Brad that he would follow her lead so obediently? How had things turned upside down between them?
Stacey, blindsided by the abrupt reversal, barely registered what had happened before Vivian’s hand cracked across her cheek. “If you weren’t up to the task, you should have spoken up! Fabricating Nexo-7 — do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve brought down on us p>
Tears spilled down Stacey’s cheeks. “Dr. Estrada, I’m sorry, I never meant—” Vivian interjected coldly, “No more excuses! Every opportunity I promised you is gone.” She shoved Stacey aside. “Clear out your things. You’re finished in my research group p>
Marsha wasn’t about to show any sympathy either. She shot Leland a scornful look and scoffed, “Some brother you turned out to be! You let your sister offend the Morgan family. The Kirk name is finished — watch how far you all fall p>
Once the uproar faded and the crowd dispersed, Leland cornered Stacey in the sterile hallway, his anger cold and unforgiving. “Where was your head, Stacey? You went and manufactured fake Nexo-7, of all things! That’s the Morgan family you almost crossed — the very people who hold sway over this entire city! Even the President shows them respect. If your counterfeit serum had ended up in Mr. Morgan, do you realize how catastrophic it would’ve been?” Just imagining the Kirk family’s ruin sent chills down his spine.
L𝑎t𝑒st ch𝑎pt𝑒rs in
He jabbed a finger at her, voice sharp. “I’ve never been so disappointed in you p>
Stacey’s defenses shattered. She protested through sobs, saying, “Leland, I only wanted to bring our family honor! If the Wilde family acknowledged me, wouldn’t that have helped you as well? I did it for all of us p>
Leland wasn’t moved. “For the family? You really think the Morgans wouldn’t see through a fake serum? They’d have seen through your lies in a heartbeat p>
Stacey yelled, “None of this would’ve happened if not for Rylie! She’s the one who called the serum fake — if she’d kept quiet, no one would have known p>
Watching Stacey’s face twist with tears, Leland felt, perhaps for the first time, just how much trouble his sister truly brought. If this had been Rylie, she would never have fought back or caused such a scene.