Thaddeus stared deeply into Evadne''s beautiful, sleeping face. He waited until she was entirely fast asleep before leaning down and pressing a tender, lingering kiss to her soft lips.
Even if she hadn''t begged him to, he would have stayed by her side.
Even though he knew that after tonight, he would be dragged back into a brutal, bloody war, he couldn''t stop himself from desperately clinging to this quiet moment of bliss.
It wasn''t until the first light of dawn broke over the horizon that Thaddeus finally stood up. His tall frame was stiff as he walked over to the window.
"Chad, you are destined to lose. You will lose everything."
He gazed out at the pale gray sky, murmuring in a low voice, "Memories can be wiped away, but love cannot."
Not even the most lethal poison could erase the deep, bone-deep love he had for her.
...
The Genesis Lab was utterly dismantled. News of an illegal organization conducting human experiments quickly went viral, sending shockwaves across the entire nation.
For a full week, the scandal dominated the trending pages of every social media tform. The public''s outrage was explosive.
Top officials issued strict mandates to investigate the matter thoroughly from top to bottom, sparing no resources. How could such a deranged, inhumane, and barbaric operation exist in a modern, civilized society?
All connected officials in Elmsworth were apprehended by prosecutors. Anti- corruption agencies stepped in, resulting in mass suspensions and rigorous investigations.
Although Arnold Ashbourne was deeply worried about his family, his department was flooded with work. He had no choice but to pull himself together,
However, he harbored one sincere hope-
That one day, the man standing trial in the courtroom, facing his interrogation, would be that monster, Chad!
On Chad''s end, the exposure of theb dealt him a crippling blow. Hans had
defected,n had died a miserable death, and Chasel had returned to the Ashbourne familypletely unscathed. Every single scheme he had painstakingly orchestrated had crumbled to dust!
That day, Chad convened a board meeting at the Abernathy group to announce thetest executive appointments,st quarter''s revenue and profits, and his ns to establish a new pharmaceutical research institute with massive funding.
As board members, neither Hamilton Abernathy nor Evadne made an appearance.
Thaddeus shot a dark nce at Evadne''s empty chair, his lips pressing into a thin, pale line as he fell into deep thought.
When Chad announced the investment in the new pharmaceutical researchb, he was met with fierce opposition from half the board:
"Boss, the Genesis Lab scandal just broke a few days ago. The higher-ups are extremely sensitive to anything involving ''pharmaceutical research'' right now. Pouring money into a project like this is practically asking for trouble!"
"Exactly! It''s like walking straight into a firing squad!"
"Besides, we''re already sinking massive funds into the A5 Project. The group has three other major initiatives running concurrently this year. Where are we going to find the money for new drug research? Plus, Artificial Intelligence is the prevailing trend. Every major corporations investing in robotics or Af vehicles Who in their right mind would pivot back to pharmaceuticals right now? It''s not even the Abernathy group''s core business! A blind investment like this could cost us everything!"
A chorus of agreement echoed through the room.
Chad tapped his index finger rhythmically against the table. His handsome face betrayed no emotion, but a dark, violent storm brewed in his eyes.
Right now, he desperately needed a massive influx of capital to get his drug research back on track, which was why he had called this emergency meeting.
He didn''t give a damn about the A5 Project or Al. Developing new drugs was his life''s singr ambition.
He was willing to sacrifice anything to achieve it. Even the Abernathy business empire, built on the blood, sweat, and tears of his grandfather and father, was nothing more than a disposable prop in his eyes.
"Ahem... Actually, developing new drugs isn''t necessarily a bad idea. If we make a breakthrough, it would be a monumental achievement that benefits generations toe The potential profits would be astronomical." One board member took Chad''s side.
"Yeah, right. Everyone''s jumping on the Al bandwagon, and a few major tech giants already dominate the domestic market share. We''re way toote to the party..."
"And you think Al R&D doesn''t burn cash? It burns even more! If you ask me, Boss''s proposal is worth a shot."
Just as the room split into two fiercely opposing factions, Chad''s phone buzzed on the table.
He nced down, picked it up, and the moment he saw the screen, his gaze turned absolutely lethal.