"Because over 30,000 students applied from all over the world, and guess what?" Ariana grinned proudly. "Only 5,000 were selected, and I’m one of them!"
She didn’t know the first thing about medicine, but it didn’t matter. Not to Ariana. All she cared about was fame. Power. Recognition.
And putting Penelope back in her ce.
After all, once she took over the Adkins hospital like Greg had promised, Penny would have nowhere to run.
"If I be Doctor Pen’s apprentice," Ariana added sweetly, "I can ask her to make a drug to help you get better, Mother. Just imagine, you being well again."
Abby’s eyes softened, and for the first time in a while, she smiled. "Really?"
"I told you," Greg said, cing a hand over Abby’s. "Ariana is the best thing that’s ever happened to us."
Abby nodded slowly. "In that case, we’ll need to get you the funding you need. Why go through all the stress ofpeting? We can use our influence to... speed things up a little."
"That’s true," Greg chimed in. "A little bribe isn’t a crime. Besides, once Doctor Pen sees how charming and smart you are, she’ll love you right away."
Ariana beamed. "I can even ask Mummy and Daddy for money, since you guys are, you know... broke for now."
Greg waved his hand. "No need. We’ll just apologize to that fat thing. Get her to return everything she took when she left."
"Don’t worry, Mother," Ariana said, her voice turning cold for a second. "Once I take everything from her, I’ll make sure she pays for humiliating us."
<strong>####</strong>
Over at the penthouse, the air smelled faintly of ethanol, fresh herbs, and something citrusy-suspicious, just the way Penny wanted.
She moved around the high-techb with graceful curiosity, herb coat swishing as she trailed behind Darlington Adkins, the infamous ghost-genius of the medical world.
Just like his generations, the man was a genius too, but he had kept it to himself. He isn’t as dumb as his son.
"Careful with that!" Darlington warned with a grin as Penny almost knocked over a sk bubbling with a glowing blue substance. "Unless you want us to identally cure baldness and ignite your eyebrows."
<fn304e> Discover more novels at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn304e>
Penny chuckled. "Noted. No blue explosions after breakfast."
Darlington swirled a conical sk, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He still couldn’t believe Osvaldo had turned thisb into something else. Something people shouldn’t see.
There were so many cures of disease waiting to be given. Cures even he have not seen.
He felt so impressed by his grandson, little did he know, the girl standing next to him, was the infamous Miss Pen. The one many people sort after because of her brilliance yet have remained anonymous.
They say herb contains most disease cures and unfinished medicines that are yet to be revealed.
What made Penny even more dangerous was that she never acted like she knew it all. She asked questions. She listened. She learned.
Penny was never afraid of being surrounded by the best. In fact, she considered it a blessing.
As the two continued mixing, heating, and giggling when Penny’s phone buzzed across the counter.
"Hold the beaker," she said, sliding her gloves off with a snap.
She carefully set the disc sks down on the cool steel table, wiped her fingers on her coat, and answered the call.
Her tone was calm, sweet, but sharp, like honeyced with caffeine.
"Bungee."
"Miss Penny, we’ve been trying to reach you for over a month now, where have you been?" the voice on the other end was frantic. Nervous. Almost desperate.
He was speaking to his superior, the genius behind so everything they’ve created. A girl who can burn the entire world with her creation, inflicting people with different sickness while also saving them with her special antidote.
She’s done it countless times before.
While the world unestimates her, she was like a god to them. Their little God of drugs, but still haven’t been able to cure herself yet.
"Alive," she replied simply, her tone soft... but unshakably calm. This was her world, the world where she’s respected and honoured. Not the world where her family don’t see her worth and just treat her like dirt.
In this world, she’s Dr. Penelope Wird, the hidden force behind a dozen medical patents, the anonymous mind CEOs worshipped but never met.
In this world, her world, she wasn’t someone’s punching bag.
She was a living legend.
"Y-yes, of course," the man stammered, clearing his throat. "Your Apprentice Challenge is in two months and... the board wants to begin preparation. We’ve already had over 4,000 global applications. Governments are calling, sponsors are lined up."
"Miss Penny," he continued, "the students are panicking. The panel needs direction. The media’s going mad with rumors already. Please... just tell us where you are, so we can schedule your walkthrough for the event."
Her fingers brushing against a rare nt sample Osvaldo had kept in theb as she listened to him speak.
"I’m busy," Penny said smoothly. "Working on... more important things."
"But... the Wird Exhibition needs you. You’re the face of it. No one else has the clearance to oversee the final tests. The challenge was built around your theories, your AI models, your diagnostic system. Without you..."
"It’s alright Bungee, I can send my location to you. I also have a few things I need you to check out for me." Penny said and the man almost jumped for joy. It would be the first time his boss was asking him toe over.
In the past, she was always so mysterious and cold, hearing her wanting to speak to him made him smile.
"Yes, ma’am."
"I live in the Adkins estate. When you get here, you’ll be allowed in." Penny said calmly.
There was silence.
Dead silence.
The man on the line stuttered. "T-The Adkins? That’s... That’s the private residence of..."
"What are you doing there miss Penny? Do you need help? Have you done something to them?" Pennyughed at Bungee’s worried tone.
"Calm down Bungee. It’s not that serious." Penny replied.
"Tell the panel I’ll host the Exhibition myself. I’ll pick my apprentice myself."
"Yes ma’am." He said.