"Something up?" I asked, eyeing ude with suspicion as he approached me.


    It was then he pulled an invitation out of his car. "I''m getting married."


    "Oh, does that mean you''ll finally take my name off your family?" I couldn''t help but recall how he had used that as leverage over me.


    ude agreed and handed me the wedding invite as if he had anticipated this moment. "ire, you can always call me if you run into trouble." "No need. I''ve got Richard," I replied, cutting straight to the point.


    Without further ado, ude got back into his car and drove off. As he left, I noticed a Porsche pulling away from the curb, unmistakably Kate''s ride.


    After Max kicked Tracey out of the country, Kate called to thank me for eliminating Tracey as a threat. It had ensured that the Goodwin family inheritance would never fall into Tracey''s hands. There was Kate, calling me again. "ude and I are getting married. ire, you shoulde to celebrate with us."


    I rejected her. "I can''t. I''ve got ab experiment I can''t get out of."


    "You''re not over ude. That''s why you won''te, right?" Kate''s suspicion was immediate.


    "I never loved him, so there''s nothing to let go of," I retorted, hanging up and driving back to my apartment. A sleeker, more stylish ce Richard had helped me move into, leaving nothing behind, not even the old locks.


    I deleted Max''s contact from my phone as if he or anyone else from that chapter of my life had never existed.


    After a shower, I returned to theb. Pushing the sses up, my mentor chided, "Youngdy, don''t burn the midnight oil with me."


    Slipping into myb coat, I smiled,


    "It''s the older folks who shouldn''t


    up


    e. Besides, we''re in the f


    of the experiment."


    The confidence soon gave way to a heavy sigh from my mentor. "We''re running low on a crucial material."


    I asked, "Didn''t the school provide enough funding?"


    My mentor exined, "The funding''s there, but the Hilton Group''s been hoarding all the stock. They told me it''d be two months before they can supply us, and we can''t wait that long The university is exploring other options."


    The Hilton Group seemed ahead in the heart and brain research we were also pursuing, possibly moving toward mass production.


    "Damn," my mentor muttered,


    running his fingers through his


    half-gray hair before returning to his work. "ire, I''m doing this research because my wife and child died from a gic heart condition. I''ve dedicated my life to this. And now, When we''re so close..."


    Ovee with emotion, he broke down on theb bench.


    "I''m sorry, Professor. There''s nothing I can do," I said, knowing I couldn''t and wouldn''t reach out to Max for help.


    He shook his head. "I know you know Mr. Hilton since you were his student, but I understand it might be too much to ask for help."Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "I''ll figure something out" were the only words I managed, thinking of asking Richard to speak with Max on our behalf.


    Just then, a call from the cemetery agent interrupted my thoughts. "Tomorrow''s a good day for the urn cement, Ms. Floyd, don''t forget." With a nod, I left theb, my mind a whirl of whaty ahead.