Chapter 11
I turned back for one last look at the familiar building where Aiden’s hospital was located, my expression calm.
Alden and that marriage that had both consumed and destroyed me disappeared behind me.
A few days later, news came. Grace, who had been arrogant and viciously cursed me in court, now knew she had indirectly killed her own grandson.
Faced with undeniable evidence, she fell into complete despair, accepting a 10 year sentence without struggle when the court pronounced judgment.
I heard that during the trial, her hair had turned completely white, her eyes vacant and unfocused, mumbling incoherently.
Aiden’s world had completely collapsed.
Devin acted swiftly. Vera was fired from the hospital for violations and sought help from Aiden, but he was unable to provide assistance. Devin had almost severed his career path.
Five years later.
National Biomedical Laboratory.
I walked out of the sterile area wearing a white lab coat, removing my mask and goggles to reveal a calm, confident face.
Five years had honed my resilience and sharp intellect. I had become a accomplished young researcher who had published significant papers in top international journals.
The USB drive in my hand contained the latest research data from our team’s three-year breakthrough effort-key mechanistic discoveries about a highly promising targeted anti-cancer drug.
This achievement had earned an invitation to present at a top-tier international academic conference.
“Tina, how’s the report preparation going?” The project leader, an elderly gentleman, approached with a smile. “The organizers just sent another email-they’re requesting the final PDF and PPT.”
I smiled and held up the USB drive: “Just finished the proofread version. I can send it for confirmation this afternoon. Don’t worry.”
“Excellent! Your efficiency is truly remarkable!” He nodded approvingly.
No one knew how much painful depth I had endured to reach where I was now-standing before them as the calm, efficient researcher they saw.
I returned to my private office. My desk was neat and simple, with only professional books, papers, and a thriving pothos plant.
I had just sat down and opened my computer when a message notification chimed. It was from a nurse I had a good relationship with at Aiden’s hospital, who had recently been transferred to the prison system’s medical office.
[Tina, remember Aiden? I saw him in prison today. I heard he’s locked up now for manslaughter, and the victim seems to be Vera. Sigh, what a mess… Anyway, you look great now. Congratulations!]
She had attached a blurry photo of a group of people in prison uniforms participating in some kind of activity.
My gaze lingered on the screen for two seconds. Aiden… this name and everything it represented had become distant and vague.
So he had also destroyed his own life.
I didn’t open the photo to look closely, nor did I feel any curiosity about it. I simply replied: “Thank you.”
Then I closed the chat window.
I turned around and picked up the conference invitation from my desk, my gaze falling on the embossed golden text:
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tina Lynn
Presentation Title: Breaking Through Barriers in Cancer Treatment: Novel Targeted Pathway Exploration and Clinical Translation Potential
Sunlight streamed through the blinds, falling precisely on my name and title, making them shine brilliantly.
Chapter 11
I picked up the phone to call my assistant, my voice steady and clear: “Please book me the earliest flight to Zurich.”
“Also, arrange a laboratory meeting with the professor at 8 AM tomorrow. I need to review the final report details with him once mo
Outside the window, the sky was azure blue.
A knock suddenly sounded at the door. I looked up to see Devin standing in the doorway with a lunch box: “Dear Dr. Tina, it’s time to
I smiled at him.
The new journey lay ahead.
