Chapter 178
“Something up?” I asked, eyeing Claude with suspicion as he approached me.
It was then he pulled an invitation out of his car. “I’m getting married p>
“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.
Claude agreed and handed me the wedding invite as if he had anticipated this moment. “Claire, 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, Claude 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. “Claude and I are getting married. Claire, you should come to celebrate with us p>
I rejected her. “I can’t. I’ve got a lab experiment I can’t get out of p>
“You’re not over Claude. That’s why you won’t come, 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 place 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 the lab. Pushing the glasses up, my mentor chided, “Young lady, don’t burn the midnight oil with me p>
Slipping into my lab coat, I smiled,
“It’s the older folks who shouldn’t
up
e. Besides, we’re in the f
of the experiment p>
The confidence soon gave way to a heavy sigh from my mentor. “We’re running low on a crucial material p>
I asked, “Didn’t the school provide enough funding p>
My mentor explained, “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 p>
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. “Claire, I’m doing this research because my wife and child died from a genetic heart condition. I’ve dedicated my life to this. And now, When we’re so close p>
Overcome with emotion, he broke down on the lab 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 p>
“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 placement, Ms. Floyd, don’t forget.” With a nod, I left the lab, my mind a whirl of what lay ahead.