Chapter 106
Chapter 106:
Every word Dr. Zhang spoke felt like a blade pressed directly into his spine. He could sense the curious, judging eyes of the people around him without needing to look.
“It was a catastrophic loss for the scientific community,” Dr. Zhang said, his hands gripping the edges of the podium. “And a personal tragedy to witness such unparalleled talent step away into the shadows p>
Alycia, who had managed to pull herself back into her seat, was trembling. The realization settled over her with cold, absolute terror — the marriage she had spent years trying to claim for herself was regarded as a pathetic footnote by the highest authorities in the world.
Cole’s jaw muscles twitched. The humiliation scorched the back of his throat. The arrogant pedestal he had stood on for four years was being reduced to rubble in front of three thousand witnesses.
Then the anger in Dr. Zhang’s voice gave way to something else entirely — a trembling, profound pride.
“Today, however, I am profoundly relieved,” he said, his voice dropping to something almost tender. “Because that brilliant mind has finally returned to the vanguard, bringing with her the empirical data that will rewrite the future of medicine p>
Dr. Zhang lifted the heavy, gold-plated trophy from the table. “The Breakthrough of the Year goes to the team at Apex Bio p>
Triumphant music poured through the speakers.
𝖭𝖾𝗐 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄 𝗈𝗇
Silas stood, buttoned his jacket, and walked up the stairs to the stage. He accepted the trophy from Dr. Zhang with a deep, respectful bow, then stepped up to the microphone. He did not deliver a standard corporate speech.
He held the gold trophy high and looked directly down at the front row.
“I cannot accept credit for this,” Silas said, his voice carrying the weight of absolute conviction. “Every molecular pathway, every clinical model that won this award — it was designed by one person p>
He took three deliberate steps backward, surrendering the center of the stage entirely, and extended his arm toward the front row in a gesture of complete deference.
“Please welcome the true soul of Apex Bio. Our Head of Research and Development, Dr. June Erickson p>
A massive spotlight snapped on. The blinding white beam found June with precision.
She stood. Her white suit glowed like armor beneath the intensity of the light.
The entire hall rose to its feet. A tidal wave of applause crashed over the room.
June walked calmly up the stairs.
Cole watched her back as she ascended.
A sudden, suffocating sensation closed around his throat. He understood, with terrible clarity, that she was not simply leaving his house. She was rising into a world where his money and his name meant absolutely nothing.
June reached the center of the stage. She stood beside Silas and took the microphone from Dr. Zhang.
Alycia was gripping the fabric of her dress so tightly her nails broke the skin of her palms, drawing tiny pinpricks of blood. She was still praying, desperately, to watch June freeze and humiliate herself.
June stood at the podium and did not look at Cole.
Her eyes were focused, sharp, and entirely without fear.