Chapter 409 The Truth Behind the Paper
“You’re the only one from Mr. Gerardo’s first–contact list who hasn’t been infected. Maybe you’re just lucky–a special case,” Tommy said, trying to stay hopeful.
It wasn’t impossible.
“If you’re still worried, you can apply to join Owen’s treatment study,” he added.
“I’m in,” Yunice said immediately.
Wellinges Pharma’s targeted treatment had shown promise–at least, it had prolonged Elsie’s critical period by five days. That was enough reason for Yunice to act.
She decided to join the special task team and use Owen as the clinical subject to apply Wellinges Pharma’s research in practice.
When the task team surrounded Owen’s bed, the moment he saw Yunice, he looked stunned. “What are you doing here? Get out!”
He was afraid she might get infected too. If the Saunders family had to lose someone, better it not be all of them–not all in their own hospital.
“She proposed the experimental treatment,” the attending doctor said. “It’s showing promise, so we’re allowing her to participate in the trial.”
“Treatment?” Owen’s hollow, sunken eyes flared with a sliver of life. He sat up abruptly. “Don’t be ridiculous. She doesn’t know the first thing about medicine-”
“I’m backed by Wellinges Pharma. Got it?” Yunice cut him off, impatient.
Owen froze, and then finally understood what she meant.
Yunice didn’t have the credentials–but Wellinges Pharma could hand her the patents, the credit. They were giving her a golden badge to wear. A chance to shine, even if it was symbolic.
After the data was collected, Owen called her over privately.
He stared at her and said, “I finally understand why you didn’t run.”
Yunice was preparing an injection, flicking the air bubbles out of the syringe, not even looking up.
“You’re not doing this to be a hero. You’re doing it for the glory,” he said. “So that when this is all over, you’ll walk out covered in accolades. Wyatt will pull some strings, and you’ll rise to the top–cutting corners with fabricated credentials. Before long, they’ll hand you a hospital to run, no questions asked.”
Yunice glanced at him. He really has an imagination. But he wasn’t entirely wrong.
She sneered, “Wasn’t this your plan for Elsie, too? You of all people should know exactly how capable she really is.”
Owen defended, “Elsie works hard. She just didn’t have a strong foundation. With time, she’ll earn her place.”
“And what, I don’t work hard?” Yunice shot back.
“Elsie worked hard, sure. But she gave up this hospital. She didn’t stay to fight with you. I did. So now I’m the one getting this ‘golden opportunity.’ And what? You regret it?”
Owen flushed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“What I mean,” he said, regaining composure, “is that if you really wanted to succeed, you’d study properly–not take shortcuts and game the system.”
Yunice was getting annoyed. Why was he always like this? Always so condescending.
She finally set the syringe down and asked, “You really believe I have no real ability?”
Owen looked at her, stunned. His bewildered face said it all–he honestly thought her useless.
That confirmed it: all his years of dismissing her hadn’t been calculated malice. He simply believed she was nothing.
Yunice said quietly, “Remember your graduate thesis? It was rejected three times before you passed. Elsie helped you with the final revision, right?”
Owen stared at her through the translucent barrier, eyes slightly widening.
“You’re wondering how I know that, right?” she continued. “Because it wasn’t Elsie who fixed it.”
Yunice laughed coldly. “It was me.”
“Bullshit,” Owen muttered, voice tight. “Don’t make things up.”
“I even revised your SCI paper,” she said plainly.
Owen’s hands curled into fists, his expression growing complicated.
With his diagnosis now hanging over him like a death sentence, Yunice figured it was time to lay the truth bare.
“Elsie was just the delivery girl,” she said. “You thought she helped you. But everything she gave you, I was the one who created. She just stole it. Early on, when you started getting praise from the professors, I actually thought you had taken my work. I treated you like a brother. I didn’t approve of what you did–but I didn’t want to ruin your reputation in front of your advisors.”