Chapter 143 Unwilling to Let You Get Hurt Again
This statement was about that heart medication, some of its ingredients, and the certificate stating that it had passed the tests.
It also included the results and evidence of its use by major hospitals and some patients.
The official announcement from the company was unequivocal: [All pharmaceuticals developed under the Mortimer Group are rigorously tested and meet all regulatory standards. There are no issues with the medication in question. However, out of a profound sense of responsibility, the Mortimer Group will not ignore this incident. We have dispatched an elite medical team to conduct a thorough examination of the patient experiencing heart failure and will cover all subsequent treatment costs free of charge.]
[Furthermore, any medication can potentially cause adverse effects if administered improperly. Should a direct link be established between our drug and the patient's condition, the Mortimer Group is prepared to provide full and appropriate compensation, and will oversee the patient's care until they have achieved a full recovery.]
Appended to the declaration was a list of the medical professionals comprising the dispatched team. The names were a who's who of cardiovascular medicine, each one a titan in the field, their reputations preceding them. Securing an appointment with even one of these specialists was a near-impossible feat for the average person; to see so many mobilized at once was staggering.
The public reaction was immediate and explosive.
[Now this is what I call taking responsibility. I have to hand it to the Mortimer Group.]
[They've always had a strong ethical code. This proves it.]
[And their drugs have always been reliable. Doesn't that news account from this morning seem a little suspicious? Like they were just looking for trouble?]
[You can't really blame the netizen who posted it. That video this morning showed that Elikin woman's terrible attitude. What kind of doctor acts so high and mighty?]
[I don't know about that. Their drug was fine, and then this huge scandal blows up out of nowhere. Anyone would be on edge.]
The comment sections became a battleground of divided opinions. The tide, however, had turned. The overwhelming condemnation from the morning had subsided, replaced by a more nuanced debate. A significant number of voices were now speaking up in Candice's defense.
The Elikin family watched the developments, utterly dumbfounded.
Gemma slammed her hand on the table, her face contorted with disbelief and rage. "Have the Mortimers lost their minds?" she seethed. "Why would they deploy such massive resources to clear Candice's name? She's just a minor researcher! How could she possibly be worth this?"
Xander was equally taken aback.
He had fully expected Candice to be fired, a disgraced employee cast aside after causing such a monumental headache for her employer. The reality unfolding was the exact opposite of his predictions. He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed the media company he had hired, his voice laced with fury.
"What the hell is going on with the trending news tonight? I told you to smear her! Why has the heat on that story been suppressed?" He paused, his breath ragged. "I don't care what the Mortimer Group is doing. You cannot let her clear her name. Get that original story back to the top of the trending list now!"
A hesitant voice answered from the other end. "I'm sorry, Mr. Elikin, but we can't take on this job anymore."
Xander's expression tightened. "What do you mean you can't do it? I can add more money!"
"It's not about the money, sir," the journalist replied, his tone grave. "To be frank, someone with serious influence wants this story buried. We can't afford to cross them."
Xander was stunned into silence for a moment. "That's impossible. Who? Who's suppressing it? The Mortimer Group?"
The journalist didn't bother with evasion. "It's the Obelon Group."
"What?" Xander's voice cracked, the sound barely contained in the quiet room.
Candice, too, had noticed the shift in the digital landscape.
She saw the negative press about her losing traction and read the powerful statement from the Mortimer Group. Her first assumption was that her own family was behind it. Without a second thought, she called her eldest brother, Caspian.
He picked up almost instantly, his warm, gentle voice a familiar comfort. "Candice."
"Caspian," she began, getting straight to the point. "About the medication issue…"
He cut her off gently. "Candice, don't be afraid. I've already had people start handling it. This will be resolved very soon."
A wave of warmth flooded her chest, filling a space she hadn't realized was so empty.
A smile touched her lips. "I was just going to say, you work incredibly fast. I was planning on handling it myself! This is a small matter; you didn't need a powerhouse like yourself to step in. Isn't it a bit of a waste of your talents?"
Caspian chuckled at her teasing, but his tone quickly turned serious. "Nothing concerning you is ever a small matter. Besides, I've looked into it. This was clearly a premeditated attack against you. I couldn't just stand by and watch." He paused, the weight of his next words settling heavily. "Mom and Dad know, too. They told me to resolve this as quickly as possible. Finnegan is already preparing the lawsuit; as soon as we have enough evidence, we'll sue them. And don't worry about the press—Ulysses is taking care of it. No one will dare to spread rumors about you again."
His voice hardened with a protective edge. "Does some fool really think they can bully a member of the Mortimer family and get away with it?"
Candice let out a soft laugh, overwhelmed. "Isn't this a bit much? You've mobilized the entire family."
Caspian fell silent for a moment, the humor gone from his voice when he spoke again. "We're all afraid of you being wronged. Back then, we failed to find you in time, failed to bring you home, and let you be falsely accused. That charge of ‘attempted murder' still hangs over your name." His voice was thick with regret and fierce determination. "Now that something like this has happened again, how could we let you get hurt? Candice, if you ever face something like this in the future, you must call us immediately. Do you understand?"
He continued, his words a solemn vow. "You are not alone. You have us behind you—Mom, Dad, all of us. In our hearts, you are more important than anything."
His words struck a deep chord within her, and a sudden prickling sensation stung the back of her nose.
So this was what it felt like to have a shield, to be protected. She felt a profound sense of gratitude and joy, but she managed to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
She sniffled quietly, her voice steady and sincere when she replied, "Okay, I understand. Thank you all." A thought then struck her. "By the way, Caspian, regarding the evidence, I can provide something. I recorded my conversation at the hospital today, just in case. I'll send it to you in a minute."
"You recorded it?" Caspian sounded surprised, but then his tone shifted to one of approval. It was logical, after all. Candice was intelligent; of course, she would go to the hospital prepared. "Good. That was a smart move. Send it over, and I'll pass it to Finnegan to handle."
"Okay!" Candice agreed immediately.
After hanging up, she quickly sent the audio file. For the first time all day, a genuine sense of peace settled over her. With the Mortimer family now involved, the outcome of this affair felt like a foregone conclusion. The weight on her shoulders finally lifted, and she felt herself relax completely.
Just as she set her phone down, a soft knock came from her office door. Anais peeked in. "Ms. Elikin, Mr. Obelon is here."
Candice looked up, and through the open doorway, she saw Brandon striding into her office, his steps measured and confident.