Chapter 121
"Caroline?" Heidi's voice carried feigned surprise. "What a coincidence that a volunteer shares my sister's name. Someone might think my sister had volunteered for the experiment!"
She paused, then added with calculated innocence, "Oh, but I forgot—every volunteer is a cancer patient. My sister is in perfect health! Just yesterday she donated a pint of blood for me. Cancer patients can't donate blood."
Logan nodded eagerly, his childlike voice chiming in. "That's right! Grandma said doctors won't let sick people donate blood. If doctors allowed someone to donate, they must be really healthy."
Layla glanced at the paperwork. Though she could read her mother's name clearly among the volunteers, she didn't believe it could be her. Just someone with the same name.
"Daddy, don't worry," she said confidently. "This definitely isn't Mommy. Mommy is perfectly healthy. She donated blood yesterday, and she even went camping recently. How could she have cancer?"
Mentioning camping instantly dampened her mood. Her mother had taken Rena but not them.
Although she had promised to take them sometime, nothing had come of it.
With this thought weighing on her, Layla slipped quietly from the room with her smartwatch phone.
Arthur's furrowed brow relaxed at the children's reasoning. "You're right."
He continued reviewing the volunteer documents and unhesitatingly signed his approval next to Caroline's name.
Heidi's smile widened, knowing he had believed their explanation.
But why would Caroline's name appear among the volunteers? Was it truly just a coincidence?
Her smile took on a calculating quality. Once Arthur left, she would have someone investigate this "Caroline" on the list.
---
In the basement level of the Windsor Group Building, Caroline had just been brought into the experimental area.
Many test subjects were already waiting—each looking gaunt and frail from their battles with cancer.
Caroline sat silently in a corner, eyes downcast.
A lab technician approached with documents. "Ms. Hamilton, this is the consent form. If you've changed your mind about participating, you still have a chance to back out."
Back out? She almost laughed. Her family probably wished she were dead anyway.
"I volunteer willingly for this experiment," she said with a faint smile, "regardless of whether the outcome is life or death."
She signed her name with steady hands.
The technician nodded. "Very well, Ms. Hamilton. The lab will conduct detailed physical examinations tonight. Tomorrow at seven, transport will take you to the experimental facility."
Following the technician to her assigned room, someone soon came to draw blood for testing.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the researcher looked concerned.
"Ms. Hamilton, your body is too weak. I'm afraid we'll need to try another location."
Caroline remained calm. "It's fine. Try somewhere else."
She knew why this was happening. Yesterday, at Arthur's insistence, she had donated a pint of blood to Heidi—a donation that had nearly killed her.
Now they couldn't even draw the few milliliters needed for testing.
After five attempts, they finally collected enough blood.
Though deathly pale, Caroline returned to her room with a strange sense of peace. For the first time in a long while, she fell asleep without worry or regret.
---
At the hospital, Layla tried calling again but still received the "number not in service" message.
She didn't understand what that meant, only that she couldn't reach her mother., which was deeply disappointing.
Before, no matter when they called, their mother would either appear immediately or answer right away.
She frowned, suddenly realizing her mother hadn't called her in a long time either.
Then she remembered how pale her mother had looked after donating blood to Heidi yesterday. Maybe she was just resting early.
She decided to call again tomorrow and insist her mother take her camping.
When she returned to the hospital room, Arthur was preparing to return to the office and had arranged for someone to take her and Logan home.
"Daddy, Logan and I want to stay here with Ms. White," Layla insisted. "We'll be very good."
Arthur shook his head. "Ms. White needs rest. You can't disturb her."
Layla wouldn't budge, clinging to Heidi's arm. "Ms. White, we'll be so good. Please let us stay?"
Logan looked at Heidi with hopeful eyes.
Seeing an opportunity, Heidi intervened. "Arthur, let them stay. I'll have the housekeeper help look after them. It won't be a problem."
Seeing they had made up their minds, Arthur relented. "I'll allow it, but you must let Ms. White rest properly."
The children agreed enthusiastically. With urgent matters waiting, Arthur gave a few brief instructions before departing.
---
In the basement level of the Windsor Group Building, a project manager briefed Arthur on the situation.
"Mr. Windsor, all ninety-nine test subject volunteers have arrived. Tomorrow they'll be transported to the facility. Would you like to inspect them?"
Arthur paused at the basement entrance for a moment, a strange uneasiness settling over him. Finally, he shook his head.
"This experiment is crucial. Ensure all volunteers' families receive their compensation. And make absolutely certain they understand the risks—I want no unexpected incidents."
His voice grew more solemn. "Since this experiment is confidential and cannot be interrupted once begun, arrange a farewell gathering for volunteers who haven't said goodbye to their families."
The manager bowed. "Yes, Mr. Windsor."
Arthur glanced at the basement level once more before turning to enter the executive elevator. Even he didn't understand why he had specifically come down here.
On the top floor, major shareholders waited anxiously. The cancer treatment project was about to launch, filling everyone with both excitement and trepidation.
When Arthur arrived, they visibly relaxed, as if finding their anchor in a storm.
"Mr. Windsor, regarding the follow-up funding for the cancer treatment..."
Arthur quickly immersed himself in work, personally overseeing everything from the cancer treatment project to Caroline's previous neurological experiments and the Alzheimer's patient care initiative.
An hour later, he tiredly rubbed his temples.
"Are you telling me," he asked with barely concealed frustration, "that with all the people in our laboratory, no one can achieve the ideal data parameters that Caroline established in her experiments?"