Chapter 122
Arthur's words cut through the boardroom. "From what I understand, Caroline's research data exceeded even the idealized projections—her final results reached ninety-six percent."
"Is your team incapable, or simply unwilling to match it?"
The lab director's expression soured. Arthur had essentially called everyone in the lab incompetent—suggesting they couldn't even match Caroline, a woman who'd returned to the industry after years as a homemaker.
The uncomfortable truth was they genuinely couldn't replicate her data.
"Mr. Windsor," the director bristled, "Caroline was forced to abandon these projects due to practicing medicine without proper credentials."
"Yes, she provided her experimental data, but who's to say that data isn't flawed? Perhaps she deliberately fabricated impressive results that even she couldn't reproduce."
Arthur's gaze turned razor-sharp. With gentlemanly poise but ice-cold words, he replied, "You. Are. Fired. Collect this month's salary from accounting. Don't bother showing up tomorrow."
The director stared in disbelief before yanking off his ID badge and slamming it down. "Fine! I quit! I'll never believe anyone can achieve those numbers!"
After he stormed out, several shareholders voiced their concerns. "Mr. Windsor, Nick Cook was our most capable researcher. If even he couldn't achieve ninety-six percent, perhaps those results don't exist. What if Caroline deliberately planted false data to throw us off?"
The conference room erupted with murmurs. With the data now questioned, some even suggested Vanguard Enterprises Group had exaggerated the possibilities—that such perfect results were impossible.
The meeting eventually dissolved in discord.
---
In the CEO's office, Arthur's thin lips pressed into a hard line, the air heavy enough to make breathing difficult.
"Perhaps we could invite Mrs. Caroline Windsor to rejoin the Windsor Group?" his assistant ventured cautiously. "We could approach her as a research consultant."
Arthur considered this, expression unchanged. "Not a bad suggestion."
He stared at Caroline's number for a long moment before finally making the call.
The response came quickly, "The number you have dialed is currently unavailable..."
Arthur froze, his face darkening like storm clouds. His assistant hardly dared breathe.
This was unprecedented—Caroline not answering his call! In the past, regardless of time or hour, she would answer within three seconds whenever he called.
She never dared ignore him! Now her phone was completely off.
Arthur gripped his phone tightly, knuckles whitening as anger surged across his features.
He pulled up Caroline's WhatsApp and sent a voice message: "Caroline, there's an issue with the neuron experiment data. Since you were previously in charge, I want you to take responsibility for it again."
The message sat unanswered, like a stone dropped into a bottomless well.
After a long silence, Arthur let out a sudden, unsettling laugh. "Good! Very good! Excellent!" Though his words were complimentary, they sent chills down his assistant's spine.
Just when an explosion of anger seemed imminent, Arthur instead called the Windsor family's butler. "Did Caroline come home today?"
"Mr. Windsor," the butler responded with confusion, "Mrs. Windsor moved out quite some time ago..."
Arthur hung up, a deep sense of unease rising within him. He immediately called Alton.
"Where's Caroline? Put her on the phone." His voice carried an undeniable pressure.
Alton paused briefly before unleashing his fury. "Are you out of your damn mind? You have the nerve to call me asking where Caroline is? After what you did to her? You've got some—"
Arthur hung up before he could finish.
"Damn it!" Alton nearly smashed his phone. "Arthur, that bastard!"
Blake perked up, hoping for news. "Is there any word about my sister?"
Alton's bloodshot eyes reflected his fatigue and worry. "Arthur doesn't know where she is either."
Despite Arthur being a jerk, Alton could tell he was also searching for Caroline. In fact, Arthur must have exhausted every other option before calling him.
This only underscored the situation's seriousness.
Alton knew Caroline well—knew how devoted she was to her children. She would always answer Arthur's calls, no matter what. Yet he'd found her phone abandoned on the street.
A terrible thought was forming in his mind.
"Where could my sister have gone?" Blake looked confused.
They'd already checked every place Caroline might frequent, even investigating the car that had taken them to the hospital. Nothing.
It was as if she had simply vanished, determined not to be found.
Alton leaned against the street railing, lighting a cigarette with a grim expression. "She doesn't want us to find her."
When he finished his cigarette, he got back into the driver's seat. "Come on, let's go to her place."
This was the only Caroline-related location they hadn't visited tonight. Although his men watching the apartment hadn't seen her return, they might find some clues there.
Half an hour later, Alton froze, staring at the suicide note Caroline had left on the apartment table.
---
Meanwhile, back in the CEO's office, a deathly silence had fallen.
"Mr. Windsor," the assistant cautiously suggested, "perhaps we should try contacting Mr. Bennett at Vanguard Enterprises Group?"
But Arthur's mind had shifted elsewhere. "Earlier, I asked you to locate Caroline. Still no news?"
Cold sweat broke out on the assistant's forehead. "N-not yet, sir. The team promised results before dawn."
He'd been afraid Arthur would remember this request, which is why he'd suggested contacting Gavin instead. His contacts had already informed him they couldn't find Caroline.
But now it was critical they locate her—even the slightest lead would do.