Chapter 144
"Help me... please help..." Lily's lips trembled uncontrollably.
She had heard Dr. Q was a master of acupuncture, but had dismissed it—how dangerous could a few silver needles really be? The claims that experiments couldn't proceed without Dr. Q had seemed ridiculous.
Now she believed, but it was too late.
Before she could defend herself, Caroline cut her off. "Call the police. This woman attempted to sabotage our experiment during the blackout. I suspect someone else is directing her."
Security guards immediately entered the hall.
Seeing them approach, Lily panicked completely. "She's fooling all of you! The volunteer is already dead!"
The crowd's attention snapped to the stage, where Caroline appeared to be deliberately blocking their view of the volunteer.
"Who said the volunteer is dead?" Caroline asked calmly.
She stepped aside and, as all eyes focused on her, methodically removed the silver needles one by one. The volunteer's deathly pale complexion immediately flushed with healthy color.
The hall fell silent before erupting into thunderous applause.
Caroline raised her hand for quiet, then displayed a new set of CT scans.
"As you can see, the cancer cells have clearly changed," she explained. "Unlike traditional therapies that merely control cancer, our approach makes cancer cells sense the body's imminent death."
"When they become most active during what they perceive as life's final moments, we administer the medication, truly eliminating them."
She paused, allowing the information to sink in. "I have good news. The cancer treatment research has succeeded. In one week, this medication will be available to the public."
The reporters exchanged glances before firing a barrage of pointed questions.
"What about the price?"
"Current cancer drugs cost between forty and fifty thousand dollars per bottle, with monthly doses required. Many patients can't afford them. How much will your medication cost?"
"With such powerful effects, are there irreversible impacts on the body? Hidden side effects you're not disclosing?"
"The treatment requires acupuncture beforehand. With you as the only practitioner, isn't this impractically restrictive?"
Caroline smiled slightly. These challenging questions were exactly what she'd anticipated.
"You shouldn't ask me about pricing—I'm a researcher, not a businessperson."
"As for the acupuncture technique, I'm not the only one who knows it. Many doctors in this country have this skill."
"Regarding side effects—yes, there are some. But compared to death, I think losing your sense of taste is a minor inconvenience."
With these words, the reporters' perception of Caroline shifted dramatically. They had come to dig up dirt, but Caroline had transformed the press conference into her own product launch.
And remarkably, not one of them could resist promoting it.
---
Meanwhile, in the Windsor Group Building's CEO office, Arthur stared intently at the masked woman on his computer screen.
The woman on stage seemed to radiate brilliance. Those bright, intelligent eyes—he had seen them before, on Caroline.
But they were two different people.
He rubbed his temples and called his assistant. "Bring me coffee."
The assistant quickly delivered a cup. Arthur took one sip and his expression soured. "You've been by my side for ten years, and now you serve me this?"
"Mr. Windsor," the assistant explained nervously, "your previous coffee was always delivered personally by Mrs. Windsor. She hasn't sent coffee to the office for a month, and your supply has run out."
He had secretly tried contacting Caroline countless times, but all messages had gone unanswered. It was only an hour ago that he'd received the message explaining why.
Arthur's brow furrowed with irritation. "It's just coffee. Have someone buy more."
The assistant inwardly groaned. He had already tried every coffee in Sovereign City, but none matched what Caroline used to bring.
Still, he couldn't refuse an order.
Minutes later, Arthur's desk was covered with dozens of coffee cups. With each sip, his expression darkened further.
After the final cup, his face was as dark as a storm cloud.
"What has Caroline been doing recently?" he asked abruptly.
The assistant trembled, his worst fear realized. "Mrs. Windsor... she..."
"I've told you not to call her Mrs. Windsor in the office."
The assistant could barely speak coherently. Trembling, he pulled out his phone. "We received news that Caroline died in the research facility fire. Professor Brooks claimed her ashes. The funeral ended yesterday."
"This is the notice from the facility."
Arthur stared at the notification, his pressed lips forming a hard line. After a long silence, he laughed abruptly.
"So you're in on Caroline's deception too?"
---
At Riverside Loft, Heidi slapped Connor across the face, her features contorted with rage.
"This is your idea of foolproof? You said you'd ruin her! Now she's celebrated as everyone's savior!"
"I don't care what methods you use—I want that woman to disappear from Sovereign City forever."
Connor's expression darkened momentarily before he quickly embraced her, speaking soothingly. "Don't worry. I'll make her disappear soon. I promise."
Heidi endured his touch with disgust, her body rigid against him.
---
After the press conference, Caroline planned to find Arthur to discuss pricing and future release events. But as she exited the elevator, she saw him grimly instructing his bodyguards.
"If you can't find her, don't bother coming back."
Caroline paused briefly before turning away. She had no desire to face Arthur's foul mood.
On her drive back to her Celestial University apartment, Caroline found herself stopping in front of a cake shop.
Before she realized what she was doing, she had purchased two strawberry cream cakes.
"Dr. Q, you like strawberry cream cake too? Buying two at once?"
Oliver had appeared beside her, giving her a meaningful look.
Caroline felt alarm bells ringing internally. In the past, Layla and Logan had loved strawberry cream cakes from this particular shop—a fact known to many of Arthur's friends.