Chapter 228 I Can't Unlock the Clasp You Designed
Sophia was thrilled that her scheme had worked. "Thank you, Dr. Warner. I'm looking forward to our cooperation!"
After the conversation, she rushed back excitedly to tell Michael the good news.
Upon hearing that Lyle was also from the Medica Vitae Sect, Michael felt more hopeful about the treatment.
Meanwhile, at Olivia's research institute, the first batch of drugs developed in cooperation with the military entered a critical phase.
Thanks to the materials provided by the special forces unit and some ideas and suggestions from Rodolfo, her efficiency had increased several times.
For the next several days, she devoted all her energy to this.
Before she knew it, Friday arrived.
That day, Daniel suddenly came to see her with some not-so-good news.
"Recently, a pharmaceutical company has been copying our formulas and launched a special medicine.
The effect of their drug may be somewhat less than ours.
But their price is cheaper than ours, which has affected our business to some extent."
Olivia nodded, then looked at Daniel and asked, "Don't you usually handle this kind of thing? Why did you come to tell me specifically?"
"Because the other party's identity is not simple," Daniel frowned. "I originally gathered a team of lawyers, planning to sue them.
But during the investigation, I found out that the person in charge of the other company is someone called Lyle.
I heard he also came from the Medica Vitae Sect.
I'm not sure if we can go after this person, so I came to ask you specifically."
If he was Rodolfo's acquaintance, Daniel would have to give Rodolfo some face and use gentler methods.
After hearing this, Olivia looked quite surprised.
She had never heard of this person.
Taking the matter seriously, Olivia quickly looked through the investigation materials Daniel handed over.
She found that the person indeed had some ability.
The formula modified by this person was actually quite effective.
Olivia was about to tell Daniel that this person wasn't from the Medica Vitae Sect.
But considering the person's age, unsure whether Rodolfo knew him, she said to Daniel, "I'll confirm this matter and get back to you."
"Okay."
After Olivia took on this matter, she picked up Bianca in the evening and went to have dinner with Rodolfo.
When they were almost done eating, she brought up Lyle to Rodolfo.
"I don't think I've heard of this person in the Medica Vitae Sect," Olivia said.
After hearing this, Rodolfo's expression turned sour.
He cursed on the spot, "This shameless person dares to use your formula. He never changes."
Hearing this, Olivia knew Rodolfo really did know this person, so she asked, "Mr. McCoy, who exactly is this person?"
"Tell Daniel to handle it however he should, no need to give any face!" Rodolfo's face was dark, but he didn't want to say much about Lyle.
Olivia was confused. In the end, it was Simon who told her, "Lyle's identity isn't completely fake. He was indeed a student of the Medica Vitae Sect before and had some talent.
But this person is too driven by profit and likes to take credit for other people's work.
He stole other people's research results several times and claimed them as his own.
At first, the elders of the Medica Vitae Sect thought that when they developed similar formulas, it was just a coincidence.
Later they found out that this person often stole half of someone's formula, took it for himself, and then mixed it with other formulas, creating something inferior.
When the truth came out, the Medica Vitae Sect got angry and expelled him."
Olivia didn't expect there was such a backstory.
She felt some contempt for this person called Lyle.
No wonder Rodolfo was so angry.
Such a person was ruining the reputation of the entire Medica Vitae Sect!
What was worse, this person was still using the Medica Vitae Sect's name!
"This is outrageous!" Olivia was also getting angry.
Simon continued, "This person isn't just shameless in this aspect. He also claims his talent is no worse than Mr. McCoy's and has always competed with him.
To be honest, when Mr. McCoy was young, he had a marriage arrangement with his junior who was very favored in the Medica Vitae Sect.
She was engaged to Mr. McCoy at the time, but later, she was deceived by Lyle.
That would have been bad enough, but that bastard didn't cherish her and abandoned her.
Later, the junior realized she had trusted the wrong person and felt she had let down the Medica Vitae Sect, so she took her own life."
Talking about this old story, Simon's tone was full of sighs.
Olivia was extremely surprised.
She had never heard about these things.
Could this be the reason why Rodolfo had never married all these years?
She felt inexplicably cold.
Thinking back to a few years ago, when she also wouldn't listen to advice and Rodolfo strongly opposed her marrying Michael, could this also have been a reason?
Olivia had mixed feelings. Looking at Rodolfo sitting in silence, she didn't know how to comfort him for a moment.
After a while, Rodolfo finally spoke, continuing Simon's words, "I did like her, but it was more about responsibility.
When I was young, I was heartbroken, but later I came to terms with it. I just felt it was a pity—she was someone with great medical talent.
If she had lived well, her achievements today would probably match mine.
Also, my disgust for that Lyle guy is because he's eager for quick success, and it's not just about stealing formulas!
That person loves fame and money. He once gave patients strong medicines to convince people of his medical skills. Ridiculously, he was hailed as a miracle doctor because of this and cheated a lot of money."
Hearing this, Olivia couldn't help but frown.
As a doctor, she understood what consequences using strong medicines could cause.
If it wasn't an emergency situation, it would make the patient seem to recover, but actually leave irreversible side effects later.
In more serious cases, it could kill the patient on the spot!
Rodolfo said to Olivia, "If Lyle hadn't crossed our path before, that would be one thing, but now that he's provoked you, you absolutely can't let him off!
Sue him if you should, let him go to jail if he should!"
"Okay!" Olivia nodded in agreement.
Now she was the heir of the Medica Vitae Sect and would take charge in the future. She couldn't allow anyone to continue ruining the Medica Vitae Sect's reputation outside.
After dinner, Olivia let Bianca cheer up Rodolfo.
She went to call Daniel, "I've already talked with Mr. McCoy. For Lyle's matter, just follow the procedures. A fraud with no medical ethics must be taught a lesson!"
She also roughly told Daniel about the things Lyle had done.
Daniel immediately became interested. "I thought he was Mr. McCoy's acquaintance. It's good that he's not.
Someone so shameless like him must have done this kind of thing many times before. Don't worry, I guarantee I'll sue him.
Every one of our developments has a patent, we just haven't made them public before.
With such infringement on their part, it's no different from seeking death!"
"Yes," Olivia nodded. "Thank you for the trouble."
Daniel smiled and said, "You're being polite with me? It's just a small matter. Besides, I get a share of the profits from the drugs you develop."
Olivia also smiled, and the two didn't dwell on thanks.
Daniel then said, "By the way, isn't your birthday coming up? You should be able to celebrate it properly this year, right?"
Olivia was stunned for a moment before remembering this.
She hadn't celebrated her birthday in many years.
In the first year after marrying into the Johnson family, she had been full of anticipation.
She just wanted to spend time alone with Michael.
As a result, that time, she waited at home alone until the food got cold, but Michael never came.
Later, she understood his lack of care. Every year on her birthday, she only received blessings from her parents and friends, without any celebration.
This year she had finally left the Johnson family, with family and friends by her side. She could indeed celebrate her birthday properly.
Olivia said, "Yes, I can indeed celebrate it well."
Daniel laughed heartily and said, "Then let me help you prepare?"
Olivia thought about it but politely declined his offer. "You're so busy every day. I won't trouble you to take time to work on this for me. With Mr. McCoy here this year, he'll definitely have Simon arrange it."
Hearing this answer, Daniel felt somewhat disappointed inside.
He wanted to give her a good birthday and take this opportunity to show himself.
However, he really couldn't compete with Rodolfo.
So Daniel compromised, "Alright then, I won't compete with Mr. McCoy. Get some rest early. I'll handle some more work."
"Okay!"
Olivia didn't chat with Daniel for long and soon hung up.
Just as she was about to enter the house, before crossing the threshold, she heard Simon talking about her birthday.
Rodolfo, who had been angry before, heard Simon bring this up and successfully had his attention diverted.
He specifically instructed Simon, "Make sure to prepare well. I haven't celebrated her birthday in so many years. You must arrange it properly this year."
Simon said with a smile, "Definitely. Even if you didn't tell me, I would handle it well for Ms. Smith!"
Bianca, listening to them nearby, was also looking forward to Olivia's birthday.
She said to Rodolfo in a sweet childlike voice, "Before, Mommy and I only celebrated our birthdays with just the two of us. Can there be many people this year?"
Rodolfo was successfully angered again, his eyebrows standing up as he looked at Simon. "The Johnson family didn't even celebrate birthdays for them?"
Simon nodded. "The Johnson family didn't value it."
To be more direct, they just didn't value the mother and daughter.
But Simon didn't say this. He was afraid of making Rodolfo too angry.
Rodolfo was already very angry and told Simon in a deep voice, "This year it must be grand! Very grand!
Prepare more invitations and invite all the important people in Emerald City! Let them see how wonderful Olivia is!"
Olivia, hiding outside, didn't dare go in.
She was afraid that because of the Johnson family, she would be scolded by Rodolfo again.
She felt completely timid.
The next day, it was time for Bianca's treatment again.
But Olivia was tied up with work and couldn't go out.
Moreover, her heart was still affected by Andrew having a "girlfriend," and she had some avoidance psychology, so she could only let Andrew take Bianca alone.
Andrew had no objection and came to pick her up early in the morning.
When Olivia handed Bianca over to him, she also gave him the completed calming medicine. "Thank you for your trouble today."
Andrew quickly noticed her evasive eyes.
Not to mention other things, these past few days, her vaguely avoidant attitude also made Andrew feel something was off with her.
Looking at what she handed over, Andrew raised his hand and said gently, "If it's not too much trouble, could you help me put the medicine in?
I can't figure out the clasp you designed."