Chapter 210
The next day, Leopold came to pick me up to go to the Silverlight City Research Center for my second examination.
After I got in the car, the same silence from last night spread again.
Last night, after he said he couldn't let me go, I hadn't responded. We remained silent all the way to Bayview Villas. Leopold didn't go in to greet my parents and left directly.
I'd thought he must be angry and wouldn't come find me today, but unexpectedly, he'd arrived early in the morning.
He'd even brought breakfast from the east side of the city, which was very difficult to buy.
Seeing them chatting animatedly, I said nothing.
After breakfast, I got in the car with Leopold and left.
From departure until now, Leopold and I hadn't spoken.
Teddy and Barry, in the front seat, hadn't spoken either.
The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
I secretly took out my phone. Originally just wanting to browse casually, I was unexpectedly drawn to a pop-up news alert.
[A Certain Talented Woman's Unknown Social Circle Sparks Heated Discussion—She Actually Is...]
Seeing that headline, I immediately clicked to read.
I wanted to see what they were fabricating now.
Unexpectedly, upon entering, I saw official accounts led by the Percy Group and Wipere Group posting clarification statements.
The Wipere Group official account: [Regarding recent false rumors targeting Lucinda Wipere, daughter of the Wipere Group president, the Wipere Group now responds... Subsequently, we will pursue legal action based on all false rumors and information about those who spread them.]
The Percy Group official account: [Lucinda Wipere is an outstanding ballet dancer who should not be maliciously targeted with AI-generated rumors. The Percy Group will assist the Wipere Group in pursuing legal responsibility against rumor-mongers.]
Following that, all the rich second-generation heirs and nouveau riche who'd appeared in the fabricated photos issued statements strongly proving the previously circulated rumors had nothing to do with me.
All netizens were stunned by this operation.
[Lucinda is the Wipere Group heiress? Why has no one known about this?]
[I saw news about Lucinda before and wondered why people were still slandering her when it had already been clarified, she wasn't that kind of person. Turns out she was targeted by jealousy.]
[AI face-swapping—the person who fabricated this is terrifying!]
[With this background, plus the Wipere Group and Percy Group vouching for her, whoever tried to harm her has encountered someone who can't be casually slandered.]
[Wait, am I the only one who thinks the Percy Group's statement is strange? The Wipere Group getting involved makes sense, other elites getting involved can be explained, but the Percy Group wasn't even part of this controversy. Why issue a statement?]
[Insider information—I heard the Percy family and Wipere family once had an engagement, then both families suddenly canceled it. The specific reason is unclear.]
With someone mentioning this, netizens dug up all the gossip about me from before and after the international ballet competition.
[If what the commenter above said is true, then Sophia Guise, rumored to be Mr. Percy's first love, is actually someone else entirely—and there's more than one person involved!]
[Wow, this is explosive!]
[Right, there was something like that before. Sophia's reputation stank back then. Could this also be Sophia's doing?]
[The truth is out. I was wondering why Lucinda disappeared after winning the international ballet competition. Turns out she was scared off by being targeted.]
Seeing these netizens get infinitely close to the truth, the corners of my mouth unconsciously lifted.
See—using the same tactics repeatedly makes them ineffective.
Not only did I immediately suspect Sophia, but netizens did too.
Let's see how Sophia handles this.
As I was scrolling, I suddenly noticed my social media account had gained tens of thousands of followers.
Not only that, my last post had gained over ten thousand new comments.
Every single one was a message of support.
I couldn't help smiling.
These netizens were really adorable.
"This examination may have a few more steps than last time. Don't be nervous. Just follow Dr. Moore's instructions." Leopold suddenly spoke.
"Okay." I instinctively agreed, the smile still on my face before I could restrain it.
Leopold's unfathomable eyes suddenly brightened.
Seeing the car had stopped, I quickly suppressed my smile and got out.
Leopold's eyes visibly dimmed.
Another grueling round of examinations.
The moment the results came in, specialist Christian invited Leopold and me to his office together.
His expression was much graver than last time.
My heart instantly twisted, a sense of foreboding welling up.
"Dr. Moore, what are the results?" Leopold's face was taut, his voice low.
Christian placed the report on the desk, his tone even heavier. "Mr. Percy, this report isn't ideal. We detected traces of an extremely minute abnormal compound in Ms. Wipere's blood."
Christian explained, "A synthetically produced compound. It doesn't belong in your body, nor is it found in any known clinical drugs or common toxins."
"Dr. Moore, you're saying she's been poisoned." Leopold's expression was dark as water, his entire being shrouded in a gloomy aura.
Hearing his words, my heart clenched violently.
Poisoned?
How could I have been poisoned?
But Christian nodded. "Yes, to put it bluntly, that's what it means."
All the blood in my body ran cold.
Leopold's voice came out with difficulty. "Can it be detoxified now? Or can you develop an antidote?"
Christian shook his head regretfully. "Right now, we haven't even identified the components of this toxin. We can't produce an antidote in a short time."
I struggled to regain my composure. "What symptoms will this poison cause?"
At this question, Christian's expression grew even more grave. "Initially, the symptoms are similar to Alzheimer's disease. You'll start forgetting what you're doing or what you've done."
"Mid-stage, due to nerve damage, you'll experience paralysis, slow reactions, and loss of control over your limbs."
"Finally, you may lose your five senses, lose cognition of life and even people around you, becoming a body without thought."
My vision went black.
"Cindy!" Leopold quickly supported me, preventing me from falling.
My entire body felt cold. I couldn't speak a single word.
Leopold didn't dare let go. After thinking for a moment, he asked Christian again. "Is there no medication to control it?"
"That is possible, but it takes time."
Hearing this news, both Leopold's and my expressions improved slightly.
But then Christian added, "However, based on today's report, the prognosis isn't optimistic either. This type of neurological damage is typically irreversible."
Irreversible.
These words struck heavily against my heart.
My voice trembling, I sought confirmation. "So you're saying even if I take medication to control the condition, there's no guarantee the illness won't worsen?"
Christian let out a heavy sigh. "Correct."
Despair surged from all directions like a tide. I could barely breathe.
Leopold gripped my arm tightly, continuously pulling me into his embrace. "Dr. Moore, while her condition hasn't severely deteriorated yet, start researching medication to control the toxin in her body from today."
"Naturally," Christian spoke, then looked at me. "During the examination, I discovered Ms. Wipere also has rather severe traumatic arthritis. You'll need to provide a complete list of all medications she's taken so I can accelerate my research progress."
"No problem. I've recorded all her medications. I'll have someone send them to you shortly."
Leopold chatted with Christian a while longer before taking me away from the research center.