Chapter 510

She was totally lost in her own thoughts, staring at the experimental data that kept pouring into her mind, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Great, great! She had run out of ideas and didn't know what to do next, but this patent gave her endless hope.

Maybe she could soon develop a drug that damages nerves.

Maybe because she was too excited, Adelaide stayed deep in thought and didn't even notice someone entering the office.

"Hey, what are you doing? Good thing I'm not a bad guy. If a bad guy dragged you away, you wouldn't even know."

Zola tilted her head, looking at the focused Adelaide, and couldn't help reminding her. "You need to get that this is a school, not your company. People come and go here. What if someone steals your research?"

Her words woke Adelaide right up. Adelaide's eyes lit up as she suddenly thought of something, full of thanks. "Thanks for the reminder. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have noticed."

"Even though I can't make sense of your complicated data, don't forget this is a school. Some stuff is online. Be careful yourself. Don't let anyone steal your research."

Worried Adelaide wouldn't take it seriously, Zola lowered her voice and told her about a past case where school research got stolen.

Adelaide then realized that even at the top university in the country, shady things like that could happen.

Back then, a genius student had just arrived at the school and got really into research. He even filed lots of patents in two years. But he was so wrapped up in his work that he didn't notice they had all been stolen.

Later, after graduation, when he tried to start his own company and use those patents, he found out someone else had already claimed them.

Adelaide quickly used some knowledge from her past life to change the computer passwords. She even tweaked some key data.

She also added encryption.

In other words, only she could understand this patent. If anyone else looked at it, the data, names, and results would be completely different.

Over the next few days, Adelaide went back and forth between the hospital and the lab every day.

Lots of people at school noticed. Her supervisor worried she was wearing herself out and came to see her in person.

In the office.

He looked worried. "Adelaide, we all know about your health. That's why you need to rest more. Right now, research and studying aren't the priority for you. Proper rest can slow down the drug's effects."

More importantly, her recent checkups were getting worse. She looked fine on the outside, but she had short bursts of insomnia, memory slips, and foggy thinking—all the symptoms were there.

Adelaide was just too busy with experiments, too focused—or maybe she hadn't noticed these issues herself.

That's why the department head was even more concerned.

He looked at Adelaide like he was seeing right through her to someone else. "Years ago, we had a student here who studied nonstop just like you. Maybe because he put everything into studying, he was slow on other things and got tricked in the end."

The department head's voice was thick with regret. "If I'd known how it would end for my student, I would've stopped him. So I hope you rest properly. If the work is too much, just hand it off to someone else."

Feeling his concern, Adelaide's heart warmed up. "I know you're all looking out for me, but I really have no choice. Time is short and the tasks are heavy. I can't waste any."

From start to finish, she was always the one reacting, not choosing.

She had felt the drug eating away at her brain, but she just pretended not to.

These days, Sebastian's worried looks during checkups and the doctors holding back their words?

They hadn't shown her the reports, but Adelaide knew her condition wouldn't hold out much longer.

Plus, the last couple days while working on data, her mind would go blank sometimes, like she'd forgotten something.

Time was short and tasks heavy. Adelaide had no choice. "Sir, thanks so much for your concern, but I want to give it everything. That way, I won't have regrets."

Her hand slowly rested on her belly.

As days went by, the baby was growing inside her. She couldn't feel it yet, but she wanted to do her best for the child.

If her problems got worse, they'd pass to the baby for sure. She didn't want to drag the child down.

The department head sighed. "Anyway, just take care of yourself first as long as you get it."

With that, he leaned on his cane and turned to leave.

Adelaide's eyes stung a bit. Seeing Sebastian at the door, she rushed into his arms. "If you had something to say, just tell me. Why get someone else to speak for you?"

Sebastian's throat tightened as he held back the bitterness in his heart. "I'm worried about your health. My company has plenty of researchers. How about giving them your materials?"

Adelaide shook her head firmly. "No way. I can vouch for myself, but can you vouch that none of your company people are spies?"

It was a critical point now. Plus, who knows how many people were after Mom's patent results, openly or not. Mom had poured her heart into those patents. No way was Adelaide letting them fall into anyone else's hands.

She had already planned for this.

Sebastian knew Adelaide was stubborn and couldn't be talked out of it, so that's why he'd brought in the department head. Now, all he could do was stay by her side.

"Wife, you've been too busy these days. You need to rest some too."

Adelaide thought about it. Yeah, she did.

She hadn't gone to see Evelyn since she showed up.

Gavin was busy with company work or Marcus's birthday party. He had zero time for Evelyn.

Last time on the phone or texts, Evelyn sounded really sad. It'd be good to check on her.

The two brought gifts and went to Evelyn's place.

In the living room.

Evelyn had recovered a lot. Seeing Adelaide, her smile never stopped. "What have you been up to, kid? You've gotten skinny, and your face isn't rosy enough."

As always, Evelyn's love for Adelaide was plain to see.

She touched Adelaide's cheek, then her hand, shaking her head. "You're young—put your health first. Don't wear yourself out. Rest more and take care of yourself."