Before anyone could respond, Irene spoke. "I like my coffee sweet," she said, pointing at the black coffee before her. "I appreciate coffee since it keeps you awake, but not its excessive bitterness, which is why I always add in milk or sugar. Anyway, I just learned yesterday that someone important to me has malignant arrhythmia, and everyone would probably be aware that it could kill at any moment. I've always believed that our job is to save lives, and from a certain perspective, it makes our job more noble than a regular doctor's. After all, we develop parts that would save a life, so I don't get it… how did such a noble workplace become so vulgar?"After she had spoken, everyone else became much quieter. Even those who disliked her had to agree—their mission was to develop technology that could keep a heart going.And yet here they are, ostracizing a person just because they did not like her.What was that if not a mistake? Yolanda King spoke up then. "Allow me to voice my
Erin Gooding poked her head into the door, and sensing that she had been intruding, she apologized. "Sorry. I was looking for…"She turned toward Irene, who caught the look and glanced at the time. "Ten minutes," she said.Erin nodded in response and closed the door, standing outside as she waited.Soon, people filed out of the meeting room, with Irene the last to exit, carrying stacks of papers in her arms."Is something up?" Irene asked.Erin nodded, so she said, "Let me return these to my office first."Erin waited once more as she did, and once Irene stepped out this time, she came up to Irene with a smile. "James called me, telling me to pick the date. I think I should return to Minerva to tell my father too.""As you should." Irene agreed—getting married was a big deal, and Erin should tell her father about it. "Your work is really busy, huh? You must not have had dinner since that meeting lasted for a while, right? It's my treat."Though Irene was going to head hom
The lanky man was knocked to the ground and he exclaimed when he saw the one who kicked him. "Who the hell are you?!"It was Irene's chauffeur, who doubled as her bodyguard, protecting her aside from driving her to and from work.He shielded Irene while telling her, "You need to run, ma'am." "You have to save Erin," Irene exclaimed anxiously."Yes, ma'am."On the other hand, the lanky man was infuriated that he was the first one to get hit although they were here to abduct a woman!"Go! Hit him!" he barked at his goons indignantly. Two of the goons stayed to restrain Erin, while the others charged at the chauffeur. There were too many of them, keeping the chauffeur bogged down despite his advanced combat training.Irene called James while they were busy, giving him the address as soon as he answered, urging, "You need to hurry!""Okay!"Irene called the cops as well after that, while the chauffeur managed to floor two of the goons, maiming them within minutes.Seeing tha
Not seeing Erin anywhere, James asked urgently, "Where is she?!"Irene was helping the chauffeur and her face was pale despite taking a moment to compose herself. "They took her. You have to find them! Quick!"James whipped out his phone, asking, "What car was it? Do you remember the plate number?""It's a black MPV, but it doesn't have plates, and there are cameras."She pointed nearby at one.That being said, the car looked brand-new. They must have planned to use it for the crime from the start. "I've called the cops. They might be able to help by tapping in the cameras to locate the MPV. It'd make things faster."Veins were bulging over the back of James's hand as he clenched on his phone. "Yeah.""I'm sorry," Irene said. "She was taken because of me.""No. You didn't ask for this," James replied. His call got through then, and while he spoke into it, Irene helped her chauffeur to Hotmesh Research, since he was bleeding from several lacerations and Hotmesh was the close
As they drove, the location tracker was bringing in more information via the security cameras and giving them instructions where to go.The further they went the more remote the environment was.It was now almost three hours since Erin had been taken and there were no cameras around.The tracker was soon cut off.Just as everyone thought that they had nothing to go on and wondered how to track the thugs, Irene spotted the MPV in the bushes."There!" she pointed. James turned toward it and saw the MPV too.The grass was too tall for them to see the entire vehicle, but the tire marks leading into the bushes were fresh. Everyone alighted, stepping through the thick growth of branches, leaves and thorns that constantly tripped them.They followed the tire marks and arrived at the MPV, which was parked with no one around it.James opened the door with a loud whirl, but it was empty! Did they abandon the MPV as a diversion?!"Look around!" James barked. "See if there's any clu
It actually hurt to watch that kick, and Stan thought to himself that Harvey's balls were definitely gone for good.Seth Hedge, however, was still cursing at snapping—it was the first time he lost composure to such an extent!Irene had been furious at him, but that was because Harvey did something so terrible!He managed to make it here to Harvey in Franconia because he wanted to find out what Harvey did to Irene. He cajoled Rosa, Harvey's mother, until she relented, but it had been two days since he arrived here, but Harvey was not telling him a thing. Even so, Harvey's conversation with Isaac answered the question!"You used me for that?! Fuck you! Do you even have a conscience?!" Seth growled as he choked Harvey. "Fucking die!""L-Let me go, Seth… Are you crazy…""That's because of you!" Harvey naturally was not about to let Seth clobber him for nothing and they were soon wrestling.Stan stood nearby and watched, commenting, "That's a dog-eat-dog world for you. Neither of
Irene turned away. "Please don't ask…"James grabbed her arm as an ominous feeling seized him, but he kept his expression calm nonetheless. "Tell me," he said, keeping his voice quiet.Irene closed her sore eyes. "You have a hunch, don't you?"James released her then.Erin's clothes were in pieces when they found her, laying in the bushes near the car."That's why you shouldn't ask," Irene continued softly, hardly able to stay calm from the travesty. "I'll stay with her at all times, but she doesn't want to see you, so don't try to barge in. You'd only upset her more."James's mouth hung opened, but no words came outHe was devastated, and Irene felt her chest tighten seeing his reaction!"I'll take care of her. There will be someone with her at all times."With that, she returned inside the operating room.She was the one who operated on Erin, and therefore knew very well.Worried that she would upset Erin, she tried to keep her voice as mild as she could. "Let's get you
Isaac already had a feeling that things would be terrible, but hearing Irene say it left his eyebrow twitching and his expression darkened. He was furious because those men had been after Irene, and how thoroughly depraved it was!"Can you resign?"Irene did a double take—she did not expect that from him at all, and was left a little confused. "W-Why?""If you didn't take the job, I could have moved to Franconia with you. I've already arranged everything, and this would never have happened. I can give you everything I have—""You think this was my fault?!" Irene was flustered, glaring at him just then. "I admit that I was the cause for Erin's suffering, but… you're blaming me too?!"Isaac was silent for a while. "Calm down…""Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?!" She raised her voice for a moment, and realizing her agitation and that this was not the place for it, lowered her voice again. "I'm hurting, and you're telling me it's because of me? Do you understand how muc