After All the Hurt, She Chose Herself novel Chapter 50

As if a thought struck her, Hazel looked at Aria. "You... you're not…" Dawn? After all, only the presenters needed to be dressed so formally, and Dawn was the only one whose real name was unknown.

"No, that's impossible!" Hazel immediately denied her own thought. "You've been out of the research field for so many years, you couldn't possibly have that kind of ability!"

"Charles, still no sign of Dawn?" Flora, clinging to Charles's arm, sounded distressed. "Didn't Dr. Reaves say Dawn would be here?"

"There's still half an hour until it starts. Let's wait a bit longer."

Aria saw Flora and Charles approaching and immediately got up and headed backstage.

She didn't want to cause any trouble at this moment.

"Today, we gather in the name of medicine, as professional peers, to open this medical seminar. I'm sure you've all had a preliminary look at the main topic of this conference, but I regret to inform you that Dawn will not be attending today's meeting."

Alden Reaves was supposed to be the highlight of the day, but his words sent a shockwave through the room.

"But there's no need to worry. Dr. Dawn has officially joined the Flourish Medical Research Institute! She has also entrusted a professional to present on her behalf. Now, I will hand the floor over to—Ms. Aria!"

Flora gasped, clutching Charles's arm tightly. "Did I hear that right? Aria?!"

Charles stared at the composed Aria walking onto the stage, his expression dark. "Let's see what she's capable of."

Hazel couldn't help but exclaim, "Impossible! How could she get authorization from Dr. Dawn?!"

Realizing her voice was too loud, she quickly covered her mouth.

Aria paid no mind to the reactions from the audience. Instead, she took out a pre-prepared voice changer and played an audio file.

"Hello, I am Dawn. I am now going to present my research direction—gene sequencing combined with integrative medicine…"

Half an hour later, the recording finished. The room was completely silent, clearly stunned by the bold research.

"If anyone has any questions, please raise your hand," Aria said, tapping the earpiece she was wearing. "I will relay your questions to Dr. Dawn."

Aria, as if sensing something, looked up in Gideon's direction. Her gaze was cool, a world away from the adoring look she used to give him.

An inexplicable sense of panic stirred in Gideon's heart.

"Ms. Rowan, since Dr. Dawn is now part of the Flourish Research Institute, will he be making an appearance there? Or will all research data have to be passed through you to reach Dr. Dawn?"

Aria looked at the person who asked the question and a small smile played on her lips. "Due to some special circumstances, Dr. Dawn is unable to appear at this time. I will be responsible for relaying all data to Dr. Dawn. However, the research will not be held up, because—I am the project lead for the gene sequencing and integrative medicine program."

In other words, Dawn was essentially Aria's subordinate. Dawn chose Flourish Dominion because Aria had chosen it.

Charles bolted upright, his chair screeching against the floor in the sudden silence.

He had once vowed that Aria would never set foot in a research institute, and now, he had been utterly humiliated.

Aria looked over at him, a smirk on her face, as if to say: *Charles, you're not all that.*