She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 742

The silence stretched until Loyce finally spoke, her voice cutting through the quiet lab. "It's not the environment, and it's not the growth factors. Could the issue be the culture fluid?"

"The culture fluid?" Bonick frowned. "We use a standardized formula. Every single component undergoes rigorous traceability and quality control."

"The formula is standard, sure," she said, standing up and walking over to the screen. She tapped her finger against a seemingly insignificant line of data regarding the auxiliary compounds. "But the fluid itself is manually mixed on-site right before every single trial."

Bonick drew in a sharp breath as the implication hit him.

"You're saying the problem isn't me, or my wife... but someone at headquarters?"

If you knew Hank was a mafia boss, the idea of corporate sabotage or internal espionage was hardly a shock. But Bonick didn't know that. To him, the primary investor was just an obscenely wealthy Mexistar businessman.

"Maybe someone on the inside is intentionally sabotaging it," she said evenly. "Or maybe it really is just a bizarre string of accidents. Either way, the project is bleeding money, and the investor is going to cut their losses if they don't see a return soon."

He scowled. "If there are people actively trying to destroy this research, I might as well walk away." He sighed, clearly heartbroken. "It's such a shame. The theoretical framework is brilliant. It could change the world."

She smiled reassuringly. "It's an easy fix. Tell HQ I'm flying out to assist with the trials."

Bonick shook his head vigorously. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous down there. I'm not sending a young woman into a warzone."

"Professor, I travel with a full security detail," she reminded him gently. "You know what my family does. We have significant assets in Mexistar. I'll be much safer there than you would be."

She paused, her smile turning persuasive. "Besides, if we actually achieve a breakthrough, you'll go down in history as a pioneer of modern medicine. Someone has to be brave enough to take the first step, right?"

Bonick was an academic purist who despised corporate greed, but he knew his star pupil was the only daughter of Harmony Country's wealthiest family. She wasn't exactly defenseless.

After a long moment of deliberation, he nodded. "Alright. I'll write you a letter of recommendation. You can leave as soon as you finish your entrance exams for Cologne University. But we stay in constant contact. Encrypt all your data and send it directly to me."

They shared a quick hug, sealing the deal.

For the next few days, she immersed herself in campus life, studying with her peers. On the final day, right after her exams, she met up with Giselle Turner for lunch.

"The doctor told me that if I terminate this pregnancy, there's a very high chance I'll never be able to conceive again," Giselle said, her voice trembling. "And I asked Hank once—hypothetically—what we would do if I got pregnant. His first reaction was pure disgust. I saw it in his eyes. He doesn't want kids."

Loyce sighed softly. How was she supposed to explain to this sweet, innocent girl that her brother ran a brutal, blood-soaked empire?

Thinking of her own turbulent journey with Lucian, Loyce said gently, "Sometimes, when a man pushes you away, it's not because he doesn't care. It's because he doesn't know how to protect you. He's terrified his world will get you killed. So he acts indifferent. He creates distance. In his mind, that's the safest way to keep you alive."

Giselle's fingers tightened around the warm mug.

After a long silence, she let out a bitter laugh. "I wish I could believe that. I really do. If only I hadn't heard what he said."

Lost in the memory, Giselle quietly recounted how Hank had tracked her down at her university in Engloria shortly after she left Harmony Country. He had made a massive spectacle of his arrival.

Just to make her smile, he had flown a helicopter over the campus, raining rose petals down from the sky...