The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 362

It was practically an open secret in the medical community that Deep Blue Corporation's Genesis-1 was developed using sequences extracted from The Vitas Strain (Remnant). Quinn had heard the whispers herself.

But... did this mean that the theft of Garrison's remnant strain all those years ago was connected to the woman sitting right in front of her?

Sensing Quinn's hesitation, Vanessa offered a reassuring smile. "Quinn, I know what you're thinking. I'm not affiliated with Deep Blue Corporation, and I'm certainly not a corporate spy. I am an independent scholar. I want a sample of The Vitas Strain strictly for academic research."

"We ran comparative trials. The original Vitas Strain's targeting precision and encapsulation efficiency are an entire order of magnitude higher than Genesis-1. If we can secure the sample Garrison holds, we can bridge that gap. This would be monumental for cancer research across The United States. For you, it's merely lifting a finger. Why wouldn't you take the deal?"

Quinn remained silent for a long time.

Outside the window, the tall poplars rustled gently in the breeze.

Finally, she placed her coffee cup back onto the saucer. She lifted her head, her voice calmer than it had been all afternoon. "I'm sorry, Professor Vaughan. I can't do it."

She stood up and grabbed her purse. "Because... The Vitas Strain is Garrison's life's work. No matter what he thinks of me, no matter how terribly he treats me—that project is his soul. I won't be the one to destroy him."

Vanessa watched her for a moment before her lips curved into a slow, thoroughly genuine smile of admiration.

She didn't try to stop her. She simply finished the last sip of her Americano, stood up, and draped her trench coat over her forearm. She gave Quinn a respectful nod.

"Just as I expected. I knew you weren't that kind of person. However—" She paused, her tone hovering between a wistful sigh and a calculated warning. "In his eyes, what difference does it make whether you actually do it or not? He's already decided you're guilty. Still, I respect your decision."

With that, she turned and headed for the door.

"Wait."

The tumor inside Sloane Taylor's body had finally begun to shrink under the aggressive, targeted therapy of Vitas-1. The latest scans confirmed that the mass in her left temporal lobe had reduced in size by nearly forty percent.

Alone in his office, Garrison Foster stared at the report for a very long time, his eyes tracing the two data lines that had steadily descended from the red warning zone into the green safety threshold.

Earlier that day, Sloane had mentioned wanting to go outside.

"I'm going to lose my mind in here..."

She had leaned against the headboard, looking at him with eyes that had finally regained their vibrant spark. Her tone carried a cautious, testing edge. "I'm feeling so much better. Please, just let me take a walk outside. Anywhere will do."

Garrison had stayed silent, his gaze drifting over her face. Under his meticulous care over the past few weeks, Sloane had put on a little weight, and a healthy flush had returned to her cheeks.