While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Chapter 73 The Special Talent Candidate

The window table on the second floor was quieter than the main dining room.

Fewer guests. Softer music. A view of the river that stretched for miles. Veyra sat across from Dr. Harrison, her hands folded on the white tablecloth. Li Wei stood a few feet away, his back to the wall, his eyes scanning the room.

Dr. Harrison had ordered for both of them. Soup. Salad. A main course of sea bass. A bottle of sparkling water.

Veyra had not touched her fork.

"Dr. Harrison," she said. "You mentioned the university."

He nodded. He set down his napkin. His eyes were kind.

"I spoke with the president of Etland University of Medicine," he said. "I showed him your research. Your formulas. Your test results."

Veyra’s heart jumped. She set down her glass. "What did he say?"

"He was impressed. Very impressed." Dr. Harrison smiled. "He has agreed to admit you as a special talent candidate. Your lack of formal education will be waived. Your practical knowledge and research will serve as your credentials."

Veyra’s breath caught. "Special talent candidate?"

"It’s a designation for individuals who demonstrate exceptional ability outside traditional academic pathways. It’s rare. Very rare." He paused. "But you have earned it."

Veyra felt tears prick at her eyes. She blinked them away.

"When?" she asked. "When would I start?"

"The admissions office will contact you in the next few days. They will request your materials—identification, background information, a personal statement." Dr. Harrison reached across the table and patted her hand. "After that, they will send your admission notice."

Veyra’s hands were shaking. She pressed them flat against the table.

"I don’t know how to thank you," she said.

"You already have. You saved my patient’s life. You developed a drug that will save thousands more." He leaned back. "This is not charity, Mrs. Thorne. This is an investment. In you. In your future."

Veyra nodded. She picked up her fork. She took a bite of the sea bass. It was delicious. She barely tasted it.

"I want to treat everyone," she said. "To thank you. For everything."

Dr. Harrison laughed. "You already insisted on paying for this meal."

"I know. But I mean everyone. Li Wei. The bodyguards. The people who have helped me." She looked at Li Wei. He was pretending not to listen. "A celebration. When the admission notice arrives."

Dr. Harrison raised his water glass. "I look forward to it."

Veyra clinked her glass against his.

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

Then Veyra set down her fork. She wiped her mouth with her napkin.

"Dr. Harrison," she said. "I’ve been thinking about the licensing agreement."

He looked at her. "Yes?"

"I don’t want to sell the formula outright. For a one-time payment."

Dr. Harrison’s eyebrows rose. "What do you want instead?"

"I want to use my technology as an investment. Equity. Shares in the company that produces it." Veyra’s voice was steady. "I don’t want a lump sum. I want long-term growth. I want to be part of the process. Part of the decision-making."

Dr. Harrison leaned back in his chair. He studied her face.

"That’s ambitious," he said.

"I know."

"It’s also smart. A one-time payment is finite. Equity can grow. It can generate income for years. Decades."

Veyra nodded. "That’s what I thought."

Dr. Harrison was quiet for a moment. Then he smiled.

"You have a good head for business, Mrs. Thorne. I underestimated you."

"Most people do."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify