Chapter 553
If Celia wouldn’t introduce him to Caitlin, getting his hands on that prescription was the next best thing. It was a cure for epilepsy. Everyone in the medical field knew that epilepsy was, until now, an incurable disease. If he could patent this formula, he would be set for life. He could sit back and collect royalties while raking in international awards. Fame and fortune would be his.
The more Smith thought about it, the more excited he became, the greed in his eyes almost impossible to conceal. He looked as if he already had the prescription in his hands. After all, Celia was just a young woman in his eyes, someone who knew nothing about medicine. She wouldn’t understand his true intentions. She would surely give it to him.
Celia watched him. “You want Miss Gonzales’s prescription p>
“Yes,” Smith nodded eagerly. “Miss Palmer, Miss Gonzales is the first person who has ever inspired such admiration and curiosity in me. I would like to collect her prescription as a memento. From now on, she will be my inspiration, the standard I strive to achieve p>
His words were polished and noble. Anyone who didn’t know better would have actually believed he idolized Caitlin.
Celia smiled faintly. “Alright p>
Hearing this, Smith was so ecstatic he nearly jumped for joy. He knew it! He knew this foolish girl would agree. Hah! Just wait. The moment he got that prescription, he would register the patent. Once it was registered, no one but him could ever use it. Not even Caitlin herself.
Just as Smith was lost in his triumphant fantasy, Celia’s voice cut through the air again. “Alright? My foot! Leon Smith, don’t think I’m a fool. You just want to steal Miss Gonzales’s work and claim her formula as your own. In your dreams! I’m telling you, keep dreaming p>
She wasn’t an idiot. She saw right through his pathetic little scheme. Smith wanted to take advantage of Caitlin? Not a chance. As long as she was here, no one was going to exploit the woman who had saved her.
Caught in his web of deceit, Smith was momentarily stunned. “Miss Palmer,
you’ve misunderstood,” he stammered. “I simply admire Miss Gonzales as an idol.
I have no intention of taking credit for her work p>
Celia scoffed. “Stop pretending. You know exactly what you’re after. Do you really want me to spell it out and make things ugly p>
Without another word, she turned to Mrs. Lewis. “Aunt, let’s go p>
Mrs. Lewis nodded and followed Celia out.
Watching them leave, Smith’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected Celia to see through him so easily. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned to Griffin. “Find out everything you can about this Miss Gonzales Celia mentioned p>
If Celia wouldn’t help him or give him the prescription, he would find Caitlin himself. One way or another, he would learn her secrets. He, too, would cure epilepsy. He would return to Valerium and bring glory to his people.
Griffin nodded. “Yes, Director. I’ll get right on it p>
Once they were in the car, Mrs.
Lewis finally spoke. “Celia, Director
Smith is one of our own, from
Valerium. If he could use that
presciption to develop a cure for
vi
epilepsy would be a monumenta
achievement for our country’s
medical history. Why didn’t you just let him have it p>
People from Valerium should look out for one another. Mrs. Lewis felt her niece had overreacted to a simple request for a prescription.
“Aunt, Smith’s intentions were obviously malicious. He wanted to steal Miss Gonzales’s discovery. Miss Gonzales saved my life. If I gave him her prescription, wouldn’t that make me a traitor p>
Though Celia was from Valerium and wanted to see its medical technology advance, she would never betray the person who had given her a new life.
Mrs. Lewis nodded slowly. “When you put it that way, I suppose you have a point p>
Inside Palmer Manor.
Jennifer had been anxiously awaiting Celia and Mrs. Lewis’s return from the
hospital. She was dying to know if Celia had truly been cured.
Her feelings were a tangled mess. On one hand, she wanted Celia to recover and be free from her suffering. On the other, she hoped Celia’s condition had worsened Only then would Mrs. Lewis go after Caitlin and make her pay. Only then would Celia realize that Jennifer, had been right aff along, that she was the only one looking out for her. Jennifer wanted Celia to regret not listening to her warnings. If Celia hadn’t taken that medicine, her condition wouldn’t have deteriorated.
Jennifer paced back and forth in the grand hall. The clock ticked from seven to eight, then from eight to ten. It was now midnight, and Celia still wasn’t back. A grim certainty began to form in Jennifer’s mind. Celia’s condition must have taken a turn for the worse. Otherwise she and Mrs. Lewis wouldn’t have been gone for so long.
Just then, Joie, another maid, walked over. She glanced at the clock and said, “Jennifer, Miss Palmer still isn’t back. Do you think she had another seizure and is being treated at the hospital p>
Jennifer sighed. “Probably. I told her not to take medicine prescribed by someone from Eldermere, but she wouldn’t listen. I hope this teaches her a lesson p>
Joie sighed as well. “Miss Palmer is a good person. I hope nothing bad has happened to her p>
Suddenly, the sound of a car engine broke the silence.
Joie stood up immediately. “Miss Celia’s back p>
Jennifer rushed toward the door. Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Mrs.
Lewis stepping out of the car.