An unexpected spark of inspiration drove away the gloom in Ann Vaughn’s eyes, and she raised her head to plant a kiss on Cyrus Hawthorne’s strong jawline, then eagerly stood up.
"I’m going to the institute now, I’ll be right back!"
With that, Ann Vaughn couldn’t wait any longer; she grabbed her things and rushed out.
The gentle smile on Cyrus Hawthorne’s handsome face disappeared instantly after she left.
His gaze slowly landed on that stack of papers on the left side of the desk.
Perhaps, this is the last thing he could do for her.
The atmosphere at the QY Research Institute was bleak, with experts in the core laboratory all sighing regretfully.
Despite being top-notch virus research experts nationally and internationally, they were helpless with such a special case as Cyrus Hawthorne.
No need to spread the news; they already felt ashamed enough by themselves.
Director Shaw consoled them bitterly, mentioning that with the top boss gone, whether the institute could continue running was still an issue; their reputation was the least of their concerns.
At that moment, Director Shaw took a phone call, glanced at those experts, and hurriedly left the lab.
With Director Shaw’s renewed certification, Ann Vaughn was able to pass through the various levels of control inside and outside the institute and enter the reagent warehouse.
"Miss Vaughn, the reagents stored here are highly dangerous virus samples. We use them only when conducting experiments, and generally, they cannot be used otherwise," Director Shaw explained as he led Ann Vaughn, who was now in protective gear, inside.
These viruses, if accidentally released, would create chaos.
Ann Vaughn knew Director Shaw was always cautious and since they were already aware of Cyrus Hawthorne’s infection, she didn’t hide it and shared her thoughts with him.
After hearing Ann Vaughn’s treatment plan, Director Shaw broke out in a cold sweat, "Miss Vaughn, this won’t do! A single mistake could be fatal!"
"Doing nothing at all would also be fatal," Ann Vaughn glanced at the carefully stored virus vials, her eyes resolute.
Director Shaw was at a loss; she was right, if they didn’t follow her suggestions, Mr. Hawthorne only had one last day left.
Why not treat a dead horse as if it were alive?
Director Shaw’s expression turned serious, "I understand, please wait here for a moment while I go fetch it for you."
Ten minutes later, Director Shaw carefully placed a sealed glass box into Ann Vaughn’s hands, "Here’s the virus reagent you need, Miss Vaughn. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help."
Looking at the reagent vial inside the glass box, Ann Vaughn carefully put it into her bag, then said to Director Shaw, "If I need help, I’ll ask for it. Thank you for today."
Without lingering long, Ann Vaughn changed out of her protective suit and left the institute.
She had driven there herself, so even though she was able to get inside, her car was still parked outside.
Ann Vaughn hurried to her car when suddenly a figure emerged from the trees nearby, startling her and making her take two steps back.
The figure seized the opportunity to snatch the bag from her tightly held hands, unzip it, and take out the glass box.
Ann Vaughn’s eyes shrank, her shock and disbelief nearly overflowing when she saw the person’s face!
"You... Elias Hawthorne?!"
How could it be Elias?
Elias’s light blue eyes flickered, and he turned around to calmly face Ann Vaughn’s shocked eyes, speaking softly, "You can’t save him."
"You will lose your life."
Ann Vaughn snapped back from her shock, took a deep breath, and stretched out a hand to Elias, "Give it back to me, stop with your nonsense."
The virus reagent was as dangerous as the mutated OX; if Elias really took it...
There would truly be no hope left!
Elias stood still, repeating his earlier words with determination, "You will lose your life."
"Elias, he’s your brother!" Ann Vaughn couldn’t hold back her anger as she looked at the glass box in his hands; her voice rose sharply, "You can’t be ungrateful!"
"You are more important."
"I don’t know why you said that saving Cyrus Hawthorne would cost my life, but this is between him and me, can you just leave it alone?"
Elias pursed his lips, loosening his grip on the glass box slightly, causing it to almost fall.
Suddenly, Ann Vaughn signaled with her hand.
Elias looked up to see the previously empty grounds suddenly filled with a group of people exuding a sharp, deadly aura.
He had indeed entrusted his arms to Ann Vaughn.
If Hawthorne Group was Cyrus Hawthorne’s eyes and ears, then the Shadow Guard was his powerful arms.
No one could stop them.
Elias attempted to destroy the reagent inside the glass box but failed. The Hidden Guard seized the glass box from him without harm and handed it over to Ann Vaughn.
Suddenly, as if understanding something, Elias stared silently at Ann Vaughn.
"Did you think I wasn’t prepared to retrieve such an important item alone?" Ann Vaughn took the glass box from the Hidden Guard, placed it safely back in her bag, then coldly looked at Elias, "I have been waiting for you to show up since the beginning."
"Also, I must thank you for confirming that this reagent truly can save Cyrus Hawthorne."
Elias furrowed his brows, recalling his first words to Ann Vaughn, a flash of realization passed through his eyes, which finally turned calm.
His debt to her was finally repaid. The most update n0vels are published on novel·fıre·net
"Take him back, watch him closely," instructed Ann Vaughn to the Hidden Guard before getting in her car and leaving.
When she returned to the villa, half an hour had already passed.
"Quinn, I..." Ann Vaughn pushed open the door, her words abruptly silenced by the scene before her!
The man lay quietly on the bed, his delicately carved features utterly bloodless, pale but not weak, instead so silent it left a chill in one’s heart.
Ann Vaughn’s heart wrenched sharply, and she ran over to him, her trembling fingertips only managing to find the pulse after several attempts.
His pulse was sluggish and weak, virtually different from the conclusion she had reached when she checked it before!
...He had taken that special medication developed by the Hawthorne Family to hide illness again!?
Ann Vaughn was anxious and angry, but she couldn’t care about these matters now; she immediately rolled up Cyrus Hawthorne’s sleeves and took out the syringe.
"If I can’t save you, then when Kenny grows up, I’ll come to see you."
She clutched her palm painfully, her eyes shrouded in a watery haze, but the smile blooming on her lips was faint yet joyous.