"What did you say? Alora can't hear you."Ashton spoke as they stood at the door.Alora covered her mouth and giggled. 'Ash is so terrible. But he looks so charming when he's protecting me.'Lainy looked furious."Alora, I have something to tell you.""Your voice is too soft." Ashton waved his hand."Alora!""I overstepped. I misspoken. I will make it up to you." Lainy's attitude softened.She did not want to apologize, but she feared Alora would act up. Lainy would be guilty if Alora left the Latham family and gave up on being their heir.Alora turned around. "You and I have no grievances with each other. Even though I don't know why you would do this to me, I can tell that you don't mean your apology. You just did it out of fear. I won't accept it.""Alora!" Miralda sneered. "Aren't you taking yourself too seriously? Fourth Grandmother apologized to you. How dare you not accept it? You're not an aristocrat, so who do you think you are?""It's none of your business. You'd b
Ashton reached out to dial Kendra's number, but Alora grabbed his hand to stop him. "I've got this," she said. "I just need to secure 140 million dollars in investment. Combined with my company's contribution, it will be sufficient."Alora always maintained a certain duality in her personality. Around Ashton, she showed her softer, more vulnerable side. Yet, in public, she remained resolute, never showing weakness. She confessed that she once was jealous of Ashton's closeness with Kendra. That lingering jealousy made it hard for her to accept Kendra's help, especially through Ashton.Recognizing her struggle, Ashton put his phone away and gave Alora a comforting glance. Together, they left the living room and headed outside."Don't worry," Ashton said, comforting her. "I have my ways. By tonight, I'll find the perfect project for you."Alora shook her head, smiling, "With the formula in my possession, securing a few million in investments should not be an issue."She narrowed her
In the end, Ashton chose to remain silent. If he could not bring happiness to someone, it was best not to interfere with their decisions or leave room for speculation. Such restraint was the very least form of respect he could offer.Two days flew by.On the third day, Ashton arrived at the headquarters of Royal Sealift Group. Miss Smith, the person responsible for the project's day-to-day operations, hefted a substantial stack of documents onto the table and handed a prepared speech to Ashton. Wiping sweat from her brow, she said hesitantly, "Mister Levin, this speech was penned by a life energy professor from Edren University. Miss Lockwood suggests that you just read from it during the event. If anyone tries to corner you, remain silent. We have appointed specific personnel onsite to handle detailed queries.""Corner me? Why would anyone try to corner me?" After skimming through the speech, Ashton laughed, then set it on the table.Caught off guard by Ashton's query, Jocelyn Smi
"What? Ashton?" Miralda's surprise was evident. She wondered if it was a coincidence because many people share the same name. The significance of the launch event had drawn global attention from the research community. How could Alora's husband, whom she had dismissed as an uneducated country bumpkin, be the central figure?One of the attendees, a blonde woman, remarked with disdain, "All these Lindorm names sound so alike. It's hard to tell them apart."Haze remarked with a sly grin. "Let's just sit back and see. The esteemed Professor Bryce will be arriving shortly. He has always believed that outsiders can't produce revolutionary research. I can't wait to watch this event become a comedy."Laughter echoed among their group, all seemingly in agreement. Their primary reason for attending in force was evident—to discredit whatever was presented and shut down what they viewed as a globally mocked event.Yet, as the event began, there was no preamble or lengthy introductions. It cut
The cacophony of laughter reverberated, each chuckle like a slap across Alora's face. She hung her head low, a pool of dismay forming in her eyes. Even with her limited exposure to life sciences, she could fathom that Ashton's theories were, by conventional wisdom, eccentric at best and absurd at worst. It seemed he had turned a groundbreaking event into the comedic highlight of the scientific year."Alora, aren't you going to say anything about your husband?" Miralda jeered, amplifying her voice to ensure everyone knew Alora's connection to the man on the stage.Whispers of disapproval soon reached Alora's ears."What a waste. Such a beautiful woman married to a fraudster.""How can someone spewing such nonsense have ever been educated?"Haze sidled up to them, his eyes fixed intently on Alora, a sly grin playing on his lips. "My dear," he said, his tone dripping with insinuation. "Your husband is foolishly arrogant; perhaps you'd appreciate a more knowledgeable companion? How ab
"Perhaps, in the colorful colloquialisms of Lindorm Land, such fantasies might be entertained in a daytime reverie." Professor Bryce smirked, the audience's laughter echoing his amusement."From the 18th century to the present, not only in Sunoria but also in realms like Sabrinoe and Marqus, there have been tales of superheroes, people attempting to alter genes and engineer enhanced beings. However, with the progression of life sciences, it became clear that movies remain just that—cinematic dreams. Scientific pursuits are grounded in reality, advancing cautiously one step at a time. Hasty genetic mutations in search of rapid progress have become the laughingstock of the scientific world."Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. The distinguished professor's words held undeniable weight, and he effortlessly showcased the true believers of scientific exploration and the charlatans among them.Many glances directed at Ashton shifted from initial curiosity to sheer disdain."He se
"It can't be! This is absolutely impossible! This defies all reason and logic! It's cheating!" Professor Bryce's voice pierced the air, laced with disbelief.Some rational minds deemed it a sleight of hand, while others, awed by the spectacle, thought of it as a divine act. Yet, it was unfathomably miraculous for a seasoned scientist like Professor Bryce.Modern science had advanced to a point where flowers could bloom out of season, provided they had the right temperature, fertilizers, soil, and other elements. However, it was not achieved by simply pouring a liquid, bringing a withered sunflower back to its peak condition. The resurrection of something once dead contradicted the natural order."Nothing is truly impossible. Life itself is a miracle. What you understand is merely the surface of biology. As for the true essence of life, you know nothing," Ashton said.Ashton spared no further interest in the professor. Facing the audience, he once again produced a bottle of the Deep
"What? Telling them to take a hike? Isn't that a bit rough? We might bruise their egos.""Egos? In the business world, where does ego fit in? They're so desperate right now that even if I flung mud at them, they'd grin and bear it. They might even compliment its scent."Jocelyn could not help but laugh at Ashton's candid words. "Mister Levin, you certainly have a way with words."Usually, someone in a high position would not be so candid with their words."When will Kendra be here?" Ashton asked."Let me call and check." Jocelyn was about to make the call when the office door swung open. Instead of Kendra, a man with ash-blond hair and blue eyes who looked to be in his mid-thirties entered. It was the same Mister Wells who had accompanied Haze and Professor Bryce earlier. Surprisingly, Miralda was trailing behind him, and she seemed to have regained her confidence."Ashton Levin, let me introduce you to last year's recipient of the International New Biology Award, an Associate Pr