Chapter 818
Felix replied to Tristan reassuringly, “Nothing to worry about there! Lombard Group is doing great, and with us around, you can focus on taking care of yourself and Sophie.”
The three of them could lessen his load on everything else but were powerless when it came to the virus threatening Anglandur’s population.
“Thanks, Felix. Keep an eye on Ysabelle, by the way. Do not allow her to come here. The situation here isn’t looking too bright,” cautioned Tristan.
“Yes. I know. She’s making a fuss about coming here, but I’ve stopped her each time.”
In fact, not causing more trouble was already the best way of helping Sophie and Tristan.
Meanwhile, much like Tristan, Nicholas was still nursing his wounds. Richard had immediately ordered someone to buy some medicated patches for Nicholas once he got home.
Still, Nicholas stubbornly refused to use them. He mumbled, “It’s fine. I’m hardly going to die from these bruises.”
The fight with Tristan had been exhilarating, but Nicholas was somewhat irked that he seemed to be in a poorer state than his opponent.
Richard replied hesitantly, “Boss, if you go out like this…” He had no idea how to cushion the blow.
Nicholas is the head of the Sable family! He will be the town’s laughingstock if he heads out like this.
Nicholas silenced his sputtering subordinate with a glare.
Undeterred, Richard said, “Boss, if you meet Ms. Tanner like this, I’m afraid she will merely despise you more!”
At last, the mention of Sophie’s potential distaste captured Nicholas’ attention.
Richard jumped on the opportunity to add, “Young women these days are all about looks. If those wounds leave a scar, that can’t be good…”
“Fine! Come here and help me with the medicated patches!”
Sophie isn’t my biggest fan now; I can’t do anything that’ll make her hate me more.
He got a blunt reminder of his ghastly “battle scars” later that day when a starving and bored Butterfly left her room in search of food.
She guffawed at the sight of his appearance. “Nicholas, you’re a real sorry sight! Didn’t you always think you were all that? How did someone beat you up like a rag doll?”
Her amused laughter reverberated through the room.
Other than the lack of freedom, Butterfly surprisingly had little quips for her captivity. She ate and slept well in Nicholas’ house, so she was even starting to despise the man less.
Nicholas glared at his captive, who ignored his murderous gaze and sat across from him.
She even had the cheek to add, “I’m telling the truth. You have no idea how your current look amuses me.”
Nicholas was speechless with indignance. How can this woman be so tactless? Doesn’t she know she’ll piss off her captor like this?
He fumed, “You must be bored of living, Butterfly!”
“Pfft!” She scoffed and continued nonchalantly, “Don’t threaten me. They never have and never will work on me.”
She was aware of Nicholas’ somewhat psychopathic tendencies, but she also knew the man was obsessed with Sophie. As long as she was still under Sophie’s backing, he would never harm her.
Her guess had hit the nail on the head. Despite her impudence, Nicholas could only glare at her in disbelief.
Pettily, he instructed Richard, “Tell the kitchen staff not to prepare meat for her dinner tonight. All she deserves is carrots.”
“D*mn it, Nicholas! You j*rk! I was just teasing you. Are you really going to feed me just carrots for dinner? Am I a rabbit or something? Let me remind you of something. Even bunnies bite! You’re too much!”
Butterfly wished she could claw his face off, but she was restricted by her lack of strength.
All she got out of Nicholas was a dispassionate harrumph.
Richard was baffled by their exchange. Still, he dutifully applied the medicated patches on Nicholas’ body before heading to the kitchen to convey his employer’s instructions on Butterfly’s very orange dinner.
To her dismay, there were only carrots on Butterfly’s dinner plate that night.
Her pitiful expression pleased Nicholas to no end. That’s how it should be! She needs to pay for her audacity to laugh at me!
The International Medical Association continued investigating the reason behind the virus’ latest mutation.
The staff’s research had hit a dead end.
Barney and the others had arrived three days ago, but they did not discover any new leads.
All the researchers involved were now in a meeting regarding the virus. Sophie sat beside Arius, appearing disinterested in the Anglanduran researchers’ discussion.
Arius noticed her straying attention and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong? Are you unwell?”
The workload at the International Medical Association was immense, and Arius assumed she had a hard time acclimatizing to the work schedule.
The meeting had been called because every researcher in the International Medical Association had run into a bottleneck. Barney wanted everyone to discuss their thoughts and brainstorm a solution.
It never hurt to gather more opinions and gain a different outlook on the situation.
To Arius’ surprise, Sophie replied, “Nah. I just think they’re talking a load of bull.” A professor seated beside her overheard her words and could not help but sneer.
She’s so young! She was probably still in diapers when we joined the International Medical Association. How dare she look down on our research!
His offended expression did not escape Sophie’s notice, but it did not bother her at all.
Instead, she said to Arius, “I’m going back.”
Her mind was rather jumbled, and she believed she needed to organize her thoughts alone before she could think of a useful plan.
Being cooped up in the lab was clearly not the solution to Anglandur’s public health emergency.
Arius’ sentiment appeared to echo hers. “Where are you going? Let me join you! I don’t want to listen to their empty talk either.” The researchers were merely taking turns singing praises about their roles in the virus research.
This isn’t some recognition awards dinner! We’re supposed to be brainstorming a solution!
Eventually, Sophie and Arius headed to the rooftop of the building.
The weather was finally looking up after several gloomy days in Anglandur. The city, however, remained as lifeless as before.
Suddenly, Arius asked, “Why do you think we’re here, Sophie?” A country as mighty as Anglandur hardly needed to beg on its knees for help. He continued, “I thought I came here to do Dr. Smith a favor, but after seeing the public’s helpless expressions, I’ve changed my mind.”
Arius had always been a rather blithe man.
Yes, he was a medical professor and arguably the best surgeon in the world, but he would never force himself to save someone he despised.
The severity of the viral infection in Anglandur had changed his mind. “Everyone is equal before the disease. We are all helpless regardless of our nationality.”
The many unanswered questions about the virus made it all the more frightening to the public.
Sophie glanced at the bright blue sky, and her mood suddenly lifted.
She replied, “I don’t have any ideas now, but trust me. I’m sure we can defeat this virus as well.”
To her, unwavering faith and hard work made the best recipe for success.
“Really?”
Arius had been in medicine longer than Sophie and should have been more confident. Nonetheless, his reply reflected his uncertainty in his ability to understand and eliminate the virus.
Sophie asserted, “Of course. If you can’t even believe in yourself, how can you succeed in the end?”
They sorely needed to consider a different way of tackling the virus, and Sophie was racking her brains for a fresh idea.
