A Harsh Accusation

EVELYN'S POV 

"Doctor Evelyn, you stole my formula!"

Vanessa's accusation rang through the parking lot.

I turned sharply, finding her standing several feet away, her face twisted with indignation. Before I could respond, reporters emerged from every direction, cameras flashing as they crowded around us.

What the hell was this?

"Dr. Evelyn, is it true you stole Vanessa Cole's research?"

"Are you claiming to have discovered a preventive treatment using her formula?"

"Why did you announce your findings after Vanessa's breakthrough?"

Questions came so quickly that I could barely distinguish one from another.

Beside me, Adrian stepped forward.

"Everyone, please calm down. You're making accusations without—"

"Let them ask their questions," I interrupted.

He glanced at me, surprised.

I wasn't going to run from this.

Vanessa had clearly planned this confrontation. She had waited until my interview attracted attention, then chosen a public place where her accusation would spread before I could respond.

It was a clever move. Unfortunately for her, she had forgotten one thing.

I knew exactly how she operated.

"Vanessa," I said, meeting her gaze. "Would you like to explain what you mean?"

Her expression crumpled into something resembling hurt.

"Don't pretend you don't know! You presented your research to the hospital committee and went on television talking about a preventive treatment. How could you do that when you know I've been working on a medication for the same virus?"

I stared at her.

"Are you saying that nobody else is allowed to research this virus because you've claimed the field for yourself?"

A few reporters exchanged glances.

Vanessa's eyes widened.

"That's not what I said!"

"Then perhaps you should explain what you did say."

Her lips trembled, and she turned toward the cameras.

"I trusted you, Evelyn. I thought we were friends. I never imagined you'd use my work to gain attention for yourself."

The woman was good.

If I hadn't spent a lifetime knowing her true nature, I might almost have believed her.

Daniel appeared beside her, his hand settling protectively around her waist.

Of course.

He wouldn't miss an opportunity to help the woman he had chosen over me.

"There's no point pretending anymore, Evelyn," he said coldly. "Vanessa has worked tirelessly on this medication. Now you're suddenly claiming to have developed a preventive treatment of your own?"

His eyes travelled over me with open contempt.

"You couldn't even manage your own marriage without making a mess of it. And now you want everyone to believe you're some kind of medical genius?"

I felt Adrian tense beside me.

"Watch your mouth," he warned.

Daniel ignored him.

"Vanessa has evidence of her work. What do you have, Evelyn? A few presentations and some vague theories?"

I almost smiled.

He had always been good at speaking confidently about things he knew nothing about.

"Interesting," I said.

Daniel frowned. "What's interesting?"

"How certain you sound about research you apparently haven't examined."

His expression darkened.

I turned toward Vanessa.

"If you believe I stole your formula, then let's settle this properly."

She hesitated.

"What do you mean?"

"Explain your discovery."

Her brows drew together.

I continued, keeping my voice calm enough for every microphone to capture my words.

"You claim I've stolen your formula. So tell everyone here what it does, how you arrived at your conclusions, and what evidence supports your claims."

Vanessa stared at me.

For the first time since she had arrived, her confidence faltered.

It lasted only a second, but I noticed.

So did Adrian.

"That's ridiculous," Daniel snapped. "You're not going to interrogate her in a parking lot!"

"I'm not interrogating anyone. I'm asking a simple question. If Vanessa's research is hers, she should be able to discuss it."

I looked back at Vanessa.

"Unless you're uncomfortable explaining your own discovery?"

Her face flushed.

"Of course I can explain it!"

"Then go ahead."

The reporters immediately turned their microphones toward her.

Vanessa glanced at Daniel, who gave her a reassuring look.

She took a breath.

"My team has been studying the virus for months. We've identified several important characteristics and developed a formula designed to prevent its progression."

That wasn't an explanation.

It was a collection of vague statements designed to sound impressive.

I folded my arms.

"What characteristics?"

She began describing the virus in general terms, repeating information already available in public reports.

I let her continue until she reached the point where she would have needed to explain the specific basis of her claimed discovery.

Then I interrupted.

"You're describing the symptoms and general behaviour of the virus. I'm asking about the mechanism behind your proposed treatment."

Vanessa's mouth opened, but no immediate answer came.

I pressed on.

"What evidence supports your hypothesis? What results have you obtained from your preliminary studies? And how have you distinguished the effects of your proposed treatment from other possible explanations?"

The questions were reasonable.

Any researcher claiming a significant medical breakthrough should expect them.

Vanessa looked increasingly uncomfortable.

"Our work is confidential," she finally said.

"Of course. I'm not asking you to reveal proprietary information. I'm asking how you can accuse me of stealing a formula you haven't demonstrated that you understand."

The parking lot fell quiet for a moment.

Then the reporters started speaking over one another.

"Dr. Cole, have you completed clinical trials?"

"Can you confirm that your medication has been proven effective?"

"Dr. Evelyn, are you suggesting that Vanessa's claims are false?"

Vanessa's face turned red.

"She's twisting my words!" she exclaimed. "She's trying to make me look incompetent because she's jealous of my success!"

I sighed.

There it was.

The familiar accusation of jealousy.

It had served her well in my previous life, allowing her to turn every confrontation into a story about my supposed bitterness.

But I wasn't going to waste my time arguing about my feelings.

"Vanessa, I haven't claimed that your research is false. I've said that scientific claims require evidence. Those are two different things."

I turned toward the reporters.

"My own research is still preliminary. I have never claimed to possess a proven preventive medication, and I've been explicit about the need for further testing. Our work is being conducted through the appropriate medical channels, with the necessary safety and ethical requirements in mind."

I paused to let my words settle.

"If Dr. Cole has developed an effective treatment, I sincerely hope her findings are verified. The world needs every legitimate medical breakthrough it can get."

That was the truth.

I didn't care who discovered a treatment, provided it was safe, effective, and available to those who needed it.

What I wouldn't accept was someone stealing my work and using it to deceive people.

Daniel scoffed.

"Listen to yourself. You're pretending to be noble while attacking Vanessa in public."

I turned to him.

"And you're pretending to understand a medical dispute you have no qualifications to settle."

His jaw tightened.

For a moment, I thought he might say something worse.

Instead, he leaned closer.

"You'll regret humiliating us."

I held his gaze.

"We?"

His expression changed.

I smiled faintly.

"That's what I thought."

Adrian touched my arm gently, reminding me that we had no reason to remain there.

I nodded and turned back to the reporters.

"I have nothing further to add. My research records are documented, and any formal dispute about ownership can be handled through the appropriate channels. I won't be conducting an argument in a parking lot."

I started walking.

Vanessa's voice followed me.

"You can't just walk away! You know what you did!"

I didn't turn around.

I had already given her more attention than she deserved.

~~~~~~~~

Adrian waited until we were inside his car before speaking.

"Are you sure you're all right?"

I fastened my seat belt.

"I'm fine."

"You don't have to pretend with me."

I glanced at him.

He looked genuinely concerned, and something in my chest softened.

"I'm not pretending. I'm angry, but not surprised."

"She deliberately arranged that confrontation."

"Obviously."

"And Daniel knew about it."

"Of course he did."

Adrian shook his head.

"I don't understand how people can behave like that. We're talking about a potential public health crisis, and they're turning it into a personal feud."

"Because the research isn't the only thing they want."

He glanced at me.

"What else do they want?"

"Control over the story. If they can convince people that I'm a dishonest researcher before my work gains credibility, they'll have an easier time dismissing anything I discover."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Then we need to protect your research and make sure everything is properly documented."

"Already ahead of you."

I pulled out my phone and contacted my lawyer. I asked her to review the documentation establishing when I had developed my research, how it had evolved, and which records could be independently verified.

I also requested guidance on formally documenting the dispute.

I wasn't going to publish confidential material just to win an argument.

My priority was protecting the research, establishing the facts, and ensuring that any accusations could be addressed with evidence.

When I finished, Adrian nodded approvingly.

"Good. Let the records speak for themselves."

"That's the plan."

For the first time that afternoon, I allowed myself to relax.

Then my phone vibrated.

A notification from the Medical Evolution System appeared.

[ALERT: UNAUTHORISED ACCESS ATTEMPT DETECTED.]

My smile vanished.

I opened the notification.

[An unknown user has attempted to access files associated with your original research.]

[Access was unsuccessful.]

My fingers tightened around the phone.

Someone had tried to get into my files.

I immediately opened my research archive and checked the security logs. The system had blocked the attempt, but the activity appeared to have originated through an account associated with my former workplace.

I stared at the information.

Daniel and Vanessa.

I couldn't prove either of them was responsible yet, but the timing was too suspicious to ignore.

"They're trying to access your research?" Adrian asked after I showed him the alert.

"Someone is."

"Can the system identify who?"

"Not conclusively."

He rubbed his forehead.

"This is getting serious."

"It was serious from the beginning."

I contacted my lawyer again and explained what had happened. Then I changed my access credentials, strengthened the security of my backups, and arranged to preserve the available logs for further review.

I wasn't going to give them another opportunity to steal my work.

Not this time.

As I put my phone away, Adrian's rang.

He answered, listening for several seconds before his expression changed.

"What do you mean several patients?" he asked.

I turned toward him.

He stood abruptly.

"Which department? How long ago did they arrive?"

His voice became sharper as the person on the other end continued speaking.

Finally, he ended the call.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Several patients with unusual respiratory symptoms have arrived at the hospital. The emergency department wants additional medical staff to assess them."

My stomach tightened.

"Do they have any known exposure?"

"One patient recently travelled from an area mentioned in the early reports we've been reviewing. They don't know whether the cases are connected yet."

I went cold.

In my previous life, I had seen how quickly an isolated cluster could become a nightmare. The early cases had been dismissed as unrelated illnesses until hospitals began receiving more patients than they could handle.

I couldn't afford to assume this was the beginning.

But I couldn't ignore the possibility, either.

"Let's go," I said.

Adrian started the engine.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, my phone lit up once more.

The Medical Evolution System had updated its mission status.

[WARNING: FIRST-WAVE INDICATORS DETECTED.]

[Estimated time until significant outbreak escalation: 41 days.]

My breath caught.

Fifty-four days had become forty-one.

Thirteen days had disappeared from our preparation window.

I stared at the countdown, my mind racing through everything we still needed to accomplish.

We needed verified samples. We needed more research capacity. We needed to understand the virus before it spread beyond our ability to contain it.

And now we had another problem. There wasn't much time