Chapter 9

Noah looked bewildered.

"She's your adopted sister and the deputy project director. Why would she want to harm you?"

"Because she wanted my position. And my fiance."

Vanessa had lost her parents when she was young, and mine had taken her in.

They gave her our family name and registered a formal adoption with the Pack Council.

All these years, no one in our family had ever called her "adopted."

I certainly never treated her as an outsider.

We grew up together and enrolled in medical school one after the other.

She studied pediatrics and joined the pack hospital after graduation.

For years, she'd been convinced she was just as good as me.

When the Medical Council decided to introduce VRX-17, the position of pediatric chief was vacant.

Whoever successfully completed the project would be the frontrunner for the role.

Vanessa had backed a high-priced vaccine from a different supplier.

After reviewing the paperwork, I found incomplete quality inspection records from that supplier and insisted on VRX-17, which had full documentation.

The Medical Council adopted my proposal and appointed me project director.

Alaric even announced at the meeting that the hospital would choose either Vanessa or me as the new pediatric chief once the project concluded.

From that day on, the way she looked at me changed.

Vanessa picked a huge fight with me over it.

"You only joined the hospital a few years before me. Why does everything good always go to you?

"Our parents favor you, Alaric only has eyes for you, and now even the chief position is going to you!"

At the time, I'd chalked it up to her being a sore loser.

After all, Alaric was my fiance and the hospital director.

Vanessa frequently went over my head to report directly to him. I'd reminded her a few times, but she accused me of bringing personal feelings into the workplace.

Just before VRX-17 was officially entered into inventory, she suddenly came to me with an apology.

"I'm sorry I was so impulsive before.

"The project is yours. I won't fight you for it anymore. Leave the inventory, scheduling, and logistics to me. You just focus on the children."

I'd thought she had finally come around.

On vaccination day, she handled the cold storage handoff and nurse scheduling herself.

The last tray delivered to the treatment room had been signed off by her.

She knew the testing schedules, the sampling locations, and the cold storage access protocols better than anyone.

She'd even participated in the rehearsal for what to seal and which records to hand over to the Medical Council after an incident.

Noah's expression turned serious once he'd heard all of this.

"That alone still doesn't prove she switched the syringes."

"I know.

"So start by checking her access logs, communications, and procurement records.

"0719-X was clearly prepared in advance. Vanessa couldn't have found a batch of contaminated drugs on short notice.

"If she's been working with an outside supplier, the same kind of incident may have happened at other hospitals."

My theory made sense, and the investigation center immediately widened its scope.

Once I saw the case finally gaining traction, I turned to my parents.

"You two should go home and rest."

They'd been up with me all night. Mom had only just woken from fainting, and both of them looked utterly spent.

But they were worried about me and refused to leave.

I deliberately put on a stern face.

"If you don't go, I'll have the pack guards escort you home."

Mom finally cracked a smile and tapped my forehead.

"Even now, you're trying to scare us."

They knew I was just worried about their health.

Dad squeezed my hand.

"Then I'll take your mother home. Call us the moment anything happens.

"We'll rest for a few hours and come right back. Make sure you eat something."

My eyes stung instantly.

At a time like this, my parents were the only ones who remembered I hadn't eaten all day.

I held back my tears and walked them out of the investigation center.