She Regretted It After I Left

After quietly disbanding my research team, I stayed alone in the lab until late that night, packing up the last box of research materials.

For once, Serenity Bell waited outside the lab for me.

Leaning against her car, she was busy texting, a smile playing across her lips.

As I walked out, Serenity hid her smile and put away her phone before staring into my eyes.

"I heard about the research data. Darryl didn't mean to wipe it out. Don't take it out on him."

"Alright."

Displeased with my indifference, she furrowed her brows.

"You're a lousy actor. We both know this new cancer drug was your life's work. Now that it's gone, how can you act like it doesn't bother you at all?

"Are you playing it cool so you can plan your revenge against Darryl?"

Serenity pulled out a check and shoved it right in front of my face in annoyance.

"Drop whatever you're planning. Here's 200 million dollars. It's more than enough to buy out a lifetime of your research."

Not taking the check, I just looked at her, my eyes devoid of emotion.

"Do you have any idea what the treatment is for or who I was developing it for?"

Serenity shrugged in disdain.

"Does it matter? I know I went too far when I threatened your father's life to make you take the fall for Darryl at the conference. But if you hadn't been so hard on him and put him under so much pressure, would he ever have resorted to stealing someone else's research?

"Darryl is young, and he still has his whole life ahead of him. A scandal like this would ruin his career. You're his advisor, so his behavior reflects on you."

My eyes welled up.

Serenity believed Darryl shouldn't have a scandal to hold him down. What about me?

Was my life meant to be ruined?

However, I kept the question to myself because it was pointless to even ask.

Met with my silence, Serenity froze for a second. Something within her stirred, and she softened her tone.

"Ian, I get that you're hurt, but these are two separate things. It was an accident that your data was deleted. Darryl didn't mean for it to happen. He cried to me last night. Can't you just let it go?"

I let out a wry smile.

My father, Connor Bell, battled with disability.

The plagiarism accusations I had been forced to accept.

Ten years of research, gone.

To Serenity, all of it was worth less than a few tears from Darryl.

"Relax. Since you don't care about the drug, I won't bother either."

Serenity was taken aback.

For years, the mention of Darryl's name would drive me out of my mind, send me into screaming matches, and make me pick fights with Serenity.

She always had zero patience for my outbursts.

This time, I didn't raise my voice or argue, just as she always wanted. Yet she didn't seem relieved at all.

The feeling of dread sucked the air out of her.

"Ian, you're not yourself at all. What's wrong?"

With a frown, Serenity took a step toward me.