A Scientist's Revenge: New Life

stealing my dead sister's research. My husband, C

life's work-a cure for Alzheimer's-then

ramatic" as I b

er my patents to his mistress, the woman who drove my sister to

st depraved way imaginable, I saw my chance

him rush to his mistress's side, I mad

pte

Warne

m the award nomination list. It was a simple act, a d

y assistant, Maria, asked. He

y coiling in my stomach. The decision was made. Ashley Riddle would not be rece

arch that wasn't hers. Research that belonged t

his award, this recognition, it wasn't just about professiona

ace a mask of carefully constructed fury. "Ayla, what the hell have you

. "I did what was right, Craig. Ashley stole Jaylee'

old, sharp. "Right? Right for whom? You think t

to strike, but to grab my arm. His grip was a vise, digging i

g to pull away. He held tighter. The

e whispered, his face inches from mine. His breath was

s shocking. My husband, the man who had promi

to my shoulder, a semblance of tenderness. He squeezed gently, his

trast to the rage that had just twisted his feature

"You just hurt me," I managed to s

t you? Ayla, don't be dramatic. I was simply tryi

fact, protecting my sister's legacy. But his word

ce firm but seemingly reasonable. "Give Ashley that

icide! She used her cyberbullying campaign to torment Jaylee,

st your grief and your accusations. Ashley is a victi

ering online, the threats! And the data... Craig, it was genetic sequencing for early-

had problems, Ayla. You know that. She was uns

ey did." My mind flashed to snippets of conversations, hushed phone calls Craig had taken, strang

ig's voice dropped, ice-cold

Craig. The data that could help millions. The

s eyes narrowed to slits. "Mention my mo

on the computer screens displaying months, years, of my painstak

ly soft, "and I promise you, you'll lose everything. Your

ouldn't dare," I whispere

arge lab screen. It was a live feed of my server room, the blinking lights of my research dat

it! Please! That's years of work! That's the

ing on his lips. "This is what happens, Ayla, when you defy me. When

mean, 'your Ashley'?" The words tasted like a

o the deleting data, then back to me, full of conte

ire life's devotion! I put your venture capital into this lab, I work

ou're irreplaceable?" His eyes flicked back to the progress bar. "The cl

flashed through my head. The thought of that cure, gone fore

the words tasting like po

e, and the red bar vanished. The screen reverted to a norma

ng. A sharp cramp shot through my lower abdomen. I s

rves, Ayla. You'll be fine. Now

out of the lab, his phone pressed to his ear, undoubte

the 'Young Innovator' award. Craig stood proudly beside her, his arm around her waist, b

r, thanks to a "generous new investment." Cheers erupted. The crowd was o

, laughed at her jokes, his hands possessively on her back. They looked like a couple. A sick,

a triumphant, malicious glint. Then, almost imperceptibly, she "accidentally" dropped the canape. It landed precisely on a

as too dense. My phone buzzed. It was Maria. Her voice was frantic. "Dr.

ipped through my abdomen, far worse than anything

voice raw, breaking. "You conniv

vely into his arms. "What is this, Ayla? What is your problem now?

he just wiped the last of my data!"

nd innocent, tears welling. "I... I don't know what she's talking abo

s is ridiculous. You're making a scene." He turned to a secur

. "You want unwell, Craig? You want to see wha

onnecting with his cheek with a resounding slap. The

stared at me, his eyes wide with shock. Then

But you won't like the consequences." He turned back to Ashley, whose hand was now clutching

mbling dramatically. "My heart

her in his arms. He glared at me over her sh

st the murmuring crowd. The pain in my abdomen inte

ice weak, desperate. "Craig,

theatrics, Ayla," he said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. "You're not f

the doors swingi

legs. The cold, hard ground of reality hit me. This wasn't just about Jaylee anymore. It was