Free Web NovelChapter 97: Chapter 97 The Accusation
Her arm was suddenly seized and yanked backward.
As Rose turned around, she caught sight of a hand swinging toward her face.
The slap came so suddenly that she barely had time to react.
Rose’s expression darkened instantly.
Just as she was about to dodge, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way.
A cold, stern voice followed.
“Nothing has been confirmed yet. Let’s wait for the final results.”
Rose looked up.
James was still holding her arm.
Instinctively, he had positioned himself in front of her, blocking the slap Samantha had intended to land across her face.
It created a strangely protective stance.
Rose had no idea what they were talking about.
Nor did she understand why they had suddenly appeared and started making accusations.
James’s reaction did not escape Ryan’s notice.
Having arrived moments later, Ryan’s sharp gaze settled on James’s face.
Samantha was equally stunned.
She hadn’t expected James to protect Rose.
A second earlier, she had almost struck her.
“Mr. Taylor?”
Disappointment filled Samantha’s eyes.
Rose finally recovered from her shock.
Having her workday interrupted by this absurd scene instantly ruined her mood.
She pulled her arm free from James’s grasp and glared at Samantha.
“Reason? Motive? What’s wrong with you?”
Samantha stared at her in disbelief, her expression icy.
“How could you use a child as a test subject?”
Her voice trembled with anger. “Just to satisfy your ambition and advance your career? Rose, are you even human?”
The accusation hit like a hammer.
Rose hated situations like this.
Without patience for riddles, she cut her off.
“Stop talking in circles. Say it clearly.”
Seeing Rose’s seemingly unrepentant attitude, Samantha’s eyes turned colder.
“Mike suffered an acute allergic reaction. It was caused by an overdose of an ingredient used in the cardiovascular medication currently being tested. He’s already receiving emergency treatment, and his blood work confirms the substance came from G.S.’s ongoing drug project.”
Rose: “...”
A completely baseless accusation had just been dumped on her.
She was so angry she almost laughed.
“Me? Using a child as a guinea pig?”
“Isn’t that exactly what you did?”
Samantha’s voice sharpened. “You wanted success so badly, and Mike happened to have a related condition. So you tested the drug on him directly.”
Her eyes blazed with fury. “One mistake and he could have died. Rose, this is deliberate revenge.”
Only then did Rose fully understand what Samantha was accusing her of.
The faint smile disappeared from her lips.
“You’re assigning blame before the facts are even established.”
Her eyes turned cold. “Samantha, are you stupid, or are you just impatient?”
James frowned. “Mike is in the emergency room right now. His condition is serious. If the dosage had been any higher, it could have triggered organ failure.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Rose let out a cold laugh. “If someone is responsible, then find the person responsible. Do you want me to help you sue their employer while we’re at it?”
“He’s your brother!”
Samantha inhaled sharply. “How can you be this heartless?”
“If you could solve it yourselves, would you even be standing here?”
Her voice rose. “Everyone knows there are no surveillance cameras in the ward. You have a motive because of the antique shop. Mike never liked you and always kept his distance from you. Rose, your malice is beyond reason.”
Samantha’s legs seemed to weaken.
Instinctively, she reached back and grabbed Ryan’s arm.
Throughout the entire confrontation, Ryan had remained silent.
Yet his cold, penetrating gaze never left Rose.
No one could tell what he was thinking.
Rose looked at the two of them.
Standing side by side, they looked exactly like a united front confronting a common enemy.
At that moment, another voice cut in.
“So you’re accusing Rose of committing a crime in my hospital and dragging Peace Medical Center into a major lawsuit?”
Caleb strode over, his tone equally sharp.
He walked directly to Rose’s side.
Then, without a word, he subtly positioned himself between her and James.
The gesture was unmistakable.
Move aside.
James had no choice but to step back.
His brows furrowed as he glanced at Caleb.
For some reason, a flicker of irritation surfaced in his chest.
Seeing Caleb arrive, Samantha pressed her lips together.
“President Byrne, it’s my brother who’s lying in the emergency room. I hope you’ll understand my concern.”
Her tone softened. “I’m not asking Peace Medical Center or the Byrne family for an apology. But this matter is extremely serious.”
“If it becomes public, Peace will suffer enormous reputational damage. As for G.S.’s clinical drug trials, it would be a devastating scandal.”
She paused deliberately. “After all, once a company is accused of disregarding human life, who would trust its products—even if the drug eventually reaches the market?”
The moment Rose heard that, the confusion in her eyes vanished.
Now she understood.
So this was Samantha’s real objective.
Samantha continued calmly, “I am willing to remain silent about the matter for the sake of President Byrne and Peace Medical Center. That would minimize the damage to both Peace and G.S.”
Then her gaze turned icy. “However, G.S.’s surgical robot project is currently seeking investors. This scandal would be a major blow.”
She looked directly at Caleb. “I hope President Byrne will remove Rose from the project team, prohibit her from participating in future clinical trials, and revoke her authorship credit on the cardiovascular drug project.”
A faint smile appeared on Samantha’s lips. “If necessary, I’m willing to join G.S. and help complete the remaining work myself.”
Rose let out a quiet scoff.
Not surprised in the slightest.
There it was.
This was what Samantha had been waiting for all along.
And now she intended to use Mike’s incident to seize the drug project for herself.
What a beautifully calculated scheme.
Even Caleb’s expression darkened.
For someone usually so calm and easygoing, he looked genuinely displeased.
This move had cornered him completely.
It was a precision strike.
“Fine.”
Rose spoke before anyone else could. “I’ll withdraw.”
The answer came so quickly that everyone froze.
Ryan’s hand paused on the lighter.
His gaze settled on Rose’s face.
Even James looked startled. “Rose, have you thought this through?”
His brows knitted together. “You’re only a junior researcher. If you want authorship credit, you have to stay involved from beginning to end. Are you really willing to walk away now?”
If she were someone like Caleb, with authority and decision-making power, that would be different.
But at G.S., she held little influence.
The project was on the verge of success.
Was she truly willing to give it up?
Ignoring James entirely, Rose looked directly at Samantha.
“I’m withdrawing because I don’t want this project delayed.”
Her voice was calm and firm. “Not because I’m admitting guilt.”
Then her eyes sharpened. “As for Mike’s case, if you want to accuse me, bring me irrefutable evidence.”
“Otherwise, stop spewing garbage in my face.”
The words were brutally direct.
Samantha had just begun celebrating her victory when anger surged through her again.
“Caleb, let’s go.”
Rose grabbed Caleb’s arm and turned to leave.
Even then, Caleb looked back at Samantha.
“G.S. isn’t lacking personnel at the moment.”
His tone was polite but cold. “Still, thank you for your concern, Ms. Hill.”
Samantha’s expression darkened immediately.
She had practically handed him a solution.
And he still refused it.
Only then did Ryan finally speak. “Mike hasn’t come out of intensive care yet.”
His voice was low and calm. “Aren’t you going to check on him?”
He hadn’t explicitly told her to apologize.
Nor had he said she should take responsibility.
But Rose understood exactly what he meant.
In the end, he still stood on Samantha’s side.
She met his cold, penetrating gaze.
Then she gave a faint, mocking smile. “Is he dead?”
Ryan’s dark eyes fixed on her.
Rose’s expression turned completely indifferent. “Let me know when he’s dead.”
Samantha’s face changed instantly.
But Rose gave her no chance to respond.
She turned and walked away without looking back.
Her departure was decisive.
Resolute.
James watched her leave, his chest tightening.
This time, Rose’s position was unshakable.
If Caleb wanted to protect Peace Medical Center’s reputation, safeguard G.S.’s future, and ensure the smooth progress of funding for the surgical robot project...
Then sooner or later, he would be forced to distance himself from her.
A trace of mockery flashed through Samantha’s eyes.
Rose was merely putting on a brave face.
Even if she lost her authorship credit on the drug project, what would happen?
Nothing.
She would simply go back to being an insignificant junior researcher.
A disposable piece on G.S.’s chessboard.
And once she lost her value...
She would be discarded without hesitation.
