Kane arrived at the company with a tight expression. His jaw was clenched, his eyes stormy.
"Mr. Sterling," Ethan acknowledged.
"Let’s go." Kane said, and walked ahead with Ethan falling behind him.
When they got to Kane’s office, Kane settled on his seat and he breathed out roughly.
"Speak."
Ethan nodded, and started. "As you know, your father was leading the development of a drug designed to eliminate an entire class of antibiotic-resistant bacteria."
Ethan paused, gauging Kane’s reaction
Kane’s expression was blank. But his gaze was fixated on Ethan... a sign that he was listening.
"As it stands now, the research is left incomplete due to one final formulation... one your father was directly involved in before he died."
Kane gripped the edge of the desk tightly but his face remained passive.
"Naturally, due to your father’s death, the research was put on hold. It’s been a week since he passed away. The scientists are anxious. The board is impatient. Patents are being filed. It’s messy."
Ethan blew out a breath as he placed a small note on the table. "This was part of your father’s will. I had to give it to you when you were ready as per your father’s wish. But—" he stopped, a wistful look growing in his eyes. "—time isn’t on our side anymore."
Ethan looked at the man who had worked with his father. He noticed the grey locks in the hair, and a shadow crossed his face.
He leaned forward and picked the note, unfolding it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
His father’s.
For the first time in a week, Kane’s carefully constructed walls began to crack.
Compound 47 still isn’t stable. Kane will know what to do. If anyone can improve this formulation, it’s my son.
Kane lowered the note slowly.
Every excuse he’d hidden behind. Every meeting he’d refused.
None of it mattered anymore. He’d told himself he wasn’t ready.
But that was a lie.
The truth was... he’d been afraid.
Afraid that stepping into his father’s office would make his death real.
Ethan sighed, and spoke softly. "Your father never doubted you, sir."
Kane looked up, slowly rising to his feet as he walked to the window. He stared... stared at the legacy left behind by his father and grandfather.
"Prepare the laboratory and everyone."
Ethan blinked. "Sir?"
Kane turned, a fierce determination in his eyes. "We’re finishing his work."
Then, after another beat:
"And notify the board."
There was another pause.
"Tell them their CEO is coming back."
The next day, Lecture Room.
Lucy sat close to the entrance as she watched the door. She was looking for any sign of Kane.
She absentmindedly played with the tube in her hand. Just then, she heard heavy footsteps, one which she had inadvertently learnt who it belonged to.
Her Professor.
Kane Sterling.
And there he was. He walked into the lecture room, his eyes briefly met Lucy’s.
Before she realized it, the corner of her lips lifted.
He looked away, as he began his lecture.
Lucy’s brows furrowed together. He looked cold and detached.
It was definitely not the same person who handed her an anti-inflammatory ointment yesterday. At the thought, Lucy smiled softly.
"Get it together." She scolded herself under her breath when she noticed that her thoughts kept returning back to Kane.
The lecture theatre gradually settled as Kane placed his notes and laptop on the podium.
Without any preamble, he wrote two words across the whiteboard.
GROUP PROJECT.
A chorus of groans echoed through the room, some voicing their dissatisfaction.
"We just started the semester."
"Professor, have mercy."
"Can’t we breathe first?"
Kane didn’t even look up as he looked into his laptop.
"When you’re done complaining," he said evenly, "I’ll explain."
The room quietened almost immediately.
He capped the marker and turned to face them.
"This project accounts for fifteen percent of your continuous assessment."
That was enough to command everyone’s attention.
Nothing motivated students quite like grades.
"You’ll be divided into groups of five."
A slide appeared on the projector behind him and several chemical structures filled the screen.
Lucy leaned forward.
"They’re experimental compounds," Kane continued. "Each group will receive the complete profile of one compound."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over every face before he continued. "Your responsibility is to evaluate it."
Someone raised a hand.
"Evaluate how, Professor?"
"You’ll identify weaknesses in its formulation."
Another hand shot up.
"You mean errors?"
"If there are any."
His calm gaze swept across the lecture hall. "You’ll assess stability, possible interactions, limitations in the compound’s structure, and propose modifications supported by scientific evidence."
The room grew noticeably quieter. This wasn’t an ordinary classroom assignment.
Another student frowned. "Professor... are these real compounds?"
"Yes." He answered with a clipped tone.
A wave of murmurs spread across the hall.
Lucy found herself staring at the structures on the screen.
They looked... fascinating.
Kane noticed the sudden spark of interest lighting up several faces.
Good. At least they were paying attention now.
"The deadline is two weeks from today."
Another hand went up. "Is there a reward?"
A few students laughed.
"There has to be one. This looks... difficult."
Kane regarded them for a brief moment.
"The group with the best submission..." He paused just long enough to build anticipation, "...will have the opportunity to assist me on an independent research project."
Silence followed.
Then—
"What?"
"Seriously?"
"No way!"
"Professor, you’re joking!"
"I don’t joke about academic matters."
The excitement in the room doubled instantly. Even students who had looked half-asleep moments earlier were now whispering animatedly among themselves.
Lucy lowered her eyes to her notebook. An independent research project.
Her pulse quickened. Research had always fascinated her far more than examinations ever could.
If there was even the slightest chance... she wanted it.
Kane closed the file in front of him. "The project brief will be uploaded before the end of today."
He gathered his notes. "If you encounter any difficulties..." His eyes moved across the lecture theatre. "...my office is open."
His gaze continued moving. It reached Lucy and stopped just for a heartbeat.
Then continued as though nothing had happened.
"You are dismissed." Kane gathered his notes and walked towards the door.
The room erupted into conversation. Students were already discussing groups before Kane had even reached the door.
Kane paused at the doorway. "One more thing."
The room quietened again.
His gaze settled on Lucy.
"Miss Bennett."
Lucy looked up.
"My office."
Then he walked out.