Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 394

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You**

“That’s impossible!” Penelope exclaimed, her voice quaking with disbelief. The weight of her words hung in the air, thick with tension. “Then who on earth developed the worthless drug that I’m holding in my hands?”

Marcus, unfazed by her outburst, raised an eyebrow in a manner that suggested both amusement and irritation. He calmly took the microphone from a nearby staff member, his demeanor composed. “That would be me, Ms. Monroe. The so-called ‘worthless drug’ you’re referring to is the culmination of months of my painstaking development.” His voice was steady, but inside, he felt a storm brewing.

He recalled a conversation with Alan, who had once advised him that keeping pace with Sydney’s groundbreaking research was a futile endeavor. “Start smaller,” Alan had said, “focus on existing cancer drugs that are already on the market.” Taking that advice to heart, Marcus had done just that, and now here he stood, facing the repercussions of his hard work.

Sydney, ever the strategist, had taken precautions with his research. She had kept a copy of his findings on her laptop, a safeguard against any potential theft of her work. But he hadn’t anticipated that his efforts would come back to haunt him in such a public manner.

‘Perfect. Now everyone knows I’m the one responsible for the so-called “worthless drug,”‘ he thought bitterly, a wave of frustration washing over him.

A few members of the audience chuckled, their laughter echoing in the hall. Even Alan, ever the supportive friend, leaned over and gave Marcus a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Well, it may not be up to Sydney’s standards, but it’s not entirely without merit,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Marcus remained silent, his expression a mask of inscrutability. He felt like a spectator in his own life, watching the chaotic scene unfold around him.

Across the room, Penelope’s complexion paled dramatically, her confidence crumbling. It was as if the ground beneath her was shifting. “No! This can’t be happening!” she cried out, her voice rising in pitch.

If this revelation was indeed true, then every strategic move she had made had unfolded precisely as Sydney had foreseen. The implications were staggering, and Penelope felt her world tilt dangerously.

Conservative estimates, indeed. Yet even those figures eclipsed every pharmaceutical benchmark, both domestic and international, that had ever been recorded.

“Don’t let her deceive you!” Penelope’s voice cracked, desperation clawing at her. “Have you all forgotten? She’s only 25! Do you truly believe that someone so young could possibly develop a breakthrough like this?”

She turned to the audience, her voice rising to a near shout. “She spent just four years studying medicine at Jouleston University! You can’t possibly think there’s nothing suspicious about that?”

Despite her fervent protests, deep within, Penelope struggled to convince herself of her own words. The doubt gnawed at her, leaving her feeling increasingly isolated in her disbelief.