There was a lot of discussion in the audience and no one spoke for me as if I were their enemy.
Luke nodded with satisfaction after listening and his eyes fell on me. "Did you hear that? Demi, you are old and ugly. Your image is too bad. It is not conducive to the development of the company."
He pulled Caroline closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "But look at Caroline. So youthful, so radiant, breathtakingly beautiful. And with the added title of a beautiful research scientist, she's the best publicity!"
Luke looked at me with disdain. "Tell me yourself, be honest. If you had to choose, who would you pick?"
Since when did this world become ruled by looks?
Besides, I simply hadn't bothered to dress up and yes, I was a little worn out. How did that suddenly make me 'old and ugly'?
And who was it that caused this weariness in the first place?
Caroline sweetly held my hand and said delicately, "Demi, I don't want this either, but we must consider the company. Can't you just be reasonable?"
I glared at her, but before I could speak, she suddenly yelped and collapsed to the floor.
"Demi, how could you do this?"
"You're being so unreasonable! This is such an important celebratory party. How could you resort to violence?"
Caroline began to cry.
Luke quickly crouched down, helping Caroline before pulling her into his embrace.
"Demi, enough!"
Luke pointed at me, his hand trembling with anger. He was hurting for her.
"Enough?"
I gave a cold laugh. "Luke, this new drug is my research and development. No one can take that away from me! Do you want me to choose? Choose what? Are you holding a beauty pageant for your concubines, Luke?"
"Shut your mouth! I'm doing this for the good of the company!"
Luke's eyes widened in fury, his whole face contorting. "Do you know how to handle lawsuits? Do you understand how to promote this new drug? You know nothing! Just shut your mouth and listen to me!"
"Look at your appearance! That haute couture dress hangs loosely on you, your hair is dry and brittle and your face is haggard!"
"How am I supposed to use someone like you for publicity? Tell patients you're the researcher? Who would buy the drug then?"
"But look at Caroline. She's beautiful, dignified and approachable. If we say she developed the new drug, the promotional effect will be much better!"
Luke was practically roaring.
"The best promotion for a drug has always been its efficacy, not someone's looks."
I didn't want to argue anymore. Instead, I picked up the microphone and looked at the people below the stage. "My team and I developed the new drug from Santherion Pharmaceuticals. No one can steal that credit!"
With that, I turned and walked away.
"How can she be like this?"
"So what if she developed a drug? No matter how many drugs she develops, she's still not as beautiful as Miss Lake."
"Isn't she just trying to steal the spotlight?"
"I think she is just jealous of Miss Lake. After all, Miss Lake is so beautiful and looks more like Mrs. Jackson than she does."
"Ugly people indeed cause the most trouble, haha!"
I ignored the insults because their words no longer had any power over me.
They only had the power to hurt me when I still held illusions about Luke.
But at this moment, I had completely given up on Luke and had already decided what I needed to do next.
Therefore, their words meant nothing to me.
I walked out of the party hall and hailed a taxi but didn't know where to go.
I have spent almost all my time in the lab for the past five years.
I had wanted so badly to go home. But now, that home didn't feel like mine anymore.
Ultimately, I asked the driver to take me back to my old university.
Standing beneath the familiar experimental building, I looked up at the laboratory on the top floor, the one from my student days.
