My groundbreaking new drug was about to hit the market. Yet, at the celebratory party, my husband insisted on crediting its patent to his female assistant.

Not only did my husband demand this, but many of the company's upper management echoed his request.

I questioned, "The new drug was developed by my team in five years. Why should I give it to others?"

My husband sneered, "You are old and ugly, which affects the company's image. Caroline is so young and beautiful; it is the best publicity to be crowned a beautiful researcher."

Caroline Lake sweetly held my hand and said delicately, "Demi, I don't want this either, but we must think about the company. Can't you just be reasonable?"

The celebration party for the new drug that was about to be launched was full of guests and friends and almost all the well-known people in the city came.

This new drug was developed by my team in five years and no one knew the hardships better than me.

I sat in the audience, watching Luke Stephens give an impassioned speech on stage. The smile on his face made me feel that all the hardships were worth it.

For five years, my husband and I had rarely seen each other. I practically lived in the laboratory.

I cherished every brief moment of rest, eagerly anticipating each tender moment with him.

Once the new drug was launched, I planned to take an extended vacation and spend quality time with him.

He and I have worked hard over the last five years. The guilt of not being able to be there for him especially weighed heavily on my heart.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to invite the greatest contributor to our Santherion Pharmaceuticals to the stage!"

As Luke finished speaking, he began to applaud.

I got up a little nervously, busy with scientific research. In fact, I am terrified of such occasions.

However, how could I possibly disappoint Luke's efforts in preparing this celebratory party for me?

As I stepped onto the stage, a slender figure bumped into me from the side.

The steps were a little steep and I was wearing high heels that I was not used to wearing, so I fell down immediately.

I looked up and saw Luke hurried over with worry on his face.

He came to help me, just like every time I was tired and couldn't hold on, he encouraged me.

I stretched out my hand and waited for him to help me up.

Maybe he would pick me up.

Just like when we were in love, he would hold me in his arms like a princess.

However.

I saw him glare at me fiercely and stretch out his hand to hold the hand of the person who had just knocked me down.

It's Caroline, my junior high school classmate and now Luke's assistant.

"Caroline, are you alright?"

Luke's eyes were filled with concern and tenderness, an expression I had never seen before.

Caroline swayed like a delicate flower as if she might collapse at any moment.

But when she'd bumped into me, her shoulder had struck with surprising force.

She nodded pitifully, then glanced at me timidly. "Luke, I don't think Demi did it on purpose. Please don't blame her, okay?"

What did she mean I didn't do it on purpose?

I was walking ahead; she was the one who came from behind and bumped into me!

Luke nodded sympathetically, but when his gaze fell on me, it was filled with impatience and coldness. "Aren't you going to get up? I won't even mention how you almost made Caroline fall. Are you going to lie there and embarrass me?"

I was bewildered.

Why did it feel like, at this moment, she was his wife, not me?

I dazedly got to my feet and walked towards the stage.

There were too many people here today. I didn't want to argue in front of everyone.

After the party, I would get to the bottom of this.

But then I saw Luke blocking the steps, staring at me coldly and squeezing out a sentence in an unquestionable tone, "The patent for the new drug will be in Caroline's name. She is the star of today. You go down!"

"Who is that woman? Why is she going on stage?"

"Don't you know? She is Mr. Stephens's wife. I heard she can't do anything except spend Mr. Stephens's money."

"Mr. Stephens invited the heroes of this project onto the stage and that's supposed to be Miss Lake. Why is this old hag going up there?"

"Just trying to get some attention, I guess."

Judging by their seating, the company's middle and upper management were murmuring below the stage.

This was a company I had built with my own two hands, yet all the middle and upper management were strangers. I couldn't even spot a few familiar faces.

I didn't have the headspace to dwell on that. Instead, I took a deep breath, composed myself and asked, "My team and I spent five years on research and development. Why is someone else's name going on the patent?"

My voice was loud and the chatter below quickly died down.

"She led the research and development team?"

"Why is she trying to get attention? She'll say anything! Every meeting mentioned that Miss Lake had spearheaded the development of the new drug for the past few years. What does it have to do with this old woman?"

"Just because she's Mr. Stephens's wife, she thinks she can bully Miss Lake like this?"

"If you ask me, this old hag should know her place and just hurry up and get a divorce. Mr. Stephens and Miss Lake are such a perfect match."

I looked at the people gossiping. Their eyes were filled with utter disdain for me.

Those few sentences especially pierced my heart like needles.

Every meeting has mentioned that Caroline spearheaded the drug development for the past few years.

She should just get a divorce. Luke and Caroline are a perfect match.

It seemed Luke had long planned to give what belonged to me to Caroline.

But why?

I glared at Luke, waiting for his answer.

Luke frowned, his eyes filled with impatience and even resentment towards me. "Demi, do you have to make a scene in front of everyone? How old are you? Almost thirty, can't you be more sensible? This is such an important celebration party. Can't you just stop acting like a spoiled brat?"

He was seizing what was rightfully mine, yet he accused me of being immature?

I took another deep breath and questioned him in the calmest voice I could muster, "I'm asking you, Luke. The new drug that my team and I spent five years developing, why is it being given to someone else?"

Faced with my repeated question, a flicker of evasion appeared in Luke's eyes. He must have known he had to address this issue directly.

Because who developed this new drug wasn't something that could be denied with just a few words.

Luke glared at me fiercely, his tone filled with disgust and ice-coldness. "You want to know why? I didn't want to embarrass you in front of so many people, but since you insist on making a scene, I'll just say it!"

"He grabbed me roughly and dragged me up onto the stage.

Then he shoved me hard. I stumbled and fell onto the ground."

A few champagne glasses had shattered earlier and hadn't been cleaned up yet. My left hand was instantly pierced by shards and blood flowed freely.

"Get up! Don't pretend!"

Luke roared, grabbed my long hair and yanked me up like a stray cat or dog.

I felt pain and shook him off, staring at him coldly.

Luke glared at me, held Caroline's hand and stood beside me.

He composed himself before addressing the crowd below, "Everyone, my words might not be convincing enough. So, let's let everyone see who is more outstanding between these two people for themselves?"

"Of course, it's Miss Lake!"

"Haute couture dress is lucky to be worn by Miss Lake."

"That one next to her, ugh! Wearing haute couture but still looking like an old hag."

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.