Chapter 363

Chapter 363:

How could this have happened? Madisyn didn’t bother engaging with Helen and directly told Andrew, “Let’s check the surveillance footage.”

Without hesitation, Andrew gestured decisively for the team to retrieve the recordings. They acted swiftly, promptly pulling up the surveillance videos.

Helen watched skeptically, thinking Madisyn was merely making excuses. Everyone here took their responsibilities seriously; how could anyone have neglected watering the plants?

The computer began playing the recording from two days ago.

“It was Helen who watered the plants,” Andrew stated matter-of-factly.

“Of course,” Helen asserted confidently. “Our team is meticulous. It’s impossible that any of us forgot to water the plants. Dr. Mia, you might as well know this.”

Madisyn responded calmly, “If I’m not mistaken, the plants were watered at noon, not in the evening. Whoever watered them likely overwatered, thinking it unnecessary to return.”

“That’s impossible,” Helen insisted with certainty. “Everyone here is well-compensated and unlikely to commit such a basic oversight.”

Yet amidst the group, one individual began to tremble. The colleague next to her sensed something amiss. “Vera, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Vera Barker said, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Madisyn fast-forwarded the footage to the noon segment, where Vera was seen watering the plants.

Helen scoffed. “Vera is one of our most thorough researchers!”

However, after watering once, Vera received a phone call and left to water the plants again.

Helen noticed Vera’s mistake in overwatering and frowned deeply at her. Vera’s whole body shook, and she appeared highly distressed.

The others turned their attention toward Vera as the truth was revealed. Vera’s legs went weak, and she suddenly collapsed to her knees. “I’m sorry. I overwatered. I deserve severe punishment for this. I’m deeply sorry!” she sobbed.

Helen was stunned. “Vera, I’ve always seen you as one of the most meticulous researchers. How could you do something like that?”

Vera wept. “I apologize; I had commitments that evening, so I overwatered earlier in the day. I didn’t anticipate it would lead to this.”

“But if you were preoccupied, couldn’t you have sought help from someone else?” Helen struggled to accept this excuse.

The rest of the team felt let down and perplexed by Vera’s error, aware of its potential impact on the project’s success.

“I’m so sorry, everyone. It’s all my fault. I don’t know how I can ever make this up to you! I’ll resign!” Vera continued tearfully.

Helen clenched her teeth, embarrassed and frustrated. She had trusted someone she considered reliable, only to be disappointed. Helen then turned to Madisyn, who remained unflustered, and her irritation grew. “Even if Vera did overwater, our herbs shouldn’t be so delicate as to perish entirely. I don’t believe this is solely her fault. Even without the overwatering, the herbs might not have thrived since they’ve always grown weakly.”

Belen aggressively challenged Madisyn, harboring deep contempt for her. She believed Madisyn was far too self-assured.

But Madisyn didn’t argue; instead, she reached into her bag and pulled out a well-sealed box. Opening it released a strong herbal scent that quickly filled the room.

Everyone immediately recognized the herbs, but the ones in Madisyn’s box were far more vibrant and robust than theirs.

“Wow, can magnolia flowers really grow this large? I always thought they were supposed to be small.”

“And the snow lotus looks stunning!”

“Did Dr. Mia grow all of these?”

Everyone’s perception of Madisyn changed dramatically. They recognized the need for her expertise!

Helen stared at the box of herbs, her cheeks flushing as if they had been slapped. As someone who was the most knowledgeable about herbs in this lab, she knew exactly how impressively these herbs had been cultivated.

“Since you can’t use yours, feel free to use mine for now,” Madisyn said calmly.

Andrew immediately replied, “We’ll pay you the going rate for them.”

“There’s no need for that. The project comes first,” Madisyn shook her head.

Helen, still feeling somewhat resentful, muttered under her breath, “Since you knew we shouldn’t water them too much, why didn’t you tell us earlier?”

“Aren’t you the expert here? How could you not know such fundamental things?” Andrew scolded her.

His commanding presence was palpable, and Helen’s expression shifted dramatically under the intense pressure.

“Boss, I made a mistake,” Helen said, her complexion ashen.

“And you…” Andrew then turned his attention from Helen to Vera, who was trembling and appeared quite ill.

Madisyn sighed and said calmly, “If you’re ill, you should let everyone know. I’m sure Mr. Klein is compassionate enough to allow you some time off for treatment.”

Vera looked up at Madisyn, her eyes wide with fear, while the others gazed at her, puzzled. Vera was sick?

Vera’s lips quivered. “How did you know?”

“Your symptoms are quite obvious. You have a rare type of brain cancer characterized by flocculent materials in your brain. Currently, there are only a few studies that sometimes obstruct your nerves, causing short-term memory lapses. Although the early signs are subtle and often dismissed as mere fatigue, it’s actually a very severe condition…”

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