Forged by the world

yal. His partners, in a clandestine move, had inked a contract on his groundbreaking new drug without his consent. Clement had envisioned a partn

rectly. "Dr. Palmar," he began, his voice steady and assured, "I've considered the terms your partners relayed. I'm prepared to offer you royalties for your invention, and beyond that, I'd li

part of their earlier discussions. For Clement, the offer was a lifeline. He had only agreed to the initial deal out of financial necessity, to fund

ry, Mr. Smith, I must excuse myself to address another matter," Robert announc

ger to reunite with their children, but Gaelle's gaze swept the crowd in vain for a familiar face. With a heart heavy with disappointment, she retreated to a secluded corner of the playground, seeking so

d with anticipation, broke through her worry. "Are your parents not coming too? My mom will be late-she's a nurse at the hospital and only gets of

but my mom-she's always on time. She's never late. Something must've

's barely mid-day; why is there a traffic jam now? This is so unusual. I'm going to be late for my baby's meeting. Oh dear, I am so sorry," she voiced her f

n preceded her. With a flurry of barely acknowledged greetings, she made her way to Gaelle's classroom, only to find the teacher in a grave conversation with a stranger. "He's at the playground, but

elle Brown?" she asked, her voice laden with worry. "They're both at the playground," the teacher responded, gesturing for Marilyn to follow.

ground. "I'm Edithe Palmar's sister. We're both nurses. Today, Edithe had to leave work early, but then she came back hu

ted, "Wait, Mr.

ther-in-law," Mis

rown Pharmacorp," Ma

be with his dad. I'll call to get permission to take

ing out, "Look, there! Is that your mom and my aun

om, why are you late? Are you oka

d. "He said Jamale sh

me over, you'll be our special guest today," Marilyn com

Bright, did mom send you?

'll be my special guest. I have pies in my

k a moment to thank Marilyn and the teacher, then left quietly, not wanting to sp