The General’s Regret
Chapter 99 Funding Cut
Lucky Draw
Mrs. Wheeler had walked in thinking she had it in the bag. She spoke with confidence, certain that Professor Edward would agree. But before her words had even settled in the air, he shut her down.
“Ginny is one of my best students,” he said flatly. “I’m not
going to remove her from my lab because of a few words and a handful of benefits. If that’s all you came here for, Mrs. Wheeler, then please leave. And if you plan to come again with the same request―don’t. I won’t change my mind.”
With that, Professor Edward set down his teacup, rose to his
feet, and made for the elevator.
Mrs. Wheeler sat frozen, staring after him. She was stunned. “You’re really going to protect Ginny at the expense of your other students?” she called after him. “What kind of professor
are you?”
He stopped, turned slightly, and said coolly, “Precisely because I’m their professor, I won’t abandon a single one of them without just cause. If I agreed to your offer today, I wouldn’t deserve to be called a professor, let alone their mentor.”
With those final words, he stepped into the elevator and disappeared upstairs.
Mrs. Wheeler sat for a long moment, glaring at the closed
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elevator doors before finally standing and storming out.
Lucky Draw
“Madam, did things not go as planned?” her driver asked, seeing her expression as she climbed into the car. Trying to soothe her, he added, “If you’d like, we could inform your sons. I’m sure they could handle this.”
“No need.”
This was a small matter–nothing worth troubling her sons over. They were already worn thin, taking turns staying at the hospital with Melody. Dealing with someone like Ginny–she could
handle that herself.
“Professor Edward may not bend, but what about the ones funding his lab?” her driver said thoughtfully. “If the money dries up, no matter how proud he is, he won’t be able to keep his work going.
“I’ve heard he’s obsessed with his research. Never married, never distracted–just poured everything into this lab. A man like that will endure anything for the sake of his work.”
Mrs. Wheeler’s expression shifted.
That wasn’t a bad idea.
“Turn around,” she said.
The driver rerouted them toward Golsmein Medical Group–the
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primary local sponsor of Professor Edward’s lab.
(Lucky Draw
Golsmein Medical Group wasn’t exactly a powerhouse. Its CEO, Carter Golsmein, had built the company from the ground up, hustling through business deals before finally setting up a medical enterprise.
But the Wheeler family was the wealthiest in the city.
When the secretary informed Carter of Mrs. Wheeler’s visit, he left his meeting without hesitation and rushed to his office to
receive her.
Mrs. Wheeler had expected a more impressive operation. One look at the company’s modest office, and she couldn’t hide the disdain in her eyes.
Still, when Carter arrived, she greeted him with basic courtesy before getting straight to the point.
Of course, she hadn’t come empty–handed. She’d done her homework. Carter’s company had a stalled project, stuck for lack of funding. With the Wheeler family’s name, she pledged an immediate investment in the project.
It solved Carter’s urgent problem easily.
And for that, he could hardly say no.
That same day, Carter called Professor Edward and informed
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Lucky Lucky Draw
him that the Golsmein Medical Group would be withdrawing its investment in the lab, effective immediately.
Professor Edward had a bad feeling about the call, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong. He was sharp when it came to research, but when it came to politics and manipulation, he was less sure–footed.
He lay awake that night, turning the matter over and over in his mind, and still couldn’t make sense of it.
The next morning, he arrived at the lab with a heavy heart.
Reese noticed immediately. “Professor, is something wrong?”
Professor Edward hesitated, then explained what had happened the day before.
Reese listened quietly, then said, “Professor, it’s probably Mrs. Wheeler’s doing. I’d guess she said something to Carter—maybe even pressured him into cutting the funding. If you want Carter to reinvest… you might have to let Ginny go.”
“No.” Professor Edward cut him off without a second thought. “Ginny did nothing wrong. And just because the Wheeler family has power and influence, we’re supposed to bow to their demands? If we give in, we’re no better than the ones using their power to bully others.”
His voice rose with anger. Reese let him vent before quietly
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offering another idea.
Lucky Draw
“I’m not saying Ginny should be punished or removed from your mentorship,” he said calmly. “And I’m not saying she shouldn’t be your student anymore. What I mean is—you have more than one lab under your name, right? So why not transfer her to another one?
“Mrs. Wheeler only demanded she leave this lab. If she joins a different one, then technically, you haven’t lied. You’ve fulfilled her condition without compromising anything.”
Edward thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up, a genuine smile tugging at his lips.
“So if I go with your plan,” he said slowly, “Ginny stays, the investment continues, and we even get the funds to buy the new equipment I’ve been needing? With that, we’d finally be able to move the research forward at full speed.”
Reese nodded, smiling. “Exactly.”
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