Chapter 1267

Colby watched Lucian intently, his breath catching. Despite knowing he'd replaced the medicine with distilled water, a cold sweat broke out. He hadn't noticed someone had used the bottle! "Dr. Galloway, I can add this, right?"

Lucian turned, his gaze locking onto Colby. Colby's pupils constricted. Digging his nails into his palms, he forced himself to remain calm. "Of course. It will only dilute the solution. Perhaps Mr. Damaris added it that day, unnoticed." He stepped back, making room for Lucian.

Lucian inclined his head, taking the offered space. Uncorking the bottle, he slowly poured the liquid into the flask. A pill, unseen by Colby, slipped from his hand, dissolving in the water before mixing with the flask's contents.

"All done," Lucian said, corking the bottle. "Let's observe. Perhaps the distilled water was the problem."

Colby felt a disquieting unease, but steeled himself, returning to the counter. Tense, he stared at the reacting flask. Soon, the same gas as before filled it.

Colby gasped, his breath catching. He stared at the gas, then at the distilled water, disbelief flooding his eyes. How could this be? He’d personally placed the distilled water there. Could someone have…switched the liquid?

Panic surged as Lucian's voice cut through the air. "Does this bottle truly contain distilled water, Dr. Galloway?"

Colby turned stiffly, his gaze meeting Roxanne's. He saw his own tense, guilty reflection in her eyes. Lucian's burning gaze felt like it pierced him. Shuddering, Colby fled without hesitation.

Roxanne, witnessing this, finally believed Colby was guilty. Recalling the events, she realized his suspicious behavior: the sudden appearance of gas after he'd taken over the experiment, his deftly hidden presence when they checked the flask. Turmoil churned within her. The betrayal of a long-time colleague felt unbearable.

Cayden's voice interrupted her self-doubt. "I've caught him, Mr. Farwell."

Roxanne looked up to see Colby, restrained by Cayden, his head bowed low. He'd tried to flee, running straight into Cayden at the institute gates. Even with his head down, he sensed Roxanne's gaze.

Lucian, his expression grim, blocked Roxanne's view of Colby. "It was just an experiment, Dr. Galloway. Why the hasty departure?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, his icy gaze fixed on the restrained man.