Chapter 1452

The café Jack chose for his date with Roxanne possessed a quaint charm, reminiscent of the Damaris residence. He was already waiting when she arrived, rising to greet her with a gesture. She quickened her step and sat opposite him, choosing a corner table as they had learned from their previous experience. A sandalwood incense burned nearby.

Roxanne felt strangely comfortable with the scent, attributing it to her familiarity with traditional medicine. She dismissed it as a café specialty.

"I'm sorry for being late again," she apologized, embarrassed. "We're meeting because I wanted to make amends for delaying the project last week, but I'm late again. I feel so rude."

Jack smiled easily and poured her coffee. "It's fine. This café is quite far from the institute, and I happened to be nearby." He casually fiddled with the incense burner.

Relieved by his unconcern, Roxanne sighed.

"I should be apologizing," Jack said abruptly.

This puzzled her. "In the end, I was the reason the public focused on you," he explained apologetically. "If I hadn't changed the meeting time to night, those reporters wouldn't have taken those pictures."

Roxanne felt conflicted; he was right.

As if reading her mind, he continued sincerely, "I did have a pressing engagement that afternoon. One of Damaris Group's herbal medicine companies had a problem requiring my attention."

She had never intended to blame him, merely finding the timing coincidental. "I know you didn't change the time without reason," she replied. "Neither of us expected reporters to be following us. Besides, the incident is over."

Jack sighed softly. "So, you've gotten back together with Mr. Farwell."

Roxanne was speechless. Her relationship with Lucian wasn't easily explained. His eyes darkened at her silence. Then, regaining his composure, he asked icily, "I assume you spent your time away with him?"

Instead of denying it, Roxanne said, "We needed to lie low because the media was focusing on us."

Jack was displeased by her lack of detail, but, choosing to remain pleasant, he changed the subject. "While you were away, I researched the new medicine. I think we can change the project's direction. The market lacks anti-cancer medicines, especially those based on traditional methods."

Roxanne considered this with a serious expression. "I noticed that. However, it will be difficult. The public prefers Western medicine for cancer treatment."

He outlined his research findings, concluding, "Perhaps we can be the first to succeed."