Chapter 12 - At Any Cost
Elijah admitted the conversation.
Three months earlier, during a board meeting, he told Leonard:
If SN-14 does not produce a pediatric breakthrough, we lose everything. Find a way at any cost.
He claimed it was a figure of speech.
Leonard may have treated it as permission.
Federal investigators examined the meeting notes.
Cassandra had attended.
She later messaged Leonard:
Elijah gave us the authority. He just does not want details.
Elijah denied that interpretation.
Naomi believed him.
But belief did not erase negligence.
“You created distance so you could benefit without knowing,” she said.
“I never wanted a child harmed.”
“You wanted results without asking how they appeared.”
He stared at Toby through the glass.
“What happens to me?”
“That is not my decision.”
“What do you think should happen?”
Naomi looked at him for a long moment.
“I think Toby should grow up knowing his life mattered more than your company.”
Elijah’s eyes filled.
Federal agents seized company servers.
They found messages showing Leonard manipulated Cassandra.
He told her successful results would make her and Elijah billionaires.
He also encouraged her jealousy of Naomi.
He wrote:
If Toby is treated at St. Andrews, Dr. Wheeler will be forced to validate our drug.
Cassandra replied:
She will do anything to look superior to me.
Naomi closed the message.
Cassandra had not only risked Toby.
She had wanted Naomi involved.
The emergency was designed to humiliate the woman Elijah once loved.
Then another message appeared.
Cassandra asked Leonard whether Elijah would be harmed.
May you like
Leonard answered:
Only if he discovers Toby is not biologically his.
