Chapter 267: The CEO of Astraeus Group is My Sugar Daddy

Chapter 267 -266: The CEO of Astraeus Group is My Sugar Daddy

“Oh,” I said, leaning against the doorframe of the isolation pod. “Do you really think I’m going to believe you?”

Annoyed by my attitude, Nathan Lawson sneered. “It seems you’re the type who won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin…”

A smirk played on his lips as Nathan Lawson spoke again. “I forgot to tell you. The Cecilia Caldwell I sent has the most optimal genes and is of the most fertile constitution. Letting a gene-editing specialist and a genetically modified subject combine, letting the most perfect genes fuse to naturally conceive the next generation… that’s one of our experimental programs, too.”

Nathan Lawson looked at me and continued, “Oh, and by the way, this experimental program was actually proposed by Cecilia Caldwell’s own parents. Initially, the Organization was against a gene-editing prodigy getting close to a genetically modified subject, fearing unforeseen complications.”

‘After all, they are both people of superior intelligence. If they got together and plotted how to resist the Organization, it would be a very dangerous situation. That’s why the Organization would have made sure to prevent a test subject and a gene-editing prodigy from getting close.’

“But Cecilia Caldwell’s parents couldn’t bear to see the two children separated, so they deliberately proposed the ‘genetic fusion and natural conception’ program. The idea was to let the test subject and the gene-editing prodigy come together and conceive a child naturally, just to see what kind of offspring they would produce.”

The question was what kind of evolutionary effect would result from the fusion of two sets of supposedly perfect, modified genes.

“As soon as this program was proposed, the Organization’s leaders became extremely interested and approved it. However, as Cecilia Caldwell grew up, we discovered that her parents had been hiding experimental data. They concealed the fact that due to a physical abnormality, Cecilia was unable to conceive healthy offspring…”

I took a deep breath. ‘My parents were hiding this from the Organization the whole time. They were afraid that if the Organization found out, they would separate me and Asher…’

‘So it was inevitable that Asher and I would be separated. The Organization must have found out eventually.’

‘So, at eighteen, I get into a car accident, lose my memory, my parents die, I end up growing up with the Fletcher family, and I fall in love with Julian Fletcher…’

‘Everything seemed like a coincidence, but it feels like the Organization’s hand was behind every single turning point in my life.’

“When you test subjects were first created, it was inevitable that each of you would have certain defects. Cecilia Caldwell’s was a personality defect. She was born without emotions, incapable of developing feelings or empathy. She couldn’t integrate into society, and what’s more, she lacked the ability to reproduce healthily.”

‘In other words, Cecilia Caldwell can’t have children. She’s a test subject who is both exceptionally intelligent and utterly devoid of emotion. A shame, really. Nature won’t allow such dangerous genes to propagate.’

“And as for you, Silvia Lynch… your flaws are paranoia and hyperactivity. You have extreme reactions when provoked, and you’re skilled at disguise and imitation. While you don’t possess Cecilia’s absolute genius-level intellect, you’re not far off, and you have a healthy body capable of bearing the next generation.” Nathan Lawson eyed me as if he were inspecting produce at a market stall.

“As for the Cecilia Caldwell sent to Sebastian Lancaster’s side… in a way, she truly *is* Cecilia Caldwell. She’s a clone, an identical twin. They are two absolutely similar beings with identical genes.”

‘From any angle, Cecilia 2.0 was more like the real Cecilia than I was.’

“Sebastian Lancaster won’t touch her…” I said, my voice low. My hands were balled into fists so tight they were trembling with rage.

“When Cecilia starts showing signs of pregnancy, I’ll be sure to come and tell you the good news.” Nathan Lawson smiled. Only after the mercenaries had dealt with the bodies on the ground and processed the test subjects in the pods did he turn to leave.

“President Lawson, the doctor threw out all her food… Should we…?” an assistant asked quietly, probably aware that I was valuable and worried I’d starve.

“She won’t starve to death from missing one meal,” Nathan Lawson said gravely. He walked a few steps, then stopped, a smirk spreading across his face. “Oh, that’s right. The President of Astraeus Group has already ‘adopted’ you, this test subject. Therefore, your life, death, and health are all in his hands. You’d better be on your best behavior… Every move you make in this isolation pod, your adoptive master can see with perfect clarity.”

Nathan Lawson pointed to the camera above my head.

I glanced up at it and remained silent.

‘The Organization raises us test subjects like animals in a zoo, then slaps a label on us and sells us to the wealthy.’

‘Some test subjects are sent off to satisfy the perverted desires of the rich. Others are used for clinical trials. Some become breeding machines or living organ banks.’

‘Rich people with rare blood types will buy test subjects who share their blood type to serve as personal, mobile blood banks.’

‘Heh… Within the Organization’s dark web, the only limit to their depravity is your imagination. There’s nothing they won’t do.’

‘They have taken the evil of human nature and both perfected it and exploited it to its absolute limit.’

‘I have to admit, the people who created this organizational system, who built its framework, who expanded it and have sustained it to this day… they are all geniuses.’

‘Some say there’s a fine line between genius and madness. In reality, for a genius, the path to becoming a devil or a saint is just a single thought away.’

‘Some use their gifts to heal the sick and save lives. Others use their gifts to serve their country. And then there are those who use their gifts to commit the most horrific, anti-human atrocities.’

‘The one truly fair thing nature gives humanity is death. It’s only a matter of when.’

‘And yet, there are always those who want to defy nature, to break free from its constraints.’

‘They want to live forever. They want eternal youth.’

‘Some people, after money and material possessions can no longer provide a higher level of satisfaction or stimulation, begin to infinitely indulge the desires and darkness within their hearts.’

‘Societal progress is slow and steady, and a human life is just a few short decades. For many tycoons, money is just a number. They possess the most luxurious lifestyles and comfortable environments in the world. To them, such a life is truly quite boring.’

‘So they need a thrill, something to satisfy their appetites.’

‘And immortality, eternal life, is the age-old, ultimate pursuit.’

Sitting on the bed in the isolation pod, I stared at the camera overhead.

The camera swiveled. A red light was blinking. That meant someone was watching me.

‘The President of Astraeus Group must have paid the Organization a fortune for the privilege of watching me every day.’

I made a gesture of thanks toward the camera lens.

‘Regardless, this mysterious president is my patron now. My only hope of surviving in the Organization without fear is to make him like me.’

‘Since I’ve been ‘adopted’ by him, the Organization will have to consider his status before they can touch me. At least my life should be safe.’

The camera bobbed up and down three times, as if to say, ‘You’re welcome.’

‘But for some reason… I got the distinct impression that it wasn’t saying that. It was saying… *Don’t be afraid.*’

‘I’m probably just overthinking things.’

The camera’s red light continued to blink. I knew he was still watching me, but for some reason… my heart settled, and my frayed nerves began to relax.

‘I’m just so tired today, completely exhausted in body and mind.’

‘I’ll just… try to get some sleep.’

WHIRRR… The sound of the camera rotating echoed in the pod, almost as if it were trying to soothe me, to help me fall asleep.

‘It’s probably just my self-preservation instinct making me imagine things. The President of Astraeus Group is the leading tycoon in all of Meridia; how could he possibly be a good person?’

‘People like that, the rich and powerful, are masters of disguise. They’ll show you a small kindness, then mercilessly squeeze every last drop of value from you.’

“Cece… don’t be afraid. Go to sleep. I’m here.”

In the haze of my drowsiness, Asher’s voice echoed in my mind.

‘It figures. Only by thinking of Asher can I ever sleep peacefully.’

After I fell asleep, the camera’s red light continued to blink.

It was still blinking when I woke up.

I didn’t know how long I had slept. I figured that because the doctor had been killed, no one had been assigned to take over our isolation pod’s test subjects yet, giving us a rare chance to sleep in.

Looking up at the camera, I was a bit baffled. ‘Doesn’t the President of Astraeus Group sleep? Did he watch me all night? What’s there to see about me sleeping?’

‘How strange…’