Say Less I Love You Episode 16

Chapter 182

NYLA

I burst into Jacob's office, not bothering to knock. He's on the phone but I don't care. My heart races as I slam my palms on his desk.

"Something's wrong with the Neuromax trials," I blurt out.

Jacob's eyes widen. He quickly ends his call. "What do you mean?"

"My grandfather started having seizures out of nowhere. And he's not the only one - four other patients showed the same symptoms within hours of each other." My voice shakes. "Their vitals are crashing, Jacob. Dr. Patel can't explain it."

Jacob stands, circling his desk. "Slow down. When did this start?"

"This morning. One minute Grandpa was stable, the next..." I wrap my arms around myself, trying to stay composed. "His skin's turning yellow. Dr. Patel mentioned toxicology reports."

"Toxicology?" Jacob's face pales. "You think the drug is poisoning them?"

"I don't know. But something's not right." I step closer, searching his eyes. "This isn't normal deterioration. Dr. Patel's halting all treatments until they figure out what's happening."

"Shit." Jacob runs a hand through his hair. "The FDA's going to be all over this."

"Forget the FDA!" I snap. "My grandfather is dying, Jacob. And whatever's killing him started right after we implemented the new formula."

Jacob grabs his phone. "I'm calling Derek. We need to review every component of that formulation."

"There's more," I say. "Dr. Patel said it could take weeks or months to identify the problem. Grandpa doesn't have that kind of time."

Jacob's jaw tightens. "We'll figure this out, Nyla. I promise."

"You better," I whisper, my voice breaking. "Because if anything happens to him..."

Jacob steps closer, his presence both comforting and overwhelming. "Nothing is going to happen to your grandfather, Nyla. I won't let it."

I shake my head, tears threatening to spill. "You can't promise that."

"Yes, I can." His hand finds mine, warm and steady. "We have the best doctors, the best facilities. Whatever's causing this, we'll find it."

"And what if we don't find it in time?" My voice cracks. "What if-"

"Stop." Jacob squeezes my hand. "Listen to me. Your grandfather's treatment is my top priority. Nothing has changed on that front. Not the money, not the resources, nothing."

I pull away, pacing the office. "But everything else has changed, Jacob. I lost all my money, I'm working for your mother again, and now this?"

"Hey." He catches my arm, stopping my nervous movement. "Focus on what matters. Your grandfather is going to get through this. We're going to figure out what's wrong with the formula."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I've seen you fight for him." Jacob's eyes lock onto mine. "And now you've got me fighting too. We're not giving up."

The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch. For a moment, I almost believe him - believe that everything will work out somehow.

"Okay," I whisper, straightening my shoulders. "Then let's figure out what's hurting these patients."

Jacob paces behind his desk, his expensive shoes clicking against the hardwood floor. The sound matches my racing heartbeat. 

"The timing is too perfect," he mutters, more to himself than me. "Five patients, all showing the same symptoms within hours?"

"Exactly." I sink into one of his leather chairs, exhaustion washing over me. "Dr. Patel said he's never seen anything like it. Their blood pressure spiked simultaneously, then the seizures started."

Jacob stops pacing, his hands gripping the back of his chair. "And you said their skin is turning yellow?"

"Like jaundice, but faster." My voice cracks. "Whatever this is, it's aggressive. The nurses can barely keep their vitals stable."

"This doesn't make sense." Jacob shakes his head. "We tested every component of that formula extensively. The trials were clean."

"Well, something changed." I lean forward, anger seeping into my words. "Because right now, my grandfather and four other people are fighting for their lives after taking your miracle drug."

Jacob's face hardens. "Our drug, Nyla. You sold us that formula, remember?"

The accusation hits me like a slap. "Are you saying this is my fault?"

"No, I'm saying we're both responsible." He picks up his phone again. "I'm calling an emergency board meeting. We need to get ahead of this before-"

"Before what?" I stand up, my legs shaking. "Before the lawsuits start rolling in? Before the media gets wind of it?"

"Before anyone else gets hurt," he says firmly, his blue eyes meeting mine.

The sincerity in his voice deflates my anger slightly. He looks as scared as I feel.

I search Jacob's face, looking for any hint of what he might know. "Have you been to the production facilities lately? Seen anything unusual?"

Jacob shifts his weight, not quite meeting my eyes. "I've been... occupied with other matters. But I'll look into it right away."

"That's not what I asked." I step closer, my heart pounding. "Do you know something about what's happening?"

"Nyla..." He runs a hand through his hair. "There has to be a logical explanation. We'll get our best people on this."

"Stop deflecting," I press. "You've been acting strange ever since I mentioned the warehouse. What aren't you telling me?"

Jacob's jaw tightens. "I said we'll figure it out. Trust me, okay?"

The weight of everything - losing my money, my grandfather's condition, Jacob's evasiveness - suddenly crashes down on me. My legs give out, and before I know it, I'm sobbing in Jacob's arms.

"I can't lose him," I choke out against his chest. "He's all I have left."

Jacob's arms tighten around me, one hand stroking my back. "You haven't lost everything. You have me."

"Do I?" I whisper, breathing in his familiar scent. "Because lately it feels like everyone I trust ends up betraying me."

"Hey," he says softly, tilting my chin up. "I know I've hurt you before, but I'm here now. We'll get through this together."

I let myself sink into his embrace, hating how natural it feels. How many times have we been here? Me falling apart, him picking up the pieces - it's becoming our twisted pattern.

"Just tell me the truth," I murmur. "Please."

Jacob's hesitation speaks volumes. "Let me handle this, okay? I promise I'll fix it."