Chapter 1563 You're Twenty-Seven—And Still Playing With This?
Zaid's hand clenched tighter at his side.
By all logic, he should immediately accept Isolde's proposition. The position of Chairman carried power equivalent to a nation's wealth—with unrestricted access to the research facility's pharmaceuticals, what couldn't he accomplish? Wasn't this everything he'd been working toward?
Yet he hesitated for several seconds.
After ten long seconds, he finally looked up, meeting Isolde's gaze with his practiced gentle expression. "I understand, Ms. Porter."
A smile crept across her lips. She'd known Zaid would come around—he was always willing to make sacrifices for power. Besides, what was one relative? Atlas had such a minimal presence; he was hardly worth considering.
She patted Zaid's shoulder. "Carry on, then."
As Zaid turned away, his face darkened. His gaze fell on Raymond, who walked past without acknowledging him. Though Raymond's hazmat suit and goggles concealed his features, Zaid's eyes followed him for several seconds before finally looking away.
Raymond continued forward until someone bumped into him—a face identical to Victor's. This was his first time seeing both brothers in the same place. Back in Silver Bay City, he'd never realized they'd been switching places.
Now he could see the twins were truly identical, like perfect copies of each other. But Atlas's expression held a childlike innocence.
Without noticing Raymond, he called out excitedly, "Zaid!"
Zaid froze, irritation flashing across his face. The sight of Atlas now only fueled his anger. The research facility had no use for a so-called blank slate—when would this man finally grow up?
"Zaid, look at this!" Atlas approached, opening his palm to reveal an insect—a rare sight in a facility focused on human experimentation.
Zaid's expression soured instantly. He snatched the insect and crushed it beneath his foot. "You're twenty-seven years old. Why are you playing with this? Are you a child?"
Atlas's smile crumbled, replaced by a wary caution.
Zaid felt a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. He took a deep breath. "From now on, every minute of every day, you will impersonate me."
In an instant, Atlas's expression transformed—becoming gentle yet sharp, a perfect mirror of Zaid's demeanor.
His mimicry was flawless. Zaid felt as though he were looking into a mirror, and with that came an unexpected pang of loss.
He opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. After all, this was what he had requested.
Raymond returned to the core research lab to find Calla in the same position he'd left her, standing at the research station conducting various experiments.
Noticing his return, she continued directing him to hand her test tubes. "The compounds to your left are highly toxic—merely inhaling their vapors could render someone unconscious for days. Handle them with care," she said in her characteristically flat tone. "And those on your right can induce powerful hallucinations. Don't touch anything unnecessarily."
Raymond mentally noted this crucial information, memorizing the appearance of both the sedatives and hallucinogens while continuing to pass her test tubes without betraying his interest.
A flicker of something deep passed through Calla's eyes—like ripples across dark water, concealing whatever emotion lurked beneath.
They worked in silence. When Calla became absorbed in her research, she lost all sense of time, forgetting to eat or drink.
It wasn't until evening that she finally rubbed her temples and dismissed him with a wave. "You can rest now," she said before turning away.
Her own quarters were spacious. She removed her lab coat, showered, and changed into sleepwear. Reaching for a pill bottle on her nightstand, she swallowed several tablets.
Within ten minutes, she was asleep.
In her dreams, her face softened, the sharp edges of her waking personality melting away. "It's alright, Selena. Mommy's here. Don't be afraid."
"Remember this, sweetheart. One day, it might help you."
In her sleep, Calla's lips curved into a gentle smile, her usual severity dissolving completely.
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