Due to the confidential nature of the project, the team was small with only four members, including her. The team leader,
Professor Warren Graham, was an older, respected figure in the field, both domestically and internationally.
The other two team members were siblings. The older brother, Eddie Jameson, was composed and distant, while his younger sister, Nikki Jameson, was lively and sweet. All three of them had welcomed Shermaine into their team, though when she arrived,
her limp had startled them.
Despite the initial surprise, no one asked her about her injury. They simply encouraged her to rest in her dorm and come back in after she had recovered.
Still, the youngest member, Nikki, made it a point to visit Shermaine every day, bringing food and chatting with her. Over time, they grew close.
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One day, Nikki came to Shermaine with a bright smile on her face, holding a lunchbox like a treasure,
“Here! This is a homemade lunch I made just for you,” she said, excitedly handing it over. “I made some bone broth too. It’ll be
good for your health.”
Shermaine felt a little awkward at the overwhelming generosity, but she smiled politely and gently shook her head.
“Thank you so much, but I’ve already eaten. You should give it to Eddie or Professor Graham instead.”
Nikki’s bright eyes dimmed a little, but she didn’t seem upset. She set the lunchbox on the nearby table with a cheerful attitude.
“It’s no problem,” Nikki said. “It keeps warm, and I know it’s hard for you to walk with your leg. The cafeteria is so far, so
whenever you’re hungry, just eat it.”
Shermaine looked at her with a soft smile, but inside, her heart remained cold. It was hard for her to accept kindness anymore after being betrayed by someone she once trusted deeply.
