Lauren let out a giggle. "Dr. Lloyd, you practically scared Troy half to death."

Andrew shook his head. "I wasn't just trying to scare him. There's genuinely a faint odor of decay on him. It's not as strong as Ruby's, but it's there, which means he's already infected with something."

Lauren looked stunned. "You think that horny fool might actually have HIV?"

Andrew chuckled lightly. "HIV is terrifying, but its spread is relatively well-controlled these days. As for Troy, we'll need a hospital checkup to confirm. Whether it's HIV or something else, his situation doesn't look good."

With that, the two did not linger and returned to Rhodes Corporation. Over at the Pharmaceutical Division, preparations for the Amberpeak Corporation collaboration were in full swing.

Michael was beaming with energy, treating the project as his crowning achievement since becoming CEO. In his mind, the successful conclusion of this deal would solidify his position in the family, earning him applause