"Wh-why?"
Lucas Reed's fingers turned white from gripping his phone so tightly, eager to ask more questions, yet all he heard was the cold beep of a disconnected line. He stood there holding the phone, seemingly unable to process the words "terminated."
Evan Palmer was also thrown into panic. He hurriedly leaned in, his tone filled with disbelief and urgency: "Doctor Reed, could there be some mistake? How could the Sterling Research Institute just terminate you like that?"
"It must be a scam call!" Lucas snapped back to attention, staring at the unfamiliar international number on his screen as if clutching at a lifeline. "I'm one of the top experts in international medical circles; how could they just remove me? It must be a prank!"
He tried to appear calm, but his slightly trembling voice betrayed the turmoil inside.
"Director!"
