The 90-Day Experiment (The Expiry Date Diaries #1)

Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-One

Emerson

T he weight of the discoveries was pressing down on me as I gathered my notes, which suddenly seemed to weigh a ton.

I straightened my lab coat. “You’ve got this, Emerson,” I whispered under my breath.

A moment later, the door swung open, and Jasper strode in like he owned the place in his tailored suit and perfectly coiffed hair.

He glanced up from his phone, his expression a mask of skepticism. “Alright, Emerson, what’s this earth-shattering news?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm so thick you could drown in it.

I forced a smile, as the nerves nearly overwhelmed me. Swallowing hard, I took a moment to collect my thoughts. The ambient hum of the lab’s equipment only amplified the quiet that followed his words.

“Jasper, thank you for coming on such short notice,” I said, my voice steadying as I spoke. “I know your time is valuable, and I appreciate you making space for this.”

Jasper raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the lab bench, crossing his arms over his chest, clearly waiting for me to get to the point.

“I’ve been analyzing the latest data from our experiments,” I continued, glancing briefly at the slides on the screen behind me for reassurance. “And what I’ve found is nothing short of groundbreaking.”

Jasper’s skeptical expression remained unchanged, but I saw a flicker of interest in his eyes—just enough to spur me on.

I nodded, my fingers trembling slightly as I clicked to the first slide of my presentation. The screen lit up with a colorful graph showing sustained increases in oxytocin and dopamine levels in couples reporting to be in love.

“Our data shows a significant departure from our initial hypothesis,” I said, pointing to the graph. “The importance of emotional connections in love is far greater than we anticipated.”

Jasper’s eyes narrowed. “Emotional connections?”

I clicked to the next slide.

“We’ve discovered that it’s not just about chemical reactions. The fMRI scans reveal heightened activity in regions associated with empathy and emotional processing, perfectly synchronized with the chemical changes. Additionally, the EEG data shows remarkable neural synchronization between partners’ brains, particularly in the gamma frequency band.”

Jasper interrupted, his brow furrowing. “This goes against everything we initially set out to prove. How certain are you?”

I paused, the weight of our findings nearly crushing.

As Jasper's words hung in the air, I wondered if there was still a way to salvage everything. If I could convince him of the value in this unexpected discovery, it might open up new avenues for research and financial support.

"I'm absolutely certain, Jasper. The data doesn't lie," I stated firmly, my voice gaining strength. "We have to follow the evidence, even if it leads us somewhere unexpected."

As I continued my presentation, my voice grew more impassioned with each point.

“Our study showed a striking difference between couples in love and our control group of individuals engaged in casual relationships. While both groups experienced similar short-term chemical reactions during intimate moments, only the couples in love displayed sustained brain activity in the emotion centers as well as the significant neural synchronization.”

I clicked to another slide, showcasing the long-term brain activity patterns that Liam had insisted on measuring.

“This is where Liam’s contribution proved invaluable. By including simultaneous fMRI and high-density EEG measurements, we uncovered something revolutionary. These sustained patterns and neural synchronization suggest that love isn’t just a chemical reaction, but a complex interplay of emotions, neurological processes, and, somehow, inter-brain connectivity.”

Jasper looked stunned. “So, what you’re saying is, love isn’t just about physical attraction and hormones?”

“Exactly,” I said. “We’ve been looking at this all wrong.”

I paused, letting the magnitude sink in. “This new information challenges our previous understanding of love, suggesting that it contains an unexplainable element that is beyond science—at least in its current iteration.”

Jasper leaned forward, his skepticism giving way to intrigue. “This is... unexpected. How did you miss this before?”

I smiled ruefully. “To be honest, I was skeptical when Liam first suggested including these measurements. I thought it would be a waste of time. But his persistence paid off. This discovery has shattered our previous beliefs about the nature of love. It’s no longer just a physical response; it’s a complex—a multi-level phenomenon that isn’t within the realm of just science.”

As I concluded my presentation, both excitement and trepidation whirred through me.

“Jasper, I know this isn’t what we set out to prove, but the evidence is irrefutable. We’ve stumbled upon something groundbreaking here. It’s time we reconsider our approach.”

Jasper leaned forward, his eyes narrowing like he was a hawk and I was a particularly juicy rabbit.

“Emerson, you’re putting a lot on the line here. Your career, your reputation... are you absolutely sure about these conclusions?” His voice was cautioning.

I met his gaze, feeling my resolve solidify like concrete in my veins.

I took another deep breath.

“I’ve triple-checked the data. The evidence is clear. Love isn’t just a chemical reaction we can predict and control. It’s a complex interplay of biology, psychology, emotion...” I paused, letting the words sink in, “…and maybe a little bit of magic, too,” I added with a wry smile.

As the words left my mouth, I realized how much I’d changed.

The Emerson from a few months ago would never have said something so... out there. She was a data girl through and through, living in a world of numbers and control. But standing there, I felt like I was stepping into the unknown, and it was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Jasper nodded once, his expression unreadable. Then, in a voice as cold as liquid nitrogen, he said, “Fine. I’ll be taking my funding elsewhere.”

My heart skipped a beat, then plummeted like a rock. “You’re pulling the funding?”

“Yes,” he said, his tone as icy as the Arctic. “If you’re going to chase fairy tales instead of science, then I can’t justify putting more money into this project.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. I’d known this was a possibility, but hearing it made it real. Years of work, my entire career...

But even as panic threatened to overwhelm me, I felt a strange sense of calm, like I was sitting in the eye of a storm.

“I understand,” I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind inside me. “But I stand by my findings. Love is messy, unpredictable, and maybe even beautiful because of it.”

Jasper stood, straightening his immaculate suit with the precision of a surgeon. “You’re letting emotions cloud your judgment, Emerson. This isn’t science; it’s wishful thinking,” he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

I shook my head, a sad smile playing on my lips. “No, Jasper. This is science evolving. We set out to study love, and this is where the data led us. Ignoring it because it doesn’t fit our preconceived notions? That’s not science.”

“You’re making a mistake,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, like he was auditioning for a villain role in a Bond movie. “A career-ending mistake.”

I took a deep breath, thinking of Liam, of the way my heart raced when he was near, how his laugh could turn a bad day around.

“Maybe,” I admitted, feeling the weight of the moment. “But I’d rather make a mistake standing up for what I believe in than compromise the integrity of my research.”

Jasper’s jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might crack a molar. “I’ll have my team collect any equipment that belongs to us. Your funding is terminated, effective immediately.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Jasper,” I said as he turned to leave. “For giving me the opportunity to make this discovery. Even if you don’t like it.”

The lab door closed behind him with a finality that echoed through the suddenly too-quiet space. The screens still flickered with data, but it all felt hollow now.

I had done it—had stood up for our findings, for the truth about love.

But I had also, with startling efficiency, upended my entire future.