Chapter 4

For the next few days, we ignored each other completely, treating each other with polite distance.

One morning, I stayed in my room, sorting through my old research notes.

Since marriage, I had drifted back into family life, leaving my research behind and dedicating myself to my husband and son. The organization had hidden my identity while I was in the countryside, and I made sure to keep a low profile. Neither the villagers nor even my family knew who I really was.

When Jared barged into the room, I frowned.

Before I had a chance to speak, he launched into a tirade. "Kylie! How can you be so vicious? What do you have against me? Sabrina is innocent. Why are you spreading rumors in the village, calling her a homewrecker and claiming she stole your chance to go to Belmont?

"Do you know how humiliating these lies are for a woman?"

He charged at me like a rabid dog, spewing spittle across my face.

I stepped back in disgust and said, "Don't accuse me. How can you be so sure it was me? I don't even know who spread these rumors, but are they really lies? Isn't this the truth?"

Jared lunged forward, grabbed my collar, and slapped me to the ground. The sharp crack echoed in the room. My mind went blank, and for a moment, I forgot how to fight back.

Jared had mocked me for being a country bumpkin ever since Sabrina arrived, but he had never struck me—until now. Furious, he shouted, "You never change! Your jealousy nearly caused a disaster! You drove Sabrina to harm herself!

"Now get up and go to the hospital to apologize to Sabrina! Tell every villager that all of this was your lies, born of envy!"

He seized my hair and dragged me toward the door, intent on parading me in public. I struggled and refused to give in, but I was overpowered and pulled outside.

My hair was a mess, and my clothes were in disarray. He dragged me from house to house, pounding on doors and demanding I explain myself.

I refused to take the blame. He slapped me in front of the villagers, trying to force a confession, but they saw through his arrogance and supported me instead.

"Don't you feel disgraceful, hitting your own wife for another woman?"

"That's right! I saw Sabrina's injuries myself—they were barely anything, and by the time anyone arrived, they were probably already almost healed!"

In the end, the villagers stopped the furious Jared and escorted me home.

After the anger faded, all I felt was despair and humiliation. Every ache on my scalp and face reminded me that Jared was nothing but a beast.

With hardly a moment to collect myself, I packed all my research into a single bag, taking only what I could carry, and dialed the number I knew by heart.

"Mr. Carter, I want to return to the Science Academy and participate in the National Science Conference."

Owen Carter's voice trembled with excitement. "Ms. Summer! That's fantastic! On behalf of Science Academy, welcome back! I'll send someone right away to book your ticket to Belmont!"

Jared and Jackson stayed at the hospital with Sabrina the entire time until I left. On the day I departed, I carried only a small bag containing nine years of my life and stepped onto the train. A flicker of premonition made me glance back, and I saw Jared's figure in the distance.

However, I didn't stop nor turn back. I climbed aboard, leaving everything behind.

My return to the Science Academy caused a sensation among the senior scientists. Though their hair was streaked with gray, they rose promptly and went out to greet me.

"Welcome back, Kylie, the genius of our lab!"