Chapter 4

Frederick didn't disappoint.

Since it was nearing closing time, the reading room was nearly empty, which made it the perfect place for me to capture evidence of his wrongdoings.

I told him I needed to look for some materials upstairs and asked him to keep an eye on my belongings. Then, just as I had expected, he proceeded to use the opportunity to make a copy of my report.

I couldn't help but smirk as I watched the live surveillance footage on my phone. Frederick and Elaine were truly a pair of idiots.

I hid in the corner and waited patiently. Once he was nearly done, I pretended to hurry back to my seat before slipping the hidden camera back into my backpack.

"Sorry I kept you waiting. I spent ages looking for what I needed, but I couldn't find it," I said. "It's alright. I'll look again tomorrow."

I looped my arm through Frederick's. But just as I was about to leave, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

"I just remembered. There's something else I need to take care of, Nancy. I can't head home with you right now," he told me.

"It's so late. Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

Frederick's tone was firm. "No, it can't. Also, I'm going to be really busy for the next couple of days, so don't contact me unless it's important."

Before I could even finish, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked off.

As I watched his figure disappear into the distance, the final piece of my plan fell into place.

Just as Frederick had mentioned, he didn't contact me at all over the next few days. Elaine, on the other hand, was already celebrating as though she had already won.

Humming cheerfully, she deliberately stepped in front of me to block my way. Then, with a smug smile on her face, she handed me a stack of papers and lifted her chin triumphantly.

"Take a look. Doesn't the content look familiar?"

I glanced down. "This is my research paper."

Upon hearing my response, Elaine snickered and tapped on the name on the title page. "I'm sorry—this is my research paper. I've already submitted it to the institution days ago."

She continued after a pause, "Wondering how your work ended up in my hands? Well, let me tell you. Your research paper and your man… They both belong to me now.

"Where do you think Frederick's been over the last few days? He's been with me, telling me how boring you are and how sick he is of you. If I were you, I'd break up with him while you still can. Better to leave the relationship with your dignity intact than get dumped and humiliated later on."

Elaine's laughter was shrill and painful to listen to. She was clearly doing everything in her power to make me break down completely. But unfortunately for her, I remained perfectly calm.

I raised an eyebrow and handed the research paper back to her. "If you like it, keep it. They're both garbage anyway."

I went on, "Frederick was just a guy I picked at random, and the research paper was something I'd casually written as well. You're the only one that's treating mediocre objects like they're some priceless treasure. You should raise your standards."

"Why, you—"

Elaine clearly hadn't expected someone as mild-mannered as me to retaliate. Hence, she stammered for a while and couldn't come up with a single response.

Her face flushed red with anger. Then, as if she suddenly thought of something, she exhaled and composed herself.

"I know you're just putting up a front and pretending not to care. Once the institution gives me the spot, you'll be miserable!" she declared.

"Don't bother trying to clear your name," she added. "You have no proof, and no one's going to believe you anyway. Just sit idly by and watch me take everything from you!"

With a cold snort, she turned around and walked away with her chin held high.

The way she strutted off reminded me of the geese I was always seeing on agricultural programs.

I shrugged indifferently and tapped the stop button on my phone to halt the audio recording.

Elaine wanted to take everything from me? I was more than ready to show her that I could be just as ruthless.