Chapter 4

There were eight people in the Innovation Center's conference room, consisting of college administrators, the competition's organizing committee, and the legal team.

The projection screen clearly displayed the transmission time, device ID, and login logs.

Professor Ewing tapped against the tabletop. He said, "The leaked files contained not just the competition model, but also confidential data from three investment firms. The recipient's lab happened to serve as the technical advisor for another team in this competition, and they've already downloaded the files.

"If we end up getting sued because of this, a simple letter of apology won't cut it."

Professor Sanford also called me. She asked me simply, "Did you do it?"

"No."

"Then make it clear. The project team can only hold your spot open until tonight."

After I hung up, I went to the restroom to splash cold water on my face. But as I reached the stairwell corner, I heard Nancy crying.

"I really didn't mean to. I just wanted to send my visa documents to my overseas supervisor last night. But both the ZIP files had such similar names that I ended up clicking on the wrong one. But I deleted the email the moment I realized it. I just didn't think that they would have already downloaded it so quickly."

Aaron's voice was low as he replied, "What about the surveillance footage?"

"There aren't any inside the hospital room. The only camera in the hallway would just show me walking in with the laptop."

"Then, there's still a way out."

I pushed the fire emergency door open, and both of them turned to look at me at the same time.

Nancy was crying hard until her shoulders shook.

"Carmen, I'm sorry. I can apologize and pay damages, but I can't let this go on my permanent record. If it does, I'll lose my eligibility for direct admission to grad school, the exchange program, and my startup venture."

I asked, "So?"

Aaron cut in.

"You will take the blame for her for now."

He spoke quickly, as if he had already calculated everything in his head. "You're only handling the visual collaboration for the external team in this competition. You never even touched the core code.

"At most, the faculty will rule it an accidental error and issue a disciplinary warning to you. But it won't be the same for Nancy," he said. "She's the project's core. If academic misconduct is proven against her, her entire career path will be ruined."

I looked at him.

"And what about my path, then?"

"You can always re-apply for that Wingdor project next year."

"This was the last thing my parents secured for me before they passed away. There is no 'next year'." I replied.

Aaron frowned. "Carmen, don't try making this about grand principles right now. I'm just thinking about how to minimize the damage."

Suddenly, I understood what he was getting at.

To him, my life had always been something he could easily sacrifice for the sake of damage control.

At 22 years old, I could be used as a scapegoat for a college project. And later on in life, I could continue sacrificing my love and time for the next 20 years. After all, he would still stay by my side and think that it counted as compensation.

"I won't take the blame," I said.

Aaron's expression darkened.

"Must you drag everyone down with you?"

"I wasn't the one who did anything wrong."

"I'll take care of the disciplinary action if it's taken against you. Just give me three days," Aaron said. "Is it that hard for you to just take the fall for her for just a few days?"

The door opened, and a faculty member appeared, asking us to enter the conference room.

Just before entering the room, Aaron grabbed my wrist and said, "Trust me. I won't let you actually suffer any consequences."

He had said that exact thing to me many times in my past life. But this time, I just pulled my wrist away and entered the room first.

Professor Ewing opened the records.

"The current logs only identify the device used. Aaron Dawson, you're the project lead and the only person who knows where that laptop went at that time.

"So, who had the laptop on the night of the incident?"

Everyone in the conference room turned to look at him.

Nancy sat beside him, her fingers tightly clutching the hem of her shirt.

Aaron looked at me for a very long time. Then, he averted his eyes and said, "It was with Carmen."