Chapter 5

Tessa jerked awake instantly. Faking data was a serious crime. It was a devastating accusation to anyone involved in research. If she were convicted of faking data, she would not be able to graduate. Even her placement to study overseas would be canceled.

However, she could not understand why someone would report her data was faked when she had worked hard through the night for a month to produce the data. Who could have reported her?

"Mr. Werner, you know that I got my data through experiments. I would never plagiarize."

Lawrence sighed heavily. "It's not enough that I believe you. But we need evidence. It's just that there's only less than half a month before you graduate. Even if you manage to submit the timeline of your experiment, you won't be in time to make it for your graduation review.

"The only way is to explain things to the person who made the report and get them to rescind it."

Tessa quickly asked, "Who reported me?"

"Serene Chord."

Tessa instantly felt helpless when she heard the name. Why did Serence insist on giving her trouble?

She had already convinced Henry to mess with Tessa's feelings, but that was not enough. Serene was even going as far as to ruin her academic life.

The other half of the bed beside her had turned cold. Henry was gone.

Tessa had no idea how to contact Serene. She did not even know where to find Serene.

She had no choice but to search for Chord Group's address online. Tessa quickly put on her clothes and rushed there in hopes of meeting Serence.

Tessa waited from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. It had been four hours, and she had not drunk a single drop of water. Her body had not recovered from the kidney removal. She could not withstand the long hours of standing and the hunger.

Just as she was about to collapse, two familiar figures appeared at the door. It was Serene and Henry.

Tessa clenched her teeth and pressed her hand down on her wound while stopping them.

Henry did not expect to see her there, and he became flustered. "Tessa, what are you doing here?"

All Tessa could think about was getting Serence to rescind the report. She did not care about anything else.

"Ms. Chord, I produced my data by working through the night in the laboratory. I didn't fake them. Please rescind your report."

Henry had no idea about this. "What's going on—"

Serene interrupted him with a smile, "Well, what can you do if I suspect you, Tessa? The university will investigate and dig out the truth."

It would take at least half a month for the university to investigate this. There would not be enough time for Tessa.

"Ms. Chord, tell me what I should do to convince you to rescind the report."

Tessa knew that Serene was doing this on purpose. It would be better to confront her rather than go in circles.

Serene played with her long nails nonchalantly. She did not even look at Tessa. "You disturbed my fun yesterday while shopping. How about this? Stand here and apologize to me loudly until I forgive you. I'll rescind the report after that. Sounds good?"

Henry frowned subtly. His hands, which were hanging by his sides, moved slightly, but he said nothing.

Tessa took a deep breath. She tried to suppress the wave of emotions within her.

As crowds of people walked in and out of the office entrance, Tessa began apologizing clearly and loudly. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

People from every corner of the building turned to look at her.

Tessa had never experienced such humiliation before. It felt like she was being stripped naked and thrown out into the streets while everyone jeered and sneered at her. However, she had no choice.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Serene laughed softly. "Why is your voice so soft?"

Tessa closed her eyes. She tried her best to hold back the discomfort coming from her stomach. She raised her voice to repeat her words robotically, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Tessa did not remember how many times she apologized while everyone around her sneered and Serene looked at her tauntingly. However, Serene stayed silent throughout.

All of a sudden, a group of people appeared with eggs and rotten vegetables. They flung them at Tessa. They shouted vulgarities while flinging things at her.

"Die, you plagiarizer!"

"Bitch!"

"Shameless woman!"

Tessa wanted to hide, but more and more people surrounded her. She could not move at all. Those people got even more brazen. Tessa felt the pain from getting her hair pulled. She wanted to call for help, but her voice was buried in the crowd's yells.

Someone reached a leg out to trip Tessa. Numerous feet stepped on her calf and arms, and multiple slaps landed on her face.

Tessa's surgery wound had not healed, and blood began to flow out of it. It was extremely painful.

As another foot was about to stomp on the surgery wound on her abdomen, Tessa closed her eyes in dejection.

"Get out of the way!"

A pair of big hands pushed away the crowd.

Tessa used the last of her strength to look up. There was a frightening look on Henry's face. When he saw the disheveled Tessa on the ground, panic and fear appeared in Henry's eyes.

The increasing pain in Tessa's abdomen was too intense. She could no longer take it and passed out.

…

When Tessa regained consciousness, all she could see was white. She could vaguely hear talking outside her ward.

"Who told you to arrange those people to be there?" Henry sounded furious.

"We just thought she was getting away too easily after only apologizing in public. She deserves something more serious. She needs to be punished anyway. Wasn't it good to arrange for those people? Two years is almost up. We won't have another opportunity to get her again after this."

"Don't you know someone might die from all that stomping? Her life would've been in danger if I hadn't saved her in time."

There was silence. Everyone was shocked by Henry's anger, and they spoke carefully.

"Why do you care if that woman is in danger, Henry? You aren't… in love with her, are you?"