I was about to retort when Mr. Ashford spoke again."The pregnant woman with Timothy is his wife. They even have a child together. Do you plan on breaking apart the family just because of his face?" Mr. Ashford added.My eyes widened in shock."I have no such intentions!" I shot back indignantly.I wasn't even sure if Timothy was Irvin, but even if he was, I had just been caught off guard by the sight of someone who I thought was dead. My mind had been whirling as I struggled to process it all.I only wanted to confirm whether or not Timothy was Irvin. I never even thought of being with him, let alone being a homewrecker!Mr. Ashford glanced at me but didn't say anything further.Our food arrived just then, so I didn't say anything, either.…Mr. Ashford shot me a meaningful look after the meal, as if telling me to seriously consider what he had said. Then, he left.My mind wandered to his request as I watched his departing figure. Regardless, I also believed Noah and I were
The Global Technology Forum—or GTF—was a summit held once every three years. All nations around the world participated in it. This summit was like the Goringos of the technology industry and also the highest stage for scientific advancement.In just a few more minutes, our research would be revealed to the world. It would receive global attention and give countless paralyzed individuals the chance to walk again. The thought of this filled my team with excitement and joy.Mr. Holland was also in an unusually good mood today. The laidback old man had even forwent his usual casual attire and donned a suit and tie.We were about to go on stage and present our findings.Mr. Holland was so emotional that his eyes reddened with unshed tears.Patting my shoulder, he said, "I knew you could do it, Emi. I knew this day would come. You'll be able to connect with even more brilliant scientists through this summit, which will help you progress even further."You'll soar farther and higher i
At the VIP section of the conference hall, Noah exclaimed, "Look at her, Uncle Will. Isn't she incredible? She's absolutely dazzling!"His eyes were practically sparkling as he watched me shine on stage.Mr. Ashford sat beside him. Instead of responding, he leaned back lazily in his chair. His gaze was fixed on me as I presented on stage.Noah spoke again."I didn't go looking for Emilia because I'm chasing some dream, Uncle Will. I don't want to be with her short-term—I want to stay with her forever. I know what Grandfather expects of me, and I promise I will do everything to meet his expectations."So, please—don't stand between me and Emilia. Please don't stop us from being together. I can become the greatest man in the world with her by my side. But without her, I'm nothing—I'm worse than trash."Picking up on the underlying threat behind Noah's words, Mr. Ashford laughed mockingly.Then, he retorted, "Forever, you say? But tell me, kid, does she want the same thing as you?"
There were also intimate-looking photos of me and Shaun. Similarly, these photos had also been carefully framed to make regular interactions appear improper. They were deliberately made to deceive, especially the one of us entering a hotel near the university.Before I could recover from my shock, Lyle Gilbert pointed a knife at his abdomen.Lyle was one of my senior in the same program as me and had been on stage with me as a fellow presenter.His expression was filled with pain and despair as he cried out, "I'm sorry, everyone, for ruining the event, but I just can't take it anymore!""The credit for this research was supposed to belong to me and my fellow researchers. I was the reason we had our breakthrough. "However, Mr. Holland forced us to give Emilia Quill all the credit. If we refused, he said we wouldn't graduate. We tried everything, but we weren't able to change his mind. Thus, this was the only path left for us to take!"I stared with my mouth agape as Lyle spewed l
However, no one seemed to be listening.The truth didn't matter when a person was willing to die for a cause—all that mattered was that the person had been desperate enough to do so.After all, who would go so far if they hadn't been wronged? Would people feel the need to be self-destructive if they hadn't been utterly driven to despair?This sort of thinking remained at the forefront of people's minds, making them dismiss all contradictions. Everything they heard sounded false. It didn't matter if the evidence was right in front of them—they would reject it because they only wanted to believe what they had decided was true.And since the Global Technology Forum had been live streamed, it wasn't long before the whole country learned about what had happened.The internet erupted with outrage toward me in an instant. People on the internet nicknamed me "academic seductress". They were horrified that I had stolen someone else's research and then dared show my face at such a prestigio
Mr. Holland couldn't understand Lyle's actions.If it was for money, all Lyle had to do was wait a little longer. The patents for our research project had been applied under our team's name. So, once it went global, everyone in the research team would become rich beyond measure. Thus, Lyle wouldn't be lacking in money.Hypothetically, even if he desperately needed it, I was around. I was obscenely wealthy and considered the lab as my second home. As such, I had always been more than willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in the lab who needed funds.Mr. Holland couldn't make sense of what had happened. Why had Lyle done such a thing? What had pushed him to go to such self-destructive lengths just to destroy me and ruin Mr. Holland?He couldn't come to terms with what Lyle had done. He couldn't accept that a student so close to him had betrayed and slandered him. As a result, he collapsed.I watched over him as he lay in the hospital bed. Mr. Holland looked as though his life h
"Emi, I don't know what you're talking about."I turned my gaze toward him and chuckled. "Shaun, the great Professor Green. To be honest, I've always seen you as a dear friend. You have no idea how grateful I was to meet you that night, to have guided someone as capable and talented as you onto the right path and given Mr. Holland the chance to mentor such an outstanding student like you."As Shaun thought about the past, he parted his lips to say something, but in the end, no words came out."But as much as I was grateful back then, I regret it just as much now, for introducing you to Mr. Holland and giving you the chance to ruin his reputation." I continued to ask, "Shaun, how could you? You know how kind he was to you, how great of a person he was."He dedicated his entire life to research and his students. He wouldn't even treat himself to a decent meal, choosing instead to donate all his money to students in need. And yet, you tarnished his name. How could you?"If he had sla
Shaun said, "You don't have any evidence to prove that you led this research. All the research data was shared, so there was never a situation where Lyle was unaware of things. "Even if you find out who was behind it, it won't matter. No one would believe you were slandered. They'll just think you paid someone to take the blame. At this point, no matter what you do, it's useless."Just as Shaun said, things had reached a point where, unless I could present solid evidence proving that I led the successful research, no one would believe me.Shaun knew me well. He knew the conditions of my research and had planned his scheme perfectly."Emi, it's too late. There's nothing you can do to change things now. I know that I've wronged both you and Mr. Holland, but I had no other choice." If he had any other option, he wouldn't have resorted to this.He continued, "I know the current situation has made things very difficult for Mr. Holland and you, but you don't have to worry about your
Irvin still had more to say. But then he realized anything he said now would be pointless. Thus, in the end, he just gazed profoundly at me before silently leaving.I went to the restroom after Irvin left. And when I exited a stall to wash my hands, I looked at myself in the mirror. Seeing the unmistakable disappointment in my reflection, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. I truly was pathetic.After splashing cold water on my face to wake myself up, I redid my simple makeup and headed back to the private dining room.As I was leaving the restroom, Grace happened to walk in. When she saw me, she smiled. "Hello, Ms. Quill."Since we were alone, I didn't feel like playing along. I kept walking, ignoring her completely.Seeing this, Grace stepped forward and blocked my path."I know my past behavior has hurt our relationship, Ms. Quill," she said. "But rest assured, it won't happen again," she said.Grace wouldn't bother me again because, truthfully, I wasn't even worth the trou
Irvin lowered his gaze.After a pensive moment, he replied, "Okay. I'll verify her true identity and send her to prison!"Irvin might have taken a moment to respond, but I still felt his reply was too decisive, which wasn't like him at all.I had known Irvin for a long time, so I knew he valued loyalty and kindness. That was why he still helped Julianne during her criminal trial even after learning the whole truth.Now, Julianne had distanced herself from our lives and even had a new identity. If Irvin could no longer associate with her, he could accept this and do it. However, he shouldn't have been able to agree so readily when it came to destroying Julianne's current life and sending her to prison.Thus, I studied him dubiously. And when he met my gaze, he instinctively looked away. I couldn't help but scoff at this."You know William has use for Julianne and that I don't actually want you to send her to prison, don't you?" I grilled him. "That's why you agreed so easily, is
During dinner, I excused myself to use the restroom. As I passed a private room, I was suddenly forcefully yanked inside. I was about to cry out, but then I met Irvin's worried gaze."I just got news you were in an accident and hospitalized yesterday. What happened, babe?" he asked.Irvin suspected Julianne wasn't the only reason I had been prevented from attending the academic exchange conference. Hence, he had someone look into why I was delayed from entering the hall. That was how he discovered I had fallen into the river and subsequently spent a night in the hospital.Upon learning this, he had immediately sent me an anxious text asking what had happened. However, I hadn't been checking my phone. So, naturally, I hadn't responded to his message.Irvin had figured I was probably too engrossed in exchanging knowledge with the professors and hadn't had the time to look at my phone. And since I had shown up without any apparent injuries, he had also assumed I was physically fine.
These prominent scholars might be able to speak eloquently during academic discussions, but they weren't fond of socializing. Hence, when invited to dinner, their first instinct was to decline.It wasn't until Professor Weiss explained that we would simply be continuing the day's discussion while eating—rather than it being a formal meal—that the scholars finally agreed to join us later that evening.Hungry for more knowledge, my attention was fully focused on these professors. All I could think about was what questions I could ask them over dinner. I was so focused that I didn't even notice Irvin repeatedly glancing at me as we left.We took a shuttle back to the official conference hotel. Then, after saying temporary goodbyes, we headed to our respective rooms to change.Once inside the room, Emma couldn't hold it in any longer."Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "I thought I was pretty smart because I had a high IQ. I had always been a top student and managed to get into one of the to
While I couldn't completely let go of Irvin, I was no longer the person I once was.Back then, I had placed love above all else, so loving Irvin had been the most important thing to me. I'd devoted myself to him and treated him like he was my entire world. He had been the source of all my emotions—from happiness to anger, and from sorrow to joy.Now, my top priority was my studies and research. I would never again give up the academic path I loved so deeply for anyone.…Julianne watched as Mitchell apologized to Professor Weiss and tried to curry favor with him. Then, she saw the way Professor Weiss treated me with warmth and respect. Hatred simmered behind her eyes. She felt life was so unfair. She had to work hard for everything she wanted, and yet those very things seemed to fall effortlessly into my lap. She didn't want to take any more risks. But despite this, she was so furious that she couldn't resist the urge to. She wanted to destroy me once and for all.Grace obse
Mitchell felt humiliated from having to apologize to me so publicly, so he was already in a bad mood. And when he heard the tone Julienne used with him, his expression soured even more."Who told you Ms. Quill is an academic fraud, Ms. Calder?" he shot back.Julianne clearly hadn't expected that. She was caught off guard by the question. Then, as though sensing someone's gaze on her, she turned her head. And when she spotted Irvin, she froze.Julianne had kept tabs on Irvin, but they hadn't seen each other face-to-face ever since she faked her death. So, their sudden encounter shook her.I lowered my gaze when I saw Julianne and Irvin lock eyes.I had recognized Julianne the moment I saw her. My family had too. Thus, I believed it would be the same for Irvin as well.Our relationship problems started because of Julianne, so they should end with her too.Having grown up together with Irvin, she knew she couldn't hide who she really was from him. Regardless, she couldn't admit she
"Ms. Quill, you—" Grace sputtered.From her expression, I could tell she wanted to say, "You really will say anything to save your pride. How will you get in if you won't follow us?"Just then, a few people walked out of the hall. At the lead was an elderly man with white hair.Upon seeing me, the elderly man's stern expression morphed into a smile. "Emilia! You're here!"I returned the smile and walked up to greet him, "Hello, Professor Weiss."I had met several influential figures during the Global Technology Forum in Lestoria. Among them, I had gotten along best with this man, Professor Richard Weiss.After exchanging pleasantries, Professor Weiss turned to Mitchell and asked, "Who is this man? What gives him the right to bar you from attending the conference and call you an academic fraud?"Professor Weiss was the biggest name in the physics field. He was someone everyone respected and dared not offend.Hearing this, Mitchell quickly explained, "It was a misunderstanding! I
"Of course!" Grace said.Moving to my side, she linked her arm with mine in a friendly gesture. It was as though we were on very good terms.She continued, "Not only is she an incredibly skilled researcher, but she's also my sister-in-law—which means she's also a member of the Hardwell family. So, Mr. Slate, any accusations of her being an academic fraud must be a misunderstanding!"Upon hearing how solemn Grace was, Mitchell couldn't help but look at me."If you aren't an academic fraud, then why would Ms. Calder say that about you?" he asked.I coolly returned his gaze. "That's a question for Ms. Calder, not me."Mitchell frowned and looked displeased. He clearly hadn't expected that answer.Grace turned to me and said, "Alright, Emi. Let's go inside together!"Her expression read, "Come on. I'll bring you in."Irvin didn't understand why I hadn't been allowed in despite having an invitation. He also didn't know why I had been mistaken for an academic fraud and was being bar
I looked down at my phone and was zooming in on the image of the data. But before I could even take a good look at it, Emma squeezed my arm."Holy crap! Emilia. Isn't that your ex-husband's brother!" she exclaimed.I instinctively looked up—just in time to see Irvin opening the car door and courteously helping Grace get down.Grace flashed a gentle smile at Irvin, then linked arms with him. To onlookers, that intimate gesture made them look like a loving married couple.I thought back to how Irvin had been near tears when we had met on the first snowfall of the season. Yet now, he was holding another woman's arm and playing the role of her devoted husband.I couldn't even describe how I felt at that moment.Then, I recalled how much Irvin had despised Grace before. Yet, in just a month, he managed to make it look like they were happily married. I feared it wouldn't be long before he began to feel sympathy for her. And then, per Grace's scheme, Irvin would eventually truly becom