Chapter 3

"Did you deliberately skip this year's professor selection because you have a guilty conscience?"

"Do your students know that you're actually a fraud who faked your academic research?"

For a moment, I even wondered if I had misheard. But when I met the suspicious gazes of the students down in the lecture hall, I knew I hadn't misheard.

I looked at the reporters in front of me, who were clearly ill-intentioned, and loudly denied, "I did not commit academic fraud, let alone plagiarize anyone else's thesis!

"If you keep spreading rumors and causing trouble, I will definitely sue you for defamation!"

The moment I finished speaking, someone in the crowd suddenly let out a sneer.

"Mr. Huffman, stop trying to deny it. Your wife has already issued an apology on your behalf."

That thesis was something I spent half a year on, poring over countless sources to complete.

Anna knew this too. So, I called her frantically, wanting to ask her what on earth was going on. But her phone just kept ringing with no answer.

And so, I was forced to be suspended from my position.

That night, Anna finally came home. The moment she walked in, I hurled our wedding photo at her feet.

"Anna, I already gave up the professor position to Josh, so why did you still have to help him frame me? Why are you doing this to me?"

Anna looked at the broken glass at her feet. Instead of getting angry, she chuckled softly.

"Claude, I knew it. Your sudden magnanimity and understanding about me spending time with Josh these past few days was all an act. See? One little test and your true colors come shining through."

My eyes reddened as I looked at her in disbelief. "So, you destroyed my career just to expose my true colors? Anna, you are absolutely insane!"

She shook her head. "That's not the whole reason. Josh just got promoted to professor and needs a high-quality thesis to solidify his standing, and your paper just happened to be a perfect fit.

"Don't look at me like that. The fact that I considered your work worthy is a compliment in itself. Sure, this situation has put you through a bit of trouble. But don't worry, I'll make it up to you later. Think of it as a chance to take a real break and recharge."

I was shaking with rage, but she hummed a little tune happily as she went into the room.

Before long, her voice drifted out from the bedroom. "Don't worry, Josh. I've already taken care of things on Claude's side. He won't cause you any trouble.

"Just focus on preparing for the international symposium next week. Rest assured that as long as I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you."

As I listened to her soft, tender words, threads of hatred quietly began to take root within me.

Just then, my phone chimed with a message from Josh.

"Thanks, Claude! Your thesis was really well-written. But whether it's the thesis, the professorship, or Anna—whenever I set my sights on something, you never stand a chance.

"So, if you have any self-awareness left, just piss off on your own. Don't wait until the end when you've lost both your reputation and your dignity."

In that moment, I completely lost all reason and immediately forwarded the chat history to the president of the college, Glenn Tanner.

Then, I called him. "Mr. Tanner, you saw it, right? Josh admitted to plagiarizing my thesis. He's the real fraud here! I want the college to immediately issue a statement online and revoke Josh's professorship!"

But before Mr. Tanner could even speak, my phone was snatched away by Anna.

Right in front of me, she said to him, "Mr. Tanner, Claude has been under too much mental stress lately, so he's developed delusions. Those screenshots are actually all photoshopped by him."