Chapter 4

"I plan to take Claude to Alpenland for treatment, so he probably won't be able to work for a long time. Sorry for the trouble this has caused you and the college.

"To express my apology, I'll donate two more research buildings to the college. Please take good care of Professor Lowry."

After hanging up the phone, Anna slapped me hard across the face and said coldly, "Claude, didn't I make it very clear that I'd make it up to you? So, why won't you just behave?

"You've really disappointed me. Since that's the case, don't blame me for being heartless."

The woman who once vowed to love me forever had just locked me in a basement so dark I couldn't even see my own hand in front of my face.

To punish me for my disobedience, Anna instructed the bodyguards to give me spoiled, rotten food. This, however, gave me the perfect opportunity to fake a stomachache and escape.

After finally shaking off the bodyguards chasing me, I tried to hail a taxi to my parents' house. They were the only people I had left to trust.

But after going a week without a shower or clean clothes, the smell coming off me was unbearable. Thus, not one driver was willing to take me.

In the end, I had to rely on my own two legs. I was exhausted and starving. If it weren't for the indelible hatred burning inside me, I probably would've passed out by the roadside long ago.

I walked for nearly three hours before finally reaching the neighborhood where my parents lived and immediately spotted my father, Eric Huffman, standing right downstairs from our building.

In that moment, my eyes stung with tears, and the fear that had gripped my heart finally eased, if only for a while.

But before I could step forward, I suddenly noticed there was someone standing in front of Dad. It was Anna's assistant, Saul Wade.

I instinctively ducked into the stairwell of the next building and pressed my ear tightly against the wall.

"Tell Anna not to worry. If Claude contacts his mother or me, we'll let her know right away. He's been out of line, and we'll make sure to discipline him when the time comes. As for his younger brother's job…"

Those few sentences were like a blade, piercing straight through my heart and leaving me in unbearable pain.

So, even my closest family could abandon me without a second thought for just a tiny bit of personal gain. Then who in this world could I still trust? No, I couldn't trust anyone except myself!

I would not let Anna and Josh have their way. Even if it costs me my life, I'd expose their true colors in front of everyone.

With that thought, I turned around and ran without hesitation. This time, my destination was the college where I worked.

If I remembered correctly, today was the day of the International Symposium's opening ceremony.

As the youngest professor at the college, Josh was scheduled to give a speech on stage. At the same time, the college was also going to take advantage of this rare opportunity to officially present him with his letter of appointment.

Moreover, Anna was the special guest invited by the college to present the letter of appointment.

For them, today was a day of great celebration, a chance to gain both fame and fortune. But for me, it was my only opportunity to prove my innocence and make them pay.

I sneaked into the lecture hall.

At that moment, Josh stood at the podium in a finely tailored, expensive suit, speaking confidently while holding the thesis he had stolen from me.

Under the stage, the college's management and guests looked at him with admiration in their eyes. Among the students, too, there was nothing but respect and envy.

As for Anna, the adoration in her eyes was impossible to miss.

At the sight, I clenched my fists tightly as a blaze of anger consumed me from within.

Just as Anna took the letter of appointment from the emcee and was about to hand it to Josh, I suddenly stood up and shouted with all my might, "He's a thief! He isn't worthy of being a professor!"