Chapter 3

I tried to explain myself. "Guys, that's not it. Hear me out—"

However, one of the researchers, Lucas Lambert, cut me off. "We have proof! What else can you say for yourself? You can't just steal Juniper's patent just because you're jealous of her!

"We've all been so nice to you. How could you do this to us? Gosh, you're so fake and ungrateful. You're no genius; you're just a shameless thief!"

I looked at those accusing me in disbelief. Some were people I had personally helped get promoted, others I often lent a hand to. When they couldn't get their data right, I analyzed it. When they were too busy to go home, I took care of their families.

Now, thanks to Juniper's accusations, everyone has turned their backs on me. She was smug as ever. Meanwhile, Connor couldn't even look me in the eye.

I was heartbroken and barely managed to say, "Is that how you all think of me?"

Suddenly, the door flung open, and my superior, Hector Link, walked in.

He said, "How else should we think of you? The proof is crystal clear. Should we doubt Juniper, who has all the evidence, and believe you, who has nothing to show, instead?

"Besides, not even your husband is on your side. What else do you have to defend yourself with? If you can't prove the data is yours, I'm afraid the institute can no longer keep someone like you around."

Proof? I laughed bitterly.

I fed my hard-earned data—the manuscript I thought was the original—to the pigs, thinking I had destroyed all materials regarding the patent.

Now, the real one sat in my drawer after Connor swapped it out of my bag a couple of days ago. Ironically, it was used as solid proof that I had plagiarized Juniper's work.

There were no written dates on my manuscript. How on earth was I supposed to prove my innocence?

Faced with my silence, my colleagues began casting contemptuous looks at me.

"Juniper was right. Victoria Wilson is a thief!"

"And I was even defending her earlier! Ew!"

"Get out of here! You're just a parasite who only knows how to steal others' hard work. You don't deserve to stay in this institute!"

My usually kind colleagues started throwing stuff at me—fruits, eggs, rotten vegetable leaves—all hitting me from every side. Soon, I was a complete mess.

Hector watched with a smirk, clearing his throat. "Since you fail to produce any proof, while the existing evidence points directly to your plagiarism, we'll have to—"

"Wait!" Connor, who hadn't said a word until then, suddenly stepped forward, and the whole place went quiet.

Our colleagues looked at him in disbelief. "Connor, you're not defending her, are you?"

"Someone like her deserves to be locked up! You can't give in now, Connor!"

Juniper gently looped her arm through Connor's, gazing at him with worry. "Connor?"

He gritted his teeth, then spoke slowly but clearly. "Due to Victoria's misconduct and repeated plagiarism, I'm officially filing for divorce."

He looked at me coldly. "On top of everything you've done, you even stole the lab keys. I can't live with you anymore. Let's just get the divorce over with."

I stared at Connor in utter disbelief. He felt like a stranger, as though I had never truly known him.

A bitter laugh slipped from my mouth, my tears streaming down my face. "You're divorcing me?"

Connor and I met when he was at his lowest. I went against my family to be with him. Back then, he had promised me he would never betray me.

In just a few years, he rode on my name, made a fortune, and changed his mind.

He looked guilty for a moment and was about to brush the rotten leaves off my head, but I took a step back and nodded. "Fine. We're getting divorced."

The crowd breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good. At least Connor's future won't be dragged down by her. I guess she does know her place."

"Yeah. She couldn't even say a word to defend herself. She's a genius researcher by day, a thief by night. What else do you expect?"

Hector cleared his throat. "I see no one has any objections. In this case, Victoria Wilson is hereby expelled from the research institute with immediate effect and is permanently prohibited from setting foot on its premises ever again."

The crowd chanted, "Get out! Get out!"

I was shoved and pushed toward the door, and before I knew it, I twisted my ankle and dropped to my knees.

Just as they yanked me by my collar to drag me out, the door suddenly slammed open, and a commanding voice boomed, "Stop what you're doing right now!"