The Frame that Failed

As the words trailed off, every scornful, mocking gaze in the room turned to Sebastian Anglem.

"Is that even a question? He's obviously still hung up on Aelia. He knew she'd be here with Jordan for the interview, and he still had the nerve to come cling to her."

"Back then, he only cheated so he could get into the same school as Aelia. He got caught and still refused to admit it. It's disgusting."

"Too bad for him. Aelia and Jordan are practically inseparable. They both topped the science track. Now that's what you call a match made in heaven. A cheating freak like him doesn't measure up to a single strand of her hair."

Sebastian's fingers tightened. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the woman sitting by the window.

Five years had passed since he had last seen Aelia Linden. She was exactly as he remembered her: a flower on a distant peak, visible yet forever out of reach.

Yet despite her cold nature, there had been one summer when she had shown him a tenderness that felt like a dream.

Back then, Aelia had been the school's top science student, the one everyone admired and gravitated toward. Yet she had treated him differently. She had been good to him and no one else.

She would bring him a hot breakfast before first period and leave it on his desk. After school, she would wait for him outside the building.

Then they would walk together down the long, tree-lined path through campus. Whenever the evening wind blew leaves onto his shoulder, she would reach up and gently brush them away.

Once, when he developed a fever during an exam, she abandoned her own test without hesitation and helped him to the infirmary.

The first thing she said was, "The exam doesn't matter as much as you do."

Those small, quiet moments of tenderness had woven the most precious summer dream of his entire youth.

Then it shattered completely on the day of the SAT.

A slip of paper covered in answers appeared out of nowhere in the exam room and landed beside his test paper.

The proctor rushed over at once.

Sebastian looked up in panic and met Aelia's cold stare from the back of the room.

"I saw it with my own eyes. Sebastian took out a cheat sheet."

That single careless sentence sealed his fate.

All his scores were invalidated, and the incident left a permanent mark on his academic record.

The midsummer sun burned overhead, harsh and blinding. His face had gone pale, and he could barely stay on his feet, but he stubbornly stood by the roadside and waited for her.

He wanted an explanation.

Instead, he watched her walk away side by side with Jordan Wafford.

She did not so much as glance in his direction. She was unwilling to spare him even a single look.

Later, Sebastian learned the truth.

The person Aelia had always loved was Jordan. She had only gotten close to Sebastian to distract him so Jordan could study without competition and claim the top science score in his place.

As for the cheat sheet, it had all started because Jordan told her before the exam that he lacked confidence. Hence, she had resorted to that scheme to destroy everything Sebastian had worked for.

What she did not know was that Sebastian had never cared about becoming the top science scorer in the first place. A well-known university abroad had already offered him direct admission. He had hesitated only because he wanted to stay and attend the same university as her.

He never expected that there had been no need for any of it.

"All right, that's enough. We were classmates once, after all." Jordan spoke up with a smile and looked at Sebastian. "Bastian, five whole years without a word to any of us? That's pretty cold. I heard you went abroad for work after that. Is it true?"

Before Sebastian could answer, the others burst into quiet laughter.

"Jordan, you're too polite for your own good. Everyone knows he got detained over the cheating scandal."

"No one would even hire him for odd jobs after that. He ended up working illegally overseas in the most backward, filthy place he could find. What kind of future could someone like that possibly have? Maybe he... Hehe..."

"No wonder he's dressed so sharp this time. Where else would the money have come from? He's probably some rich man's lapdog, willing to do whatever filthy work pays."

"That's enough."

A cool, detached voice cut through the room.

Aelia raised her eyes and fixed Sebastian with a flat, indifferent stare. "Sebastian, stop playing games and just leave. With your record, there's no way you'll pass this interview. Staying here will only bring you more trouble."

She paused before adding coldly, "No company would ever hire an employee as filthy as you."

The people in the waiting room exchanged glances before breaking into laughter.

Just then, the staff member in charge of the interviews walked in. "What's all this noise? The interview is about to start. Keep it down."

The room quickly fell silent.

Jordan straightened his back, put on an easy smile, and stepped forward to greet him. "Hello, I'm Candidate Number One—"

Before he could finish, the staff member walked straight past him and stopped in front of Sebastian.

His demeanor immediately turned deferential. "Mr. Sebastian Anglem, you're here. The interview room is right next door. Mr. Clarkson told me earlier to bring you over.

"Today's candidates all have impressive résumés, especially Candidate Number One, Jordan Wafford. Four of his projects have won national awards, and three have taken gold at international competitions. He's a rare talent..."

"No need." Sebastian calmly swept his gaze over everyone in the room before speaking. "Disqualify them from the interview."