Chapter 7

The next week was a blur of late nights for Tania and her team as they worked to fix the data Lucy had messed with.

During a break, Tania called Kingston University to ask about Lucy's job there.

Turns out, the university had never really hired Lucy. They just had not bothered to correct the rumors because she had not caused them any trouble... yet.

Meanwhile, Elias had dug up the truth about Lucy.

She had been kicked out of her grad program in her first year for cheating and had been living off rich sponsors ever since. Her whole "genius student" act was nothing but a lie.

"Ms. Russell, what are we going to do?" The researcher's eyes brimmed with tears. "All our work over the years might be ruined, and then there's Mr. Ferguson..."

Tania's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, her voice steady, "I'll show everyone at the seminar the proof that Lucy changed the data. After that, it's up to Samuel to decide what he wants to do."

An hour before the seminar, Tania made two phone calls.

The first was to Samuel. She simply said, "The seminar starts in an hour."

The second call was to Elias. "Brother, can you book a flight for me tonight? Once the seminar is over, I'm done with Samuel for good. Whatever happens to him won't be of concern to me anymore."

Right after she hung up, Samuel showed up.

He was dressed in a sharp suit, his hair perfectly combed, holding a bunch of fancy invitations.

"Tania, take a look. These are our fourth-anniversary invites. I made them myself. Do you like them?"

Without really looking, Tania replied, "They're fine."

"Lulu is coming as a special guest. That's okay with you, isn't it?"

"No problem. Whatever you say," Tania said, cutting to the chase.

Samuel was thrilled and leaned in to kiss her, but Tania avoided him smoothly.

The seminar began right on time, but Tania skipped the usual introductions.

She walked straight to the podium, quickly updated everyone on the project, and then the screen flashed to a chart.

"We're nearly done with the new drug for the Ferguson family's genetic illness, but we've found someone messed with the important data on purpose."

Tania's voice echoed through the microphone, filling the room, her eyes locking onto Lucy, who stood next to Samuel.

"Lucy is the one who changed the data. Please give us the original data. Lives are on the line."

Lucy's body stiffened.

She had only tweaked some numbers to make trouble for Tania, never imagining they were tied to Samuel's life-saving medicine!

However, she could not confess. If she did, her life would be ruined.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched Samuel's arm. "Samuel, who do you believe, me or her? I changed the data, but I only fixed her deliberate mistakes! She's the one trying to end your life!"

Samuel's brow furrowed as he turned to Tania, his eyes showing his disappointment. "Tania, why do you keep breaking my heart?"

Standing on stage, Tania met his gaze and asked simply, "Do you believe me or her?"

"I believe Lulu, of course!" Samuel blurted out without hesitation. "You're nothing compared to Lulu!"

If the reporters had not been there, he might have already reacted more fiercely.

Tania watched him stand protectively in front of Lucy, and any last flicker of emotion in her eyes faded to stillness.

Without another word, she turned and left the stage, walking out of the institute without looking back.

Elias's car waited outside. She opened the door, got in, and drove away.

A week later, a giant hot air balloon rose in front of the hotel the Ferguson family had reserved for their fourth anniversary. It read, "Samuel & Tania, together forever."

Samuel, in his crisp suit, kept glancing at the unanswered text he had sent Tania on his phone.

[Tania, it's been a whole week since you've answered my calls. Are you still upset? I know you didn't mean to do it, but I have to trust Lulu's data because it's more professional.]

[Please come over, I have a surprise for you today.]

He tucked his phone away and watched the short clips that were playing over and over again.

He had edited them himself, filled with everyday moments from the last four years with Tania.

Imagining a future with Tania, having kids and growing old together, he could not help but smile.

However, when noon came around, Tania was nowhere to be seen.

Samuel could not sit still any longer and drove to Kingston University to look for her.

The lab was deserted, and all of Tania's usual equipment and papers were gone.

A bad feeling welled up inside him, and he stopped a researcher walking by, asking urgently

"Where's Tania? Have you seen her?"

"Tania? You mean the Dean, Ms. Russell?" the researcher looked confused, "She left for a job at an overseas institute last week and said she's not coming back to work in the country. Did you need her for something?"

"Not the dean!" Samuel was frantic, waving his hands, "I'm talking about Tania, the young woman in her early twenties!"

The researcher chuckled, "Our Dean Tania is just twenty-five. She was the youngest dean at Kingston University. She said she's moving abroad for good and won't be coming back."