Chapter 293
293
With such voluminous and complex research materials , there was no way she could have possibly mastered them all in such a short timeframe .
Hannah’s face twisted with discomfort as she forced a calm facade . She retorted , “ What you’re saying is baseless . Why should I disclose my research findings to you ? ”
That did it – the crowd erupted in fury .
A student said , “ We spent day and night practically living in that lab ! Meanwhile , Professor Saxon was running herself ragged – meticulously guiding us while also diving deep into the viral problems plaguing poultry and livestock .
“ All of us slaved away , yet you’re claiming all the glory for yourself !
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“ Just because we’re students without professional clout , you think you can brazenly steal our work and get away with it ? ”
By the end , everyone’s eyes were red with anger .
For months , they poured their blood , sweat , and tears into this , working even harder than during the grind of preparing for the SAT . The application might be rejected , but being branded as thieves was simply unacceptable .
The villagers cured by the Mandino University students stepped forward one after another to show their support .
A tidal wave of accusations crashed down on Hannah .
Hannah took a step back , clutching Liam’s hand . “ Liam , ” she whimpered , “ they … they’re all ganging up on me . ”
She would never admit it . Not until the very end .
If I’m proven guilty of theft , everything I’ve worked for will go down the drain , ‘ she thought anxiously .
Liam’s heart sank like a stone . He refused to look at Hannah , his hands clenching into white – knuckled fists .
In that moment , he could no longer lie to himself – Hannah Gibson had indeed stolen the Mandino University students ‘ research .
‘ During the P – virus incident … did she steal Aria’s notes too ? ‘ Liam wondered , the answer already painfully clear in his heart .
Liam already knew the answer in his heart , but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it .
‘ Perhaps Hannah was always like this , ‘ Liam realized . ‘ She never changed – I was the one who misjudged her .’
“ Liam … ” Hannah’s voice came soft and trembling , thick with feigned hurt . “ You don’t believe me either ? ”
Liam’s gaze turned icy as he glanced sideways at her . “ Then tell me , ” he demanded , his voice low and controlled , “ why were you in their lab ? And what exactly were you doing with that flash drive ? ”
Hannah’s eyes welled up with tears , her eyelids reddening as she stammered , her voice trembling , “ I… I didn’t know that was their server . ”
“ Is that so ? ” A crisp female voice rang out . All eyes turned to see Aria walking toward them , one hand effortlessly supporting a laptop as she moved with deliberate calm .
She stood tall and straight , her hair pulled up into a sleek high bun . Her open lab coat billowed with each stride , radiating an air of unrestrained confidence and a touch of rebellious charm .
The livestream camera stayed locked on her ,
The barrage of critical livestream comments froze for two seconds .
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Viewer A : [ OMG ! She’s drop – dead gorgeous and badass ! She slays ! ]
Viewer B : [ Seriously , that face never gets old ! I’m jealous of her future hubby – imagine waking up to that face every morning . ]
Viewer C : [ Step on me , queen ! ]
Viewer D : [ We need badass BGM for this . ]
Viewer E : [ OMG , the two guys behind Aria Saxon are total hotties too ! ]
Viewer F : [ I’m all about the buzzcut guy – bet he’s got an eight – pack . ]
Standing right behind Aria were Fryderyk and Jackson .
The villagers knew Fryderyk and Jackson as Aria Saxon’s friends , but were unaware of their police identities .
But Hannah knew it .
Her pupils shrank to pinpoints at the sight of them . “ You … ” she stammered , panic flashing in her eyes .
As Aria approached , the crowd instinctively parted to make way for her , awed by her commanding presence .
Up close , Hannah instantly recognized the laptop in Aria’s hands – it was hers .
With a desperate lunge , Hannah charged at Aria , her voice raw with hysteria as she shrieked , “ Aria ! How dare you touch my laptop ? ”
At that moment , only one thought burned in Hannah’s mind . ‘ I have to destroy that laptop . ‘
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熱 61 % 乾
FTI , 13 JUN GOG