Chapter 485
Waldron shot Elodie a sharp, disapproving look, then turned on his heel and
walked away without another word. He never bothered hiding his disdain for her- not even for a moment.
“What did Mr. Ferguson say this time?” Alexander strolled over, concern flickering across his face.
Elodie just shook her head. “Nothing new. Mr. Ferguson hasn’t changed a bit.”
He always looked at her like she was more a nuisance than a colleague.
Alexander let out a resigned sigh. It had been years, yet Mr. Ferguson still couldn’t let things go when it came to Elodie.
Elodie lingered on campus for a while longer. There was a dinner planned later, serving as a bridge for academic discussion. The senior faculty all seemed eager to speak with her.
She didn’t decline-energy permitting, she wanted to seize the chance. After all, it was a rare privilege to meet so many esteemed figures in her field on the same night. It would certainly pave the way for her in the future.
Originally, the dean had invited Jarrod to the dinner, but there was no mention of Sylvie. Jarrod turned down the invitation, claiming a sudden obligation. He quietly left with Sylvie, keeping a low profile.
Understandably so-Sylvie had lost both face and favor today, and she seemed shaken by the experience.
Later, as the event wore on, Alexander showed Elodie something on his phone-a tweet from Patricia. To her astonishment, Patricia had retweeted a post from Verdant University, celebrating the conference. Her caption read: “Ms. Thorne is a true treasure of our field, quietly dedicated and exceptionally gifted. Comparing her to Ms. Fielding only exposes the latter’s mediocrity!”
Elodie was taken aback. Patricia already knew about what had happened at Verdant University? And she’d chosen to support Elodie publicly?
Patricia had a substantial following—her artistry and striking looks drew plenty of attention, so her endorsement carried weight. And the shade thrown at Sylvie was sharp enough to sting.
Overnight, Elodie’s name was all over the Verdant University student forums, her reputation skyrocketing.
Alexander couldn’t help but chuckle. “Miss Aldridge doesn’t hold anything back, does she? That’s… impressive.”
Her likes and dislikes were plain as day. Born into privilege, Patricia had never been one to worry about saving face for others, and her sarcasm toward Sylvie was merciless.
What had started as a campus incident was now spreading far beyond, thanks to Patricia’s influence. Old gossip about Sylvie was dredged up, and she was publicly humiliated once more.
Elodie found it almost funny. “Her personality is… fiery,” she admitted, at a loss for a better word. Patricia seemed more outraged on her behalf than she was herself.
“Doesn’t matter,” Alexander said, satisfaction clear in his tone. “What matters is that Sylvie was completely outplayed today.”
Sylvie was undeniably talented-her recent paper was excellent, standing head and shoulders above her peers. But she lost because her opponent was Elodie.
After tonight, Alexander was sure Sylvie’s entire outlook would shift. She could no longer dismiss Elodie or find excuses to undermine her. For someone who’d coasted on arrogance for so long, that had to be agonizing.
Meanwhile, Jarrod had brought Sylvie home.
Glancing at his watch, he said, “I’ve got some things to take care of. Will you be alright on your own?”
Sylvie was in a foul mood, but she hid it well. She nodded, managing a polite smile. “Of course. Thank you for skipping out on dinner with the faculty just to bring me home.”
“Don’t mention it. Get some rest,” Jarrod said, his voice gentle. “Don’t let it get to you.”
Something in his reassurance
seemed to unlock the feelings Sylvie had been bottling up. She reminded herself her battle with Elodie wasn’t limited to academic papers. Atleast Jarrod was unaffected by the day’s events-he felt nothing for Elodie.
“I’m fine, really. I don’t let things like this bother me. Everyone has their strengths. Objectively, I respect her work in this area.” Sylvie’s tone was calm and
composed, betraying none of her frustration.
She wasn’t about to be the kind of woman who lost control and lashed out in jealousy.
Jarrod nodded. “Alright. I’ll see you soon.”
As Sylvie stepped out of the car, she called back, “Drive safe, Jarrod.”
When he was gone, her expression finally darkened. She walked into her home,
her face set in a cold, stony mask.
Moments later, her assistant forwarded a message to her phone. Seeing Patricia’s post, Sylvie’s mood soured even further.
It wasn’t just Patricia’s blatant
“taking sides-the comments section was now digging up an old scandal about her so-called “forced engagement,” filling the thread with biting ridicule and venomous remarks.
Her grip on her phone tightened. Of course she was angry-who wouldn’t be?
Selma came downstairs just then and immediately noticed Sylvie’s distress. “What happened? How did today go?”
Sylvie closed her eyes, then gave her a brief rundown.
Selma was stunned. It was a long moment before she managed to speak. “Elodie? Are you sure? That can’t be right. She’s not in the same league!”
Having spent so many years abroad, Selma understood all too well what this kind of attention meant for Elodie.
“How could she suddenly-” Selma shook her head, incredulous. “It’s absurd.”
Sylvie ran a hand through her hair, brow furrowed. “If this were just about one paper, I’d be skeptical too. But Elodie actually published five years ago—she just never brought it up.”
Understanding dawned on Selma instantly.
“She hid her achievements just to humiliate you in public! Unbelievable—what a snake!” Selma was so angry she couldn’t hold back the insult.
From her perspective, there was no reason to keep such honors secret unless Elodie was deliberately setting a trap.
Sylvie’s mind raced. She couldn’t just sit back and take this. That wasn’t her style.
Selma took a breath, forcing herself to think rationally. “We need to come up with a plan-something to shift attention away from this. There’s no way you’ll let her outshine you. Jarrod cares about you, but it’s your reputation that keeps you secure.”
Then something seemed to occur to her, and she asked pointedly, “How did things
go with Jarrod in Switzerland?”
Sylvie hesitated for a split second. “It was fine, you don’t need to worry.”