Chapter 199

Chapter 199:
But Cecelia wasn’t done. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she sneered, “Then why does she act like it’s no big deal? We’ve been stuck here all morning, and she just sits there sorting data like it doesn’t matter. If she’s that confident, let her try it herself. If she pulls it off, I’ll apologize. Fair?”
They had all given up a lot for this experiment.
Stella finally looked up, calm and steady. “Alright,” she said flatly. “But if I do, I expect an apology.”
Cecelia snorted, unimpressed. “Sure. Knock yourself out.” She was convinced Sylvia wouldn’t succeed. Everyone else had spent hours failing.
Stella walked up to the bench, checked the microscope, then reviewed the numbers on the tablet beside it.
After a few subtle adjustments to the sample alignment and recalibration of the instrument, she activated the test.
Almost instantly, the numbers on the screen began to stabilize.
Sandra leaned in, blinking in disbelief. “Wait… is it working? Did you just fix it?” She turned to the screen again, gasping. “Sylvia! You really fixed it! That’s amazing!”
Even Jamir and Elbert moved closer, both visibly impressed.
“It was just a subtle misread in the sample profile,” Stella explained.
Elbert’s face lit up with realization as Stella explained that the error came from a subtle data point easily overlooked. Once corrected, the system adjusted itself.
He let out a long sigh. “So that’s why. I should have thought of it sooner.”
The self-blame was immediate. As team leader, he believed he should’ve spotted the issue before Sylvia had to step in.
Stella shook her head. “It happens. It’s a group effort. What matters is we’re back on track.”
But Elbert still looked troubled. “You really are sharp, Sylvia. Honestly, I think you’re more suited to lead this team than I am.”
Compared to Sylvia’s attention to detail, he felt inadequate.
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Stella immediately waved him off. “Don’t say that. You’ve kept this team together. You’re a great leader, Elbert.”
Sandra, still buzzing with excitement, grabbed Stella’s arm. “You’re amazing! Like, seriously amazing!”
Then she turned, eyes narrowing at Cecelia. “Well? What do you have to say now?”
Cecelia’s face had turned beet red. Her jaw clenched, lips thin. She stared at the working machine like it had personally betrayed her. Stella raised a brow. “What? Need help saying ‘I’m sorry’?”
“I’m sorry,” Cecelia finally muttered before storming off without another word.
Why did she always effortlessly get the spotlight?
Even now—different identity, different role—Stella still had everyone wrapped around her finger. Cecelia refused to accept it.
Meanwhile, Marc wasn’t having a good day either. Between the mounting pressure at the company and his forced cooperation with Haley, his patience was wearing thin.
And now, Beatrice—Haley’s mother—had laid down an ultimatum: If he wanted her family’s continued support, he had to marry Haley.
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