Chapter 809
Seeing the reactions of Dr. Lucas and the audience, Raleigh’s smile didn’t fade, but his eyes were cold. He stared straight at Charlene and said, “Right, everyone knows it’s impossible, don’t they? But someone managed to pull it off!”
He emphasized the last words deliberately, the mockery in his tone and expression entirely unconcealed.
At this point, everyone naturally understood. Raleigh was trying to tell them that Charlene had used underhanded methods to enter PrimeStar, that she wasn’t nearly as excellent as everyone thought, and that the papers she published weren’t even her own work.
Whether Charlene was as exceptional as people believed didn’t really matter to outsiders, as long as it didn’t affect their business partnerships.
But if the papers Charlene published were written by Stewart or someone else, that was academic fraud.
And that was no small matter.
Someone couldn’t help but speak up. “Actually, when Charlene’s first paper came out, there were already people online questioning her abilities. A lot of people thought Stewart ghostwrote it to boost his girlfriend’s reputation. But many others thought Stewart wouldn’t be foolish enough to do that. After all, he’s Dr. Wagner’s official student. If things blew up, it wouldn’t just be him; even Dr. Wagner’s reputation would take a hit.”
“Exactly.”
Previously, everyone thought it was impossible for Stewart to be that foolish. But hearing this now, if everything was true, then it suddenly seemed entirely possible that Stewart had ghostwritten the papers for Charlene…
As for Charlene, they truly hadn’t expected her to be so ambitious and manipulative. Looks really could be deceiving.
At that moment, someone else chimed in. “So there’s this whole history between Stewart, Charlene, and Vesta. No wonder Dr. Lucas thought it was strange earlier. He was wondering why, despite PrimeStar and The Henderson Group having a long and successful partnership, Mr. Henderson and Stewart always seemed so distant and barely interacted. So that’s why…”
“Yeah, who would have thought there was such a grudge between them?”
At this point, everyone was dying to know how Stewart would respond.
All eyes turned to Stewart, including Dr. Lucas’s.
Finally, it was Dr. Lucas who spoke “Mr. Ferguson.” He paused before adding Charlene. Do you two have anything to say in response to this gentleman’s claims?”
Charlene remained silent.
Stewart smiled, looking at Raleigh. “What if I said we have clear consciences? What would you like to say to that, sir?”
Before the audience could even react to Stewart’s words, Raleigh burst into laughter. “Clear
joke.”
consciences? Halaha met
what
He looked from Stewart to Charlene, then back to Stewart. “Mr. Ferguson, you really are… quite protective of her.”
Stewart’s gaze was steady, his tone equally resolute. “Of course.”
The crowd let out another collective gasp.
To be honest, Stewart’s refusal to admit guilt was exactly what everyone expected.
After all, if he confessed, there would be no turning back.
Raleigh naturally understood this too.
But Stewart’s unblinking, unshakable composure still managed to astonish him.
Or rather, disappoint him.
Thinking back to his original
intentions when he joined PrimeStar, and the days they worked together, Raleigh let out a sarcastic laugh. “Mr. Ferguson, it seems never truly knew you at all.”