Never mind that these photos were taken after her divorce from James - even if they weren't, all they showed was her getting into someone's car. Hardly damning evidence!Unlike last time, students weren't blindly joining in the criticism. While there were plenty of nasty comments, many students were defending her.Sarah scrolled through the comments section."Someone must have it out for Miss Sanders. Why do they keep trying to smear her on the forum? One ambiguous photo proves nothing.""Where there's smoke, there's fire. Why is she the only one getting these accusations?""Forget everything else - can't believe she's already divorced at her age!"...Meanwhile, in the Dean's office at Adams University:"Dean Larson, I've explained everything. Having Sarah as a daughter-in-law was already an embarrassment to the Chancer family. How dare Adams hire someone like her? Aren't you worried about the university's reputation?"Mrs. Chancer sat on the office sofa, sipping tea while im
Sarah collected herself before heading out.At the doorway, she ran into an agitated Mia rushing towards her."Sarah!" Mia's pretty face was flushed with anger. "Did you see the forum? I bet Lucy's behind this again!"She couldn't think of anyone else who'd target Sarah like this.Sarah smiled softly.This girl had really grown on her.She patted Mia's back reassuringly. "Don't worry, I can handle this. You should get to class."Mia was clearly still concerned but, seeing Sarah's confidence and knowing she had an important lecture, reluctantly agreed. "Okay, but promise you'll tell me right away if anything happens."Sarah waved her phone in response, gesturing for Mia to go.Mia kept looking back anxiously as she left.Sarah sighed fondly.Though Zachary had asked her to help with Mia's psychological issues, it felt more like Mia was the one healing her.The Dean's building wasn't far from the Psychology Department. Sarah reached the office in under five minutes."Knock,
"How dare you speak to me like that!" Mrs. Chancer pointed her finger at Sarah's face. "Have you lost your mind?"Sarah gave her a dismissive glance before turning to address the administrators:"I apologize that my personal matters have disrupted your day. I've seen the forum post, but isn't it absurd to condemn someone based on one heavily edited photo?"Sarah spoke with quiet dignity.The Dean and other administrators exchanged uncomfortable glances. They knew the photo proved nothing, but Mrs. Chancer's influence was hard to ignore.Mrs. Chancer sneered at Sarah. "Would I be here without solid evidence?"She pulled out a USB drive, gesturing for the assistant to connect it to the projector. "Let's see how arrogant you'll be after this!"As the projector warmed up, the footage appeared on screen.It was surveillance video, blurry except for Sarah's unusually clear figure. The timestamp showed last year.The footage showed Sarah entering a hotel with a man.Sarah almost lau
When Mrs. Chancer recognized who had arrived, she couldn’t help but feeling nervous. Zachary Reynolds was the East Coast's most powerful heir - not someone the Chancers could afford to offend.She discreetly glanced at the blurry surveillance video, reassuring herself that the man in it was unidentifiable.Perhaps Lucy was right - someone of his status would only be playing with someone like Sarah. How could such a distinguished man seriously consider a divorced woman?This thought calmed her. Her Lucy was well-bred and highly educated, far superior to Sarah. Given the chance, Lucy could definitely secure someone as prestigious as Zachary.Right now, her task was to completely discredit Sarah. Not only did she need to confirm the allegations of infidelity during marriage, but she also had to make Mr. Reynolds distance himself from Sarah. With so many people present and men being concerned about their reputation, Mr. Reynolds was unlikely to step forward to defend Sarah."Sarah pra
"Indeed. If Mr. Reynolds hadn't arrived in time, I would have become the adulteress in Mrs. Chancer's story. These days, it seems slander is effortless, all it takes is a loose tongue.”Sarah cast a cool glance at Mrs. Chancer. This mother and daughter pair seemed to have nothing better to do than take turns trying to destroy her reputation, stopping at nothing to spread rumors.Their relentless efforts were certainly eye-opening.Zachary moved closer, his tall frame beside Sarah. The subtle cedar wood scent of his cologne helped calm her nerves.His deep, resonant voice continued: "If I remember correctly, it was your son's lover who returned, after which he asked Sarah for a divorce. Our Sarah, being kindhearted, agreed to step aside so he could be with his old flame."Sarah glanced at him in surprise before composing herself. Given Zachary's position, getting such information would be simple. He must have investigated her background when seeking her help with Mia's treatment.
News spread quickly across campus...The legendary Zachary Reynolds had appeared at Adams University, and apparently was friends with Miss Sanders. Word was he'd come specifically to defend her reputation.Students couldn’t help but speculate. If their relationship was merely that of casual friends, would someone as busy as Mr. Reynolds personally show up? Wouldn’t sending an assistant have been enough to handle it?Clearly, their relationship must be special. And seeing them walk together, they made a striking pair. Imagine how gorgeous their children would be!The slanderous forum posts were completely deleted, replaced by photos of Sarah and Zachary walking together, looking like something out of a romance novel.Comments had already started shipping them as a couple, though the subjects remained oblivious.Meanwhile in class, as news spread about Mrs. Chancer's false accusations, students began giving Lucy hostile looks."Can you believe it? Her son cheats, but they accuse t
Sarah snapped out of her thoughts when he spoke."No need for thanks. Just remember you owe me one,” he said causally.Sarah stopped walking, knowing that owing Zachary a favor wasn't simple, but she would definitely repay it.Sarah paused mid-step, realizing that a favor owed to someone like Zachary wouldn’t be easy to repay. Still, she nodded firmly. “Mr. Reynolds, don’t worry. I always repay my debts. I don’t know what I can do for you, but as long as you ask, I’ll give it my all.”Zachary's lips curved up, his eyes twinkling mischievously like a fox's, both charming and dangerous.Looking at his expression, Sarah felt a ripple of unease.She had a feeling she'd walked right into his trap.Unable to figure it out, she pushed the thought aside and walked him out. After such a huge favor, it would be rude to just leave him there.Back at the Chancer house, Lucy stormed in after school, throwing her things at the maid, her face sour as if she'd swallowed something bitter."Mom
”Mrs. Chancer, Lucy, what happened?" Charlotte asked. Though unsure of the details, she guessed it involved Sarah - only Sarah could upset them this much.Mrs. Chancer set down her jewelry, her face dark with anger, looking no different from a common market gossip.Charlotte raised an eyebrow but said nothing."It's all that wretched Sarah's fault. She made me lose face in front of everyone..." Mrs. Chancer recounted the day's events, seeing no fault in her own actions.Charlotte understood - they'd tried to scheme against Sarah but got publicly humiliated instead.Lucy quickly sat beside Charlotte, linking arms affectionately. “Charlotte, you're so much smarter than us. Can't you help us figure something out?"Mrs. Chancer glanced at her daughter, her mind still fixated on the property and money, growing more resentful by the minute."Charlotte, Sarah was married to James for three years without producing a child. After the divorce, James inexplicably gave her $8 million and se
"I don't want to go to the hospital. Some painkillers will do," Sarah protested.Zachary's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "Has it always been this severe?""No, it usually doesn't hurt this much. I just skipped lunch and had too much coffee today," Sarah admitted sheepishly."You should have known better." His voice carried gentle reproach.She paused. "I did. I just got caught up in work and forgot to eat."The hospital's emergency entrance was quiet at this hour - no lines, just the on-call staff. Luckily, the gynecologist was available and quickly prescribed pain medication."Take these after meals, and don't skip any doses," the doctor instructed.Sarah nodded obediently. She wanted to explain that it wasn't usually this bad - skipping meals had just been a mistake.During the drive to her apartment, Zachary remained silent, his expression taut. Once they arrived, he grabbed the medication bag and strode toward the elevator.Sarah stared for a moment before hurry
The day before the competition, Sarah was busy at school all day.She worked with the events and planning teams to decorate the auditorium, even Professor Wells stayed late out of concern."Are the competition questions secure?" Professor Wells asked.Sarah nodded. "They're locked in the counseling room's safe, and I’m the only one with the key."Professor Wells looked relieved. "Good."After he left, Sarah double-checked all the auditorium equipment.By the time everything was ready, it was already 11:30 p.m. She let out a tired sigh. No matter how exhausting, as long as tomorrow's competition went smoothly, it would all be worth it.Back at the counseling room, she was gathering her things when her phone rang. "Mia?"Mia's concerned voice came through. "Sarah, why aren’t you home yet?""Don’t worry, I’m just wrapping up and heading back now. It’s late—go to sleep. You need to be ready for the competition tomorrow," Sarah said, her voice hoarse from fatigue.Mia yawned sleep
“Who said I wouldn’t participate in your university’s psychology competition?” A familiar voice rang out.Sarah’s eyes widened in shock as she turned around.The office door swung open, and Jane walked in with her assistant.Lucy Chancer stared in disbelief. “Jane… Jane Lawrence!”Jane ignored the stunned faces and walked up to the dean, shaking his hand. “Hello, I’m Jane Lawrence.”“Ma’am, what brings you here?” Sarah asked, still frozen in place.“We’ll discuss this later,” Jane replied, her attention shifting to Mrs. Chancer. “Madam, I’ve now confirmed that I will be attending the competition as a judge. This should no longer be considered an oversight, correct?”Mrs. Chancer’s face darkened. She exchanged a baffled look with Lucy. How had Jane Lawrence been convinced? Could it have been Mr. Reynolds pulling strings again?“Ms. Lawrence, you’re really agreeing to be a judge for the competition?” The dean asked, barely hiding his surprise.Jane nodded. “Yes, it’s confirmed.”
The documents on Jane’s bedside table, which she reviewed more thoroughly this time, included a detailed outline of the upcoming psychological knowledge competition, complete with proposed discussion topics. Her curiosity was piqued—perhaps engaging with this new generation of students could offer unexpected surprises.Meanwhile, back home, Sarah stared out her window, lost in thought. Jane’s words replayed in her mind. She had to admit, Jane was right. After years of studying abroad and participating in cutting-edge psychological research, Jane had become a trailblazer in the field. Her return to host forums in East Coast wasn’t just about solving academic problems; it also focused on analyzing and dissecting unique psychological cases, making her time exceptionally valuable.To persuade Jane to participate, Sarah would need to offer something even more valuable than Jane’s current priorities—something she didn’t have. With that realization, she knew she had to let it go.The next
Jane Lawrence gave a helpless smile. "Miss Sanders, I thought I made it very clear—I don’t have the time and won’t be attending the competition."Her assistant stepped in, blocking Sarah. "Miss, Professor Lawrence’s time in the country is limited. All her activities are pre-scheduled, and there’s no way to change her commitments to accommodate your competition.""Did you get a chance to review the files I gave you?" Sarah asked hopefully.Jane hadn’t expected her persistence. She nodded. "Yes, I’ve reviewed them. I must admit, the work from Adams University’s students is impressive. There are some very interesting ideas."Sarah’s eyes lit up, but Jane quickly tempered her expectations. "However, Miss Sanders, those files alone aren’t enough to justify altering my schedule. I returned to the country to participate in a symposium with East Coast’s psychology experts. Every issue we address there could provide crucial solutions for patients struggling with similar mental health challe
"Miss Sanders, this is a serious matter. Perhaps you should try to gather more information first. After all, there are still a few days before the competition," Dean said hesitantly. Although he was the dean of the universityl, the board of directors held the ultimate authority."I understand, Sir,” Sarah replied, her expression heavy with concern. The Chancer family had really pushed her into a corner this time.After leaving the principal’s office, she headed to the psychology consultation room, where Mia was waiting for her."Sarah, I’ve already heard everything. What should we do now?" Mia asked, worry written all over her face.Sarah gave a bitter smile. "The only thing I can do is try contacting Jane Lawrence again."She had included one of her own research papers with the materials she’d submitted to Jane, aligning with Jane’s latest research direction. But what if Jane hadn’t seen it?At 3 p.m., Lucy sat smugly in front of her computer, pleased with the heated discussions
“You—!” Lucy raised her hand in anger, ready to strike.Sarah took a step back, her tone calm but firm. “I’d think twice if I were you. Last time, I let you off the hook and didn’t call the police. If you dare lay a hand on me now, I’ll settle both old and new scores with you.”Lucy hesitated, her hand hovering mid-air, before finally lowering it. “The Chancer family does not welcome you!”Bang!The door slammed shut in Sarah’s face. She glanced at it briefly before turning to leave.Her next stop was to replace her lost phone. After getting a new SIM card and purchasing a new device, she immediately checked the school forum. The chaos sparked by that phone call was evident. The psychology students, practically fans of Jane Lawrence, were already planning to print banners to welcome her.Sarah tried calling Jane’s assistant again, only to receive the same response: “She doesn’t have time.”Even the academic papers she had submitted to Jane seemed to have vanished into thin air,
Sarah had a few suspects in mind. Lucy and Mrs. Chancer hated her the most, and while James seemed unlikely to stoop to such levels, she couldn’t rule him out completely. He had proven capable of shattering her past impressions of him.After the chaos at the party, Lucy had taken the day off and stayed home. Without hesitation, Sarah decided to head to the Chancer house.The maid who opened the door looked startled to see her, likely because Lucy and Mrs. Chancer had been bad-mouthing Sarah nonstop at home.“Miss Sanders, what brings you here?” the maid asked.“I’m here to see James,” Sarah replied directly.“Mr. Chancer isn’t home. Perhaps you can come back another day,” the maid suggested.A soft voice floated out from inside. “Who is it?”Charlotte appeared and froze for a moment when she saw Sarah. Unsure of how to react, she let out an awkward laugh. “Oh, it’s you. What brings you here?”“I don’t have time for small talk,” Sarah said bluntly. “I lost my phone at the party
"Alright," Sarah said, walking over immediately.Scarlett tossed her a carefully selected outfit and grumbled, “That scumbag! You’d better never see him again. The nerve to accuse you of cheating during your marriage!”“I feel like I’m finally seeing him for who he really is,” Sarah replied, her gaze hardening.Sure enough, Sarah's hunch was correct. The next day’s news didn’t mention anything about the birthday party. Instead, it only briefly touched on Lucy’s harassment incident, conveniently skipping over the rest.When Sarah arrived at school, she couldn’t find her phone anywhere.Just as she was about to go searching for it, Professor Wells appeared. “Sarah! I can’t believe you really managed to invite Jane Lawrence! Did you meet her already?”“What?” Sarah was baffled. “Professor, I saw her yesterday, but I didn’t get a definite answer!”Professor Wells frowned deeply. “How can that be? I called you this morning, and you told me yourself!”Impossible. Her phone had been m