There were also intimate-looking photos of me and Shaun. Similarly, these photos had also been carefully framed to make regular interactions appear improper. They were deliberately made to deceive, especially the one of us entering a hotel near the university.Before I could recover from my shock, Lyle Gilbert pointed a knife at his abdomen.Lyle was one of my senior in the same program as me and had been on stage with me as a fellow presenter.His expression was filled with pain and despair as he cried out, "I'm sorry, everyone, for ruining the event, but I just can't take it anymore!""The credit for this research was supposed to belong to me and my fellow researchers. I was the reason we had our breakthrough. "However, Mr. Holland forced us to give Emilia Quill all the credit. If we refused, he said we wouldn't graduate. We tried everything, but we weren't able to change his mind. Thus, this was the only path left for us to take!"I stared with my mouth agape as Lyle spewed l
However, no one seemed to be listening.The truth didn't matter when a person was willing to die for a cause—all that mattered was that the person had been desperate enough to do so.After all, who would go so far if they hadn't been wronged? Would people feel the need to be self-destructive if they hadn't been utterly driven to despair?This sort of thinking remained at the forefront of people's minds, making them dismiss all contradictions. Everything they heard sounded false. It didn't matter if the evidence was right in front of them—they would reject it because they only wanted to believe what they had decided was true.And since the Global Technology Forum had been live streamed, it wasn't long before the whole country learned about what had happened.The internet erupted with outrage toward me in an instant. People on the internet nicknamed me "academic seductress". They were horrified that I had stolen someone else's research and then dared show my face at such a prestigio
Mr. Holland couldn't understand Lyle's actions.If it was for money, all Lyle had to do was wait a little longer. The patents for our research project had been applied under our team's name. So, once it went global, everyone in the research team would become rich beyond measure. Thus, Lyle wouldn't be lacking in money.Hypothetically, even if he desperately needed it, I was around. I was obscenely wealthy and considered the lab as my second home. As such, I had always been more than willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in the lab who needed funds.Mr. Holland couldn't make sense of what had happened. Why had Lyle done such a thing? What had pushed him to go to such self-destructive lengths just to destroy me and ruin Mr. Holland?He couldn't come to terms with what Lyle had done. He couldn't accept that a student so close to him had betrayed and slandered him. As a result, he collapsed.I watched over him as he lay in the hospital bed. Mr. Holland looked as though his life h
"Emi, I don't know what you're talking about."I turned my gaze toward him and chuckled. "Shaun, the great Professor Green. To be honest, I've always seen you as a dear friend. You have no idea how grateful I was to meet you that night, to have guided someone as capable and talented as you onto the right path and given Mr. Holland the chance to mentor such an outstanding student like you."As Shaun thought about the past, he parted his lips to say something, but in the end, no words came out."But as much as I was grateful back then, I regret it just as much now, for introducing you to Mr. Holland and giving you the chance to ruin his reputation." I continued to ask, "Shaun, how could you? You know how kind he was to you, how great of a person he was."He dedicated his entire life to research and his students. He wouldn't even treat himself to a decent meal, choosing instead to donate all his money to students in need. And yet, you tarnished his name. How could you?"If he had sla
Shaun said, "You don't have any evidence to prove that you led this research. All the research data was shared, so there was never a situation where Lyle was unaware of things. "Even if you find out who was behind it, it won't matter. No one would believe you were slandered. They'll just think you paid someone to take the blame. At this point, no matter what you do, it's useless."Just as Shaun said, things had reached a point where, unless I could present solid evidence proving that I led the successful research, no one would believe me.Shaun knew me well. He knew the conditions of my research and had planned his scheme perfectly."Emi, it's too late. There's nothing you can do to change things now. I know that I've wronged both you and Mr. Holland, but I had no other choice." If he had any other option, he wouldn't have resorted to this.He continued, "I know the current situation has made things very difficult for Mr. Holland and you, but you don't have to worry about your
I no longer knew what was real and what was fake.I wasn't sure if I just had poor judgment, or if people were just too good at pretending. It felt like I had never truly known Shaun at all. He was nothing like the refined, intelligent, and kind person I had known."Emi, let's go abroad together! Trust me, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you and Mr. Holland."…When Madam Hardwell returned to Hardwell Manor and heard that her daughter-in-law had fainted, her face darkened instantly. She stormed into Timothy's room.Before Timothy could say a word, she snapped at him harshly. "What's wrong with you? Don't you know Grace is pregnant? How could you make her serve you fruits? She was so exhausted that she fainted! If anything happens to her or the baby, can you bear the consequences?"Her harsh accusations made Timothy frown. He thought that something felt off.As far as he knew, his mother had always adored him. As the matriarch of such a prestigious family, she wa
However, Timothy didn't show any reaction on his face. He casually told Madam Hardwell that he had some work to attend to and asked her to leave.Since she was also worried about her daughter-in-law's health, she didn't linger for long.After she left, Timothy instinctively wanted to call Solomon to investigate his suspicions. But just as he was about to make the call, he suddenly realized that, given his current identity, everyone he knew had been introduced to him by the Hardwells.If he asked someone from the Hardwell family to investigate the Hardwells, not only would he find nothing, but he would also expose his doubts, making them wary of him.He stopped himself from making the call.Right now, his only option was to heal his legs as quickly as possible. Once he could move freely, he would have a real chance to uncover the truth.As he thought about this, he suddenly remembered the summit he had been watching earlier.So, he reopened his laptop, intending to learn more abo
Being abandoned as a child was one thing. But now, he wasn't even allowed to be himself.From now on, he could only live in this world under the identity of Timothy Hardwell.That was really…Margaret couldn't help but feel sorry for him. She wanted to say something, but she didn't dare to let it show and could only leave quickly.…"Emi, I really want to make it up to you and Mr. Holland. The reason I did that was because you hurt us first. I had no choice but to do this so we could be even. Let's go abroad and start anew. We can live just like before, okay?"Shaun genuinely enjoyed spending time with me. We had so many shared topics and similar thoughts.When we were spending time together, he would often forget his original purpose for approaching me.He would instinctively treat me well.When he first heard about my accident, he panicked, forgetting everything else, only wanting to see me as soon as possible and make sure I was alright.When he saw me being wronged, his f
"How could you take advantage of your position to seduce my husband! How could you knowingly become the other woman!" Grace accused.The photo she showed me on her phone was from when Irvin hugged me tightly after standing up from his wheelchair.When I first saw it, I was stunned. But then, it hit me—we had been watched this whole time!Based on the direction the photo was taken from, it could have only been taken from outside my work studio's window. And given that my studio was on the 10th floor, there was no way a random passerby snapped the photo by chance.Plus, the camera angle of the photo indicated it wasn't a coincidental shot. Someone had clearly been watching us from a floor above in the adjacent building.I also realized I had never closed the curtains in my studio. So, if someone had been watching us the entire time, they definitely knew Irvin had long since regained full use of his legs—which meant the Hardwells no longer needed my services.Thus, here came the poi
The young man's ability to stand again had filled his family with overwhelming joy. Coincidentally, it was also his 17th birthday, so they threw a grand birthday party and invited me to attend.I couldn't refuse. I was genuinely happy for him, so I went.Since his family was acquainted with William, they were undoubtedly influential figures in Lestoria. Therefore, the Hardwells were also invited.When I saw Grace pushing Irvin's wheelchair into the venue, attending the party as a married couple, I felt a sharp pain in my heart.I must really be a hopeless romantic.I had planned to use the time spent treating Irvin's legs to treat my withdrawal symptoms from him. I wanted my final decision to be cutting him out of my life completely.But instead of letting go—as I had hoped—the time we spent together only reminded me how good he once was to me.Even though I knew he had no choice, my heart still ached to see him with another woman.I truly…I really hated how I was. It made me
Because of Agatha's favoritism and stubbornness, Magnus had been growing increasingly impatient with her. "I think I've made myself very clear," he said, leaving no room for further discussion."Magnus, you can't do this! You can't just forget about Tim so soon! How could you treat him this way? Let me tell you—"Before she could finish, Magnus cut her off with a stern shout. "Enough! This is not up for discussion. I don't want to hear another word about it. Just leave!"Magnus' authority was absolute in the Hardwell family. Once he made a decision, Agatha had no power to change it no matter what.Though unwilling and displeased, she had no choice but to leave.As soon as Grace returned home, she was informed about the argument between Magnus and Agatha. She immediately rushed to find Agatha.The moment Agatha saw Grace, tears streamed down her face.Upon hearing that the argument had been about Irvin's hypnosis, Grace finally told her the truth, that Irvin had been faking it.
Grace had always wanted to stand at the pinnacle of power.The man beside her raised an eyebrow and suggested, "Then don't let her die. Force her into a dead-end and offer a hand, so she can be used by us."Grace chuckled but said nothing.Now that she had the picture she wanted, there was no need to continue watching. She withdrew her gaze and returned to the couch in the room.After taking a bottle of collagen, she finally looked at the man sitting across from her. "At the rate Irvin is recovering, he'll be fully healed in at most two to three weeks. Have you made all the preparations I asked for?" she asked."Of course! When have I ever failed to complete a task you gave me?" he replied confidently.Grace's lips curled into a smile. "Great."Seeing how she smiled so casually, completely without any hesitation or pain, the man couldn't help but comment. "Ms. Keller, you're ruthless indeed."Grace lowered her gaze and gently stroked her belly. She didn't respond.That night
Since Irvin had lost his memories, his behavior had regressed to that of his younger self.Although he had difficulty moving and had to avoid the Hardwells, he still prepared small surprises for me every time he came for treatment. Just like how he did when he was pursuing me.Just like when we were newlyweds.No matter how busy or exhausted he was, he always put in the effort to prepare something for me, whether it was a bouquet of flowers, a ticket to a movie I wanted to watch, or a dessert I loved.We were poor back then, and the things he gave me weren't worth much, but I was moved to tears every single time. After all, he was always thoughtful and affectionate. The eyes that were once cold and indifferent now burned with compassion and sincerity. Those naturally affectionate eyes gazed at me with so much love, as if I were his entire world.His one and only.That kind of love was irresistible, drawing me in.And I couldn't help but wonder, if none of it had happened, if
"I'm sorry, babe. Do you not like sunflowers? I… I saw online that…" Irvin stammered.He had searched for information about me online and discovered that I loved sunflowers, so he secretly hid one to give me. But I ended up crying instead of taking it with joy. Snapping out of it, I forced a smile and accepted the flower. "I do love it. Thank you."He stared at me, unsure if I was truly happy or just pretending."But don't call me 'babe' anymore. We're divorced." I couldn't bear to hear him say it in the same affectionate tone as before. That genuine, affectionate tone would only make me feel bad for him.And I didn't want to feel that way.Irvin, who was already anxious, panicked at my words. He grabbed my hands and said, "Babe, I couldn't find anything about what happened between us, but I know that it must have been my fault if we got divorced. "I'll make sure to be good from now on and listen to everything you say. Please, just give me another chance."Irvin had always
Adolescence was already a time when emotions are most unstable, making it easy to act impulsively and engage in risky behaviors. Being treated that way by my own family, I walked into the ocean, one step at a time.I wanted to die.I wanted them to regret, to suffer, to have everyone condemn them for killing their own daughter over an adopted one.I was so foolish back then, thinking I could punish them with my death. I completely forgot that they needed to actually care about me to feel remorse and pain for losing me. If they didn't care, it wouldn't matter if I died a thousand times.Using my own death to punish others is the most foolish thing in the world. I came to that realization when I was on the brink of death. I struggled, trying to make my way back to shore, desperate to survive. But then, a huge wave dragged me under, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stand up. I didn't know how to swim back then.Just when I thought I was going to die, a tall young man do
I comforted Mr. Holland for a long time before he finally felt better and ate some oatmeal.When I got home that night, I pulled out Irvin's medical records and the reports of his treatment with various devices. I analyzed his responses to the treatment to plan the next steps. I wasn't sure how I felt about Irvin, so I chose to ignore it completely and focus solely on treating his legs.If his legs could recover and function properly again, we would be even. No matter what happened in the future, I would take it one step at a time.Things would work out eventually.By the time I finished comparing all the data and finalized the device frequency settings for Irvin's treatment the next day, it was already past 1:00 am.I collapsed onto my bed and fell asleep immediately.Ever since my injuries from falling off the cliff, I needed sleeping pills to fall asleep every night. When I lost my memory, I thought my insomnia was due to the pain. But after my memories returned, I realized
William recalled that at the time of his accident, Cordelia and I had also been vacationing on the island.Although he didn't think it was possible, he instinctively asked anyway.I had assumed that William's intimidating presence on the way here was because he was angry at me for not answering his question.I never expected him to suddenly ask such a thing.Although I didn't know why, my first instinct was to admit that I had saved someone while I was on the island.But before I could say anything, his phone rang. It seemed like an urgent call. After answering it, he hurriedly told me he would send someone else to pick me up before leaving in his car.Feeling bad for troubling him when he was so busy, I sent him a message. I told him that he didn't need to send anyone and that I would call my own driver instead.William didn't reply to my text.Instead, Noah called. "Emi, there's an emergency at home. I have to leave for a while. Wait for me, I'll be right back." he said.W