Chapter 522

"The director doesn't actually know…"

Before Tobey could finish, Stephen had already cut him short. "You're the deputy director, but you're saying that you don't have the director's approval to publish that paper? Do you take us for idiots?"

"No, you misunderstand—what I meant was that the director does not know about the data," Tobey admitted. "He's at the age where he should retire soon, whereas I must contribute if I want to be promoted…"

"So you published the data and tried to pass it off as your own?!"

Stephen's hands were clenched into fists—Irene had trusted him so much and handed him something so important.

However, it was his own inability to find the right people that her effort went to waste, and now, she was in danger.

"Did you think you were going to make it just because you did this? I'll talk to the director and tell him the truth!"

Stephen was beside himself with rage at Tobey's betrayal and continued, saying, "I trusted you—handed you something so monumental o