Chapter 3

With Sophia playing the victim and Ethan defending her, the case was wrapped up with the claim that "Charlotte Smith, a researcher, had turned her back on her duties and betrayed the country". That careless judgment had marked me with a deep disgrace.

No one dared enter the lab to investigate the truth due to the threat of the unknown virus.

The researchers at the lab were ordered to terminate the project due to the leaked virus samples, and the surrounding areas were designated as restricted zones. The site was sealed off entirely, entombing my corpse within it.

Officials had suppressed the information to avoid mass panic, but a month later, the terrifying and highly contagious disease had broken out in the city. It was the most dangerous outbreak the world had ever seen.

Countless lives were lost, and for a time, everyone was at risk.

Several bold journalists had discovered that Ethan was in charge of the case and demanded an explanation from him.

They had intercepted Ethan right at his front door, preventing him from entering or escaping. They had asked Ethan, "Was the virus leak planned? What do you think about the countless deaths caused by the leak? Do you question your professional competence at all?"

It was then that Sophia came running out of the room that had previously belonged to me and Ethan. With tears in her eyes, she hugged Ethan tightly as the journalists watched.

"Please stop blaming Ethan!" Her sobbing was quite convincing, and she had behaved as if she was actually upset because the journalists were making things hard for Ethan.

She had raised her head; her gaze was filled with love as she looked at Ethan. "I'm sorry, Ethan, but I can't just sit by and watch you getting insulted like that!"

Facing the camera, Sophia had a determined look in her eyes, which was further enhanced by the tears in her eyes.

She had claimed, "It was Charlotte Smith, Ethan's ex-wife! She was a researcher in the lab, and she got herself involved with foreign powers. She escaped after stealing the virus samples! Ethan chose justice over his own wife, and he's doing his best to locate her. Please stop making things hard for him!"

With that, she sobbed bitterly and had gone limp. Then, Ethan picked her up and carried her in his arms.

"I'm sorry for my negligence. I didn't expect her to have caused such a huge commotion. I'll find out the truth as soon as possible. Trust me, you'll receive a proper explanation soon!" Ethan promised.

The interview recording was uploaded to major video platforms, and everyone was in an uproar.

They had tried tracking me down, attacking my character and every aspect of my life, while showering Sophia and Ethan with praise for their unwavering love in the face of adversity.

I had watched as my former colleagues cursed me as if they had never known me at all.

"I knew that Charlotte was bad news. She kept trying to show off and even stayed in the lab without permission. Sure enough, she has brought hell upon us!" one of them had said.

Another one had agreed. "Exactly. My teacher said that the disease is the most contagious we've ever seen. We're done for!"

I had wished I could lose my hearing right away so that I wouldn't have to hear the insults from my former comrades.

My poor parents had been innocent their whole lives, and they had taught countless students as well. Yet, in their twilight years, they had to endure scorn and insults because of me.

I couldn't forget my mother sobbing her eyes out in the bedroom as she held my childhood photo in her arms. She had lost her sight from all the crying.

Nor could I forget my father, who had never smoked. He had quietly taken care of my mother during the day and smoked on the balcony at night, and he would smoke until the sun came up.

In the end, they couldn't bear it anymore. They had jumped off a 5-story building.

The users on the internet, who were oblivious to the truth, were still shaming them for raising a traitor, claiming that even death was too light a punishment for them.