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The somewhat shabby company laboratory kept its lights on every night. Everyone stayed with me through several all–nighters until we finally created the first rough prototype.
We were all incredibly excited. By the time our celebration dinner ended, it was already very late. The gates of Palmer Manor had long been closed, so I had to stay at my parents‘ house for the night.
I published our research findings in the latest journal issue, causing at sensation throughout the scientific community.
Reporters swarmed our small company like sharks smelling blood, and countless industry leaders extended their offers to me.
Just like in my previous life, my name was once again thrust into the spotlight. Everyone agreed this technology could revolutionize the industry.
Not wanting to face the passive–aggressive people at the Palmer house, I rented a small apartment near the company as temporary accommodation.
What I didn’t expect was that instead of me seeking them out, they would come looking for me.
I stared at the grim–faced Cedric standing before me, with a teary–eyed Bethany behind him. I remained in the doorway with absolutely no intention. of inviting them in.
“Jeanette, I must say I’m impressed by how ruthless you can be,” Cedric said.
I frowned and asked, “What do you mean?”
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Bethany looked aggrieved. “Jeanette, I know you’ve always been jealous of me–jealous that I’m prettier than you, that I’m better at school than you. But everything I’ve achieved has been through my own hard work. Why do you have to take even that away from me?”
I was completely baffled and couldn’t help but want to laugh.
“If you have something to say, just say it directly. Don’t waste my time.”
Bethany’s face instantly turned red.
Cedric snorted coldly and said, “You plagiarized someone else’s research. Prepare to go to jail!”
I checked my phone and discovered I was trending: “Jeanette’s Academic Fraud,” “Jeanette Plagiarizes,” and “Bethany, Young Genius.”
At the press conference, several prominent media outlets and members of the Palmer family were all present. Bethany presented her experimental data, which indeed predated my publication timeline.
“This is the result of my hard work and dedication, yet someone else has claimed it as their own. Do we struggling college students really have no justice? Are we simply at the mercy of the wealthy who can bully us as they please?”
She spoke with righteous indignation, her reddened eyes brimming with glistening tears that softened people’s hearts.
The room erupted in an uproar as people began to condemn me.
“I knew it! How could a country girl who didn’t even finish college possibly
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develop something like this?”
“She must have used the Palmer family connections to steal someone else’s research. How shameless!”
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“I’m going to demand justice for us ordinary people. These capitalists deserve to die!”
Bethany leaned into Cedric’s embrace, looking particularly wronged.
The Palmer family members stood at a distance, afraid of being implicated by association with me, with no intention of speaking up on my behalf.
Herbert wasn’t there, and not a single person stood by my side. Their attitude was clear–although there wasn’t yet definitive evidence proving my plagiarism, they seemed to have already determined my guilt and wanted to distance themselves from me immediately.
The public always sympathizes with the underdog. Though I appeared to be the one being attacked at the scene, everyone had already drawn their conclusions.
A useless rich wife stealing a brilliant college student’s work to gain fame- this was the narrative people expected and wanted to believe.
“Jeanette always took my things when we were at home. I always gave in because she was younger, but I never expected her to be so ungrateful. This is my life’s work, and this time I won’t let you take it from me!”
Crystalline tears streamed down Bethany’s defiant little face, stirring
righteous anger among those present and viewers watching the livestream.
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“I can’t believe they’re sisters. She actually stole her own sister’s work? I’ve
never seen anyone so shameless!”
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“How did such a greedy woman marry into the Palmer family? Get out now!”
“Yes! Kick this scheming woman out of the Palmer family!”
I glanced at the rapidly scrolling comments on the screen, feeling completely unmoved.
But seeing my expression, they only thought I was cold, shameless, and without remorse.
A reporter asked, “Jeanette, did you also steal your sister’s opportunity to marry into the Palmer family? You came from an ordinary background, but after marrying into wealth, you started bullying ordinary people. Were you always like this, or did life among the elite change you?”
I scanned each of their faces one by one, finally fixing my gaze on Bethany’s “pitiful” face.
I displayed a contemptuous smile. My clear voice carried throughout the room through the microphone.
“You’re right. This is indeed a case of academic plagiarism.”
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