…
08
But just as the applause began to fade, an unwelcome voice pierced the air.
“I was the real hero of this experiment! Elena, you’re just a thief stealing my credit!”
Silas‘ eyes were ablaze with fury, and his expression was one of desperation, as if he would stop at nothing to drag me down with him.
As reporters turned their cameras toward him, he pulled out his ID and some key experimental data.
“Everyone, take a look! Here’s my evidence! I’m the one who contributed the most to this experiment, yet Elena stole my work and colluded with Everett to have me removed! They’re trying to push me out! You all need to set the record straight. Don’t let them fool you!”
A reporter quickly chimed in. “Sir, you say Elena colluded with Everett to remove you. What’s the reason?”
Silas‘ face twisted in frustration.
“It’s because Elena is jealous! I’ve been caring for a friend who’s terminally ill, and she’s so envious that she nearly drove my friend to her death! How could someone like her even be a researcher?”
His confidence, along with the data in his hands, sparked murmurs among the reporters, and they began demanding explanations from both me and Everett.
Pushing through the crowd, I caught Silas‘ smug smirk, clearly reveling in his perceived victory.
Just as Everett was about to regain control of the situation, I calmly spoke up. “You claim that I stole this experimental data… so why don’t you explain how it came about?”
At my challenge, Silas‘ smirk faltered.
After all, he had been too busy fawning over Nadia to consider how I had analyzed the data.
With the audience’s gaze fixed on him, Silas stammered, unable to provide a coherent answer.
As murmurs of fraud rippled through the crowd, Silas flushed with anger, desperately trying to defend himself.
“I was just upset! How can you say I didn’t know? You’re clearly in cahoots with Elena! How much did she pay you to speak for her?”
Watching him throw accusations my way, I pulled out my phone and asked Grace to help me cast a photo onto the screen.
As the image of Silas kissing Nadia flashed before everyone, gasps erupted in the venue.
Silas turned pale, his bravado crumbling.
“How… how do you have this?”
Feigning disappointment, I shot him a look.
“Silas, this is your so–called friend you’ve been taking care of? After five years together, you even try to slander me? You truly are heartless!”
