Chapter 5
It was the seventh day.
I continued posting the roses Stuart had sent me on my social media, each bouquet paired with a different caption:
“Today’s roses seem even more beautiful than yesterday’s.”
“Turns out waiting can be this gentle.”
Rolf didn’t say much, but he made sure to like every post on time.
Faye, however, always shared them with a sarcastic edge: “What is Clarissa trying to hint at?”
As soon as today’s roses were arranged, the
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door to the hospital room swung open.
Rolf stood in the doorway, his face darkened. “Clarissa, what exactly are you trying to do?”
“Already found your replacement so quickly? Or… was this all planned from the start?”
I was about to speak when familiar footsteps echoed from the hallway.
“Ms. Barber, you look much better today.” Stuart, changed out of his usual clothes into a suit, carrying a file in his hand.
“The school is conducting a new program. was wondering if you might be interested?”
Rolf suddenly spun around. “Stuart! She’s mine–it’s not your place to come between us!”
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“Mr. Oliver, Stuart replied, unfazed, opening the file slowly, “This is a directive from
the principal. Are you going to disobey a superior’s order?”
The tension between them thickened when suddenly my phone rang.
It was the lab assistant calling: “Ms. Barber… Faye is accusing you of plagiarism… She’s presenting an experiment record from five years ago, and the contents…”
The assistant’s voice shook. “They match your report… exactly.”
My grip tightened around the phone, my knuckles turning white.
I repeated her words… Five years ago?
Last night’s events hit me like a wake–up call.
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In order to uncover the truth, I asked Stuart to help retrieve the surveillance footage from the day of the rescue.
“Ms. Barber, Stuart said, entering the room with a serious expression. “This is the footage from the day of the tsunami.”
On the screen, Faye was seen editing my research paper, a smug, cold smile curling at her lips.
Meanwhile, Rolf stood nearby, his gaze cold and distant, fixed on the hallway.
“She doesn’t deserve it, Faye’s voice suddenly cut through the silence. “With her background, how could she possibly marry into the Oliver family? I’m the one who’s truly suited for you.”
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She sneered at my report on the screen. “Rolf, do you really think her paper is impressive? It’s nothing more than her riding on the coattails of her professor father and taking advantage of some backdoor connections.”
My hands curled into fists, my nails digging painfully into my palms.
“Since she’s so proud of it, let’s make this report mine,” Faye continued, altering the date to five years ago.
A fire seemed to ignite in my chest, burning away any remaining trace of calm.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the hallway. It was Rolf.
The door swung open suddenly. “I just heard about the report. You need to calm down…”
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He feigned concern, attempting to comfort
- me.
I gave a bitter laugh, about to expose his facade, when a sharp click of high heels rang out from the door.
“Rolf” Faye’s eyes coldly skimmed over my face, her lips curling into a barely–there sneer. “What’s this? In such a hurry to comfort your ‘poor little thing‘?”
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