Chapter 131

David grabbed Kyle by the collar, pulling him closer. "Did you complete the experiment two months ago, or did Josie do it for you?"

"Answer me honestly. Don’t you dare lie to me!"

Kyle’s heart was pounding like a war drum, each beat relentless and fierce, so intense it was making it hard for him to breathe.

There was no way he’d tell the truth.

He’d already been chewed out by David once for his mediocre paper, which only made it into the school’s internal journal.

If David found out he hadn’t even done the experiment himself, then he wouldn’t even be able to imagine the punishment.

“What is it?” David shoved him away. “If you can’t admit it, then let me spell it out for you. Josie did the entire experiment by herself.

“You never even bothered to properly record the experimental data. The data you handed in to me was just copied straight from her lab notebook.

“And you even thought you were being smart, tweaking a few things here and there, thinking I wouldn’t catch on.

“I’ll give you that. Your edits did make it look a bit more believable.

“That’s only because I hadn’t seen the real, full lab notebook yet. The moment I did, your so-called experiment turned into a complete joke.”

David let out a bitter, almost mocking laugh, his anger barely contained. “Kyle, do you even realize what a complete joke you are?

“Because of you, I made a fool of myself in front of more than twenty professors. I can’t even hold my head up in front of Delilah anymore.

“And thanks to you, Josie called me out and questioned me in front of everyone.

“Because of you, she’s now seen as the victim, whom I supposedly ignored and held back. Now, all the other professors just pity her.

“All of this is because you tried to fool me with your fake work, Kyle. I honestly want to throw you out right now. I regret ever taking you on as my student!"

As David’s questions and scolding piled on, Kyle’s face had long since lost all color.

He’d always been the least talented one on the team.

If it weren’t for his knack for dealing with people and sweet-talking his way through, he never would’ve made it all the way from undergrad to grad school.

He was so close to graduating and landing a good job, and now this happened.

'Why did things end up like this?' Kyle thought.

Kyle looked up, anguish written all over his face. “Was it Josie who told you I was just bluffing you? Did she say my lab records were fake and I just copied hers?

“Professor, you actually believed her, didn’t you?”

David tugged at his collar, clearly frustrated.

He said, “She revealed the lab records and the experimental paper she wrote right in front of more than twenty professors. I have to believe it.

“Kyle, I really never thought you’d end up even worse than Josie.”

That one line nailed Kyle to the pillar of shame.

After all, everyone on the team had always taken it for granted that Josie was the weakest one. And now, he was accused of being worse than her.

Kyle looked like a withered husk, his face full of despair as he slumped helplessly to the floor.

“Professor, please, sit down.” Aiden pulled over a chair and helped David sit.

He said, “Have some water and calm down. I heard you mention something about the lab records just now.

“Back when Josie was still with us, she was the one who handled recording some of our experimental data for us. You know, we were all busier with coursework than she was.

“Some experiments would last for days, and sometimes, we could only have her keep an eye on things. If anyone had the most complete records, it was definitely her.”

Kyle, as if he’d just seen a lifeline, quickly nodded.