Chapter 53
Posted on September 24, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
Listen to this chapter:

David pounded his chest in frustration. โ€œI saw her at Leoโ€™s funeral, standing next to Sean. Itโ€™s clear sheโ€™s already trying to get in with the Reedshaw family!โ€

โ€œSean.โ€ Aidenโ€™s voice dropped, and anger flashed across his face.

โ€œHeโ€™s always had it out for me. Helping Josie is just his way of using her to get back at me.โ€

David nodded.

โ€œIโ€™m glad you understand. I know youโ€™ve always thought Josie was obedient and well-behaved, defending her in front of me countless times. But now you can seeโ€“it was all just a facade.

โ€œFrom now on, donโ€™t waste any more energy on her. I heard sheโ€™s entering the competition too. Sheโ€™s probably gotten too comfortable winning with us and now thinks sheโ€™s invincible.

โ€œEven though beating her wouldnโ€™t feel like much of an achievement, I hope this time your topic stands out and leaves her far behind, just so she can see where she stands.

โ€œThe success she had before came from the whole team, not just her. If she thinks she can make a name for herself in a less popular field, sheโ€™s just fooling herself.โ€

โ€œI understand, Professor.โ€ Aiden nodded. โ€œIโ€™ll teach her a lesson she wonโ€™t forget. Sheโ€™ll regret crossing us.โ€

David gave a satisfied nod.

โ€œGood. And when you head downstairs, remind the othersโ€”donโ€™t get involved with her again. Sheโ€™s clearly overestimating herself, trying to climb the Reedshaw family ladder while completely disregarding me.

โ€œIโ€™ll show her exactly how far she can get.โ€

โ€œGot it.โ€ Aidenโ€™s face was serious as he left Davidโ€™s office.

Natalie jogged up to him. โ€œAiden, is the professor okay? He seemed really angry.โ€

โ€œHeโ€™s fine.โ€ Aiden glanced at Natalie.

โ€œYou saw how the professor feels. You know whatโ€™s right and wrong. Stay focused, donโ€™t stir up trouble. Thereโ€™s a lot of work in the lab, so step up and help more.โ€

Natalie inwardly grumbled. โ€˜Why should I do all the work? Are the other five people dead?โ€™

Outwardly, she beamed. โ€œGot it, Aiden. Iโ€™ll be good, wonโ€™t cause any trouble. Iโ€™m going to get to work now.โ€

She grabbed a broom and started cleaning, thinking about how she still needed to call Kyle back. She wasnโ€™t about to do everything herself.

Seeing Natalie acting so obedient, Aiden felt a little better. He thought, โ€˜Why couldnโ€™t Josie just be like this?

โ€˜Well, Iโ€™ll make sure she learns a lesson, starting with this competition.โ€™

In the evening, Zoey and the others hurried back to the dorm.

โ€œJosie, how are you?โ€ Allison grabbed Josie. โ€œThat jerk Vincent didnโ€™t hurt you, did he?โ€

Josie was a little surprised. โ€œYou guys know already?โ€

โ€œOf course we do! Itโ€™s all over the school forumโ€“your video confronting Vincent in public. Honestly, you looked so cool, like a totally different person!โ€

Adeline could barely believe it. When did Josie become so sharp-tongued? It is honestly shocking!

โ€œButโ€ฆโ€ Zoey looked concerned. โ€œThereโ€™s a lot of negativity online. People are spreading rumors about you.โ€

That was why they rushed backโ€“they were worried Josie might be upset after seeing the posts.

Josie had been studying all afternoon and hadnโ€™t had time to check the internet.

โ€œWhat rumors? Are they saying I only got into Davidโ€™s team thanks to the senior students, and that I had to flatter them to stay?โ€

They all nodded in agreement.

โ€œHave you seen the posts already?โ€ Zoey asked, looking at her with concern.

Josie shook her head.

She hadnโ€™t seen anything online. She was just reminded of the rumors that had started in her previous life. Theyโ€™d resurfaced a few years later, just before she was about to graduate from graduate school.

At that time, the senior students had started to see her in a new light, and even David had approved of her graduate thesis. She had hoped it would help improve her internship evaluation, but just then, rumors about her exploded online.

Years later, she discovered that it had all been orchestrated by Natalie.


Please let us know if you find any errors, so we can fix them.