He Was But A Failed Detour

The email was a letter of congratulations, announcing that her research from three years ago—on neural regeneration–inducing factors—had won this year's Golden Lancet Award for Innovation.

It was the first milestone of her academic career, proof forged from years of blood and sweat. It was also her greatest dream, one she had once shared with Rick without reservation.

But under Award Recipient, the name listed was… Summer Belden.

Beth stormed into Rick's office with her phone in hand, her voice trembling.

"Why?"

Rick was reviewing documents. He looked up at her, his expression so calm it was almost cruel.

"Beth, don't make a scene. The institute is under intense scrutiny right now. Putting Summer's name on this award is the best way to stabilize everyone."

"Stabilize everyone?" Her whole body shook with rage. "Then what about me? Do I deserve to be your stepping stone?"

"This is just a temporary measure." He frowned, clearly displeased by her loss of control. "Once the storm passes, I'll make it up to you."

Make it up to you.

Again.

His love and his promises were always the same—blank checks that could be overdrawn endlessly, but never redeemed.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Summer walked in carrying coffee. Sensing the tension in the room, she immediately put on a look of measured confusion and hurt.

"Rick, Beth… what's going on?"

Her gaze flicked to the email on Beth's phone. Her face paled slightly before she spoke in a gentle voice.

"Beth, about this award… I know how much it means to you. But Rick is doing this for everyone's sake. Questioning him like this only puts him in a difficult position."

She cast herself as the considerate, innocent party—misunderstood by a friend.

Almost by reflex, Rick stepped to her side.

"Beth!" he snapped, his eyes cold, as if he were looking at an unreasonable stranger. "Summer is right. You're being immature."

The words hit Beth like a sledgehammer.

The man who had once sworn to stand against the world for her talent now scolded her as "immature"—for another woman.

The light in her eyes dimmed, bit by bit.

Rick didn't notice. He turned to comfort Summer, using the gentle tone Beth had once longed to hear.

"Don't mind her. She's probably under too much pressure lately. You're the rightful recipient of this award."

Listen to that.

Rightful recipient.

Those words nailed Beth to a pillar of shame. Somehow, she had become the villain—someone who had stolen another person's dream and then made an unreasonable fuss.

…

On the eve of the international academic conference, even more shocking news broke.

The data fabrication scandal surrounding Summer continued to escalate. The international journal Nature announced it would launch an independent investigation and demanded that the institute issue a public explanation at the conference.

That paper was the institute's crown jewel—and the foundation of Rick's career.

If the fraud were confirmed, the institute's reputation would be destroyed beyond recovery.

Rick summoned Beth to his office, his expression more grave than ever before.

She thought—finally—he was going to tell the truth and clear her name.

But his words were like a blade dipped in poison, stabbing into her last shred of hope.

"Beth, you're the only one who can save the institute now."

His voice was weary and hoarse.

"At tomorrow's briefing, you'll voluntarily admit that you made a mistake while entering the data because you were eager to produce results. I'll say that Summer, as the project lead, also bears responsibility for insufficient oversight. That way, we minimize the impact and define it as an error—not fraud."