The Machine I "Destroyed" Was Mine All Along

Elizabeth didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was obvious.

Someone nearby muttered, "No kidding. If it weren't for that kind of relationship, would Professor Belfort be protecting her like this? Tsk, tsk. People aren't always what they seem. She's got her ways—we could never pull that off."

Elizabeth's smile widened as she listened. She leaned closer, lowering her voice, "Michelle, honestly, I admire you. To stay in the research group, you can pull off tricks like this. Me? I can only rely on my own effort."

I stepped forward, locking eyes with her.

"Your effort? Elizabeth, do you know the biggest taboo in academia? It's not failed experiments. It's not flawed data. It's losing the ability to think independently, blindly following others, and having no judgment of your own. Looking at your brain, I doubt you'll ever produce anything worth a damn in your life."

Her face flushed bright red. "You—"

"What?" I interrupted. "Did I get it wrong? What papers of yours can you actually show off? How much time do you spend in the lab, and how much time scheming to push people down?"

Nicky couldn't help but step in, his voice low and protective, "Michelle, enough. If you weren't guilty, would you have to be so aggressive?"

I looked at his face and couldn't help but laugh. Three years—I had actually liked him.

"Nicky, do you know what you look like right now? Like a guard dog over a bone—anyone who tosses you a piece, you wag your tail. Anyone who threatens what's in your bowl, you bare your teeth. Who do you think you are? Poor character, sycophantic, fake virtue, real trash."

Nicky's face changed. He even stepped forward, raising his hand.

I didn't move an inch. I stared into his eyes.

"What? Want to hit me? Go ahead, let everyone see exactly what kind of person you are."

He froze. His face turned pale and strained.

Elizabeth stood beside him, looking like she might burst into tears at any moment.

Just as the standoff reached its peak, someone knocked on the lab door.

A man in a dark gray uniform stepped in. Early thirties, tall and upright, with sharp, defined features.

Someone recognized the badge on his chest and whispered, "Arthur Lemont? Chief Engineer at Oakmont Group? He's actually here in person?"

Oakmont Group was the industry leader. Only the best of the best could get in—and to become Chief Engineer in your early thirties? Arthur was a genius among geniuses, elite among the elite. Knowing him, even just a little, was top-tier networking.

Nicky reacted first. He straightened his collar and strode forward, his tone overly polite.

"Hello, hello. I'm Nicky Hardy from this research group. I've coordinated some materials with your company before—your reputation precedes you."

He extended his hand, lowering his posture.

A few nearby students stirred, trying to edge closer.

Elizabeth hurried to Nicky's side, her smile perfectly measured, her voice soft and syrupy.

"Hello, Mr. Lemont. I'm Elizabeth Horwitz, and I've always admired you. Thank you for coming all the way here today. Let me explain the situation in detail—"

Arthur's gaze swept over them. Then it passed over them entirely.

He walked straight to me, his tone deferential.

"Miss Ailes, you've been overseeing all the data for this equipment on behalf of the Group on campus. Thank you for your hard work. Could you please guide me through the specific malfunction?"

The lab went utterly silent.

Elizabeth's and Nicky's smiles froze, stiff as statues.