“The Dean doesn’t know about this…”
Before the Vice Dean could finish his sentence, Sivin Peters quickly interrupted him, “You’re the Vice Dean, and you published such a paper without the Dean’s approval? Do you think we’re all fools? So easily deceived?”
“You misunderstood. When I said the Dean doesn’t know, I was referring to the data,” the Vice Dean could only speak the truth at this point. “The Dean is nearing retirement age, and I want to take his place. I need to make some contributions…”
“So, you published those data as your own research achievements?” Sivin Peters clenched his fists tightly.
Freya trusted him so much. She entrusted him with something so important. But as a result of misjudging him, her efforts were in vain, and she ended up in danger.
“Do you think that by doing this, you can take the Dean’s place? I will definitely report the truth to the Dean!” Sivin Peters was filled with indignation, and he genuinely meant it. He felt betrayed. “I trusted you so much, entrusted you with something so important, and you took it for yourself. If you had made contributions, it would have been fine, but you didn’t. Someone like you is not fit to be the Dean. Your integrity and character are lacking!”
Because of the publication of that paper, the Vice Dean was probably already set to take over once the Dean retired. If Sivin Peters really went to the Dean to report this, his career would be ruined.
“Sivin, I apologize for this matter…”
“This matter can’t be resolved with just an apology, can it?” Evan now understood the whole situation and felt disappointed and angry with these people in his home country.
They only cared about fame and fortune and they acted without considering the consequences. Evan truly felt sorry for Freya. She worked so hard to obtain something, hoping to contribute to the development of the medical field in their country, but it was taken for personal gain. But to deal with this Vice Dean, he needed Elijah’s approval before taking action.
“Mr Silverton,” the vice dean hurriedly explained, “I know I made a mistake, and I will do my best to make amends…”
“Amends? How do you plan to make amends? Because of you, danger has already been caused. Do you think a few sweet words will make us forgive you?” Sivin Peters interrupted the vice dean. His anger was no less than Elijah’s. He believed that Elijah would never allow such a vice dean, who only cared about personal gain without considering the bigger picture, to take charge. If he became the dean, the entire HY Research Center would be ruined in his hands.
Elijah didn’t have time to listen to their argument. But Sivin Peters had one thing right–Elijah would never allow such a person to rise to power.
“Evan, I want to see the dean of HY,” Elijah said, taking a step towards the door. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to look at Sivin Peters and the vice dean.
Sivin Peters immediately made his position clear, “This is my fault, and I accept whatever punishment you have for me.” He felt sorry for Freya. Because of him, Freya was in danger. Elijah wouldn’t let him off the hook, and he deserved it. Thinking that all of this was caused by the vice dean, he glared at him.
Sivin Peters’ attitude was clear, and although Elijah was unhappy, he knew that Sivin Peters didn’t mean it on purpose, so he forgave him for now.
The vice dean was still struggling, “I can make it up in other ways, please…”
“Make it up in other ways?” Elijah coldly mocked, “You?”
The vice dean panicked, “I know I made a mistake, please spare me this time…”
Elijah smirked, cold and sinister, “Spare you? How can I face the people in your department who are capable of becoming the dean? How can I face what Freya risked her life to bring back?”
“I…”
The vice dean wanted to say something, but Sivin Peters couldn’t bear to listen anymore. He stepped forward and covered the vice dean’s mouth, “You hypocrite, just shut up. Don’t waste Elijah’s time. Let me tell you, you will never become the dean in this lifetime. Do you know that even if Elijah doesn’t come after you, I will cause a scene at your research center and expose all the shameful things you’ve done.”
The vice dean was also angry and trapped, with no good ending in sight. He was no longer afraid of Sivin Peters and directly confronted him, “Are you any better than me? Haven’t you thought about gaining something from that research data?”
“I know the importance of that data to our research in the field of cardiology. I hope that data can be used to its fullest potential, but it was destroyed by a petty person like you. I only blame myself for entrusting it to the wrong person.”
Sivin Peters and the vice dean argued endlessly. They might even come to blows. But Elijah didn’t have the time or the mood to listen anymore. Evan received a call from the person he sent to track their whereabouts and had some feedback.
“They haven’t found any records of them leaving the country.”
“I see.” Replied Evan. He hung up the phone and told Elijah, “Could they still be in the country? There’s no record of them leaving.”
Elijah wasn’t so optimistic. He believed that they had left the country. If there were no records, perhaps they used another method.
“I’ll leave the domestic affairs to you. I’m going to Country M.” Elijah said. He couldn’t wait in the country anymore.
“Alright, I’ll make the necessary preparations.” Evan responded.
Elijah thought of something and instructed Evan, “Don’t tell Elowen about this. Just say that Freya and I went abroad for business and will be back in a while.”
“I know what to do.”
“Hmm.”
…
Orion returned home and happened to find Haley at home. She was wearing a two-piece camisole pajama. When she saw Orion, she smiled and said, “You’re back?” She considerately poured him a glass of water and walked over to hand it to him. “I can tell that something’s bothering you from your expression. Is it because of work?”
Orion stared at her with lowered eyes. Was this woman, who seemed so kind and considerate, really the one who harmed Luna?
“When we got married, did you arrange for someone to hang up the scroll?” asked Orion.
Haley’s heart skipped a beat. Why did he suddenly ask about this?
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand,” Haley decided to play dumb. She absolutely couldn’t admit to this matter.
Orion grabbed her wrist tightly, causing Haley to panic. The glass of water in her hand slipped and fell to the ground, shattering with a loud crash, scattering shards of glass everywhere. Water spread beneath their feet. She pretended to be frightened.
“Orion, what’s wrong? I’m scared.”
“Tell me, where did you hide Luna?” Orion’s gaze burned like fire.
“Orion, I don’t understand what you’re saying. How would I know where Luna went?” Her heart started to race.
Why was Orion suddenly asking her about these things? Did he discover something? At the thought, Haley’s face turned pale. She played the pitiful card in front of him.
“Orion, you know me. How could I possibly do something like hanging a scroll… I don’t know where Luna is either. Even though she caused me to lose our child, I don’t blame her. I know she didn’t do it on purpose…”
Orion realized she was trying to play dumb. His gaze fell on the mobile phone on her dressing table. He took a step forward, picked up the phone, and saw that it was displaying the page where Haley had been sending messages.
There were messages on it.
Orion’s eyes turned bloodshot as he stared at Haley intently. “How do you explain this?”