Chapter 36
That afternoon, as Stellar stepped out of the library, a slender figure suddenly emerged from the bustling crowd, blocking her path.
“You’re Stellar Rivers, right?”
The woman in front of her had wavy, styled hair and a designer handbag slung over her shoulder.
Arms crossed, her expression was haughty and condescending
She looked to be in her early twenties, clearly a student, and somewhat familiar..
“And you are?”
“I’m Ca
Camille Dawson, a graduate student under Professor Stone.”
gaze drie
Camille sized her up, her gaze dripping with disdain.
“I heard you graduated two years ago, yet now you’re back, acting like you belong here, taking the same exam as us to get into Professor Stone’s latest research team. I can’t help but wonder–what kind of strings did you pull? You must be really talented.”
Her tone was laced with sarcasm.
But Stellar remained unfazed, her expression calm as she countered, “Is there a rule that says alumni can’t return for further studies?”
Camille let out a sharp scoff and raised her voice deliberately, making sure the surrounding students could hear.
“If you got in through your own abilities, I’d have no complaints. But let’s be real–you didn’t get here through
merit.
“You latched onto one of the school’s top investors and used your body to climb your way in. I wouldn’t be surprised if you already had the exam answers in advance!!
A hush fell over the crowd.
Students who were passing by stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening in surprise as they turned toward the commotion.
And when they realized that the target of the accusation was Stellar, the interest in the scene skyrocketed.
She already drew attention just by returning to campus–once a prodigy, now making an unexpected comeback.
Add in her striking looks and a mysterious past, and she was practically a walking scandal.
Now, with a bombshell accusation like this?
Everyone was dying to know more.
Stellar’s expression finally turned cold, her sharp eyes exuding an unmistakable sense of authority.
“Camille Dawson, if you’re going to make accusations, you’d better have proof. Or do you think I’m someone your can slander without consequences?”
For a moment, Camille flinched under that piercing gaze.
But then, remembering Yvonne’s instructions, she quickly composed herself and lifted her chin.
Chapter 36
“Of course, I’m not making baseless accusations. Here’s the proof-”
With that, she pulled a photograph from her pocket and held it up for everyone to see.
Stellar’s expression faltered for a brief moment.
The photo showed a familiar scene–her uncle had come the university that day to handle Yvonne and Jonathan on her behalf before escorting her out and opening the car door for her.
But to outsiders, the image painted a very different story.
A strikingly handsome man showing clear favor to a beautiful young woman.
“This investor put one hundred million dollars into Professor Stone’s project! And you still dare to say there’s nothing between you two?”
Camille’s face was full of righteous accusation.
At the mention of the one hundred million dollars in funding, a wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
“I can’t even imagine that much money in my lifetime! Must be nice to be born pretty.”
“I heard rumors about her before. It was said that she slept around and even caught something nasty. Looks like it wasn’t just gossip.”
“And now she’s trying to use dirty tricks to worm her way back into the university?!”
“We can’t let this happen! It’s completely unfair to the rest of us!”
The murmurs escalated, growing louder and angrier, until it turned into a full–blown protest.
Camille listened to the uproar, a satisfied smirk tugging at her lips.
She turned back to Stellar, expecting to see panic or desperation on her face.
But to her surprise, Stellar remained completely composed
Of course, hearing those words again after all these years sell sent a ripple through her heart.
How could it not?
Years ago, Yvonne had done the same thing to her–dragged her reputation through the mud until she became nothing more than a disgrace, an outcast.
A target for everyone’s contempt.
