CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: THE ECCENTRIC SISTER-IN-LAW EXPOSES VICTORIA ONLINE

In the evening, as the sun set in the west, the red clouds blazed like fire, reflecting on the windowpanes of the laboratory.

Inside the lab, there was a hazy, dark red ambiance.

Angela walked in and pressed the light switch, "Why don’t you turn on the lights? What’s got you in a daze?"

The bright light in the lab snapped Victoria Sinclair’s chaotic and sluggish thoughts back, making her close her eyes and rub them.

She had been worried about her brother’s situation all day, unable to focus on her experiments, feeling truly distressed.

Angela walked over to Victoria Sinclair, "I have two pieces of news, one good, one bad, which do you want to hear first?"

Victoria Sinclair slowly sorted out the experimental equipment, "Let’s hear the bad news first."

Angela turned on her phone screen in front of Victoria, "Your sister-in-law is slandering you online again. This time it’s even more outrageous. She’s saying you caused her to lose millions in income, burdened her with heavy debts, and ruined her family, which is on the verge of divorce."

Victoria didn’t even lift her eyelids, she gave a bitter smile, "Did she not mention being tricked?"

"Tricked?" Angela suddenly realized, "Wow! So that’s it. She didn’t say a word about it, just that she invested in a project and didn’t specify what project, and made it out to be that you were jealous of her success, so you sabotaged her project and spoke ill of you, her followers have now grown to more than eighty thousand, and many are cursing you, some even want to dig up dirt on the so-called worst sister-in-law."

Victoria packed up the equipment, took off her lab coat, and prepared to leave work.

Angela was puzzled, one hand on her hip, "What are you thinking about? She’s insulting you so harshly, aren’t you going to explain or fight back?"

Victoria put her notebook into her backpack and calmly said, "Angela, even though I don’t like going online, I know the power of online bullying is terrifying. Internet warriors never need as much evidence as police to convict someone. Even if I explain, there’s no guarantee it will clear me of her allegations, instead, it might expose my identity. I’ll become targeted by these internet users, not knowing what attacks I might receive. I don’t have the time or energy to deal with this nonsense, I’m really, really busy!"

Angela understood the reasoning, but couldn’t swallow the indignation at Victoria Sinclair being slandered, "Even so, I can’t let this go. Is your sister-in-law seriously ill? She’s like a mad dog, always attacking you online."

Victoria comforted, "Angela, block her account, then you won’t see her nonsense and won’t get angry. Consider that she’s just creating a fictional wicked sister-in-law and telling ghost stories online, it’s no big deal."

Angela sighed, "Okay, let’s treat it as her telling ghost stories. If she affects your normal life and work, I definitely won’t let her off easily."

Victoria secured her backpack and gently patted her on the shoulder, "Don’t worry, I may have a gentle nature, not looking for trouble, but I’m no pushover either."

Angela agreed on this point, Victoria is kind, but definitely not a doormat. She doesn’t seek revenge for every petty thing, but she won’t easily be bullied.

"What’s the good news?" Victoria asked with clear and expectant eyes.

Thinking of the good news, Angela couldn’t hold back a full smile, her voice a bit more lively, "The state has received our report and highly values this new drug. They have decided to send a professional team to join our research, with all research funding fully covered by the government. Central media has also invited you for an interview."

Victoria’s heart beat fiercely, her blood boiled, she covered her mouth in excitement, her eyes welling up, hardly daring to believe it was true.

Angela’s eyes were red as she cupped her ecstatic face, "Victoria, we lost a sesame, but picked up a big watermelon. It was Vaughn Group’s loss not to cooperate with us, now the government is stepping in. Once this new drug is successfully developed, we will reach the peak in a new global field."

Victoria was so ecstatic that she couldn’t utter a single word, joyful tears rolling down her cheeks, yet her smile was so bright.

Her relentless efforts would never let her down.

Angela saw Victoria’s emotional tears and hugged her, stroking her head, "You’ve had such a hard time over these years, experimenting day and night, scarcely taking a break all year round. It’s truly heart-wrenching, but it’s fortunate that hard work eventually pays off."

Victoria slowly digested her enthusiastic emotions, calmed down, and after leaving Angela’s embrace, her smile like a flower, "Angela, if the new drug gets successfully marketed, my career will take a big step forward. I’ll have the money to help my brother out of his difficulties and give my parents a better life. All the challenges I’m facing now will be solved."

Angela held Victoria’s face and wiped away the tears on her cheek, "You’re like a sparkling gem. I truly admire you and am honored to be your best friend and most capable partner. Let those who don’t recognize your worth just roll aside."

Victoria gave a knowing smile, hearing the hidden meaning in Angela’s words, she knew she was referring to Eugene Vaughn.

On her way home, Victoria walked lightly and felt unburdened.

She bought two buns from a street vendor, eating while walking.

Upon arriving home, she immediately washed up without wasting any time, and once done with her bath, she locked herself in her room to study every second diligently.

With her current achievements and abilities, getting into a Ph.D. program wasn’t difficult for her.

But she did not want to take it lightly.

Being overly focused, she even became deaf to the outside world.

As time ticked by and she became exhausted, Victoria raised her head from the books and glanced at her phone, realizing it was already midnight.

She stood up to stretch her body, picked up an empty glass, and left her room.

The bright moonlight flooded the living room, visibility was high, she didn’t turn on the light and walked directly to the kitchen, opening the fridge.

As she took a slight pause reaching for the milk, her gaze landed on a transparent box filled with several kinds of her favorite fruits inside.

She didn’t buy them, so it must’ve been Eugene Vaughn.

Just a small act of kindness.

Her heart warmed inexplicably, feeling soft and uncontrollably happy.

She poured the milk and took an orange before leaving the kitchen.

When passing Eugene’s room, she stopped and looked down at the glowing gap beneath the door.

Eugene hadn’t slept yet?

She wanted to knock on his door and thank him.

Thank him for the fruits.

She also wanted to share her inner joy with him.

She stood in front of the door for quite a while but still didn’t muster the courage.

Afraid the fruits weren’t bought specifically for her, afraid Eugene didn’t want to hear her share, or even see her.

After all, Eugene had called her dull and unexciting, like a cup of plain water, and he really disliked her.

She lowered her head, looking at the orange in her hand, her heart inexplicably empty, suddenly longing to see him, even if just for a moment without speaking.

Suddenly, the door opened.

The light from the room shone out, startling Victoria, her heart tightened as she shuffled her feet, lost in bewilderment looking at Eugene.

He was dressed in casual sleepwear, one hand in his pocket, his towering figure backlit, his exquisite features more profound and striking in the dim light, looking at her with indistinct eyes.

Eugene seemed to know she was standing at the door, showing no surprise, he calmly spoke, "Did you need something?"