Chapter b8 /bScarlett Quits No Regrets

The bb /bfell into bdead /bsilence.

Everyone stared wide–eyed at the cage in disbelief.

Only now did they begin to process a key fact.

Scarlett had been the first in theirb to develop chip imntation forb mice – a breakthrough that had allowed them to monitor cells ten times faster than any otherb.

So her being able to embed a location chip wasn’t surprising.

But why was her mouse in Reba’s cage?

Could Scarlett have set this up?

But their ambush today had been spontaneous.

There was no way she could’ve predicted it.

Into the silence, Scarlett’s voice cut through like ice breaking across a frozenke.

“Yesterday, I was the first one to leave theb. Today, I arrivedte due to personal matters — and this is what I find.”

She turned to Calvin Miller. “Professor Miller, based on this evidence, do you still believe I ndered my

” /b

Lately, her experimental mice had repeatedly failed while Reba’s always seeded. She’d had her suspicions but no real proof.

–

This cancer treatment trial was too important to risk. So, she embedded trackers in all of her mice.

She hadn’t expected it toe in handy so soon.

She turned her eyes toward Reba — dark and fathomless. The kind of gaze that made your heart skip a beat.

“Reba, care to exin? Why was my mouse in your cage?”

Reba went pale.

In the past, whenever she swapped out Scarlett’s specimens, she’d done it cleanly. She’d even managed to paint Scarlett as a sore loser.

But this time, Scarlett had installed trackers.

What now?

If she couldn’t offer a convincing exnation, all of her awards might be reviewed by the school.

That bwould /bbe bthe /bend of bher/b.

“bProfessor /bMiller!”

–

Her bgo/b–to move tears.

4×4

She broke down in sobs so severe she could barely speak all while her brain raced toe up with a n.

“I took a day off yesterday for my birthday. I just arrived this morning and stayed with everyone the whole time how could I have tampered with the experiment?”

–

She sniffled and shifted the focusb. /b

“Scarlett would never frame me. She had no time or reason. So, I suspect someone else is trying to sabotage ourb’s unity.”

Micah jumped in first. “That’s right. We’re the most decoratedb in the school. Jealousy’s to be expected.”

The others nodded.

“Only Scarlett and Reba ever win awards. It makes sense someone would try to poach them.”

“Must’ve been a misunderstanding.”

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, eager to move on.

As if this was nothing but a minor hup.

Scarlett stood by the door, watching Calvin’s awkward expression.

“If we’re calling it a misunderstanding, and you all misunderstood me… shouldn’t someone apologize?”

Theb fell silent again. Guilty, everyone looked down.

But a momentter, Reba started crying again.

–

“Scarlett, I’ll apologize. But none of this was our ssmates‘ fault or the professor’s. They were just trying to figure out the truth.”

Micah, who had been full of remorse a moment ago, immediately flipped.

“We were trying to help you. We cleared your name – and this is how you repay us? I even tried to speak to Professor Miller about letting youe back to the mainb. But you’ve really disappointed me.”

Scarlett’sshes trembled. Her hands tightened at her sides.

b“/bbIs /bthat so? Professor Miller… is that how you see it, too?”

Calvin avoided her eyes and sighed deeply.

“When you first joined myb, I thought you were pure–hearted. That’s why I took you in.”

–

He continuedb, /bb“/bbBut /bnow you’ve let ambition cloud your judgment. You’ve bgrown /bprideful beven /bdared to btalk /bbback /bbto /bme. bI /bam deeply disappointed. Even if your bssmates /bbpleaded /bon your behalf today, I could not bforgive /byou.”

He added, “Why don’t you spend a month cleaning the school library? bIt /bmight clear your head.”

Then he turned and smiled warmly at Reba. “Rebab, /bstop crying. This is all because someone was jealous of you. I’ll see to it that you’re treated fairly. Come, let’s go review your paper.”

Reba wiped her tears and finally smiled. “Thank you, Professor Miller.”

—

She walked several steps with him before turning back. “Professor Miller, please Scarlett’s experiment is at a crucial stage. Maybe cancel the library punishment?”

Calvin sighed and tapped her forehead lightly. “You’re too softhearted. Fine b– /blibrary for one week.”

Scarlett, just clean the

Scarlett’s face had gone so pale it was almost gray. Her chest ached with a bitter tightness.

So this was it.

The professor who once imed ia /iiteacher /iis like ia /iifather /iifor /ilifei… /ihad never actually believed in her.

Drip.

The first tear, long held back, slipped down her cheek.

Then she smiled.

“And what if I refuse this unfair treatment?”

“What did you say?” Calvin whipped around, eyes narrowing in fury.

He had just returned from overseas, exhausted from travel, hoping to review his students‘ work – only to be dragged into this mess.

It was clearly sabotage from anotherb, but Scarlett insisted on ming Reba!

Reba the prodigy even Professor Hamilton had praised – how could she possibly be scheming?

–

This was ball /bScarlett’s darknessshing out at others!

As their professor, wasn’t it fair for him to ask Scarlett to cool off for a few days?

If she had any sense at all, she’d apologize, ept the punishment, and clean the library.

Instead, she was making things even harder.

“How did I ever end up with a student like you?”

“Don’t worry. You won’t for much longer.” Scarlett looked up.

Her pale, delicate face held not a trace of weakness. “I’m resigning from theb.”

bHer /bwords bweren’t /bloud, but they hit like a tornado – leaving Calvin stunned. bHe /bcoughed hard, his bhands /btremblingb, /bbas /bif his world had been shaken.

bShe /bhad been his pride and joy.

Reba’s expression turned pitch ck. She forgot to control her face entirely.

She had never imagined Scarlett would quit now.

And when she saw the professor’s shock and the clear look of regret

—

–

panic gripped her.

“Professor Miller!”

Her voice, sharper than usual, shattered the silence – snapping Calvin out iof /iit and dragging everyone else back to reality.

“Scarlett, do you think this is some petty grudge you can walk away from?”

It was as if time had frozen.

Scarlett stood tall, her back straight, a faint curve on her lips.

“I’m not sulking. And I’m not joking. Professor Miller, I’m leaving theb. I hope you’ll approve my resignation. You’ll receive the official email soon.”

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