Chapter 290: Chapter 290

At this moment, everyone who looked at Skylar Hughes was filled with a speechless complexity.

Paige Sterling was already so famous, her achievements in research were well recognized, why would she plagiarize Skylar Hughes’s ideas?

If Skylar Hughes were a renowned scientist in the field, and she insisted Paige Sterling was plagiarizing her, some might believe it.

However, compared to Paige Sterling’s accomplishments and reputation, she was utterly insignificant; who would trust her words?

Everyone thought she was like a cornered dog, biting indiscriminately.

Professor Lancaster looked at Skylar Hughes coldly, "Ms. Hughes, it’s best if you think well before you speak."

To avoid being a laughingstock.

Skylar Hughes looked at Professor Lancaster, "Professor Lancaster, w-what do you mean? Do you not believe me either?"

Skylar Hughes was incredulous, "Others might not believe in my capability, but Professor Lancaster, don’t you know? With my skills, why would I need to plagiarize Paige Sterling? Do I need to steal from Paige?"

She took a deep breath, seemingly deeply disappointed in Professor Lancaster.

Could she not be disappointed?

Clearly, Professor Lancaster had tested her several times before and knew her skills surpassed Paige Sterling’s. Now, he began to doubt her over such a trivial matter; how could she not be disappointed in him?

If not for needing someone to guide her, she wouldn’t have chosen a mentor like Professor Lancaster at all.

Such a person is no different from someone who changes sides easily.

Skylar Hughes said, "Professor Lancaster, you have always been one of the people I admire the most. I respect your ability and character, always taking you as a role model, hoping I can become someone like you one day. But I never expected that you would question me without evidence. Could it be you’ve been charmed by Paige Sterling, knowing full well my innocence, and still choose to invert the truth to protect Paige? What happened to your integrity and kindness? Where have they gone?"

Her words implied that anyone who doubted her was blindly defending Paige Sterling.

Rarely had anyone seen such bold lies turned so self-righteously.

Professor Lancaster was clearly quite angered by Skylar Hughes.

Though he was used to tumultuous situations, he remained calm and asked Skylar Hughes, "Ms. Hughes, are you suggesting that we all falsely accused you and targeted you?"

Skylar Hughes replied, "You have no evidence to prove whether the idea was Paige Sterling’s, yet you start questioning me. Isn’t it obvious that you’ve wronged me?"

Professor Lancaster chuckled, only finding it laughable, and looked at Paige Sterling, "Look at this, now claiming someone else’s work can be done so self-righteously."

Paige Sterling proposed this over two months earlier — if she had really plagiarized Skylar Hughes, why hadn’t Skylar spoken up earlier?

Apparently, those present hadn’t seen Paige Sterling’s lecture.

Coincidentally, that lecture was recorded, and Professor Lancaster directly had it played on the big screen.

In the lecture, Paige Sterling not only cited classics but delivered a profoundly detailed analysis; even a layman could discern her professionalism, which far surpassed Skylar Hughes’s shallow technical jargon, making it unmistakably clear who had plagiarized whom.

If Skylar Hughes continued to claim coincidence or that Paige Sterling plagiarized her, it could only prove her shamelessness was beyond compare.

At this moment, Skylar Hughes faced the contemptuous, disdainful gazes and couldn’t utter a word in rebuttal.

Initially, she had only just begun to engage with research knowledge, and asking her to use more profound knowledge than Paige Sterling’s to explain was simply impossible.

Moreover, she was well aware that the idea wasn’t her own, so she naturally couldn’t provide a systematic exposition.

With the lecture video, she was completely defeated.

Professor Lancaster set his sharp gaze on Skylar Hughes again.

"Ms. Hughes, it seems your immediate concern should be to learn the right way to conduct yourself."

He was only one step shy of directly stating Skylar’s lack of character.

Skylar Hughes lifted her gaze slowly and fixed it on Paige Sterling. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩

No wonder Paige was so calm today; this must have been premeditated!

Skylar had anticipated Paige would sabotage her on this auspicious day when Professor Lancaster was supposed to accept her as his apprentice.

She had prepared for everything, but never thought Paige would be so malicious, laying such a trap to humiliate her publicly.

Yet Paige only found Skylar’s venomous stare utterly baffling.

But upon reflection, Paige understood why Skylar looked at her like that.

In Skylar’s mind, she would not have any enmity.

When she loses face, she first seeks a cause from others.

Skylar surely believes that her embarrassment today was orchestrated by Paige.

Paige chuckled lightly and felt no need to pay Skylar any heed.

Because of the discussion, everyone in the research circle was immensely interested in the problem Paige articulated, now surrounding her with questions.

One by one, they circled Paige, as if she were the centerpiece of today’s celebration.

Skylar Hughes slowly retreated, retreated...

She only wanted to escape this place where her dignity was utterly stripped.

But to everyone’s surprise, suddenly, someone loudly asked Professor Lancaster.

"Professor Lancaster, there’s been news circulating online that you plan to mentor Miss Hughes, but observing today, this does not seem to be the case. Could you clarify the nature of your association with Miss Hughes? Is the apprentice matter true?"

The person questioning seemed like a few reporters who had sneaked in, eyes gleaming with gossip.

Skylar Hughes’s face instantly paled further, knowing what kind of answer Professor Lancaster, clearly bought off by Paige, would provide.

Her heart felt cold and empty, but it was too late to intervene now.

Not to mention, she couldn’t stop it.

Since the question was raised today, Professor Lancaster wished to address it directly, lest Skylar continues to use this matter to manipulate outside and disgust people.

Professor Lancaster then said, "Really? How come I haven’t heard of it? Until now, I haven’t had any interaction with Ms. Hughes; it’s amazing what rumors can spread on the internet?"

One of Professor Lancaster’s students immediately added, "I clarified this online for the professor, but..."

Right there, he paused and gave Skylar Hughes a knowing look.

But when he clarified online, Skylar posted several times hinting he was jealous of her on social media, steadfastly claiming she was Professor Lancaster’s apprentice.