Cedric stared at Ariel for a moment with a frown etched on his forehead. Then, he strode off without another word.
As always, he made no effort to hide his brusqueness or displeasure.
“What did Mr. Warbrooke say to you?” Chad asked as he walked over.
Ariel shook her head. “Nothing much. He says the same thing every time.”
Cedric often scowled at her, always seeming irritated.
Chad sighed. There wasn’t much he could do. Years had passed, yet Cedric still hadn’t let go of whatever grudge he held against Ariel.
Ariel stayed at the university a bit longer.
She joined the others for a meal, where several experts took the opportunity to speak with her, hoping to exchange ideas and insights.
She accepted the invitation, still feeling energized and honored to be among so many respected figures. Establishing these connections would help her navigate the academic world with fewer obstacles.
Russell had also invited Jayson to join the meal, but he hadn’t extended the invitation to Nancy.
Jayson declined, citing urgent matters, and quietly left with Nancy.
Nancy hadn’t received any praise or recognition that day. The blow to her confidence was evident.
During the meal, Chad showed Ariel a social media post.
Cecilia had reposted photos from Ashford University’s anniversary celebration, adding a pointed caption.
“Ms. Walker keeps a low profile and focuses on her research. She’s a treasure to the academic world. Anyone who thought to compare her with Ms. Stanton has only embarrassed themselves.”
Ariel was surprised.
1
Cecilia had clearly learned about the incident and was openly supporting her.
With a large following and the allure of a celebrity, Cecilia’s post would spread the news even faster. And Nancy–already humiliated–would likely feel even more attacked by Cecilia’s mocking tone.
In just one day, Ariel had become the hottest topic on Ashford University’s online forum. Her reputation was soaring.
“Ms. Pryce seems to be a sharp and sensible person,” Chad said, amused and impressed by Cecilia’s support for Ariel,
Cecilia was unapologetically outspoken. With her background and upbringing, she didn’t hesitate to call out faults, even going so far as to openly mock Nancy.
Initially, only those present at the event knew what had happened. But Cecilia’s post would reignite memories for anyone familiar with Nancy’s name. In effect, Cecilia had publicly humiliated Nancy again.
“She’s got quite the fiery temper,” Ariel said, unsure how else to describe it. She even found it a little funny.
Cecilia often seemed more outraged than Ariel herself.
“That doesn’t matter,” Chad replied cheerfully. “What matters is Nancy got thoroughly roasted toda
Nancy was smart and capable. Her research paper was well–written and far above average. But her opponent was Ariel.
Chad suspected Nancy’s attitude would shift dramatically after today. Ariel was no longer someone she could dismiss or belittle. She could no longer claim that Ariel was inferior to her.
1/4
For someone as proud and accustomed to getting her way, this situation was pure torment.
Meanwhile, Jayson had dropped Nancy off at her home.
He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got some urgent matters to handle. You should head in.”
Nancy was in a foul mood but didn’t want to show it. She nodded. “Alright. You even turned down the invitation to bring me home. Thank you, Jayson.”
“It’s nothing. Go get some rest,” he said gently. “Don’t dwell too much on what happened today.”
Nancy’s mood lifted slightly at his words. He was right. Her competition with Ariel wasn’t just about research papers; it was also about personal relationships. At least Jayson hadn’t been swayed by Ariel’s success. He remained distant toward her.
“I’m fine. I won’t let it bother me. Everyone has different strengths. Objectively speaking, I acknowledge her talent in writing research papers,” Nancy said calmly, hiding her true feelings.
She didn’t react like others might–flustered or bitter. She kept her composure.
“Alright. You should head in,” Jayson said.
Nancy stepped out of the car. “Drive safe.“–
As soon as Jayson’s car disappeared down the road, Nancy’s expression darkened.
She entered the house with a cold, rigid demeanor.
A while later, she received a forwarded post from Robin.
Her face turned pale the moment she saw Cecilia’s post. It wasn’t just that Cecilia had sided with Ariel–the comment section had revived old rumors about Nancy’s failed proposal to Jayson.
The criticism was harsh and relentless.
Nancy gripped her phone tightly. She couldn’t deny how furious she was.
Sarah came downstairs and noticed Nancy’s tense expression. “What’s wrong? Did something happen today?”
Nancy closed her eyes and gave Sarah a rough summary of the day’s events.
Sarah was stunned. It took her a moment to respond. “Ariel Walker? Are you sure? Could they have made a mistake? Someone like her did all that?”
Having lived abroad for years, Sarah understood the weight of Ariel’s sudden rise.
“How did she suddenly become so…” Sarah trailed off, still in disbelief. “It’s bizarre.”
Nancy tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, her face grim. “If this were her first paper, we could still question it. But she published two papers five years ago and never mentioned them.”
Sarah’s eyes widened with realization.
“She kept it hidden on purpose just to humiliate you in front of everyone! Ariel is a vile, manipulative woman!” Sarah was so angry she nearly cursed.
She couldn’t see any other reason for Ariel to hide her achievements, except to set a trap for Nancy,
Nancy’s thoughts raced. She couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. That wasn’t her style.
Sarah calmed down and thought for a moment. “We need a strategy to shift the public’s attention. You can’t lose to someone like her. Jayson may care about you, but your image and reputation matter too.”
2/4
Chapter 473
Suddenly, Sarah’s eyes lit up. “How was your trip to Nouburgh with Jayson?”
Nancy paused. “It was fine. You don’t need to worry about that.”
