BookToReadChapter 482 Waldron's words all but sealed the truth.
Everyone understood the implications: Elodie was Charlie's protégé, and Waldron had always been at odds with Charlie. If even Waldron was willing to step forward and vouch for her, it only made the story more convincing. If Elodie hadn't written those papers, Waldron wouldn't have let Charlie save face -not now, not in front of everyone. Waldron's endorsement was the most compelling evidence anyone could hope for.
Perhaps the two professors didn't get along, but when it cto academic rigor, they stood on the sunshakable ground.
Grady, thoroughly rebuffed, looked stricken. His gaze darted to Sylvie for support.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSylvie stood rooted in place, struggling to maintain her composure, but the slight tremble of her lips nearly betrayed her. She couldn't believe Mr. Ferguson had stepped up as a witness. Did that mean he'd known about Elodie all along? Why had he never mentioned it? Sylvie had never managed to grasp even a hint of Elodie's real abilities.
And now, these few published essays were enough to leave her inwardly reeling. What if Elodie were given more time-how far could she go? Sylvie forced herself to steady her breathing. She refused to let herself lose composure in public, repeating silently: It's just a few papers... When it comes to practical research, to real innovation, Elodie might not be her match.
She clung to that thought as if it could shield her from the growing sense of dread.
Jarrod, who had been sitting with his hands clasped, tapped his watch and finally rose to his feet. He looked at Elodie, and for the first time, acknowledged her. "Congratulations," he said.
It was as if Waldron's stance had convinced him. Whether he was congratulating her on her newfound recognition or on finally shaking off the suspicion, it was hard to say. One thing was certain: from this day forward, no one would dare doubt her again.
Elodie looked up at him. Jarrod's gaze was calm and clear-no hint of scandal, just a polite, almost amused smile as he spoke. She nodded, keeping her response measured. With so many eyes on them, she wanted no rumors about her and Jarrod today's events would be more than enough for the grapevine.
But the moment Jarrod offered his congratulations to Elodie, Sylvie's fragile composure wavered again. A subtle sense of imbalance crept in, impossible to ignore. Watching Elodie bask in the spotlight, Sylvie could do nothing but stand on the sidelines.
Elodie herself had no interest in fueling any further . Yet, thanks to Grady's attempt to bring her down-and Waldron's decisive words-her reputation was now cemented. No one would dare question her legitimacy again.
In that moment, students from the back of the room surged forward, eager to talk to her, desperate for advice and inspiration. The more senior academics seemed (a unapproachable, but Elodie, a peer, felt accessible-someone they could actually talk to.
She was instantly surrounded by a sea of admiring faces.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAlexander, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. He stayed close, occasionally stepping in to shield her from the crowd.
Elodie didn't disappoint. For every question her fellow students asked, she offered thoughtful, clear answers- patiently guiding them through their confusion.
Eventually, Alexander managed to extract her from the throng. He glanced around the hall, then nodded toward Charlie and the cluster of distinguished guests he was chatting with.
He lowered his voice to Elodie. "Honestly, this kind of opportunity is rare." Elodie looked at him, curious. "Why do you say that?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "If this hadn't happened in such a public om setting-if Grady hadn't tried to NO discredit you and you hadn't been vindicated right here in front of everyone-then when your
authorship eventually cto light, you'd have faced endless doubts That's just human nature. Without this perfect occasion to clear your name, those rumors would've stuck to you for years." That was the harsh reality. Academic circles weren't as noble as people liked to believe; too many were willing to do whatever it took to protect their own reputations.
Here at Verdant University, in a gathering packed with the field's top minds, journal editors, and both Charlie and Waldron, chances like this almost never calong. That's why Alexander called it rare. In the end, Grady's schhad only helped Elodie-giving her a lifelong shield against suspicion.
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