Chapter 9
“What secret?” I pressed.]
Nora’s eyes darted away, not daring to look at me.
“I… I don’t know the details.“]
“He only mentioned it once, when he was drunk.”
“He said behind TH Corp was someone from college who was his enemy.“[]
“That person knew about something disgraceful he did back then… to get the graduate school recommendation.“]
My breathing almost stopped.]]
I’d always known Marcus got into grad school through recommendation.
He’d been student body president, excellent grades, a campus celebrity.]
Td always thought those honors were well–deserved.[]
“What disgraceful thing?” My voice was dry.
“It seemed like… academic fraud,” Nora’s voice got even lower.]]
“He took someone else’s research, changed a few data points, and published it as his own paper.“]]
“The classmate he plagiarized couldn’t produce anything significant afterward, so his path to study abroad was cut off.”
“And Marcus stepped on that person’s shoulders to get the only recommendation slot.”
I sat there, ice cold all over.[]
So plagiarism had been carved into his bones since his student days.[]
The brilliant young man I’d fallen in love with had been a shameless thief from the beginning.
The so–called “baby,” the so–called “my sunshine“-all just carefully constructed masks.
SatTH
“That person… is at TH Corp now?”
“Yes.” Nora nodded. “Marcus said that person had somehow tracked him down and kept trying to expose what happened back then.“]
“So Marcus was desperate to destroy TH Corp.“]
“He wasn’t helping me–he was protecting himself.“]
“He wanted to use this lawsuit to completely destroy that person, so he’d never have a chance to speak up again.“]
Nora finally revealed the ultimate secret.]
So he’d destroyed my career not just to pave the way for his mistress.[]
It was also to cover up his own dirtiest past.[]
I was just another tool he used to eliminate evidence.]
How ridiculous.
Looking at Nora’s face full of remorse and hatred, I suddenly felt sorry for her too.
We’d both been completely fooled by the same man.
I stood up without looking at her again.
Tell all this to the police and disciplinary committee.”
“Whether you get lenient treatment depends on your own performance.”
I walked out of the firm and called Vivian.
“Vivian, help me investigate someone.
-0
“Marcus’s college classmate, had academic disputes, might now work at TH Corp.”
Vivian’s efficiency was consistent as always.]
Half a day later, a name appeared on my phone.]
Ryan Johnson.
Current CTO of TH Corp.
His resume showed he’d once been the most promising computer genius for that recommendation slot.[]
I looked at this name and dialed Mr. Foster from TH Corp, who had been
n my contact.
“Mr. Foster, I need CTO Johnson’s help.“[]
“I need him to come forward as a witness.”
