?Chapter 238:


    Nelly, snapping out of her shock, quickly supported Cecelia. “That’s right! This is all made up! Even if there is a video, it’s just some setup meant to frame Cecelia. Sylvia, I can’t believe you’d stoop this low just to drag her down. I never thought you had it in you.”


    Letting out a low, scornfulugh, Ste retorted, “You think you get to judge me? Please. Cecelia, if you still refuse to listen, I’ll just y the video for everyone — let’s see what the entire institute thinks of you and Allen after this.”


    Sandra and Elbert froze, both blindsided by Ste’s sharp edge.


    Up until now, they’d always pictured her as the quiet, steady type—steady, yes, but never one for confrontation.


    Apparently, when pushed too far, Ste didn’t just defend herself—she fought back with teeth bared.


    Without missing a beat, Ste pressed on, her eyes glinting with cool usation. “Ever since I joined the institute, your hostility has been impossible to miss, Cecelia. You think I didn’t notice? You’re the one who switched our samples to the wrong incubator, aren’t you? And you’re behind the sudden dys in our experiments, too.”


    None of it had been about their supposedck of skill, nor was it Sandra’s rookie mistakes that sabotaged the team.


    All along, Cecelia had orchestrated everything—she’d nned to jump ship to Allen’s team from the start, willing to sacrifice everyone else for her own gain. Ste couldn’t say when Cecelia and Allen had begun plotting together, but deep down, she was certain Cecelia’s loyalty had never belonged to their team.


    The moment a crowd of senior staff swept into the cafeteria, the onlookers scattered, hurrying back to their seats as if themotion had never happened. Paul strode in at the head of the group, a stern presence among the institute’s leaders, all with clipped steps and unreadable faces.


    Ste caught sight of William among them, still in his whiteb coat—a clear sign he’d rushed over straight from theb.


    Paul’s voice rang out, sharp and unyielding. “Cecelia, Nelly, you’re both suspected of undermining the integrity of this institute. I’ll need you toe with me for questioning. Allen as well.”


    Step into fiction with  .


    He swept a hard gaze over the room, then jerked his chin toward the doors. “All of you—my office, now.”


    Paul had only recently learned the truth. If Ste hadn’t delivered the evidence in time, the secret backroom deals would’ve stayed buried beneath the surface.


    Paul realized now that his earlier leniency had only emboldened Allen and his crew, convincing them they could get away with anything.


    Cecelia’s voice quavered with desperation as she pleaded, “It’s not what you think, Mr. Hoffman. Please, let me exin…”


    Paul leveled her with a hard stare, his tone unyielding. “That’s enough. I said,e with me. Or would you rather I air everything out in front of the whole institute?”


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