"Miss Lowell..."


    Bianca''sposure was crumbling. She could only instinctively deny it, her voice trembling. "I didn''t giarize. I didn''t."


    Henry, feeling a surge of pity, stepped forward to shield her from the reporters. "Stop filming! She''ll grant you an interview once this is all cleared up!"


    The reporters, of course, ignored him and continued to snap photos of Bianca.


    In that moment, Seth seemed to be the only rational one in the room.


    He asked in a calm, measured tone, "How can you prove her paper was giarized?"


    "That''s right, show us the proof! Otherwise, this is nder!" Lillian, emboldened by Seth''s support for Bianca, found her voice again.


    Henry added urgently, "Professor, could there be some misunderstanding? Bianca published several papers during her time at WT Business School. She would never make a mistake like this!"


    "Then let her provide evidence to prove she didn''t giarize," Halley replied, not in a hurry to argue.


    Henry quickly turned to Bianca. "Bianca, you must have the original manuscript, right?"


    "I do, but I''ll need to contact my doctoral advisor. He supervised me on this paper, and he has clear evidence that will prove my innocence."


    In that moment, Bianca was grateful to Henry.


    As long as she could contact William, the whole problem would be solved.


    William had provided the thesis idea and the manuscript.


    If she asked, he would certainly vouch for her.


    Hearing this, Henry quickly pleaded her case to Halley. "Professor, she says she can prove it. Please give her a chance."


    "Very well."


    Halley also wanted to find out how this paper had been leaked.


    With permission granted, Bianca felt a wave of relief.


    She stood up and said to the room, "I''m going to step outside to make a call."


    Lillian immediately chimed in, "I''ll go with you!"


    After Bianca left, Noreen, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke to Halley. "Why did you deduct five points from my score?"


    She had calcted it herself; it should have been 260.


    Halley replied without batting an eye, "For turning in your exam early."


    Noreen was speechless.


    Wade Harcourt spoke up in her


    defense. Isn''t that a bit too strict? If


    you hadn''t deducted those five


    points we wouldn''t have


    had this


    whole controversy, would we


    He was referring to the dispute over their identical scores.


    Halley didn''t see any issue with his decision. "If I don''t deduct points, she won''t learn her lesson."


    Only Sanford was marveling at the situation. "So, without that deduction, Ms. Gilmore would have been the undisputed top scorer this year? That''s incredible!"


    Henry was also stunned.


    Noreen''s score of 255 was already impressive enough.


    He never imagined her actual score was 260.


    Even Professor Selwyn was clicking


    his tongue in amazement. "A


    of 2604sn''t just the highest ear,


    it''s the highest score in our department''s history


    He then asked curiously, "So, what was Noreen''s thesis topic?"


    "The theoretical application of mathematics in financial markets, and how to apply these theories to highly practical, profitable strategies by calcting predictable patterns in market behavior."


    Professor Selwyn''s interest was immediately piqued. "I''d like to see it."


    Halley generously shared it.


    Dn also leaned in for a look.


    "You scored her too low! This score is far too low!" Professor Selwyn eximed as


    he read.


    Henry felt a tremor in his chest.


    He wanted to see it too.


    But his legs felt rooted to the spot, refusing to move.


    Besides, he felt that looking at Noreen''s paper now would be a betrayal to Bianca.