Chapter 5

All eyes were back on me, making me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles.

I stood frozen, completely at a loss, sweat pouring down like rain as I waved my hands in panic. "No, I-I didn't touch anything. "

Nate looked conflicted and let out a helpless sigh. "Emmy, if it wasn't you, who else could it be? Olivia? She's way too professional to mess up like that."

I thought, 'He really didn't believe me?'

My face went pale as I looked at Olivia, silently begging for help, but she stood there, lost in her own thoughts, completely ignoring me.

The crowd started booing and whispering.

[I actually feel bad for Olivia. She looks totally shell-shocked. And this stuttering girl can barely get a word out, but she still tries to deny it?]

[Olivia's lab demo videos are basically textbook material. Anyone with half a brain knows it was Emmy messing things up. Didn't you see Nate's got her back?]

I was so anxious I could barely get the words out. "Professor, I swear I didn't even go near the table. Please, check again. "

Nate let out a sigh. "Emmy, Olivia's in the lab every day and the reagents are always fine. So why is it that the moment you show up, something explodes? "

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and stepped protectively in front of me, giving a polite bow. "Professor Lee, I was in Lab B all day and didn't see Olivia make any mistakes.

"If anyone's to blame for not teaching Emmy not to mess with the lab equipment, it's me. I'll take responsibility and write the apology for her."

That settled it.

I stared, stunned, at his back, broader and more imposing than ever, while a cold chill swept over me.

The chorus of echoing voices around me grew louder and louder.

"It was her. "

"Definitely her. "

Bystanders eager for drama were snapping photos and recording videos, some nearly shoving their phones right in my face.

I tried to dodge and shake my head, but the more anxious I got, the more my words got stuck in my throat, I couldn't even finish a sentence.

People started pointing at me, laughing like it was all some big joke.

It was like I was reliving my worst nightmare all over again.

My eyes burned red, and I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood.

Professor tugged at my arm, clearly losing patience. "Alright, that's it. We have a witness now.

"For an accident like this, you might not graduate on time, or worse, you could end up behind bars. Let's go to the dean's office, right now."

I stumbled as Professor dragged me away, sobbing and calling out desperately as I turned back to Nate. "Don't you always record every experiment?

"Why won't you show the professor the footage? I'm telling you, it wasn't me. "

Professor stopped in his tracks.

Nate paused, his face still calm, but with an apologetic look as he shrugged helplessly. "I was in such a hurry today, I didn't record anything. Emmy, quit making excuses and own up to it. "

The last bit of hope in my eyes faded away.

My hand, which had been trembling and desperately reaching out to him, fell limply to my side.

I felt utterly numb inside, like all hope had been extinguished.

After being locked in that cramped investigation room for three hours, grilled nonstop, I stumbled out, feeling completely hollow inside.

Got slapped with a major violation.

My graduation pushed back an entire year.

70,000 dollars in compensation for the lab's losses.