My Boyfriend Stole My Capstone Project for His First Love

Synopsis

As graduation approached, I asked my boyfriend, Grant—a young, rising-star professor at Westbridge University—to write me a letter of recommendation for a research position. "Mara, we have to be ethical about this," Grant said, his face hardening into a patronizing frown. "I can't write a recommendation for my own partner. That's abusing my position to pave the way for you. There are no shortcuts." Shame flushed my cheeks. I dropped the subject and threw myself into interview prep, working day and night. But right after my final interview, I stood in front of the digital announcement board in the Westbridge science building and stared at the hiring results. My classmate, Vivian, had secured the exact position through the university's spousal hire program. Under the department's public announcement, Vivian had posted a smiling photo with the caption: A special thanks to my husband, Westbridge faculty member Grant Holloway. They had actually gone to the courthouse and gotten married. Overnight, I had become the other woman. When I confronted Grant, he didn't even flinch. "She's my late mentor's daughter. This isn't a shortcut, it's a favor. As for the marriage certificate... once her job is secure, I'll file the divorce papers and marry you." I just laughed, packed my bags, and accepted an offer from Adrian, a brilliant former lab mate, to join Professor Reed's research lab in Silicon Valley. I wouldn't need a garbage boyfriend ever again.