<b>Chapter </b><b>169 </b>


    “Lance mentioned you’ve stepped away from Kerano Global Health for now. Since you’re between positions, would you be interested in joining, Mooney University as a faculty member?”


    Mooney University was one of Erennd’s oldest and most prestigious institutions, world–renowned for its achievements in medicine, it was also considered one of the toughest universities for international students to get into.


    Landing a professorship at Mooney University carried far more prestige than being a research supervisor at Mandino University.


    Hearing that someone was trying to poach Aria, Martin couldn’t stay silent. “Ava, I invited Professor Colton first. Don’t try to poach her from me.”


    Ava snorted disdainfully. “Let’s keep it fair. May the best one win.”


    Liam, surprised by how much Ava valued Aria, quickly cut to the chase. “Professor, when it came to developing the protease inhibitors, wasn’t it Hannah who finalized thestponent and gave you her notes?”


    On the screen, Ava’s expression froze for a beat before instantly smoothing over. “Indeed.”


    Hearing this, Hannah finally felt the tension in her chest ease a little.


    Liam’s face lit up with delight. “Professor Wace, Aria, that is, Professor Colton. has published the paper <i>on </i>protease inhibitors, but she omitted Hannah’s name from the credits.”


    He continued, “It’s one thing for Professor Colton to take all the credit and put her own name first, but she can’t just erase everything Hannah did. Professor, please help us set the record straight and make sure Hannah gets the recognition she deserves!”


    Ava scoffed and suddenly shot back, “I don’t even me her for deceiving me, but you actually have the audacity to ask me to testify for you?”


    The atmosphere froze instantly.


    Hannah’s face went rigid as overwhelming panic set in. She stepped forward, trying to keep her voice steady. “Professor Wace, there must be some misunderstanding. The notes I gave you can be verified by handwriting analysis. They were definitely written by me.”


    Hannah reached out to snatch the phone from Liam’s hand.


    But someone was quicker and snatched the phone away.


    It was Owen.


    Owen’s demeanor was gentle, his expression calm, yet his words carried an icy edge. He looked at Hannah and said, “Why the rush to hang up? Afraid Professor Wace might say something inconvenient for you?”


    Hannah’s lips trembled. ‘Why would Owen help Aria?‘


    But if she really hung up now, everyone would just assume she had something to hide.


    She couldn’t freak out. She had to stay calm.


    Though puzzled by Hannah’s abrupt ending of the video call, Liam still chose to stand by her.


    1


    “Give me back the phone,” Liam demanded.


    He reached out to grab the phone, but Aria seized his wrist and flung it aside. “What’s the rush?”


    Owen turned to the screen with a faint smile. “Please continue, Professor Wace<i>.</i>”


    Owen deliberately angled the screen toward the crowd, ensuring everyone could see Ava’s expression clearly.


    Ava’s face hardened with disgust. “The moment the protease inhibitors were ready, Kerano Global Health immediately misbilized major hospital? ma gather herbal ingredients. Professor Colton rushed to the frontlines with equipment and materials, dumping the entire production protocol on my desk


    She said coldly, “She was in a hurry to go elsewhere, so we didn’t meet face to face. It was you who took that original document, rewrote it, and let me new version on my desk. You even emitted many details and disguised it to look like notes for me.”


    She sneered. “I’ve known all along that it was Professor Colton who led the team in developing the protease inhibitors.*


    Upon seeing those notes, she immediately recognized Hannah’s academic dishonesty. Still, Hannah was an exceptionally talented researcher who worked tirelessly to care for patients and help produce inhibitors.


    Ava had always noticed how hard Hannah worked, and deep down, she hoped to steer the girl back onto the right path.


    “Actually, I had written the rmendation letter for Kerano Global Health a long time ago. I chose to keep it a secret to give you a chance, hoping you’de to your senses in time. What a pity you didn’t cherish the opportunity. Since you returned to the country, you have ceased to be a Kerano Global Health researcher!”


    Liam froze on the spot, unable to believe his ears.