<b>Chapter </b><b>294 </b>


    The camera captured Hannah’s horrifically distorted face in full.


    Her eyes bulged grotesquely, her mouth twisted in a snarl, teeth bared and clenched to the point of cracking, the muscles in her cheeks spasming uncontrobly—she looked like a demon straight out of hell, thirsting to devour anyone in her path.


    The viewers were so startled by the horrific scene that they almost flung their phones out of their hands.


    Their gossipy curiosity burning, they couldn’t tear their eyes away from the screen, afraid they’d miss even a second of the drama.


    <b>61</b>%%0


    Watching the figure charge at her, Aria curled her lips in a derisive smirk. With lightning reflexes, she pivoted sideways, and in a sh, her hand shot out. to mp onto Hannah’s arm like a vice.


    With a deft twist, she yanked Hannah backward while delivering a sharp kick to the back of her knee.


    Hannah let out a piercing scream of excruciating pain and dropped heavily to one knee, a dull thud echoing through the room.


    She knelt there in utter humiliation, her disheveled state exposed for all the Mandino University students to see.


    Hannah, burning with humiliation, struggled to rise, but the iron grip on her shoulder pinned her down.


    Hannah shrieked, her voice tight with panic, “Aria! This is theft–in and simple! Give me back myptop!”


    ‘I deleted the evidence ages ago. There’s no need to panic. But if Aria dared to bring theptop here, she must’ve recovered the data!‘ Hannah thought.


    At the thought, her face turned beet red as a wave of terror crashed over her.


    Hannah tried to calm down and think of a solution, but her mind was <b>a </b>scrambled mess–she couldn’t think straight.


    Desperate, she turned to Liam with pleading eyes and begged, “Liam, please, help me!”


    Liam snapped out of his shock, hesitation flickering across his face as he hurried over in quick<b>, </b>cautious steps. “Aria,” he pleaded, “let her go first.”


    One was his ex–wife, the other his current girlfriend–Liam found himself torn between them.


    With Aria pinning Hannah down in such a humiliating state, her embarrassment became his as well.


    Liam reached for Hannah, but his hand was abruptly stopped mid–motion.


    He looked up and met a pair of piercing, narrow eyes<b>, </b>cold and unfeeling.


    “Mr. Cole, if you help Ms. Gibson, who’s guilty of giarism, does that mean you’re involved too?” His voice was cool and detached, with an unmistakable threat lingering in the final sybles.


    He meant helping Hannah made Liam an aplice.


    ‘Is Owen Shaw reminding me, or is this a warning?‘ Liam wondered, his heart skipping a beat.


    Liam and Owen were barely acquainted, though they had attended the same high school.


    Liam often heard others mention Owen.


    Owen, an academic <b>ace </b>and a loner, was always <b>at </b>the top of his ss and ultimately became Mandino City’s SAT top scorer.


    Aloof and emotionally reserved, he was nicknamed the unppable academic ace for his unshakableposure.


    He <b>rarely </b>showed <b>up </b>at social events, yet his legend spread far and wide.


    STD <b>HI</b><b>, </b>13 <b>JUN </b>EG


    <b>The </b>Shaw family was already legendary in Mandino City, let alone their deeply rooted ancestral lineage.


    Liam couldn’t figure out why someone of awus would help Aria, a divorcee, time and again.


    <b>Now </b>wasn’t the time to dwell on that.


    ? 61<b>%%</b><b>0 </b>


    $<b>20 </b>


    In that split second, Liam made his decision. He wrenched his hand free from Owen’s grip, turned to Hannah, and said firmly, “Hannah, admit your mistake and apologize. Then you can start over.”


    Liam stared intently at Hannah, searching her face for even a hint of regret–but found none.


    “Liam, I can exin, I…” Hannah pleaded, her voice trembling.


    Liam cut Hannah off sharply, his face etched with disappointment. “Enough!”


    He just couldn’t understand–why was Hannah still trying to quibble, even now?


    Liam had never regretted his choices–until now. Standing amid the chaos and uproar, he was suddenly overwhelmed with remorse.


    Since childhood, he had been determined to be a doctor–someone who would serve his country and protect its people.


    He had always thought Hannah was just like him, sharing the same pure aspirations.


    But reality disappointed him again and again, constantly shattering his idealized view of Hannah.


    There was no evidence about the notes incident, so when she exined, he believed her.


    But this time? With undeniable evidence staring her in the face, she still refused to admit it–not a trace of remorse showed on her face.


    A wave of crushing exhaustion washed over Liam, leaving him so drained he could barely catch his breath.


    <b>2/2 </b>