Chapter 78
Harvey’s expression turned solemn, his dark eyes swirling with the storm of an impending crisis.
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As the Internet buzzed with discussions about a full–time housewife of seven years securing first place in a prestigious math competition, skepticism began to brew.
Elara’s name trended on the hot search list for an entire day and her Gingham TV interview propelled her into the public spotlight.
That evening, a high–profile Internet influencer with millions of followers dropped a bombshell: Elara’s former professor was none other than Tobias Snapp, the dean of Capitol University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Science. This insider source revealed that on the day of the ALI Math Competition preliminaries, Elara had taken the online test from Tobias‘ residence.
The influencer openly speculated that Elara had disclosed the questions to Tobias, who then solved them on a whiteboard, allowing her to copy the answers directly.
This, they claimed, was how Elara had shockingly topped the competition, achieving first place in a way that defied logic.
“A housewife who hasn’t touched advanced mathematics in seven years could never have scored so high in the ALI Math Competition–it just doesn’t make sense!”
As this post gained traction, public opinion quickly shifted. Someone uploaded satellite surveillance images allegedly showing Elara near the Snapp residence on the day of the competition.
A few students from Capitol University chimed in online, recalling how Tobias had once fought bitterly with Hawke University professors just to recruit Elara into Capitol University’s PhD program.
Soon after, a Capitol University mathematics student posted on the campus forum, adding fuel to the controversy.
“Elara often came to the Snapp residence to study with us. She only started preparing for the ALI competition less than a month ago.
“Tobias definitely favored her–he even continued mentoring her at the Snapp residence, despite the fact that she once betrayed him by dropping out to get married.”
To support their claim, the student attached a photo they had secretly taken of Elara inside the Snapp residence.
This was the final nail in the coffin. The Internet exploded–Elara’s close ties with Tobias Snapp were now undeniable.
Within ten minutes, an anonymous account posted a bold theory in the discussion thread.
“This so–called housewife, Elara Jones, is only receiving so much attention because Tobias is pulling the strings behind the scenes! He wants to create a miracle to secure his position as the dean of Capitol University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Science.”
With that suggestion planted, the suspicion that Tobias had helped Elara cheat grew exponentially.
“Four years ago, Dr. Snapp accused Dr. Harold Judd of plagiarism but failed to provide any evidence. Yet, Dr. Judd still lost his eligibility for tenure.
“It wasn’t until two years later that he managed to reestablish himself at Capitol University with three SCI papers. This year, Dr. Judd is the strongest contender for the dean’s position. He’s Dr. Snapp’s biggest rival!”
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Chapter 78
“Dr. Snapp is an old–fashioned hardliner. His lectures have some of the worst ratings. His classes are impossible to follow, and if you don’t understand, he’ll humiliate you in front of everyone. If nothing unexpected happens, he’s set to step down as dean this year.”
“Tobias needed a groundbreaking success to prove his teaching ability. That’s why he chose to help Elara cheat in the math competition!”
“Elara took the math test at Tobias‘ house–her results should be nullified!”
As public outrage intensified, the phrase “Elara Jones Cheated” skyrocketed to the #1 trending topic on social media.
The online sentiment turned instantly. The parents who had previously issued public apologies on various platforms began deleting their posts.
One parent even posted a screenshot of the ALI Math Competition logo on their Instagram account with bold red text “Is this competition fair?” plastered on it.
News outlets that had previously interviewed Elara withdrew their videos, choosing not to release them to avoid backlash.
Soon after, dozens of ALI Math Competition participants jointly submitted a petition, demanding that Elara’s results be revoked.
“Every past ALI Math Competition participant has either been a student from a world–class university or an industry expert. A jobless housewife should have been screened out at the registration stage!”
