Chapter 79
“A housewife has no business participating in a math competition!”
Since the announcement of the preliminary results, the ALEMath Competition committee’s phone lines had been ringing off the hook.
This was the biggest credibility crisis ALI Group had ever faced in the history of the competition.
As online doubts about Elara’s results grew louder, the competition committee held an emergency meeting “This competition has been conducted online for years. There are five cameras, in five different angles–every contestant is monitored in real–time. Do these people think our proctoring team is blind?”
“A bunch of rabble–rousers, calling it a petition, yet not a single contestant has stepped forward publicly. They’re only listing their school names–who gave them the right to represent their universities? They’ve embarrassed their institutions!”
“Our proctoring team reviewed Elara’s exam process three times, and no cheating was found. These people online have no idea who they’re picking a fight with!”
“Mr. Somner, you have to say something! If you don’t show your claws, they’ll mistake you for a stuffed animal!”
70–year–old Christopher Somner, the chairman–who had just been compared to a stuffed animal–slammed his hand on the table and issued a direct order.
“We owe the public an explanation. Contact all major platforms. Tomorrow, we will release the full surveillance footage of Elara’s exam. Let everyone see for themselves whether she cheated or not!”
That night, Elara’s phone rang. It was a reporter from Gingham TV.
“Ms. Jones, have you seen the trending topics? People are relentlessly questioning your preliminary exam results.
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Elara’s tone remained calm. “Yes, I’ve seen them.”
The reporter pressed further, “Did you really take the preliminary exam at Dr. Snapp’s home?”
Elara answered truthfully, “Yes, I did.”
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line.
The journalist, Faye Clark, was the same fearless reporter who had stood up for Elara and Merida at the Summit Academy gates.
Elara told her, “There is no evidence to suggest that just because I took the exam at Dr. Snapp’s house, he helped me cheat. This situation has indeed brought him a lot of negative attention, but I had no other choice at the time.”
Faye pressed further, “Why? Why did you have to take the exam at Dr. Snapp’s house?”
Elara chuckled. “You might not believe me when I say this, but on the day of the preliminaries, my ex–husband cut off the Internet at my residence.
“When I tried to find a nearby café to re–connect, he sent a signal–blocking vehicle to follow me around.”
Faye gasped. “Is your ex–husband a trash bag? Because he sure is a load of trash!”
Her professional instincts as a journalist kept her from outright cursing, but her natural news sense pushed her to
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Chapter 79
keep digging
“Ms. Jones, why would your ex–husband go to such length
Elara sat on the couch as the warm yellow glow of the lampast soft light on her serene face,
“I indeed miscalculated at the time I shouldn’t have stayed in a house under my ex–husband’s name. Everything he gave me was nothing more than an illusion.
“That was the moment I truly understood never entrust your future to a man. The only person I can rely on is myself.”
“Right now, public opinion is turning against you, Ms. Jones. What’s your plan?”
“I fear the suffocating silence of the Fisher household far more than the noise of rumors and gossip.”
Her voice was gentle yet unwavering, and even through the phone, Faye could feel the unyielding strength radiating from her words.
“Ms. Clark, no matter what happens, I won’t back down. Even if I’m doubted and scorned by the masses, I won’t be afraid, and I won’t regret anything. I believe the final competition results will prove everything.”
After ending the call with Faye, Elara opened her phone contacts. Her eyes lingered on the name “Dr. Snapp“.
Tobias had been dragged into this mess because of her, but it was already late–calling him now felt inappropriate.
Just as she hesitated, her phone buzzed. Elara flinched slightly, then glanced at the screen where the name ” Theodore Snapp” lit up.
