Chapter 138
From Ashes to Quren. Now I Call the Shots
138 The Fracture
Finished
Technically, packing wasn’t something the Joyner matriarch needed to handle herself—but Martha couldn’t bear to let her sons do it alone. She was worried about Rebecca. And if she stayed behind, she’d only cry amt make things worse.
Once she was gone, Franklin turned to his three sons and gave them a stern reminder.
“The Lane family is nothing like the families here in Trenwyn. When we get to Jandale, tread carefully.”
Stanley frowned. “Dad, how exactly are you planning to talk to the Lane family?”
Franklin’s expression darkened, clearly displeased by the question. But he didn’t answer.
Stanley pressed again. “Are you planning to use your identity as Rebecca’s father to argue that she didn’t plagiarize anything? That Scully made false accusations and should take the fall for it? ”
“Stanley!” Franklin snapped. “Do you even remember who your real sister is ? ”
Stanley gave a bitter laugh. “So it’s true, then.”
Yes, Rebecca was his biological sister. But even if it were a stranger, no one deserved to be falsely blamed for a crime.
Let alone Scully–who had given so much to the Joyner family.
And now he knew: she had saved Rebecca’s life once.
How could they repay a lifesaver like this?
It was inhuman.
“Dad, I used to admire you,” Stanley said, his voice trembling, eyes rimmed red. His chest rose and fell rapidly with emotion.
“I’m not going to Jandale.”
He wasn’t about to be part of a cover–up. He couldn’t even look Scarlett in the eye anymore.
He turned and walked away.
“I don’t want to come back to this house,” he said over his shoulder.
“You ungrateful son!” Franklin shouted, slamming a vase to the floor and pointing furiously at the door. “Don’t bother coming back if you leave!”
Stanley didn’t even flinch.
Franklin clutched his chest, coughing violently in his rage. Normally, this would’ve caused a flurry of concern–but not this time.
Oliver stood with his head down , pretending not to notice,
Eugene, a doctor of all people/didn’t move to help. He just stood there, stunned.
Franklin’s fury boiled over, He smashed several more vases.
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138 The Fracture
“You’re all turning against me now ? ”
Only then did Eugene stir. He spoke quietly.
“Dad… I’ll think about the Jandale trip.”
And with that, he walked out too.
Oliver remained behind, but his gaze toward Franklin was filled with conflict.
Finished
“I’ll go,” he said at last, “but I hope we’re being honest this time. We can’t ask Scully to suffer again just to protect Rebecca.”
Franklin stood speechless.
Were these really his sons?
When did they all change?
“You… you…”
Oliver didn’t wait for the outburst. He turned and went upstairs.
Franklin’s fury was choked in his throat. His face flushed red as he struggled to swallow his anger.
At the school laboratory, Calvin hadn’t left yet.
Ever since the medical exchange conference, he’d been spending more and more time in the lab–either mentoring students or grading papers in his office.
But the students‘ admiration had cooled considerably.
Most of them were focused solely on winning competitions or chasing recognition.
“Rebecca hasn’t shown up. Guess she’s too embarrassed after flopping at the conference.”
“All those resources, and she still couldn’t shine? I’d be ashamed to show my face.”
“What do you think, Micah?”
Micah blinked back his wandering thoughts. Honestly, he hadn’t been thinking about Rebecca at all.
He wasn’t bothered by the gossip around him, either.
What puzzled him was Scarlett’s absence.
After such a spectacular victory at the conference, now was the time to reap the rewards. Why hadn’t she returned to campus ?
Maybe it was because she’d become too famous–afraid of being mobbed?
Seemed likely.
She had always been low–key, even before. She never boasted about her accomplishments.
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138 The Fracture
Because of that, when her recognition was stripped away, Calvin had grown impatient with her .
Micah now regretted that.
#Finished
If he had treated Scarlett better back then, surely she ‘would’ve shared some of her current success with him.
“Let’s focus on the experiment,” he said curtly, brushing off the conversation.
The others pursed their lips but didn’t push back.
They no longer respected Micah the way they used to.
He used to command the lab’s pecking order. But now?
He was just another competitor, scrambling for attention like the rest. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ƒind ηøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access s of novels early and in the highest quality.
And now he wanted to act all noble?
What a joke.
“Micah, come here a second.”
Calvin’s office wasn’t far, and he’d clearly heard everything.
He didn’t feel great about it either.
He’d handpicked these students, guiding them through steady progress.
But now they were obsessed with fame and fortune, chasing shortcuts–trying to become “the next Scarlett.”
Why was he thinking about her again?
“Professor, you wanted to see me?”
Micah’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Calvin sighed.
“I have a competition slot for you. There’s a related exchange event too–it’ll help your thesis.”
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