I couldn’t stand their nonsense any longer and snapped, “Bulwark Group evaluates investments based on the strength of a research institute’s talent, not on contributions measured by singing and dancing.”

Professor Laird, livid, shoved me so hard I stumbled and fell to the floor. “Asshole! You dare talk back to me? Today it’s a rat you poison, tomorrow it’ll be your colleagues! How can I allow someone as radical and unstable as you to remain here, endangering the institute? I’ll report you to the dean!”

The three of them were clearly in cahoots and I shouted back, “Do you even hear yourself? You’re twisting right and wrong!”

Professor Laird’s face darkened, her voice dropping into a growl. “You refuse to see your mistakes. Then you’ll pay for them.”

At her slight nod, Xaviera lunged forward, yanking my hair and slapping me hard across the face. “You killed Sissy and you dared to destroy her memorial? Today, you’ll pay your respects in mourning clothes!”

Pain shot through my scalp, but I gritted my teeth and clawed her hand away. She sneered and tore at my clothes, exposing me. “Red underwear? Really? On Sissy’s death anniversary? You must be mocking her on purpose! From now on, you’ll wear black and mourn for her properly!”

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway and fear rooted me in place.

Xaviera yanked the curtains down and hurled them at me. “You’re only fit to wear this today!”

When I dodged and refused to comply, she kicked the door wide open, exposing everything inside. “Everyone, come and see! Heidi’s being punished for poisoning small animals. She’ll mourn here for seven days and seven nights!”

Countless curious eyes turned toward us. My hands trembled as I hastily pulled the curtain over my body.

Xaviera only sneered. “Bitch! Didn’t you say you wouldn’t wear it just now? Do you realize your mistake now? If you admit you were wrong, bow three times to Sissy.”

Bow to a mouse? Impossible. Humiliation burned through me and my voice quivered. “You barged in and wrecked my lab, how is that my fault?”

Xaviera rolled her eyes with scorn. “Why don’t you just claim the whole building is yours?”

“It was indeed donated to me,” I answered honestly, but my words only drew another round of laughter.

Professor Laird’s face twisted in disgust. “How many times have I told you, these are public resources! Do you really think this is your private home?”

Zack shook his head, feigning helplessness. “You’ll never change. Being tied to you is the greatest embarrassment of my life.”

Xaviera’s eyes gleamed with malice. “Since you refuse to admit your mistakes and still insist all this belongs to you, then you killed my Sissy, you’ll need to pay for it!”

A wave of dread washed over me.

Sure enough, Xaviera let out a mocking chuckle, lifted one of the instruments and raised it high as if to smash it onto the floor.

My eyelids twitched and I cried out, “Stop! These are imported precision instruments, the cheapest costs over a million! Even if you had the money, it wouldn’t matter. Do you understand the consequences?”

But Xaviera only sneered, brushing off my warning. “Heidi, stop acting so pretentious! Every lab has equipment like this. Who are you trying to fool?”

I forced myself to stay calm, though my heart was lodged in my throat.

“I’m not lying. The labels on the backs are completely different from ordinary instruments. Look closely and you’ll see,” I insisted.

Zack leaned in, half-skeptical, to check for himself.

Professor Laird gave a lazy, mocking scoff. “All the institute’s equipment is purchased centrally. I’ve never heard of any differences. Stop trying to fool them. Did you forget I’m standing right here?”

At her words, both Zack and Xaviera immediately lifted their heads, their doubt swept away.

Afraid they still wouldn’t believe me, I rushed to explain, “It’s true. These instruments were donated by Bulwark Group through special channels. You can’t find them on the market.”

Professor Laird burst into laughter, nearly doubling over as though I’d told the funniest joke. “Bulwark Group? They’re our school’s biggest sponsor. They only give special equipment to top talent.

“What? Are you trying to say Bulwark Group gave these to you? How shameless! Why not just claim you’re a top talent and be done with it? At least then your lie would sound halfway convincing!”

Relieved, Zack and Xaviera laughed along. Xaviera lifted the instrument again, her grip firm, while Zack egged her on. “Smash it! Whatever you break, I’ll pay for!”

Xaviera smirked. “You were close with Zack before, don’t you know how wealthy his family is? He could buy this whole lab, let alone a few instruments.”

But I knew Zack’s family situation better than anyone. He couldn’t even afford a single one of these instruments, much less an entire lab full of them.

Seeing they were about to act, I cried out anxiously, “You can’t afford this, put it down!”

Zack only sneered. “You’ve never seen my world. To me, it’s just breakfast money.”

The moment Xaviera raised the instrument to smash it, I lunged desperately, reaching to snatch it from her hands.

But Zack and Professor Laird held me down together, forcing me to the ground.

A loud bang echoed through the room. Xaviera laughed as, one after another, the instruments were smashed into twisted ruins.

These machines were priceless, ones I always handled with the utmost care, yet now I could only watch helplessly, pinned to the floor, as she destroyed them piece by piece.

My chest felt as though it were being torn open, while the three of them looked on, relishing my torment.

By now the entrance was crowded with members of the institute. Someone finally couldn’t help but speak up. “Isn’t this going too far? Why not just talk things out, why resort to violence?”

Unbothered, Xaviera turned to the onlookers, loudly explaining, “What’s the big deal? This vicious woman killed my Sissy and she still dares to claim this whole room as her own. I’m just helping her face reality.”

Professor Laird nodded approvingly. “Exactly. She’s nothing but a disgrace, a failure. What right does she have to show off?”

Meanwhile, Zack spotted the only intact glass tube left on the table. He picked it up and twirled it between his fingers, curiosity flashing in his eyes. “And what’s this?”

Panic surged through me. “Put it down!”

Zack and Xaviera exchanged a knowing look. Zack turned the tube over in his hand with idle curiosity, then sneered. “Why so nervous?”

Xaviera chimed in with mocking sweetness. “Oh, must be some priceless treasure! What now? Are you going to say it’s worth millions?”

In truth, it was worth far more. This was Bulwark Group’s latest breakthrough, practically beyond price.

Panic surged through me and I cried out, “Give it back! No amount of money could replace this!”

Xaviera’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Oh? My Sissy is priceless too. If you bow to it and promise to mourn for seven days and nights, maybe I’ll consider giving you back this so-called treasure.”

I refused to waste another word on her and lunged forward, trying to snatch it away.

Xaviera’s eyes flared with rage. “You dare try to grab it?!”

She spun and tossed the tube to Zack. As I rushed toward him, Zack casually lobbed it back to her.

I stumbled frantically between them, back and forth, not even noticing the curtain slipping dangerously from my body.

With malice in her eyes, Xaviera stretched out her foot and pressed down on it. The curtain slid away in an instant.

“Ah!” A sharp cry escaped me. Realization hit and my cheeks flamed with shame. Tears stung my eyes.

Xaviera, having enjoyed my humiliation long enough, suddenly raised her hand high, then let go.

The glass tube shattered with a crisp crack, blue liquid spilling across the floor. Three years of painstaking work, gone in an instant.

“Oops!” Xaviera covered her mouth in mock surprise. “Sorry, my hand slipped.”

I collapsed to the ground, eyes burning red as I stared at the fragments, a heart-wrenching cry tearing from my throat.

Xaviera only covered her ears with impatience, lips curling in disdain. “What are you screaming for? Think you’re loud enough to sing soprano at the welcome ceremony? Don’t flatter yourself.”

Professor Laird smirked and came over, nudging me with her toe. “Don’t play dead! Weren’t you loud just a moment ago?”

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.

The dean’s respectful voice followed. “This is the laboratory donated by your group. We built it specifically for Heidi. In fact, this entire building was designed for this lab, to ensure she has top-tier experimental resources.”

“Why are there so many people here?” the dean asked, puzzled.

But when his eyes fell on the scene inside, his expression froze in horror. “What’s going on?!”

I slowly lifted my head. The dean and the Bulwark Group representative both caught sight of my face. “Heidi?!”