Previously, I’d chosen the problem-solving mode, the competition format I felt most confident in. But with Sisca targeting me, it was time for a change. If she wanted to sabotage my work again, she’d have to keep up with me in an entirely different mode. Switching to offense-defense might be tougher, but at least I’d have control over what she couldn’t steal.

Early the next morning, I didn’t wait for Nathan or Ben. Instead, I went straight to Professor Lawson’s office to request a change in my competition mode. He was a respected figure in the computer science department, known for his sharp insights and even sharper wit.

As he adjusted his glasses and looked up at me, a small smile tugged at his lips. “Ah, our department’s prodigy. Let me guess—finding this year’s challenge a little too easy?”

I ducked my head, feeling a mix of nerves and embarrassment. “Not exactly, Professor. I just thought… switching to something a bit more challenging might impress the sponsors more.” I paused, realizing I’d have to be honest with him. “You know, with my background and all, every bit helps. If I manage to secure a top spot, I might even get a place in their research division. It would mean everything to me.”

Professor Lawson’s expression softened, his understanding clear. “I see. I know how important this is, Ran. Switching to offense-defense mode won’t be easy, but with your skill, I think it’s a solid move. Just be prepared—there’s no hand-holding in that format.”

I nodded, a sense of relief washing over me as he signed the necessary forms. Leaving his office, I felt lighter, ready to take on this new challenge head-on.

Halfway to the cafeteria, my phone buzzed. Nathan’s voice came through the line, sounding puzzled. “Ran, where are you? Ben and I were waiting for you to head to breakfast together.”

“Oh! Sorry, I’m on my way. Just had to handle something with Professor Lawson.”

I decided to keep my new competition mode a secret from them, at least for now. After all, neither of them were computer science majors and while they respected my work, they barely understood the basics of what I did.

The day passed quickly and by evening, I was back in the lab, the usual quiet setting in as most students headed to their dorms. Nathan, Ben and I were the last ones in the large room. By midnight, Nathan was already snoring, slumped over his desk.

Ben stretched, breaking the silence. “Ran, you hungry? I’m running out to grab something to eat. Let me know if you want anything—I’ll bring it right back.”

His voice was calm and caring and for a moment, I couldn’t believe someone like Ben could betray me. “I’ll have whatever you’re getting. Thanks, Ben,” I replied with a smile.

Once he left, I glanced at Nathan, his long limbs sprawled across his seat, his usual lively energy completely dimmed by exhaustion. If Ben was hard to suspect, Nathan was even harder. They’d both been there for me, through thick and thin. Why would they betray me for someone they barely knew?

But something was wrong. Sisca’s “success” didn’t add up without inside help. And I knew I had to find out the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

I took a deep breath, opened my laptop and navigated to Sisca’s social media profile. My stomach dropped as I saw her latest post. She’d uploaded a screenshot that looked all too familiar—my code from yesterday.

Alongside it, she’d written, “Some people just can’t help themselves. With the competition winding down, I’ve had to switch modes. It’s a pain, but no choice but to keep going!”

The background of her screenshot was unmistakable. It was my lab, complete with the clutter on my desk. Anyone familiar with our workspace would recognize it immediately. And she wasn’t just stealing my work—she’d copied my exact code solution from that morning, down to the cursor position.

Panic set in as I stared at her post, feeling the cold weight of betrayal settling in my chest. The timestamp on her screenshot was from that morning, long after the lab had emptied out, with only Nathan and Ben staying back to keep me company.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. One of them—or worse, both of them—had to have leaked my work to her. But why? Had they really chosen Sisca over me? The guys who’d been like family to me?

My mind reeled with questions. Was it Sisca’s charm? She had a reputation, after all. I’d heard the whispers about her wealthy family, her privileged connections, the allure she carried. But Nathan and Ben had always seemed immune to that sort of superficial appeal.

Or was it the promise of something more tangible, like money? Sisca’s family was powerful, but it wasn’t as though they’d be handing out fortunes to help with plagiarism. No, that didn’t make sense either.

As I tried to piece together a puzzle that refused to fit, a bitter thought crossed my mind. Maybe the answer wasn’t about Sisca’s charm or money. Maybe it was the simple, cold truth of self-interest.

But the truth was slipping away, hiding in the shadows of the lab as I sat alone, surrounded by computers that now felt like the only things I could trust. I leaned back in my chair, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

Ben returned with snacks, his face breaking into a friendly smile as he handed me a sandwich. “Late night fuel, just like old times, huh?”

I forced a smile, hiding the turmoil inside. “Yeah. Thanks, Ben. I appreciate it.” But my heart felt heavy, each word thick with suspicion.

For the rest of the night, I worked in silence, every click of the keyboard echoing the tension between us.

“What’s wrong with you, Ran?”

The sudden voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I quickly closed Sisca’s post. I turned around, startled to see Nathan rubbing his eyes as he sat up, his face twisted in a sleepy scowl. Behind him, Ben was arranging takeout boxes with his usual care, oblivious to my tense expression. I couldn’t tell if either of them had noticed what I was looking at.

“Come on, eat,” Ben said with a gentle smile as he set a container in front of me. “Nothing’s as important as a full stomach.”

But after what I’d just read, I had no appetite. I poked at the rice in the container, mindlessly stirring it around.

“Look, I’ll get myself home from now on. I don’t want to keep bothering you guys every night, especially when it’s so late,” I said quietly, trying to avoid their eyes.

Nathan’s chopsticks hit the table with a loud clatter. “What’s that supposed to mean, Ran? Since when do we keep secrets from each other?”

“Seriously!” Nathan’s voice rose in frustration. “You think we haven’t noticed how you’ve been sneaking around, acting all weird?”

But Ben cut him off, his calm voice a balm to the tension. “She’s got her reasons, Nathan. I get it. But honestly, Ran, I’d feel a lot better if we still walked you back. It’s late and it’s not safe.”

I looked at Ben, a pang of guilt hitting me. “I arranged for my roommate to help me out,” I lied. “She’s got exams coming up and wanted a quiet study space, so she’ll be in the lab with me.”

Nathan shrugged. “Whatever, Ran. If you don’t want us around, fine. Just don’t expect us to care if we’re not hanging around all the time. I’ve got better things to do than watch you sulk.”

I forced a laugh to cover up the sting of his words. “Thanks, Nathan. Go pick up a girl or two,” I teased half-heartedly.

As we walked back that night, I tried to shake the heaviness in my chest. Just as we reached the dorm entrance, I caught a glimpse of Sisca, slipping into a sleek Bugatti parked by the sidewalk. The dim light of a streetlamp flickered, catching a glimpse of a young man in the driver’s seat. His arm wrapped around her shoulders as they laughed together, her smile bright and charming. I couldn’t tell who he was, but they looked... close.

Back in my room, I quickly dialed Nathan’s number, feeling a strange mix of nerves and excitement. “Nathan, you won’t believe this—I just saw Sisca getting into a luxury car with some guy.”

Nathan’s voice crackled with irritation. “Maybe it’s her brother, Ran. Why are you so obsessed with this? Just focus on the competition and stop looking for drama.”

I felt my throat tighten, his dismissive tone biting. “I thought you’d at least be interested…”

“Not everything revolves around Sisca, Ran. Some of us have better things to worry about.”

His words echoed in my head long after he’d hung up. Lying in bed, I stared at the dark ceiling, my phone screen illuminating the shadows as I pulled up Sisca’s social media page again. I was met with a new post, her latest update already buzzing with reactions.

There, below her usual crowd of admirers, were two comments that hit me like a slap. Nathan’s was first, playful but laced with betrayal: “Plagiarist, huh? Guess it’s time to show the world who the real deal is. Helped Sisca undercover and she’s killing it!”

And then Ben’s: “Sisca, you’ve got this! No need to stick around in the lab with Ran anymore. Tomorrow, I’ll bring you breakfast myself. Keep going, my star.”

My heart plummeted. So, it was true—they’d betrayed me, both of them, without so much as a flicker of remorse. And for Sisca, of all people. The same Sisca who’d been caught cozying up with someone else tonight. They were so blinded by her charm, so swept up in her lies, that they hadn’t even noticed the truth staring back at them.

My mind raced, torn between anger and heartache. Fine, if they wanted to turn their backs on me, then I’d show them what I was made of. They’d chosen their side and now I’d choose mine. From now on, I’d work alone, fight alone. Let’s see how they’d manage without me as their easy target.

The next morning, my roommate, Rose, gave me a cold stare as she tossed her bag onto her bed. “Ready to go to the lab?”

“I’ll go on my own,” I replied, not wanting her company. But Rose didn’t seem pleased by my response.

“Wow, guess the ‘genius’ thinks she’s too good for everyone else now, huh? Or maybe you’re just afraid we’ll find out you’re nothing but a fraud.”

I stared at her, stunned. “Rose, what are you talking about?”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Ran. Everyone knows now. The whole school’s talking about it—the computer science genius, nothing but a plagiarist. Pretty disappointing, really.”

Behind her, two more of our dorm mates exchanged glances, then smirked at me.

“You know, we’ve all heard about it,” one of them sneered. “You really think you can keep a secret that big? The school forum’s been blowing up about it.”

“So disappointing,” the other chimed in. “And here we thought you were worth looking up to.”

Each word felt like a slap, their accusations cutting deeper than I could have imagined. I left without another word, the weight of their judgments pressing down on me with every step to the lab.

Sisca had made sure everyone knew, twisting the narrative in her favor until I was left with nothing but the scraps of my own reputation. She wanted me to quit, to walk away in shame. But that was the last thing I would do.

No matter how far she was willing to go, I would go farther. I wasn’t giving up, not after coming this far. If she thought she could scare me off, then she didn’t know me at all. I’d win this competition, no matter the cost. Let the whispers follow me; let them think whatever they wanted. When it was over, I’d let my work speak for itself. And Sisca, Nathan, Ben—they’d all see what I was truly capable of.

With a final breath, I sat down at my station, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I opened my code. Today, I worked for myself. And no one, not Sisca, not her stolen followers, would ever take that away from me.

I made my way back to the professor’s office, hoping to find some comfort and advice. Professor Walters, with his kind eyes and calm demeanor, was one of the few people who truly believed in my innocence. He was one of the few who stood by me when everyone else seemed eager to call me a cheat. In my previous life, when I faced accusations of plagiarism, he’d fought for me, pushing back against both the university and the public’s relentless judgment. But in the end, his support had only gotten him criticized too. He was mocked online for “coddling” students and trolls even labeled him an “academic enabler.” Still, he never stopped advocating for me.

Taking a deep breath, I sat across from him and explained my predicament, detailing how Sisca had once again stolen my code and passed it off as her own. I could see the concern deepen in his expression as he listened.

After a long pause, he leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. “I believe I might have a solution,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “I’ve spoken to my wife about you. She teaches at a nearby university and has access to an independent lab where you could continue your project. The competition rules should allow you to finish remotely. No distractions, no eyes on your work.”

I was overwhelmed by his kindness. Standing, I gave him a deep bow. “Thank you, Professor Walters. I’ll make sure your faith in me isn’t misplaced.”

The move to a new environment was a relief. In the small, quiet lab at the other university, I found myself able to concentrate for the first time in weeks. Every line of code I wrote felt like a step toward freedom, a chance to prove that I didn’t need anyone’s approval or validation to succeed. The deadline for the competition loomed closer and each night, I stayed later, fueled by determination. And every night, I would check Sisca’s profile, bracing myself for any updates.

Days passed and to my surprise, Sisca’s profile remained silent. No new posts, no updates, no cryptic comments about her “project.” It was as if she’d vanished. Relief washed over me and with a newfound sense of focus, I poured myself into the final lines of code. On the eve of the competition deadline, I hit the last keystroke, watching as my program compiled without error. I’d done it.

But a nagging instinct made me open Sisca’s page one last time. To my horror, she’d just posted: “Competition code complete!” Attached was a picture of her screen—an exact match to the last line of code I’d finished.

A tidal wave of anger and helplessness surged through me and before I knew it, my computer lay in broken pieces across the floor. My frustration boiled over and I barely noticed Professor Walters’ wife, Mrs. Walters, as she entered the lab, her face twisted in concern.

“What happened?” she asked, rushing over as I stood there, numb, amidst the shattered remnants of my computer.

I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Walters. I can’t go on. No matter what I do, it just gets taken away from me. I think… I think I have to drop out.”

She pulled me into a gentle embrace, her voice soft and reassuring. “Oh, dear, don’t let this one setback define you. A single competition doesn’t determine your worth. There are more battles ahead and I know you’ll rise above this.”

I clung to her, grateful for her kindness but feeling empty. “Thank you… and thank Professor Walters too. You both tried so hard to help me.” But inside, I felt defeated. The competition wasn’t the only thing I was walking away from—I couldn’t bear to return to a school where everyone saw me as a fraud.

After I left Mrs. Walters, I spent the next few days alone, trying to process everything that had happened. I wanted to disappear, to escape from everything and everyone. Just as I was beginning to question my place in the world, I received an unexpected visitor.

A representative from the Jo Group arrived at my door with surprising news: they had been searching for me because I was the daughter of Vincent Jo, one of the wealthiest men in the city. He wanted me to join the family, to inherit the business empire he’d built and eventually study business administration abroad.

I laughed bitterly at the irony. After everything, this was my reality? To abandon the dreams I had worked so hard for, just to become some rich man’s heir? But as I lay in my enormous, unfamiliar bed in my father’s mansion, a new determination sparked within me. Those people who’d stolen from me and broken me down in my previous life wouldn’t get away with it in this one.

On the day of the Cyber Security Competition, I found myself glued to the live stream, watching from my bedroom. As expected, the event was held on the campus of a major tech corporation and the scene buzzed with excitement. There, on the stage, Sisca stood radiant and confident, basking in the crowd’s admiration. The comments scrolling across the live stream were full of praise:

“Sisca’s unstoppable! She’s got to be this year’s champion!”

“I knew she was talented, but this? She’s incredible!”

But as the camera panned across the audience, I noticed something strange. Many of the tech executives and judges in the front row had started shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Their expressions grew tense as Sisca continued to present her code, oblivious to the waves of unease spreading through the room. I watched intently, a hint of hope sparking within me as I waited to see what would unfold.

And then, I spotted him—the same man I’d seen with Sisca before, sitting in the front row, watching her with interest. The camera cut away before I could get a closer look, but I was certain now: he was someone powerful, someone important.

Finally, the murmurs became impossible to ignore. People were standing, some even leaving the auditorium, their faces a mix of confusion and disapproval. Sisca faltered, glancing nervously at the growing commotion but pressing on, talking about her “innovative code” with forced enthusiasm. She hadn’t realized yet, but the people she had hoped to impress were slipping away one by one.

The chat feed on the live stream was now flooded with comments, the tone shifting:

“Something’s off. Why are the judges looking so upset?”

“Sisca’s code is a masterpiece! Maybe they’re just intimidated.”

But some voices hinted at doubt: “Are we sure this is her work? There’s something weird going on…”

My heart pounded as I watched the tide turn. The judges, the executives, everyone in that room was beginning to see through her facade. And soon, the truth would be unavoidable. I didn’t need to be on that stage, after all. I didn’t need to prove myself to anyone. Sisca had dug her own grave and all I had to do was watch as she fell into it.

The large screen at the front of the stage suddenly went black, startling Sisca. She froze, her eyes widening in surprise as the screen stayed dark.

Just then, the audience members who hadn’t yet left crouched down, hiding behind their seats as if on some unspoken cue. The silence was broken by the sound of windows shattering and several SWAT officers rolled in, their guns pointed directly at Sisca.

“Hands up!”