Five Years Wasted Now They Beg Her Back novel Chapter 311

Half an hour later.

The summit resumed.

Everyone had expected Grace to retreat in disgrace. Some had even prepared press releases with headlines like, “Fall of a Genius: Carden University PhD Accused of Academic Fraud.”

However, the doors opened.

Grace walked back in.

She stepped onto the stage and, without a single wasted word, inserted a flash drive into the computer.

“Regarding Professor Smith’s accusations earlier, I have a few things I’d like to say.”

The large screen lit up.

Surveillance footage, bank transactions, altered log records…

Professor Smith, who had been smugly giving an interview to reporters, dropped his champagne flute the moment he saw the screen. It shattered on the floor with a crash.

“This… This is fabricated! It’s slander!” he shrieked hysterically.

“The police will tell you whether it’s slander or not.”

Grace looked at him coldly. “Just one minute ago, I formally submitted a report to the International Academic Council and filed a police report.”

At that moment, several uniformed police officers entered the venue and walked straight toward Smith.

“Mr. Smith, you are suspected of commercial fraud and academic dishonesty. Please come with us.”

The camera flashes ignited once more.

Grace stood on the stage, basking in thunderous applause.

Her gaze swept through the crowd, searching for that dark corner.

It was empty.

But he was surely there.

She knew it.

***

After the summit.

A lakeside café near Cardenia University.

The snow had stopped, and the setting sun cast a shimmering, picturesque glow on the water’s surface.

Grace sat there, a cup of cold coffee in front of her.

She was waiting for someone.

Five minutes later, a black sedan pulled up to the curb.

“I know you used a lot of connections and funds to help me get that evidence. There are ten million dollars on this card. It’s not much… but I’ll pay back the rest slowly.”

Damien stared at the bank card as if it had burned him.

His heart shattered into a million pieces.

She wanted to settle the score so cleanly?

“Grace…” Damien’s eyes reddened, his voice trembling. “Do you really want to cut ties with me this badly?”

“Damien.”

Grace looked into his eyes, the same eyes she had once been lost in.

“I don’t want to owe you anything. After all… I did love you.”

*I did love you.*

“But things are different now.”

Grace took a deep breath.

“I’m grateful that you helped me. I’ll remember it, and I’ll repay this favor.”

“But between us…”