Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Bob scoffed, "What do you think? You believe this can end well? Take a look for yourself—"

With those words, he grabbed a document from the desk and flung it at her face.

Edna picked it up, her face growing paler as she read.

A written reprimand... Funding for her project slashed by half... Eligibility for next year's national research grant application revoked...

With each point, it felt like a mountain was being piled onto her shoulders.

By the time she left the office, Edna was practically hunched over.noveldrama

Bob wasn't in much better shape. Although he had managed to shift all the blame onto Edna during their discussion, the university administration still issued him a warning for negligence and poor management, effective for six months.

As soon as the college leadership heard the news, the dean and the secretary summoned him for a talk.

Their words were polite but their stance was firm. They euphemistically suggested a "sabbatical," but it was essentially a demotion, sidelining him.

After six months, by the time his "sabbatical" was over, it might be too late for any redemption.

Bob slammed his fist on the desk, regretting ever getting involved with Edna, whom he now deemed a fool.

Now, everything was ruined!

"Auntie! What did Director White say? Please tell me Roseanne's mess won't drag us down too, right?"

Sybil had been anxiously waiting in Edna's office, rushing up to her the moment she returned.

Smack-

Edna slapped her across the face without a word.

"A-Auntie?" Sybil was stunned.

"You were the one who called the mainstream media yesterday?!"

Sybil nervously swallowed, her eyes flickering.

"Auntie, I... made a mistake. I didn't mean tot was Director White who said the bigger the scandal, the better. I just... I thought I'd try and sent messages to a couple of media outlets, I didn't-"

"Just two?" Edna's expression froze, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely! I swear, I only contacted two news outlets, but somehow, so many showed up yesterday..."

"It seems like Roseanne had been planning this, setting a trap and just waiting for us to jump in!"

"You mean... Roseanne did it on purpose?!"

"If you're not lying and really only reached out to two media outlets, yet a dozen showed up, what other explanation could there be besides them orchestrating the whole thing?"

UMS

Sybil immediately raised her hand, "I swear, I'm not lying! It was only two!"

Edna sneered.

The hunter gets captured by the game!

What a move, Roseanne!

What a strategy, Madeleine!

"Auntie..." Sybil bit her lip anxiously, "We won't get penalized by the university, will we?"

Edna laughed bitterly, giving her a cold look, "From the moment I walked in, all you cared about was whether you'd be punished. Well, then let me tell you, you're expelled!"

"Wha—what?" Sybil's eyes widened in shock, her face turning ashen, nearly fainting.

Seeing her reaction, Edna felt a slight release of her frustration, "Just kidding."

Sybil: "?"

"See for yourself." Edna tossed the document to her.

After reading, Sybil let out a sigh of relief; it only mentioned Edna's reprimand, nothing about her...

"You think just because I'm in

trouble, you can relax? Let me tell

you, if go down, you're going down with me!" Edna, seemingly reading her thoughts, couldn't help but sneer.