The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1608

The answer was clear and straightforward.

“What?”

Karan’s eyes went wide. For a second, she simply couldn’t take it in.

“I already looked over the third-round material ahead of time,” Shirley admitted, her brows drawn together, lips pressed into a thin line. “But honestly, this is as far as I could go. I could only solve the first part. The last step was just beyond me. So, I figured there was no use standing up there wasting everyone’s time when I knew I couldn’t finish.”

There was no point in standing around feeling awkward and exposed when she didn’t have it in her. So she had turned in what she had and walked off.

Karan stared at Shirley, completely stunned. The look on her face was indescribably bad.

Right now, she could only feel regret, mixed with a bitter sense of frustration burning inside her.

“Mr. Lane…”

She clenched her hands so tightly her knuckles hurt. Her eyes were red, and as she looked at Mr. Lane’s cold, unmoving face, she struggled to find her voice. “I’m sorry. I just…”

She couldn’t let someone with connections erase all the years of effort she’d poured into this. Even if it meant disappointing the only person who truly cared about her.

She must have broken his heart by now, right? Could Mr. Lane ever find it in himself to forgive her?

“The results are clear for everyone to see,” Mr. Lane finally spoke, disappointment heavy in his voice as he looked at Karan. “First place goes to Karan. According to the rules, Karan earns the exchange spot at Apex.”

The room went dead silent.

Instead of celebrating her win, the air filled with judgment and cold, mocking glares.

If anyone ever wondered what betrayal looked like, this was it.

Her very first year, she’d ruined a piece of equipment in the lab worth millions. She’d cried in some corner, too ashamed and scared to face anyone. Everyone thought she would be expelled, but Mr. Lane hadn’t given up on her. He brought her to the dean’s office and spoke up for her, even giving up his own project funding to cover the loss. He fixed everything for her, just because she was his student and he saw something in her.

The more she remembered, the heavier the guilt became, and hot tears streaked down her face, silent and steady.

After several minutes, Mr. Lane walked back on stage. He looked at Karan, who was crying openly now, and sighed deeply. “Apex just told me it was you who reported the cheating accusation.”

Karan hung her head, her voice only a whisper. “Yes.”

“By all rights, the spot would have gone to you based on your results. But…” Mr. Lane’s voice faltered as he struggled to go on, coming out raspy and tired. “Apex just called back. The fallout from this is too much for them. They’re taking away your exchange program eligibility.”

Karan couldn’t stop the tears this time. They spilled over and just kept coming.

“As for the spot itself, Apex has already made a decision,” Mr. Lane added, his attention shifting over to Shirley.