"Turns out, the folks visiting the hospital looking for the professor were Harrison's crew?"
"I smell a juicy story brewing. Spill the beans, upstairs."
"Yeah, about three days ago, this group of guys in black suits, straight out of some mob movie, came looking for Professor Trent. I was chatting in his office and saw them coming, so I stepped out."
"Right before the door closed, I heard them asking the professor for help. Couldn't catch anything else."
"Come on, you gotta work on your fiction, buddy. If Harrison really had beef, why stage a whole spectacle at the hospital? He'd just snatch the professor in the shadows, no fuss."
"The comments here are savage."
The online forum dubbed someone defending Harrison as "the lawless advocate," jesting at their expense.
In court, before anyone could properly get a word in, Sophie, eager to not be overshadowed, blurted out the same accusation.
Her shrill voice cut through the silence, rendering the courtroom speechless.
Vivienne massaged her temples, speechless, "Your Honor, this individual is disrupting the order of the court. Perhaps it's best if she's removed."
The judge nodded in agreement.
With a slight cough, he gestured towards Sophie, "Remove her. This is no place for those ignorant of the law."
Kidnapping? Really?
As if anyone could easily snatch Professor Trent!
Publicly, he's a respected figure at Elite University, but secretly, he's involved in national science projects and always guarded.
Harrison attempting a kidnapping? That's practically asking for a swift arrest!
"Why are you ejecting me?!"
As the officers approached, Sophie backed away in panic, bumping into Ramona, who, dressed unassumingly, grimaced and sidestepped as if to avoid contamination, "Stay away, idiot!"
Their proximity allowed Sophie to hear the insult clearly, her face turning red with rage: "Who are you calling an idiot?!"
"Do you think you're better than everyone else?!" She lunged at Ramona, aiming for the woman's face mask, "Wearing a mask indoors, what are you hiding, you freak? I'm going to see what kind of monster you are today!"
But Ramona, raised by the Grimshaw family, wouldn't be easily attacked.
She smoothly dodged behind her seat, her eyes cold as she stared at Sophie, "What are you waiting for? Grab her!"
As she evaded Sophie, her gaze full of anger turned to the hesitant officers.
The chaos that ensued was indescribable.
Finally, Ramona managed to lead Sophie straight to the officers, who seized the opportunity to apprehend her.
Pinned to the cold marble floor, the chill brought Sophie back to her senses, but she didn't immediately call for Gavin's help. Instead, her eyes found Percival, sitting calmly beside Vivienne.
His deep, steady gaze watched the turmoil unfold.
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