Chapter 250: Giving the Child a Legitimate Status

Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Giving the Child a Legitimate Status

Those lingering around were utterly astounded.

They hadn’t expected Sophie Winslow, usually so approachable and easygoing, to possess such a sharp tongue.

And a complete rejection? Just how terrible was the writing?

Stella Sutton stood up. The stares from the crowd made her deeply uncomfortable, but she kept her gaze locked on Sophie. "Was that really necessary?"

Sophie was just targeting her on purpose! Saying such harsh things in public to humiliate her! She was obviously just a fraud of a professor, pretending to know what she was doing while tearing her report to shreds!

She refused to believe Sophie had understood a word of it. She was just on a power trip, abusing her newfound authority to throw her weight around.

Sophie honestly had no desire to argue the point with her. Her conclusion was entirely objective. In fact, seeing Stella’s ostensibly flashy and professional report had actually angered her a bit.

It was exactly because so many in the industry cared only about fame and fortune, gilding their resumes to climb the social ladder while producing misleading rubbish that hindered rather than advanced medical progress. They were no better than parasites.

Just like that infamous figure from the early days of the medical profession. That person’s papers had misled countless scholars, sending disease-curing research down the wrong path entirely.

"If you don’t respect my judgment, why show it to me at all? Or can you only stomach praise, princess?" Sophie retorted.

Stella gritted her teeth. "I just think you need to convince everyone. Don’t professors have to write them too? Why don’t you let us learn from yours?"

With that, she looked up at the content displayed on the presentation screen at the front. The meeting just now had likely been focused on tearing this exact piece apart.

She read a few lines. It was obscure and incomprehensible. Most likely, it was also a negative example.

One of the students nearby couldn’t listen anymore and pointed out, "That *is* Ms. Winslow’s report. It’s the high-scoring textbook example that all the mentors unanimously approved..."

Stella froze, thinking she had misheard.

Sophie stood up. "The report is the first step for everyone to enter the competition fairly. If you can’t pass it, you should reflect on your own shortcomings."

Stella’s face flushed with embarrassment. Her eyes tracked Sophie as she suddenly asked, "Did you really write this so-called ’high-scoring’ report yourself?"

If it was really that good, she didn’t believe Sophie had finished it alone. Someone must have helped her cheat or ghostwritten it for her.

Her accusation caused the expressions of those around them to shift. Everyone looked at Stella with inexplicable expressions.

Sophie laughed. "If you have doubts, report it to the higher-ups. I will fully cooperate at any time."

Upon reaching the door, Sophie looked back. "If you truly can’t learn humility, you’ll only ever be capable of churning out watered-down garbage like this."

Stella’s spine stiffened. As people gradually walked past her and left, she felt as though she had been stripped naked in public.

This was a deliberate, targeted attack by Sophie. Scolding her so brutally in public was nothing more than an attempt to make her too ashamed to ever show her face again!

That afternoon.

Julian Sterling came to Kingsford University to meet with an administrator. His car had been granted special permission to drive onto the campus. While he was there, he dropped by the university’s experimental base.

Stella got into his car as soon as she came out. Her expression was still sour, looking downright aggrieved. "Julian, can we go get something to eat first?"

Julian looked at her. "What happened?"

Stella shook her head helplessly. "It’s nothing major...

"It’s just that, given the difference in our statuses, I have to take whatever is said about me. My report was completely rejected in public. Opportunities are limited. If I keep failing to pass, I’ll have to give up my spot to someone else and withdraw from this medical project."

Her mention of a "difference in statuses" practically spelled out exactly who she was talking about.

Julian naturally understood. He also grasped the underlying implication: she was being deliberately made things difficult for.

Julian turned his head slightly, looking toward the building. It was as if his gaze could pierce through the thick walls to see a certain tall, slender figure inside.

"Understood. I’ll take care of it."

Pleasant surprise bubbled up in Stella’s eyes. "Thank you, Julian," she thanked him softly.

His phone rang.

Julian glanced at the caller ID and stepped out of the car to take the call.

A man’s voice came through the line. "Mr. Sterling, we’ve investigated your wife’s movements over the years. There are no unusual travel patterns, and she hasn’t appeared in public with any children. Furthermore, we haven’t found any record of her having intimate contact with other men. Her life has been quite transparent."

Julian lowered his eyes, staring at the lighter in his hand that was missing a diamond. "And the rest?"

"Yes. On November 26th, six years ago, she left Kingsford and went on a long-term business trip that lasted seven months. However, we couldn’t find any medical records of her visiting a hospital during that time."

Julian’s gaze froze for a split second.

Six years ago, in the winter.

Sophie had flown to Vesparia to find him once. That one and only time. They had consummated their marriage.

He thought back to that moment. The memory was exceptionally clear.

On November 24th, Sophie had returned to the country from Port Liberty. Almost the very next day after landing, she had traveled far to Linden and stayed there for seven whole months.

So... When she went to Port Liberty, Sophie was already pregnant.

And her purpose in going to Port Liberty to find him—Was it to give the child a legitimate identity?

However, since he habitually used protection, it couldn’t be passed off as an "accidental" pregnancy.

He rubbed his thumb slowly over the hollowed-out spot where the diamond was missing, remaining silent.

The person on the other end probed tentatively, "Mr. Sterling, should we continue investigating? Why are you looking into her?"

Mr. Sterling didn’t care about Sophie’s affairs, so why did he need to know who the child’s father was?

Julian didn’t provide a reason. He simply said, "Yes. Keep digging."

***

The new neurological disease drug being developed at Kingsford University tackled a problem that remained unsolved worldwide. Upon the project’s establishment, overseas universities had been invited to attend conferences.

One of the attendees was a medical professor from Archway University.

At the end of the meeting, Professor Robert specifically called out to Sophie. "You astounded me today. The questions you raised were remarkably incisive. If possible, could we grab a meal together before I return to my country?"

Looking at the kind-faced little foreign old man before her, Sophie smiled. "I would be honored."

She was an easygoing person. Knowing that foreigners didn’t operate on the cultural politeness of saying "next time" or "some other day" without meaning it, she set a date right away. "Would today be convenient for you?"

Robert immediately looked regretful. "I already have plans for today. I’m meeting an old friend to help mentor his female companion."

Before Sophie could react, Robert suddenly waved his hand. "Hey! Eliot! Long time no see!"

Hearing that English name, a pulse throbbed at Sophie’s temples. She turned her head, seeing Julian Sterling and Stella Sutton walking toward them side by side.

Eliot was Julian.

Sophie almost subconsciously turned to leave, her movements lacking even a hint of hesitation.

But Robert noticed and stopped her. "Wait a moment, Miss Winslow."

Sophie was forced to halt.

Julian’s peripheral vision swept past the profile of Sophie, who had her back to them, as he shook hands with Robert. "Long time no see."

Stella was incredibly nervous to meet a major figure in the medical field like Robert, but upon spotting Sophie’s presence, a flash of displeasure crossed her features.

Robert chuckled and pointed at Sophie, saying to Julian, "Miss Winslow here is an incredible rising star at Kingsford University. Do you know her, Eliot?"

Julian cast a cold, detached glance at her. "We’re not close."

Hearing his denial of any closeness, Sophie felt no emotion. Stella, however, curled her lips into a silent smile.

"Hello, Professor Robert. I am Stella Sutton. Thank you so much for your willingness to mentor me on my report this time. I am confident that with your personal guidance, the report definitely won’t be deliberately nitpicked by anyone."

She cast a sideways glance at Sophie, making her implications perfectly clear. She refused to believe Sophie would dare target her again this time—doing so would be tantamount to rejecting Robert’s level of expertise.

Only then did Sophie understand.

Julian’s network was far too vast; he could even invite a figure like Robert to help Stella out. He clearly thought she was "bullying" Stella again and had brought in backup to support her and put the pressure on Sophie.

She displayed no surprise.

Robert didn’t read too deeply into the subtext. He asked, "If you don’t mind, why don’t we bring Miss Winslow along for dinner?"

Sophie instinctively wanted to decline.

But someone was faster than her in rejecting the invitation. Julian’s voice was perfectly steady. "Miss Winslow is likely busy. Let’s not make things difficult for her."