After that day, Jackson and I quietly kept our distance, seeing each other less often, until the academy’s annual awards ceremony, where we were invited on stage as a “model research couple.”
Everyone called us a perfect couple. Then a young man ran onto the stage and hit Jackson. “Jackson! You liar! If you don’t love Noelle, why did you give her hope?”
People looked over. The man seemed to be a passionate admirer of Noelle, sneering with contempt in his eyes. “Remember the lab fire? She burned half her leg saving you and the scar is still there!”
Noelle lifted her skirt, showing the shocking scar. Jackson, beside her, gasped.
“That award-winning work? She did it all, working nonstop for a month before submitting it. Your academic title came from networking and pleading with officials. Jackson, your success today is because of Noelle, not you or your wife!”
The room erupted in chaos. I spoke calmly, “She was only hoping. Jackson never asked her to do it. If Noelle is using this to blackmail him, she’s trying to ruin our family and take his place!”