Nancy arrogantly waved the papers in her hand. However, Kenneth, who was standing next to me, looked a little uncomfortable because of her attitude.
"The institute chooses people not only based on their ability but also their character," he said.
His words made Nancy’s face red with embarrassment right away. Meanwhile, Adrian looked annoyed.
"Hannah, when did you start spending time with this kind of person? He and Nancy should apologize," he said.
I answered with no emotion, "This is Kenneth Jackson from the institute. He is one of the leaders of several big projects for the research."
Nancy smiled as soon as she heard that.
"Oh, so you're Kenneth! Hello, my name is Nancy. I guess I’ll be your junior from now on."
But Kenneth didn’t even look at her. He just took me away without saying anything. Nancy stomped her foot in frustration behind me.
Adrian watched me leave and seemed to think of something. Then, he slowly pulled out his phone and made a call.
"The last thing I asked you to do is still the same, but now it has to be done faster. I want it all over the internet in thirty minutes."
I stayed at the institute until the evening. Just as I was about to check my phone to see what time it was, I noticed a news alert that caught my attention. Without further ado, I opened it.
What I saw were private photos of me in all kinds of poses, exposed and embarrassing, the kind that made it hard to even look at the screen. I felt like my blood turned cold. In an instant, I collapsed into my chair in shock.
How could this be happening? I had already promised them, so why wouldn't they leave me alone? The painful memories from those nights came rushing back, like a horrible nightmare I couldn’t escape.
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I grabbed the knife next to me and, without thinking, I cut my wrist. At that moment, Professor Adkins and Kenneth came rushing in. When she saw me like that, Professor Adkins immediately understood how much I had suffered.
Professor Adkins had worked with my parents and watched me grow up. She knew I was not someone who would do such things. She held me tightly while I cried in her arms and told her everything.
For quite a while, she comforted me gently and told me she wouldn’t give up on me and that we would leave this painful place soon. After that, I returned to the Dougherty house feeling completely hopeless. When I finally arrived, it was Nancy who opened the door and looked at me.
She pretended to be worried, but her face showed pride.
"Hannah, your private photos are all over the internet now. It’s really a shame. I do feel so bad for you, Hannah. I really do," she said in a fake sympathetic voice.
As Nancy spoke, she showed off the ruby necklace and ring she was wearing. That necklace and ring were keepsakes my mother gave me before she died. I had kept them safe all these years. How did she get them?
Marcel walked over.
"Who told you to let your private photos spread all over the internet? Nancy was worried about you all afternoon, so I gave those things to her to help her feel better," he said, like it was no big deal.
I didn’t want to argue with his nonsense. I just reached out my hand and said, "Give them back to me."
Marcel looked surprised that I was standing up for myself.
He said in a mocking tone, "Your mother is already dead. There's no point in holding on to her things. The institute will have a welcome party tomorrow and Nancy can wear them to show off."
I couldn’t take it anymore. I jumped at Nancy and grabbed her neck tightly.
"Give them back to me!" I shouted.
It seemed that my behavior shocked Marcel, because he just stood there, frozen. Adrian walked in right at that moment and reacted fast. He kicked me hard in the side and sent me flying.
Nancy, who had almost passed out from being choked, fell into Adrian's arms and cried like a child. Her crying seemed to wake Marcel up and he rushed over to check on her. They both held Nancy like she was the only person that mattered, gently patting her and trying to calm her down.
On the other hand, I was lying on the ground and coughed up blood. The cut on my wrist had opened again, so blood was spreading across the floor.
Yet, the image of the three of them hugging each other was burned into my eyes that hurt me the most.
