Chapter 18 Someone Paid Me to Spread Rumors
“See, I knew it! How could Lizzie, a girl who only finished junior high, ever get into Equinox Research Laboratory? She had stolen her way in! No wonder Mr. Howland dumped her!”
“Do you know the legal consequences for slandering research personnel?”
Lizzie’s icy voice cut through the air. Everyone spun around to look at her.
Lizzie leaned on a crutch, physically vulnerable yet…
Back straight, she stepped firmly out of the house. No one dared underestimate her.
Norma froze. She’d assumed Lizzie, disgraced and dumped by Mr. Howland, would be cowering indoors in shame.
But here Lizzie stood, leveraging her professional status against her.
In this community, everyone held deep instinctive respect for research personnel. Slandering them wasn’t just legally punishable. It would make Norma a social outcast.
Panicking, Norma said with feigned arrogance, “You’re fired! What damn researcher are you now?”
Her loud voice betrayed her fear.
Lizzie swept an icy glare over her and then drew a small green booklet from her pocket.
It was her research institute credentials.
Lizzie flipped it open for a fraction of a second before snapping it shut.
But everyone glimpsed the photo of the sixteen–year–old Lizzie. Though she’d matured over the years, the neighbors recognized her as she had lived with Glenna for several years.
Norma was dumbfounded.
Lizzie did have the research institute credentials. Hadn’t she been fired?
Then everything she had just said about Lizzie was a lie.
Neighbors who’d believed Norma now turned against her.
“See? Our Lizzie never looked that type of person.”
“Yeah, Norma’s mouth spews nothing but lies!”
“She’s on foul terms with Colton’s mother. Green with envy over Lizzie’s good job and her relationship with Mr. Howland, Norma constantly creates rumors. And Katherine’s exile to the countryside? All her doing! Don’t you dare trust a word from that woman!”
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Chapter 18 Someone Paid Me to Spread Rumors
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“I told you all along. Lizzie’s capable. At such a young age, she’s the key personnel at Equinox Research Lab. We’re blessed to have her as a neighbor!”
“What’s the punishment for slandering research personnel?”
Terrified, Norma muttered, “Hmph! If you weren’t fired, why hide at home? You brought this on yourself!”
After saying that, she turned to flee.
Lizzie stretched out her hand and grabbed Norma’s sleeve.
Norma didn’t expect Lizzie to stop her. Wishing to leave, she subconsciously shoved Lizzie.
She thought she could push Lizzie away.
After all, Lizzie was a delicate girl with a bad leg, and Norma was strong. Shouldn’t such a push have knocked her down easily?
To her surprise, Lizzie didn’t move an inch.
Stunned, Norma shoved again with full force.
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Though her lab position required no combat training, Aedan had drilled Lizzie relentlessly. Her strength surpassed both ordinary researchers and untrained girls.
During that split–second moment of daze, Glenna and Colton had rushed forward.
Glenna hauled Norma away, while Colton stepped in front of Lizzie, shielding her firmly behind him.
As Norma tried to run away, Glenna grabbed her arm. ·
“Wanna run after slandering my niece? Go. Go to Equinox Research Institute with us. Let’s hear what punishment you’ve earned for slandering research personnel!” Glenna snarled.
The moment Norma heard they’d take her to Equinox Research Institute, she panicked. Struggling wildly, she shrieked, “No! I won’t go! Others said it too! Why catch just me?”
Lizzie said coldly, “Relax. I’m taking you to identify them. You won’t suffer alone, I promise.”
In her past life, these rumors had destroyed her. One voice could never shout down thousands.
She’d thought about this. If given another chance, how would she fight back?
The answer was clear. She would make every gossipmonger taste the cost of their words. Every careless lie demanded
a crushing price.
Norma gaped. She just passed on some gossip. How could it be this serious?
Besides, Lizzie confidently demanded to go to the institute, and that meant she wasn’t fired. This was totally different from what Norma had been told.
Could a fired exile freely go to Equinox Research Institute?
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Glenna grabbed Norma’s wrist and pulled her forward. “Go. Let’s go to the Institute!”
Norma plopped on the ground like a boulder and wouldn’t budge.
“I’m not going. No!”
Glenna pulled hard but in vain.
Colton went up and seized Norma’s other arm, hauling hard.
This time, Norma scraped across the ground, howling in pain.
“Fine! Someone paid me two dollars to spread the news about you breaking up with Mr. Howland!”
Lizzie fixed her sharp eyes on Norma.
“Who is it?”
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Norma’s eyes darted nervously. “I don’t know that girl. She gave me two dollars to spread the news about you break- ing up with Mr. Howland…”
She kept it vague to prevent Lizzie from figuring it out.
Lizzie narrowed her eyes.
A girl?
Was it about her relationship with Theron?
One face appeared gradually in her mind.
It was Johanna!
In her previous life, Johanna looked harmless, never asking or fighting for anything.
But in fact?
She never needed to ask. A mere hint from her, and Theron handed her everything she wanted.
Johanna stole her job, her research findings, and her future.
Harmless? Never asking or fighting for anything?
How ironic!
No. Johanna mastered the art of invisible theft.
Just like this time. With only the slightest nudge from Johanna, Lizzie in her previous life, due to her stubborn pride, would quit her job if the news about her breaking up with Theron flooded Equinox Research Institute.
She wouldn’t explain at all even if Theron came to ask her, let alone mention the gossip spread by Norma.
And this way, Johanna could scrub herself completely clean, achieving her ultimate goal without leaving a single
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Chapter 18 Someone Paid Me to Spread Rumors
trace.
But in this life, Lizzie wouldn’t make the same mistake and let Johanna get her own way.
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But she won’t reconcile with Theron, nor ever again become Johanna’s life source. This time, she would strike back strategically!
Lizzie abruptly sneered. “Can you recognize the girl if you see her again?”
Norma stared helplessly at Lizzie. She was actually scared of this young woman now, who’d always been a bit head- strong yet gentle–natured before.
“Well… Yes…”
