They Wanted Her Gone, Now They Kneel by Evelyn Marlowe novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Mr Fletcher, I Owe You

No one had expected her to take it that far.

Micah’s patience finally snapped. His voice hardened, sharp with irritation.

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“It’s just one week of cleaning duty. Professor Miller had already cut you a break. Can you stop being so ungrateful?”

Rebecca lowered her lashes, hiding the flicker of calculation in her eyes.

Her cancer research topic was already gaining traction in academic circles. More importantly, she had long since copied Scarlett’s experimental framework down to the smallest detail. Originally, if she had managed to steal those mice cleanly, she could have replicated Scarlett’s entire trial from start to finish.

But things had gone off the rails.

Now that Scarlett had uncovered the issue, she would be far more cautious going forward.

Still, Rebecca wasn’t worried. As long as she followed Scarlett’s feeding ratios and treatment protocols, the experiment would work just fine.

What mattered now was eliminating the risk altogether.

If she could take advantage of this moment and push Scarlett out of the lab completely, then Scarlett’s trial would come to a halt–and she would no longer be a threat.

Rebecca wiped her tears and spoke softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound sincere.

“Professor Miller… Micah… please don’t be angry. Ever since the Joyner family acknowledged me, Scarlett hasn’t been happy with me.”

She took a breath, forcing a fragile smile.

“But I’ve been so lucky to work with all of you for this long.” That alone makes me grateful.”

Her smile wavered as tears slipped down her cheeks.

“If leaving will make Scarlett feel better… then I’ll go. That’s enough for me.”

She turned as if to leave.

“Enough.”

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Chapter 9 Mr Fletcher, I Owe You

Calvin grabbed her arm, his grip firm.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

:.

He spun around, his glare slamming into Scarlett like a physical blow.

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He had intended to show leniency–for the sake of her past contributions, for the spent in his lab.

years

she’d

But she clearly didn’t appreciate it.

And if she refused to yield, then why should he cling to that old teacher–student bond?

With a long, weary sigh, his voice echoed through the lab.

“Scarlett, to be honest, you haven’t produced any truly remarkable results in the past two years. According to protocol, you should have been removed already.”

He paused, then said coldly,

“Since you’re choosing to leave on your own, I’ll approve it.”

This time, no one spoke up.

Scarlett nodded quietly, her face impossible to read. She bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Professor Miller, for your guidance over the years. Goodbye.”

She turned and walked straight to Rebecca’s workstation, lifting the cage from the table.

“Hey!” Micah barked when he saw her moving so decisively. “That cage belongs to Rebecca!”

Scarlett froze.

It felt as if a needle had pierced straight through her chest.

Then she let out a soft, bitter laugh.

“Understood.”

Without another word, she flipped open the latch.

“Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!”

The mice exploded out of the cage, scattering in all directions across the lab.

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10:31 Sat, Feb 7

Chapter 9 Mr Fletcher, I Owe You

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Micah had assumed she would break–that she would turn back, apologize, and beg to stay.

He hadn’t expected her to actually release the mice.

Did she have any idea what this meant?

Losing even a single trial mouse could earn a disciplinary mark from the university.

Instinctively, he moved to chase after them.

Rebecca gasped.

“Professor Miller! Micah! Everyone–help her! We can’t just stand here and let Scarlett take all the responsibility!”

She took a step forward as if to run, but Micah caught her arm.

And in that instant, everything clicked.

Scarlett wasn’t breaking down–she was acting.

This was a ploy. A calculated move to force us into stopping her, into begging her to stay.

She’d changed.

Cold. Manipulative.

Micah sneered.

“Let her go. When she can’t catch the mice, she’ll come crawling back.”

His words resonated with Calvin.

He, too, believed it wouldn’t take more than a few days before Scarlett returned, head bowed, begging for forgiveness.

“I’ve got enough on my plate as it is,” Calvin said flatly.

He didn’t truly want to expel her–but he had no intention of indulging her pride either.

“If she comes back, don’t involve me.”

Then he turned to Rebecca, his expression softening instantly.

“Come on. Let’s review your paper.”

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Chapter 9 Mr Fletcher, I Owe You

Rebecca nodded, the picture of innocence.

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“Professor Miller… if Scarlett really does come back, please don’t be too hard on her, okay?”

Calvin snorted.

“Hmph. That depends on her attitude.”

Outside the lab, Scarlett managed to catch two of the mice, wrapping them carefully inside her

coat.

But her body wasn’t what it used to be.

The injuries she’d sustained in the fire had slowed her down–and one mouse slipped away.

She activated the tracking app and followed the signal all the way to the far northern building on campus.

“Meow-”

A black cat suddenly darted across her path, the missing mouse clenched in its jaws.

“Hey… easy,” Scarlett said under her breath. “Be good. Open up…please.”

The cat flicked its tail and strutted away, utterly uninterested.

Scarlett tried coaxing it. Then bargaining. Nothing worked.

Grinding her teeth, she picked up a small stone and aimed at the tracker’s position—just enough force to startle, not injure.

The moment she released her throw, a shadow flashed past her.

Even with her martial arts training, she couldn’t track the movement.

By the time she looked up, the stone had been knocked aside, landing harmlessly in a nearby flowerbed.

A tall man stood there, holding the black cat with one hand.

His features were striking–sharp, defined–and his hawk–like eyes were deep and cold, stealing the breath from her lungs.

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Chapter 9 Mr Fletcher, I Owe You

Scarlett stiffened instantly.

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Her fingers moved on instinct. In the blink of an eye, several thin needles rested between them, ready to fly.

Then his presence shifted.

The oppressive pressure melted away, replaced by something calm and controlled.

His voice was deep and smooth, like the low hum of a cello.

“Why were you trying to hurt my research specimen?”

They were in the medical school district. Animal experiments were common.

Scarlett immediately realized there was no hostility in his tone. She lowered her hand.

“Your specimen attacked mine first.”

He glanced at the mouse in the cat’s mouth–barely breathing.

“My lab’s right next door. I can save it.”

Scarlett hesitated, studying him.

Her mind raced.

“Jasper Fletcher.”

Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

The rumored genius lecturer who had just joined the school.

A prodigy since childhood. Skipped grades. Studied overseas. Returned with dozens of awards in less than a year.

The university had even cleared out an entire building just to secure him.

Someone most people could only admire from afar.

“…Then thank you,” she said quietly.

Once she confirmed his identity, Scarlett stepped forward and carefully took the mouse from him.

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Chapter 9 Mr Fletcher, I Owe You

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Jasper’s lab was enormous, outfitted with state–of–the–art equipment. More importantly, it was empty–no students, no interruptions.

There was even a fully equipped medical station.

Scarlett gently placed the injured mouse on the table and reached for disinfectant-

When a cage suddenly appeared in front of her.

She looked up.

The man stood well over six feet three, silent, his presence alone enough to make the air feel heavier.

Even through his charcoal–black shirt, the sharp lines of his build were impossible to miss.

He looked every bit like someone used to being in control–commanding, dangerous.

And yet, as sunlight poured in through the floor–to–ceiling windows, his gaze softened just slightly.

His tall frame cast a long shadow over Scarlett.

Those obsidian–dark eyes were unreadable as his slender fingers tapped lightly against the cage.

“It’s not school property,” he said calmly.

“Consider it compensation for your injured specimen.”