Want My Womb? I'll Make You Childless novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Olivia’s eyes lit up when she saw Professor Lewis. “Professor…”

Her voice held a hint of hurt. Her gaze immediately went to Benjamin and another guy behind him, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

What was Professor Lewis doing with Benjamin?

Figuring Professor Lewis, not being in Chicago lately, was out of the loop, Olivia walked over to him and whispered a few words.

“Are you saying Clara took the institute’s research to Nova Al, and their new scheduling system has data that overlaps with ours?”

After she finished, Professor Lewis gave her a cryptic look.

“Mhm.”

Olivia nodded, then pulled out her tablet to show Professor Lewis the comparison between the two data algorithms.

“I’m not saying Nova Al outright copied our system, it’s just the data has some overlap, so…”

Professor Lewis had been tied up with projects at the U.S. Department of Defense base, invited by the higher–ups. He’d just gotten back for the conference and only caught the gist of the commotion from the doorway.

Now, hearing Olivia’s words, a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

“Clara, anything you want to say?”

“What’s she gonna say?”

Someone from Taylor Enterprises, who partnered with Lewis AI, stepped forward to chime in.

Overhearing Professor Lewis’s question, they sneered, “Professor Lewis, you just got here, so you wouldn’t know this, but Clara actually claimed Lewis AI copied Nova Al’s data!”

“What’s she gonna say now that you’re here?”

“Oh?”

Henry’s

gaze landed on Clara. She was in the crowd, nervously picking at the fabric of her skirt, utterly silent.

A smirk played on Olivia’s lips.

She stole a quick glance at Ethan. His gaze was glued to her and Henry. Clara? He didn’t even spare her a glance.

Olivia’s lips curved into an unconscious smile. With Henry here, Clara’s plagiarism was practically a done deal.

“Sigh.”

A heavy sigh escaped Henry. His disappointment was practically radiating.

“Clara, I’m so damn disappointed in you.”

“Your own research gets ripped off, and you just stand there, taking their crap, not even a damn word? You’re just getting worse, not better!”

Clara looked up, her eyes meeting Henry’s disappointed stare. She opened her mouth, but her throat felt stuffed with cotton. Only a breathy gasp came out.

Alexander was still reeling.“Professor Lewis, what the hell do you mean?”

Henry’s gaze swept the room. His voice was firm.“The core algorithm for this scheduling system? Clara developed it seven years ago.”

“I only decided to research this area after I saw her algorithm concept. But then she left the research institute, and the project got shelved.”

BOOM-

The hall instantly erupted.

“Wait, so Lewis Al’s team really ripped off Nova Al’s data?”

“So Ms. Bennett was the one who used someone else’s research from seven years ago? But Mr. Carter just said…”

“Oh, c’mon. Guys fall for pretty faces, it happens. But seriously, who is Clara? She made this seven years ago? Why have I never heard of her?” Every eye in the room landed on Clara. She instinctively looked at Ethan, and found his gaze meeting hers- completely blank.

Olivia plastered on a stiff smile.“Professor, I know Lewis AI and Nova AI have always collaborated. You’re just trying to save Mr. Hayes from looking bad in front of everyone.”

“But you can’t seriously claim Clara made our system’s core algorithm, can you?”

“Seven years ago, Clara wasn’t even twenty. She was barely a sophomore. How could she have pulled off this level of R&D?”

“Whether she did it or not, the institute’s archives make it crystal clear.”

< Chapter 21

Olivia was still pointing the finger at Clara when Henry’s voice went ice cold. His gaze sliced right through her.“You got those files from Archive Room Three, didn’t you? Serial number KY–2018-0713, right?”

Olivia’s face went ghost–white. That was exactly the number on the file folder, but she’d made sure everyone in the research institute…

Before she could even process what he said, Henry continued, “Olivia, you are truly talented with AI algorithms.

But people like us, researchers? We can’t mess with shady tricks. The institute has no room for someone with your twisted ethics.”

“Once this is over, you’re out of the institute.”

“Professor, there must be some misunderstanding.”

Menu

Olivia faltered for a split second, then quickly said, “Those files belonged to the institute anyway. As an institute member, what’s wrong with me using them?”

Henry stared at Olivia, dumbfounded. He was about to speak when a lazy male voice cut through the air from the back of the crowd.

“Yeah, exactly. Ms. Bennett is part of the institute. Using institute data? No biggie.”

Mason stepped out of the crowd, a subtle, almost–there smile playing on his lips. “I’ve worked with Ms. Bennett. Her character wouldn’t allow her to plagiarize.”

“Besides, she’s got our Walker Venture Partners‘ investment project. If she leaves the institute, what happens to the project?”

Mason’s gaze swept over Clara with pure disdain.

“Now, this lady,” he said, his voice dripping with venom, “I heard she left the institute back then because she drugged someone and slept her way up, climbing the social ladder.”

“Professor Lewis, aren’t you worried about ruining your reputation, defending someone like her?”

His words were fast and brutal, like a bucket of dirty water violently splashed all over Clara.

The looks around her instantly soured, a dense web of scrutiny, scorn, and contempt weaving together, trapping her in the center. Clara’s nails dug so hard they almost pierced her flesh. She never imagined Mason would be here, let alone dig up that old story.

Ms. Bennett’s gaze darted to Ethan. His brow barely twitched. Then his face snapped back to its usual cold, aloof expression, as if the whole mess from back then had nothing to do with him.

“That’s her private business. No comment.”

Professor Lewis’s voice cut through the eerie silence.“But these findings? I patented them for her seven years ago.”

“Bottom line is, Lewis Al’s traffic scheduling system used her data. Misunderstanding or not, Lewis AI definitely plagiarized.”

“If this hadn’t blown up, I doubt Clara, knowing her, would’ve even pursued it. But now that everyone knows, someone has to answer for it.” “Olivia, you led the team on this system. You just admitted to using Clara’s research. So, you’re the one who needs to take responsibility.” “Lewis Al is issuing a public apology and recalling the system. You’re out of the research institute.”

< Chapter 22