Chapter 494: First Woman to Win This Honor

Hayley’s POV:

I was stunned and turned to look at Professor Cain in disbelief. I had no idea I had even participated in this award selection!

“Don’t blame me for signing you up without telling you,” Professor Cain said with a warm smile. “Now, go onstage. You’ve truly earned this award.”

Under the encouragement of everyone around me, I had no choice but to lift the hem of my dress and make my way to the stage. The audience watched intently, their admiration and envy focused on me. This award had only ever been given to men for the past hundred years. I was the first woman in a century to receive this honor. Even I hadn’t expected my research achievements to win me such a prestigious award.

Third-person POV:

Daniel stood casually in the audience, his gaze fixed on Hayley as if nothing else in the room existed. His champagne glass tilted precariously, almost spilling, yet he didn’t seem to notice. It was as if his soul had been stolen. Kirsty, standing beside him, clenched her teeth in frustration as she noticed the way he gazed at Hayley with such infatuation. She’s just an Omega. No matter how beautiful she looks, she can’t hide the lowly aura of a lower-class wolf. I don’t understand what men see in her. Then, she glared at Hayley furiously on stage as her hands clenched into fists.

Tonight, Kirsty had been the only female among the top ten winners—a position she had thought would make her stand out as the brightest star. But Hayley had stolen the championship, taking all the attention that should have belonged to Kirsty. It was the same as when they were in training; Hayley always had a way of overshadowing her. “Hayley, you love being in the spotlight, don’t you? Fine. Let me make sure you have all the attention you want.” With that thought, Kirsty stepped away and slipped into the shadows to avoid the lights.

Meanwhile, whispers began spreading throughout the venue.

“Did you hear? Hayley is Benjamin’s fiancée. He’s the Alpha of the Midnight Pack. Otherwise, how could she possibly win such a prestigious award out of nowhere?”

“I thought it was Professor Cain who recommended her. Isn’t he from the mathematics department?”

“That’s just a cover. She’s an Omega. There’s no way her intelligence could surpass all the high-ranking Betas here. Her mathematical logic can’t possibly be that good.”

“So the championship was rigged? Was it just a show of influence and power?”

“Exactly. A hundred years without a single female champion and suddenly an Omega takes the trophy? Impossible!”

These rumors didn’t stay whispered for long. They reached the ears of those who had placed right behind Hayley. When the host handed Hayley the trophy, the runner-up and third-place winner both brimmed with indignation, unable to hold back any longer.

Hayley’s POV:

As I was about to leave the stage, one of the Beta winners who had stood beside me earlier stepped forward and blocked my path.

“Wait!”

He stood in front of me, his voice loud and accusatory. “May I ask, Ms. Carson, have you ever won any other national mathematics competitions? Or have you worked with any renowned professors to solve major international math problems?”

“And if not,” he continued with a sneer, “what qualifies you to stand here and hold that trophy?”

“That’s right,” another contestant chimed in, backing him up. “Ms. Carson, please prove that you truly deserve this award!”

The audience murmured in agreement. “Both the runner-up and the third-place winner are past champions of international math competitions. It just doesn’t make sense for them to lose to an Omega.” “Even scientific competitions are now being painted by politics and power. What a shame.”

The hostile crowd closed in around me, their contemptuous stares piercing through me like daggers. Inside me, Hera began to growl with fury, “Hayley, let me take over. I’ll teach these insolent fools a lesson!”

I took a deep breath to calm her down. Professor Cain stepped forward, trying to defend me on his own. However, his voice was drowned out by the overwhelming tide of doubt and accusations.

Placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, I gave him a small nod to let him know I could handle this. I calmly grabbed the microphone and faced the two men who had challenged me.

“Are you questioning the fairness of the committee’s decision?” I asked, my tone neither meek nor overbearing.