Her Final Experiment: Their Regret Webbe Chapter 1

“Luna, do you realize your mistake?”

Russell Fisher’s voice jolted Luna Hayes from her reverie. Her gaze slowly focused on his face. Wasn’t she dead? She had died in the second year after her mentor sent her to prison. There, depression had driven her to end her life by crashing into a wall.

How was she now opening her eyes and seeing Russell, her senior from school?

Luna blinked, her eyes sore and uncomfortable. Was she hallucinating again? Imagining Russell was here to release her from prison?

“We understand you want to join Professor Hanley’s research team, but that doesn’t justify slandering Mia,” Russell said. “Do you know that because of your accusations of plagiarism, she’s been depressed and hasn’t been to school for days? If this continues, you’ll drive her to her death. Since when were you this cruel?”

Seeing Luna remained unmoved, Russell slammed his cup onto the table. The crash finally broke through Luna’s stupor. This wasn’t a hallucination. She was truly seeing Russell, as he was ten years ago. She’d been reborn a decade earlier.

She was in her senior year at Velmora Medical School. She’d just taken the entrance exam for Wilson Hanley’s medical research team, achieving the highest score on the written exam and advancing to the final selection stage. Coincidentally, Mia Monroe’s thesis for the final assessment had a remarkably similar approach. Their research methods and ideas aligned perfectly.

Luna didn’t believe in such a coincidence. But as she began investigating, whispers of Mia’s plagiarism started circulating. Wilson’s research topic was a national first, and his team was the best in the country. Luna’s five seniors had been on the team, working with her since her sophomore year. The six of them had been close, supporting each other academically and personally. She considered them family, but everything changed after Mia joined. The care and support shifted toward Mia. Even Wilson, who’d always praised Luna’s diligence, began treating Mia differently.

After the plagiarism rumors spread, her five seniors believed Luna had started them. Even the professors angrily accused her. Luna admitted she hadn’t liked Mia after what happened. She’d tried to surpass Mia, hoping to regain everyone’s attention, but she’d never slandered Mia or spread rumors.

Russell softened his tone. “You’ve made a grave mistake. Professor Hanley said that as long as you apologize to Mia in front of the entire school, he won’t press charges. He’ll also explain to the school and have your punishment lifted. But if you remain stubborn, the punishment will be the least of your worries. You might even be expelled.”

“Fine. I’ll apologize,” Luna said indifferently.

Russell, a year older than Luna and a fellow country boy, was the first of her five seniors she’d met. They’d known each other for four years. Luna assumed their mutual understanding meant Russell would trust her. She never expected him to be the first to urge her to apologize.

Russell’s mouth fell slightly open. He found Luna’s expression strange. She wasn’t one to apologize easily. Still, an apology was good, and he didn’t think too much about it.

“It’s settled then. I’ll tell Professor Hanley while you write an apology letter to read in front of the school tomorrow,” he said.

Luna’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. Reborn, she knew those rumors had been spread by Mia herself. Mia was playing the victim to drive a wedge between Luna and her seniors and professors. Her so-called depression was a carefully constructed facade to manipulate sympathy.

But none of that mattered anymore. What truly concerned Luna was how Mia had managed to steal her thesis without anyone noticing. In her past life, Luna had refused to apologize, and things escalated. The school’s investigation found no evidence of plagiarism. Not only was she scolded by her seniors, but she also received a disciplinary record, hindering her job prospects after graduation. This time, someone else would bear that record.

By the next morning, Luna had prepared herself for the public apology and left her dorm. Along the way, people whispered behind her back.

“Look, that’s Professor Hanley’s only female student. She was jealous of the campus belle and spread rumors that the latter plagiarized her paper.”

“She’s just relying on her good grades to get the attention of the five seniors. Who would’ve thought Mia, a recent transfer student, is not only academically on par with her but also beautiful and kind-hearted?”

“Look at her ugly face. She’s not even fit to be compared to Mia. I wonder why the five seniors are still protecting her.”

“Who said that? Haven’t you heard? This time, they’re all on Mia’s side. It was Wyatt’s idea for her to make an official apology.”

So, it was Wyatt Dalton’s idea! Luna softly sneered and quickened her pace. She reached the field and ran into Kevin Dorsey.

Kevin, a first-year graduate student, had helped Luna with difficult courses in her senior year. Luna had also helped him with research during his graduate entrance exam preparations. She didn’t owe her seniors anything.

Kevin looked at her with disappointment. “I’d always thought you were kind-hearted. Who would’ve thought you’d do such a despicable thing? Fortunately, Mia was kind enough not to hold it against you. You don’t realize what you’ve done to her. She’s lost weight and looks haggard. Her eyes don’t even shine anymore. Yet, she’s still concerned about you. She even pleaded with the professor on your behalf to spare you from a public apology. You need to have a conscience. When you see her later, make sure to apologize. Understood?”

Luna lowered her eyes. “I understand. I’ll apologize properly.”

“You shouldn’t have acted so vain,” Kevin said. Seeing Luna’s contrite expression, he felt heartbroken. Over the years, Luna had always been well-behaved and thoughtful. To see her stoop to plagiarism was truly disappointing.

Kevin led Luna into Wilson’s office.