Chapter 91: Missing Him

A few minutes later, Vanessa received a reply: "Done."

A smile involuntarily appeared on her face, and she glanced at Maggie with a hint of schadenfreude. She eagerly awaited Maggie's reaction to finding her computer empty on stage. It was definitely something to anticipate.

Meanwhile, Maggie's phone vibrated. A message from her cousin, Lucas, read: "Maggie, your computer has been hacked."

Maggie furrowed her brow, checked the time, and discreetly left the classroom through the back exit to call Lucas.

After Sierra had spilled water on Maggie's previous computer, rendering it unusable, Lucas had assembled and customized a new one for her. Shipped from overseas, it proved efficient. As soon as the call connected, Maggie said, "What's the situation? Get to the point."

"I installed a firewall and anti-hacking system," Lucas explained. "The alarm's linked to my phone, so I was alerted when it was breached." Although his voice was sleepy, he'd swiftly investigated after receiving the alert. He had been sleeping soundly when his phone rang, waking him with a big yawn before he checked the situation.

"Several design drafts were deleted, but I recovered them," Lucas informed her.

He leaned back in his chair, typing. Moments later, he was finished.

"Can you identify the culprit?" Maggie asked.

"I traced the IP address to a nearby café. The individual's quite skilled. I'm currently hacking into their system," Lucas replied casually, his actions precise. "Keep me updated if you find anything," Maggie instructed before ending the call.

Lucas poured himself a glass of cold water, taking a few sips to refresh himself. The young man, with a hint of innocence in his features, stretched before returning to his computer, saying nonchalantly, "Let's see who you are."

In no time, Lucas accessed the person's webcam. He saw a middle-aged man with thick black-framed glasses, a checkered shirt, and a scruffy beard, looking smug and self-satisfied. Intrigued, Lucas leaned closer for a clearer view.

Chapter 91: Missing Him

Who's this guy? Does Maggie know him?

Using facial recognition software, Lucas quickly identified the man and hacked into his phone, discovering a text message from Vanessa.

Oh, Vanessa. The name rang a bell. Before leaving the country, Vanessa had visited the Camerons with Maggie several times, and he'd met her.

You can never truly know someone. And to think Maggie had been nice to her.

Lucas promptly shared the information with Maggie. Seeing Vanessa's name, Maggie's eyes hardened. "I knew it," she thought. "She just won't learn."

Shortly after, Lucas messaged: "Watch how I handle her."

Maggie didn't intervene. Sometimes, people needed to face consequences. If the previous incident hadn't been enough, Vanessa needed to experience the repercussions again. Maggie pocketed her phone.

The school administrators delivered their statements and words of encouragement, followed by cheers and guidance from department leaders and mentors. The first phase of the graduation design competition had officially begun.

As Maggie gazed toward the platform, she saw a familiar figure. However, due to the classroom's size, lighting, and angle, she couldn't clearly discern the identity. Even so, the figure left her dazed.

Is it really him…? How could he be here?

Maggie didn't think she was mistaken, but in her previous life, he hadn't attended this graduation defense. But then again, in her previous life, Vanessa never hired a hacker to delete her manuscript, and Nathael never showed up. Maggie stared at his back, lost in thought, silently counting the days.

It was exactly half a month. For two weeks, they hadn't exchanged messages, calls, or spoken a word.

Maggie wondered if he was angry. She had been harsh with Ronald that day. Yes, anger would be understandable.

Maggie looked away, thinking it was nice to slow down, giving herself time to get to know him. However, in her past life, they often went two or three months without seeing each other, and she hadn't thought much of it. Why now did she miss him?

After a moment, when two classmates finished their presentations and the teachers began asking questions, Maggie forced herself to focus. Before long, it was her turn.

When Vanessa saw her take the stage, her smile deepened, excitement in her eyes. As Maggie took the stage, she locked eyes with Nathael's.

He remained unchanged, his cold gaze fixed on her as if she were a stranger presenting a design project, while he represented the company for evaluation. There was no connection, and it seemed there shouldn't be any.

Maggie averted her gaze, looking at the leaders, teachers, designers, and entrepreneurs, then spoke gently, "I am Maggie from the School of Architecture. My topic is integrating Baroque style with modern art."

She opened her computer, finding her thesis and design drafts. As she moved, Vanessa's heart raced; she felt nervous.

"I wonder what direction Maggie will take this time," someone whispered beside her.

"This topic is difficult. Few people like the Baroque style now. It's too irregular and overly luxurious," another said.

Vanessa said softly, "Maggie's always been creative. I'm sure this design proposal will be eye-catching."

A few people responded, but Vanessa remained silent. The murmurs subsided.

Vanessa then saw Maggie skillfully open the document. A complete thesis appeared on the big screen—over thirty pages. From the first few pages, there seemed to be no issues. Vanessa's face changed; her heart sank. She was furious.

Damn it! Why is her draft still there? What is that stupid hacker doing? I paid him 7,500 for his services!

(The final lines appear to be unrelated and possibly part of a different document.)