Before, a distance separated Evan and Jonathan. But after this, he would reach Jonathan's level. From then on, when industry professionals spoke of geniuses, it would no longer be only Jonathan's name. Evan had earned his place among them.
The Xander family was thrilled. Franklin patted his shoulder, satisfied. "You did a great job!" He foresaw the sensation this announcement would create. Once public, Xander Group stock would surely skyrocket, giving him the leverage needed to negotiate with shareholders.
"Evan, you're amazing!" Denise exclaimed, her eyes filled with admiration and respect.
Evan offered a restrained smile. He was pleased, naturally. Looking at his obedient younger sister, he felt emotional. A sister like this was thoughtful and considerate, unlike Sierra, who was prickly and constantly caused trouble. He believed Sierra would no longer revere Jonathan as some kind of deity. When the time came, he hoped she would calmly discuss things. He’d already considered it; as long as she acknowledged her mistakes, the family would treat her well.
As Evan expected, the report's release caused an immediate sensation. Initially, the buzz remained within the industry, but by the next day, the entire field had taken notice. It was a breakthrough, an extraordinary feat. Countless media outlets focused on the matter, and Evan prepared for interviews. He even wore a newly tailored suit for the occasion.
"The reporters might ask about more than just the report," Bradley reminded him. "They could bring up Sean and Sierra too. Just be prepared."
"Don't worry, Bradley," Evan replied. He wasn't solely a researcher; he understood social interactions. He wasn't as smooth as Bradley, but he could handle trouble.
Bradley nodded. The interview was conducted live to emphasize its importance. Besides Evan, his professor and Yaron would also be present. Evan hadn't initially planned to include Yaron, but after considering it, he decided to bring him along. Sierra's words had reminded him: the initial idea for the project hadn't been his. Even though Yaron wasn't involved in the later research, he'd provided the original inspiration. Since Sierra knew, perhaps others did too; he couldn't risk that.
During the interview, some reporters asked difficult questions. A few brought up past Xander Group scandals and Sean's affairs, but Evan deflected them easily. Everything was going perfectly until the press conference was about to end. Then, he saw Sierra. A strange tension filled his heart; he had a bad feeling.
Sierra stood in the crowd, looked directly at him, and raised her voice. "Mr. Evan, you claim your research was entirely your own and that you didn't plagiarize anyone. Is that correct?"
Evan's expression changed. This time, his fury toward Sierra was genuine. He could tolerate her antics privately, but not publicly. The Nader family members, also present at today's press conference, visibly darkened in expression. Sensing a scandal, the reporters perked up, their interest piqued. No one had expected this seemingly routine live interview to take such a sharp turn, especially with Evan's own sister causing the stir. Sierra had recently gained some notoriety herself; the media was familiar with her. Some reporters immediately jumped in.
"Mr. Evan, what does Ms. Nader mean?"
Evan's face darkened, but he remained composed. Yaron's eyes flickered slightly. Evan glanced at the reporter, then turned to Sierra. "I've already told you, this research was guided by my professor and conducted by me. As for the initial inspiration, it came from my junior," he said, nodding toward Yaron before addressing the press. "His name is listed as an assistant in my report. He is Yaron Tucker, my junior, and the one who provided the original idea."
"Oh?" Sierra softly laughed. She didn't know what to say about Evan. He actually believed Yaron so blindly. "Well, have you ever asked Yaron if that idea was truly his own?"