Chapter 158: Don't Humiliate Yourself
Evan hadn't yet responded when Yaron stood, distress etched on his face. “Sierra, don’t be like this. I know you hold a grudge against me, but this isn’t something to joke about.”
He deliberately kept his words vague, sparking immediate speculation. Reporters and viewers alike buzzed with conjecture.
“What’s going on here? Why do I feel like there’s some drama unfolding? Can someone explain?”
“Yeah, why does it sound like there’s something between Dr. Tucker and Sierra?”
“I’m from Northwind University. I can confirm. Everyone at Northwind knew Sierra used to like Yaron, but he never liked her back. He was into her sister.”
“So, is this a case of love turning into hate? A desperate attempt to get attention?”
“No way. How does she even dare? She actually went this far!”
“I just want to know, does my idol know about this? Does Mr. Yeager know what kind of person his girlfriend is?”
“Who is Mr. Yeager?”
“You don’t know Mr. Yeager?! Here are his pictures.”
“Oh my! This is insane! But seriously, if she has Mr. Yeager, why would she even look at Dr. Tucker? No offense to Dr. Tucker, but you get what I mean.”
“Yeah, we get it! Honestly, after seeing Mr. Yeager, no other man even registers anymore, not even the three Xander brothers!”
“Same here!”
The online discussion had completely derailed, its extent unknown. Meanwhile, the event's atmosphere was thick with whispered gossip.
Sierra watched Yaron’s performance coldly. “Stop speaking in half-truths, as if there’s something between us. Sorry, but to me, you’re nothing more than a random passerby. Please don’t insert yourself into my story. I’m not targeting anyone today. I’m just here to seek justice for myself.”
“What do you mean? What justice?” Evan asked.
Sierra glanced at him. “Good question! What justice? I just want to know why my research, my ideas, suddenly became yours! Mr. Evan, tell me, shouldn't I demand justice for that?”
Her words sent shockwaves through the room. Both the live audience and online viewers erupted.
“Did I hear that right? Is something wrong with my ears?”
“Wait, is this really happening? I thought she was just accusing Evan of plagiarism in general, but she’s saying he stole her work?”
“This is ridiculous! Sure, she gained some fans recently and showed she has some skills, but how could she possibly come up with such groundbreaking research?”
“Exactly! Even Yaron, a PhD candidate, is just an assistant. Only a genius like Evan could have accomplished this!”
The internet was in chaos; the venue was equally lively. All eyes turned to Sierra—first in shock, then in doubt.
Evan froze before speaking in disbelief. “Sierra, are you insane?”
He knew she resented them, but to go this far and falsely accuse him was beyond irrational.
“Sierra, let’s handle family matters in private. Don’t make a scene,” Bradley interjected, genuinely worried. This was a live broadcast; causing a commotion would backfire spectacularly.
Public opinion online was terrifying. No single woman could withstand it. With that in mind, Bradley quickly stepped forward, trying to pull Sierra aside. “Listen to me. Don’t humiliate yourself.”
Sierra avoided his grasp. “I’m not the one humiliating myself. You are.”
Then, she looked toward Yaron. “Yaron, do you have nothing to say?”
Yaron was panicking, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he adopted a pained expression. “Sierra, stop this. Can’t we talk about this privately? You’re putting us all in a difficult position.”
At that moment, Franklin and Eleanor also stepped forward. Denise, struggling to stand, paled as she spoke. “Sierra, I know you blame me for taking everything from you, but you can’t keep making mistakes! Hate me, resent me, do whatever you want to me, but Evan and the others have never wronged you. Please, stop.”
Her words immediately garnered a wave of sympathy. As Sierra’s actions gained attention, her past with the Xander family was also unearthed. No one knew her origins, but compared to the quiet and supposedly scandal-ridden Sierra, Denise was clearly the more likable one.