Present time…
Meridon University, International Symposium on Neural Regeneration
"The takeaway? Our brains are messy, stubborn, and a little unpredictable… which is exactly how all of science, and life, works."
Roaring, relentless applause erupted in the hall, turning it alive. Catherine Elizabeth Preston stood in the golden light of the auditorium, one hand resting on the podium, her heartbeat steady against the noise.
At twenty-one, she was already a rising star in neurodegenerative research. The paper she presented right now, her life's work… she had found the way to cure neurodegenerative diseases. Most of those clapping had been in the field longer than she had been alive.
She smiled, slow and measured, the kind that never quite reached her eyes but convinced the world it did. "Thank you," she said, her voice smooth and composed. Then she gave a graceful bow, the way one might before royalty. She had seen that gesture often enough in another lifetime.
For a heartbeat, under the weight of the lights, she almost felt a crown on her head again.
This life, she had earned her place. Not born into it, but fought for it. This symposium was her debut, her proof that she belonged among the brilliant. The taste of oranges bloomed in her mouth; sweet, bright, alive. This was happiness, and she was proud of her achievement.
But her eyes searched the crowd. Her lover… no, not quite. A crush. Her first in this lifetime.
Dr. Jonathan Vale, her mentor, her greatest support. She had followed him from university to Helios Biotek, chasing inspiration and, perhaps, something more.
She found him at the side of the stage, waiting to step on. Her heart lifted. "I'd like to thank my mentor, Dr. Jonathan Vale," she said.
He walked up, smiling that polished, PR-perfect smile. She stepped aside, still beaming. This was it. Her moment. Her recognition. Finally, she was being seen.
Jonathan clapped her shoulder, too familiarly, like she was a gifted intern. Then he turned to the audience, his voice smooth and warm.
"Brilliant work, Catherine. Truly a promising mind. Of course, this discovery wouldn't have been possible without the guidance of our senior collaborator, Dr. Ashley Renfield, who will be joining us as co-author on this project moving forward."
Polite applause followed. Catherine froze.
What did he just say?
Ashley walked onto the stage, radiant under the lights. Jonathan wrapped an arm around her and praised her. Every word Catherine had once dreamed of hearing was being handed to someone else.
And worse… he had stolen her work. Years of it.
A bitter taste flooded her mouth, sharp and acidic.
Betrayal. Again.
Ashley rolled her tongue inside her mouth and smirked at Catherine, triumphant, as if she had won a war Catherine didn't even know existed.
Catherine's throat tightened, but she found her voice. "But Dr. Vale," she said, her tone steady though her chest burned, "this is my research."
The hall went still. Whispers rippled like wind through dry leaves. Jonathan turned toward her, his practiced warmth gone, eyes sharp and venomous.
Her pulse thundered in her ears. The stage lights scorched her skin, every glare from the crowd feeling like a brand pressed against her.
He leaned slightly toward her, his voice smooth, carrying easily through the mic, cold and falsely amused. "Your research, Miss Preston?" he said. "Let's be very clear here…" his eyes darted to the audience as if he was reminding her where she was standing, then to Catherine. "Helios Biotec owns all intellectual property produced under its funded programs. You did read your contract, didn't you?"
A low murmur swept the auditorium. The applause faded into the uneasy rustle of scholars shifting in their seats.
"Kids, right?" Jonathan added, louder now, with that charming smile that could sell sincerity to anyone. "Just because they know something, they think they know everything."
A few chuckles broke out, and it stuck Catherine like a thousand needles pricking her skin.
Catherine's throat tightened. Heat burned behind her eyes. Even now, he was dismissing her like a foolish girl throwing a tantrum. He addressed Ashley as Dr., but addressed her as Miss when she had two doctorates. That had to be deliberate, right?
And she had read the contract. She remembered every clause, every line. She had been careful, so careful, having faced betrayal in the past, to protect her research. Even when love made her reckless, she had guarded her work.
He was lying. Deliberately. Publicly.
Why? Why would he humiliate me so publicly?
Her mind flickered through the memories: the late-night coffee, the small smiles, the way he had dropped everything to help her, the warmth in his voice when he called her brilliant.
Was it all a lie?
Betrayal still burned. Experience offered no armor.
Jonathan smiled again, but not at her, but for the audience. "Of course, Miss Preston's contribution has been invaluable," he said, sounding like an elder correcting the mistakes of the young ones… So magnanimous. "But in our field, collaboration is key. And Dr. Renfield's mentorship ensured this discovery reached its full potential."
Catherine's chest tightened. She opened her mouth, ready to speak, but Jonathan's glare stopped her cold.
"Not now, Cathy," he said under his breath, his lips barely moving. The tone was sharp, commanding, like a ventriloquist controlling his puppet.
The murmurs around them grew louder.
"Is she trying to make this about herself?"
"She's taking credit for work that isn't hers. Unethical and credit-hungry!"
"No one does that kind of study alone! She's erasing her co-authors."
"I thought she was a genius. But she's just a prideful Gen-Z!"
"Yes. Some people just crave attention. This is intellectual theft. She'll know how the world works soon."
Each word hit like a dagger sticking to her chest, destroying her reputation and credibility. And in her field, that was worse than death. Jonathan, the one she trusted, had poisoned her career, with a smile.
Jonathan turned back to the crowd, charm sliding neatly back into place. "Science," he said lightly, "isn't built by ego; it's built by teamwork. I should be a proper mentee from now on…"
Laughter rippled through the hall. And in that sound, Catherine's credibility broke like glass.
Her heart pounded against her ribs. Teamwork? He was turning her years of sleepless nights into a corporate fairytale after stealing it from her so smoothly.
"I'm proud to see our young researchers so passionate," he continued, his tone honey-smooth. "Passion is good, but humility is better."
Soft, mocking applause filled the room.
Catherine's nails dug into her palms, tears filling her eyes. She was getting stabbed in the back. Not only was her research stolen, but her credibility and character were ruined. What she thought was her beginning had become her end.
Ashley stepped forward, her smile blinding under the lights. "It's always an honor to guide such bright young minds," she said sweetly, her gaze flicking to Catherine like the edge of a knife.
More laughter.
Catherine's hands shook. Her notecards crumpled, paper bending under her trembling grip. Her pulse roared in her ears.
He's erasing me.Right here. In front of the world.
And that betrayal felt worse than any blade through the heart.