Chapter 10
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She was stunned, her nose twitching.
Within five years, Adriana had aged so much…
“Prof. Nixon…”
Adriana snorted, “What are you doing here?”
“Prof. Nixon, I’m here to see you. I…”
“Have you forgotten what I said? You chose that man over everything. I don’t want to see you ever again! Don’t call me Prof. Nixon! You disgrace me! Go away!”
With that, Adriana pushed Claudine out.
With a loud bang, she slammed the door in Claudine’s face.
“Prof. Nixon, I know I failed you. Please… Just give me another chance. I’ll take the exams again and reapply for your Ph.D. program. I mean it. Please believe in me!”
Adriana opened the door again.
She looked at Claudine, her star student. The past radiance in Claudine’s eyes had vanished, replaced by glistening tears, indicating how regretful she was.
Adriana’s students had told her about last night’s auction.
She was certain Claudine would come and see her.
Claudine was the most talented student she had ever taught. Back then, she had tried her best to persuade Claudine to make the right choice, but to no avail.
Seeing the bitter smile on Claudine’s face, she could tell that things didn’t turn out the way Claudine had wanted.
“After a few years, you surely can talk big now. What makes you think you can reenter my Ph.D. program so easily?”
Adriana kept a straight face, and her tone was harsh.
Yet, looking at her, Claudine burst into tears of joy.
She knew she had earned Adriana’s forgiveness.
“Prof. Nixon, thank you… Thank you for forgiving me…” she said in a sobbing voice.
Adriana clicked her tongue, deliberately looking disdainful.
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Chapter 10
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“I didn’t say that. Let me be clear–this is my last year taking Ph.D. students. You know there’s only one spot. If you really want it, prove you have what it takes.”
Claudine wasn’t frustrated at all. Instead, she said with a confident smile, “I will, Prof. Nixon. Believe me.”
While remaining unemployed after marriage, she had been sharpening her skills in cultural relic authentication and conservation.
Five years ago, she had thrown away her future for a man. She’d never make that mistake again.
In the CEO’s office of the Barrette Group.
Damian was dealing with work when Lindsay knocked on the door.
“Mr. Barrette, this is the statue from last night. And here’s a document requiring your signature.”
She put them on his desk.
He opened the box and said, “Alright. You may leave.”
Then he took a photo of the statue and said to the phone gently, “I’ve got it. I’ll bring it to you next time I’m in Nova- helm.”
Noticing Lindsay hadn’t left, he frowned.
“Anything else?”
Lindsay shook her head.
She glanced at his phone, a trace of sadness flickering in her eyes.
“No. Mr. Barrette, I’m heading out.”
He nodded, not saying anything.
Just as he picked up the document envelope beside him and opened it, his phone on the desk buzzed.
He immediately put the envelope aside.
It was a message.
“Thank you, Dami. I’ve got treat news! I’m going home.
“Remember the doctoral advisor I told you about before? She’s just announced she’s accepting one Ph.D. student this year. I wanna go for it.
“If it all goes well, I’ll stay in the country from now on. Then I’ll get to see Darla often.”
Damian soon texted back, saying he’d go pick her up with Darlene the day of her return.
Then he made a call to arrange for a riverview apartment for her to stay.
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He had forgotten all about the opened envelope.
Later, when Lindsay came in to tidy up, she spotted it and put it in the file box, assuming Damian had already re- viewed the document inside.
After returning from Adriana’s apartment, Claudine received a call from Damian’s mother, Brandie Sullivan.
“Brandie, what’s up?”
“You’ve got some nerve asking me this!”
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