Chapter 72

Evelyn Laurent's gaze pierced Sophia Lowell like shards of ice.

She detected the subtle shift in Sophia's expression with predatory precision.

Evelyn closed the distance between them without breaking stride.

She maintained exactly three paces between them, her eyes tracking Sophia's every move.

Cold sweat trickled down Sophia's spine.

"Evelyn..." Sophia finally turned, her voice trembling. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

A glacial smile curved Evelyn's lips.

"Thief prevention." The two words cut through the air like a scalpel.

The laboratory atmosphere turned arctic.

Zhou Wen and other students cast confused glances their way.

Sophia's eyes reddened. "I...I just came to observe..."

"Really?" Evelyn arched an eyebrow. "Last time you 'observed,' my experimental data got corrupted."

Sophia's face drained of color.

Professor Zhou strode over, positioning himself between them.

"Miss Lowell," he said sternly. "Mind your conduct."

Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief.

She hadn't expected even her advisor to side with Evelyn.

"Professor..." Her fingers twisted the hem of her blouse as she lowered her head.

Zhou's gaze sharpened. "Leave now if you're not here to learn."

Sophia's entire body stiffened.

Suppressing her fury, she forced an obedient smile. "I'll pay close attention."

As she turned away, her nails dug crescent moons into her palms.

Evelyn observed the performance with detached amusement.

She knew her cousin's tricks all too well.

The tour resumed.

Sophia pretended rapt attention while her eyes darted around the lab.

Her focus locked onto a senior researcher ahead.

The opportunity presented itself.

Sophia drifted closer with calculated nonchalance.

As the researcher turned—

"Ah!"

A shriek echoed through the laboratory.

The senior stumbled backward into a workstation.

Evelyn's pupils contracted to pinpoints.