Because I Was an and He Threw Away 326

Chapter 326 Owned Up 

In a smooth and almost imperceptible move, Aaron tossed the topic onto Nancy. 

Instantly, most around the table swiveled their heads in her direction. 

Nancy, as calm as a still lake, offered a faint smile. Then, addressing the group, she said nonchalantly, “Not much to report yet, but I’m knee–deep in it.” 

A collective sigh of disappointment rippled through the crowd. “Ah, I see,” someone murmured. 

After the initial letdown, curiosity reared its head again. “So, Nancy, what’s your area of focus?” a voice inquired. 

Nancy was acutely aware that she was surrounded by heavyweights in the medical field, and her own resume didn’t quite stack up. 

Instead of spelling it out, she kept her smile intact and replied, “There’ll be a paper out soon.” 

Ethyan, sitting on the side, had caught on to Aar’s little 6 

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have quite a story, too, right?” 

This comment redirected everyone’s attention to Emily, sparking a fresh wave of curiosity. 

“Hey, Aaron, is she one of Professor Jones‘ students? I 

don’t recall seeing her before,” someone asked. 

“Yeah, what’s her specialty? Where does she work?” another chimed in. 

With the spotlight on Emily, Aaron was about to jump in and save the day. But Emily beat him to the punch. 

“Hello, everyone. I’m into pediatric surgery. Just got my bachelor’s and I’m gunning for a master’s. Not Professor Jones‘ student yet, but I’m gonna make it happen,” she said, laying it all on the line. 

Emily knew that being upfront was the best defense against being looked down on. 

Across the table, Ethan was taken aback. He never 

imagined Emily would be so blunt and open about her situation. 

2/7 

After Emily’s revelation, the room erupted in a louder 

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But to Emily, these whispers were just background noise. 

What really stung was Ethan. 

He’d thrown her under the bus to save Nancy’s face. 

The chatter got more intense. 

“If she starts grad school now, she won’t be done with her doctorate till she’s 33, huh?” 

“Nah, that’s if everything goes like clockwork. Otherwise, she might not even cross the finish line.” 

“Does it even matter? By then, she’ll be over the hill. 

Who’ll want her?” 

These folks were speaking their minds, not giving a hoot that Aaron was right there. 

Over on Nancy’s end, a smile appeared on her face as she watched Emily being the butt of the jokes. 

And then, she shot a glance at Aaron. 

Aaron, 

on the other hand, had eyes only for Emily, closely 

monitoring her reactions. 

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Noticing this, Nancy frowned slightly. 

The chatter continued unabated. Emily was unfazed, but when she felt Aaron’s worried stare, she met his gaze. 

Seeing his concerned expression, she gave him a soft smile. Just as she was about to say something, Aaron raised his voice. “Everyone, this lady here is actually my gir…” 

Before he could finish, Emily guessed his next words. She quickly spoke up louder, “Thanks for the concern, but it’s never too late to start anew.” 

Ethan and Nancy, on the opposite side, also had an inkling of what Aaron was about to say, but Emily had put a stop to it. 

After Emily’s speech, the buzz of conversation gradually subsided. 

Seated at the head of the table, Oliver had a panoramic view of the situation. 

He could more or less anticipate what Aaron was about to 

but it was Emily’s reaction that truly caught his eye 

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In Oliver’s book, this self–assurance was invaluable. 

It was a shame, however, that Emily didn’t seem to reciprocate the feelings of his star pupil. 

But matters of the heart could be put on the back burner. Oliver was thoroughly impressed by Emily as a potential scholar. 

Once the room fell silent, Oliver cleared his throat and announced, “Everyone, this Ms. Carter is my hand–picked future PhD student. I’ll hold a spot for her, whether it takes three years or five.” 

This declaration set off a fresh flurry of chatter. 

“I’ve known Professor Jones for ages, and this is the first time I’ve heard him pre–select a PhD candidate,” someone 

said. 

“Right? And she’s just an undergrad,” another spoke up. 

“If Professor Jones is vouching for her, she must have something special,” a third person chimed in. 

“I knew it. There’s an air of sophistication about her,“13:16 

someone else said. 

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Emily did a complete 180. 

Across the table, Nancy watched as Aaron and Oliver rallied behind Emily. Her hands, resting on her knees, slowly balled into fists. 

Ethan, too, had an inkling of Aaron’s intentions. But when Emily deftly shut him down, a strange sense of glee welled up inside him. 

For some inexplicable reason, he started to think that perhaps Emily still had eyes only for him. 

After allowing the excited discussion to run its course, Oliver interjected, “Let’s dig in.” 

In an instant, the private dining room fell into a hush. 

Noticing Emily’s fondness for the steak, Aaron casually spun the Lazy Susan, bringing the plate right in front of her. 

Leaning in, he murmured, “Don’t let the outside noise get to you. Just be yourself and have the courage to follow your heart.” 

6/7 

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Emily nodded and flashed him a grateful smile. “Sure 

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Emily blurted out, “Aaron, thanks.” 

Aaron knew exactly what she was thanking him for, but a twinge of disappointment crept into his voice as he replied, “I kinda wish those words had come out.” 

Caught off guard, she stared at him, her expression a mix of emotions, struggling to find the right words. 

Seeing her discomfort, Aaron forced a smile and said, 

“Let’s eat.” 

Meanwhile, Nancy, though pretending to focus on her food, had her eyes glued to Aaron. 

Before, she’d only thought of him as good–looking, talented, and destined for great things. 

But the way he’d stood up for Emily just now filled her with a pang of envy. 

She couldn’t help but wonder how amazing it would be if he were the one protecting her.