Chapter 487

Chapter 487:

Grayson could not sit there any longer. The guilt and realization were suffocating him. He stood abruptly, ignoring the shooting pain in his back, and pushed his way out of the main hall.

He marched directly down the restricted corridor toward the judges’ private deliberation room and shoved the heavy oak door open. Professor Nelson was standing by a coffee machine, pouring a cup of black espresso.

Nelson looked up, his thick eyebrows drawing together in displeasure.

“Mr. Lancaster. This area is strictly off-limits to spectators and sponsors p>

Grayson leaned heavily against the doorframe, his breath coming in ragged pulls.

𝗪𝗵а𝘁 e𝗏𝘦𝗋уо𝗇е іѕ 𝗋𝘦а𝘥𝗶n𝘨 о𝗻

“I know the email InnoTech presented is a forgery,” he said, his voice urgent. “I want to officially report it. Belle Escobar is committing academic fraud p>

Nelson took a slow sip of his espresso, studying Grayson with deep, penetrating eyes.

“Is that so?” he said smoothly. “I was under the impression that Skyline Technologies was InnoTech’s primary financial backer. Why are you suddenly turning on your own investment p>

Grayson swallowed hard. “Because I support the truth. Isolde… she is Sophia, isn’t she p>

Nelson set his small porcelain cup down on the saucer with a sharp clink.

“I am bound by confidentiality and cannot disclose the private identities of competitors,” he said. His tone turned to ice. “But since you have suddenly developed the ability to see — let me ask you something, Lancaster. Why didn’t you see it five years ago p>

The question landed like a fist across his face. Grayson flinched.

He lowered his head. The arrogance that had always defined him was gone entirely.

“Because I was blind,” Grayson whispered. “I was a complete fool p>

Nelson picked up his coffee again. “Go back to your seat, Mr. Lancaster. Isolde does not need you to play the hero and report the forgery. She is perfectly capable of destroying them herself p>

Grayson stood frozen. He wanted to help her. He wanted to make amends. But Nelson’s words confirmed the brutal reality — his help was irrelevant. He was obsolete.

He turned and walked slowly back to the arena.

The final scoring phase was beginning.

Belle still stood at her podium, wearing a smug, defiant expression. She genuinely believed the forged email had secured her the win.

Professor Nelson approached the main judge’s microphone. The hall fell into complete silence.

“Regarding the supplementary materials submitted by InnoTech,” Nelson announced, his voice ringing through the room, “the judging panel has conducted a rapid verification protocol p>

Belle straightened, ready to receive her praise.

“We have determined,” Nelson continued, his voice dropping like an anvil, “that the communication is a complete forgery p>

Belle’s smile shattered. “What? No! That is impossible — it is real p>

Nelson did not acknowledge her outburst. “The actual engineer known as Sophia contacted the ISSDC committee via a verified, encrypted channel five minutes ago. She explicitly denied any knowledge of InnoTech or Ms. Escobar p>

The audience erupted in loud, mocking laughter.

Belle gripped the edges of her podium. The room began to spin around her.

Near the exit, Chase attempted to slip quietly through the door. Two security guards stepped immediately into his path and crossed their arms.