Chapter 5

The project was finally complete, and I had finished organizing the manuscript for submission to Cell.

I had spearheaded the research, making me the undisputed first author.

No one in the lab dared to question that fact.

"Eve, send the final draft to me," Mark said, leaning against my desk. "I need to review it before we submit."

While I led the experiment, the lab belonged to Mark. It was standard procedure for him to check for regulatory compliance or classified data issues. I didn't think twice about it.

However, once the paper was published online, everything shifted.

"Eve, about that paper..." Mark approached my workstation, his expression guarded. "I added Chloe's name."

I wasn't surprised.

Even though Chloe was just a rotating intern who had contributed nothing over the past few months—aside from smashing an expensive set of equipment—adding her as a minor co-author was a typical move for Mark.

"Fine," I replied dismissively, unwilling to waste energy arguing over a footnote.

"What I mean is..." He paused, then straightened his posture. "I made her the first author."

Before I could even process the insult, Mark waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just telling you. I'm not asking for your permission. Chloe loves me, but you're the one I'm marrying. Giving her the lead on a top-tier journal as compensation—that's not too much to ask, is it?"

I nearly laughed at the sheer absurdity of his logic.

"She loves you, so you feel guilty—then why didn't you use your own findings? Mark, do you have any idea how critical this project is for my doctoral thesis?"

"It's just a dissertation," he said, his voice breezy. "It's not like it's the first time you've delayed your graduation. What's one more year?"

He leaned in closer, his tone turning clinical. "I'm telling you this now so you don't use this data in your thesis. That would cause an authorship conflict, and that creates big problems."

"Eve..." He sighed, sounding like a parent placating a headstrong child. "We're getting married in two weeks. Can you please look at this rationally?"

I stared at him, and suddenly, a smile crept onto my face.

The very last shred of affection I held for him evaporated in that instant.

"Mark, we're done. It's over."

Mark's brow twitched. He opened his mouth to speak, but I had already turned my back and walked toward the door.

A crowd had gathered in the hallway, their faces a mix of curiosity and schadenfreude.

"Eve, don't be so upset..." Jessica stepped forward, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "It's just one paper, right? You've published so many already. For your career, this one isn't actually that important."

"Jessica, shut up," someone finally snapped. "Don't you get it? If she's not safe, none of us are."

Jessica rolled her eyes. "I'm just a junior assistant. My name is always at the end anyway. Who the first author is doesn't really affect me."

Alex Miller walked over then, his face like stone. "Has any of you actually looked at the author list yet? There are only two names on it. Chloe Jensen, First Author. Mark Hanson, Corresponding Author. Everyone else—including me—has been scrubbed."

The boomerang had finally swung back, and it hit them hard. They likely never dreamed Mark would be bold enough to claim their collective labor for himself.

"What?" Jessica's face contorted. "Why? Chloe didn't do anything except break equipment! How can she take credit for our work?"

Even a minor credit at the end of a paper was a vital line on a CV.

Alex ignored her and looked directly at me. "Eve, are you really just going to let him get away with this?"

The lab fell silent. Every eye was on me.

They knew that I was the only one with the standing to challenge him and reclaim justice for the group. If I led the charge, they would follow.

I let out a sharp, cold laugh.

"This isn't the first time he's taken something of mine to give to Chloe. You all had a wonderful time watching the show from the sidelines, didn't you?" I scanned the room, meeting their shifting gazes. "What's the matter? Isn't it funny anymore?"

Alex's face turned a mottled shade of red and white. He was a veteran of the lab and my junior; I had practically written his PhD for him.

Yet, he too had spent the last few weeks whispering behind my back.

He opened his mouth, but shame kept the words from forming.

Everyone looked miserable.

The humor had vanished the moment their own futures were at stake.

Right then, the "little girl" decided to flaunt her prize. Chloe posted a screenshot of the Cell paper on Instagram.

Her caption read: [Thank you! Meeting you is the greatest happiness of my life!]

Mark was the first to like it.

His comment was immediate: [You earned this.]

Usually, the lab's sycophants would have swarmed the post with heart emojis.

This time, none of them appeared.

They only stood there, watching me with complicated, panicked expressions.

I didn't give them a second glance.

I began packing my things, ready to leave it all behind.