Chapter 2 Why Would You Do This
Harvey’s accusation didn’t surprise Naomi at all.
He had said the same thing in her previous life.
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Back then, to spare the family embarrassment, Naomi hadn’t defended herself. She took the blame for Sarah’s mistake.
But the consequences had been devastating. A disciplinary record, expulsion from the lab, and the end of her academic career.
And Sarah–the one truly at fault–had soared higher and higher in that same field, without a scratch on her record.
This life, Naomi refused to play the role of the saint for family. Let go of the savior complex, respect other people’s fate–it was better that way.
“Are you Naomi?” asked one of the investigators from the lab.
Naomi nodded. “I am.”
“The explosion earlier–was it due to your operational error?”
The whole family turned to stare at her.
Sarah didn’t flinch. Naomi had always cared the most about family. For the sake of peace, she’d always swallowed her grievances and smiled through the pain.
With Harvey backing her up, there was no way Naomi would dare expose her now.
Sarah was certain.
But the very next second-
“No.” Naomi’s voice was calm and clear. “I didn’t make a mistake. The person who did… was Sarah.”
The room exploded into chaos.
“Naomi, what are you talking about?” Flynn barked, his face dark with fury. “Trying to dodge responsibility by blaming someone else–shameless!”
“Seriously, Mimi, since when did you start avoiding responsibility like this?” Nolan sneered.
“You’ve really disappointed us,” Foster added coldly.
Accusations flew at her from all sides.
But Naomi remained composed. “I have proof that I’m innocent.”
The word “proof” made Harvey’s pupils contract. Whatever guilt he might’ve felt instantly vanished.
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assisting you–1 saw it with my own eyes! Mr. Zach, the mistake was Naomi’s, it had nothing to do with Sarah. She’s just trying to push the blame!”
Harvey spoke with righteous indignation, shielding Sarah at all costs, throwing Naomi under the bus without a second thought.
Naomi stared at him, the same man who used to fight tooth and nail to defend her when they were kids.
Back then, if she’d gotten in a fight, Harvey would storm in and say, “Even if she hit first, it’s because the other person deserved it!”
But now? Now he was the one driving the knife in her back.
Naomi took a deep breath. “Are you really saying what you saw matters more than actual evidence?”
She ignored the judgmental glares around her and turned to the investigator. “May I use the investigation team’s computer? I’ll pull up the footage myself.”
“Naomi, you-” Harvey started, but Mr. Zach shot him a warning glare.
“Jamie, go get the computer.”
“Yes, sir.”
While they waited, Sarah’s heartbeat pounded louder and louder in her ears. The moment she heard footsteps approaching from the hallway, her whole body stiffened.
She turned to Harvey in panic. “Harvey…”
Harvey pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Naomi took the laptop and quickly navigated through the system, fingers flying across the keys. Within moments, she accessed the lab’s surveillance footage.
In her past life, she had confessed too quickly and never pulled the security tapes.
Harvey, afraid the truth would come out, had deleted the video before the investigation team could review
- it.
But not this time.
If no one would defend her, then she’d clear her own name.
Naomi fast–forwarded to the part of the morning where Sarah had insisted on handling the final step.
“Mr. Zach, I’ve found it.”
Everyone crowded around her–the investigators, the Judd family–all leaning in, holding their breath.
Naomi clicked to enable the sound.
“Harvey, Naomi, can I do the final step for this experiment?”
“Sure, Sarah. Naomi’s totally fine with letting you take the credit for the results.”
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The ultra–clear footage showed Naomi standing to the side the entire time, her hands by her sides.
Sarah poured the liquid into the beaker.
Boom- All three were knocked off their feet by the blast.
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The lab was a wreck. The next clip showed Harvey scooping Sarah up and running out of the room- never even glancing at Naomi.
Naomi paused the video. “Sarah wanted to be the lead on this experiment, so she insisted on finishing the last step. But her pouring speed was too fast, which caused the explosion. The footage clearly shows everything. I don’t think I need to explain further.”
Mr. Zach’s face turned stormy. “You messed up, and instead of admitting it, you tried to push the blarne onto someone else! I don’t know how this lab ended up with two such dishonest people. Sarah–you’re getting a major demerit. And Harvey–for covering for her, you get a demerit too. I expect a thousand- word reflection from you, and you’ll read it at the next meeting!”
He turned to Naomi, his tone softening. “Naomi, get some rest and recover. I’ll be going now.”
“Thank you, Mr. Zach. Goodbye.”
“Mr. Zach, please–I’m sorry, I was wrong!” Sarah’s voice cracked with panic as she reached out. She glanced desperately at Harvey, but he stayed silent.
She felt her heart sink.
A stain like this on her academic record would be the end of her.
This is all Naomi’s fault. Why didn’t she cover for me like before? Why?!
Harvey snapped as soon as Mr. Zach left. “Naomi, what the hell is wrong with you?! Do you know what this kind of blemish means for Sarah’s future?! She has more talent than you! She shouldn’t be the one taking the fall!”
Naomi’s fists clenched. If not for the IV still in her arm, she would’ve punched him right then.
“So I should take the fall instead?” she shot back. “And what ‘talent‘ are you talking about? Two–thirds of her research papers came from you and me handing her our work. She doesn’t have talent–she has no shame.”
“That’s not true!” Harvey roared, his face red with rage. I can’t believe this, Naomi. I used to think you were just petty, but now I see you’re cruel and impossible to reason with!”
Crash-
Naomi hurled a water cup at his feet. “So when you can’t win an argument, you climb onto your moral high ground? You knew exactly what happened, and still chose to lie and throw me under the bus. Sarah’s future matters, but mine doesn’t?”
In her last life, she had swallowed her,pride until it killed her.
Not anymore.
If they wanted her to be cruel–she’d be cruel.
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Chapter 2 Why Would You Do This
Her words landed like thunder, shaking Harvey down to his core.
He stared at this girl he’d grown up with, stunned. This wasn’t the Naomi he knew.
She had never spoken to him like this.
What had happened to her?
“Naomi!”
A shout rang out from the hallway.
Logan Judd burst into the room, fresh from his concert and stormed straight over.
He shoved her, hard.
His normally bright and gentle face was clouded with anger. “Why would you do this?!”
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