"From the day I got here, I've been waiting for your visit," Max stated, his gaze fixed on me, a mixture of interest and satisfaction in his eyes. "That night, we were both too overwhelmed with emotions. We never got the chance to talk things through.""Well, now that you know why I'm here, let's get straight to the point. There's no need for us to meet repeatedly, only to increase our mutual disgust," I calmly replied, staring directly at him. "Isn't that right, Max?"Max licked his lips and sneered. "Jen, your haughty attitude reminds me so much of Professor Middleton. It's the trait I despise the most.""I met Cindy," I bluntly stated, getting to the heart of the matter."And?" Max's expression remained disdainful."Cindy's version of events differs significantly from yours," I recounted what Cindy had told me, detailing her calculated approach to Max and the timeline of their relationship.Max interrupted me with a sneer. "Yes, I lied to you. Cindy and I met long before I let

Once my father exposed Max's affair with Professor Xander, it not only jeopardized his chances of graduating, but also subjected his admission to the PhD program to re-examination. Even if he had been initially accepted based on his own merits, the scandal would cast doubt on his entire academic career.Simultaneously, Professor Xander would face dismissal for abusing her position, which would be a major disgrace for Johnsonville University.It's no surprise that shortly after, Max graduated with his PhD and Professor Xander resigned. No one knew where she went.Internally, I was shocked by Max's despicable actions, far worse than anything I had imagined. He was a completely different person from the bright, optimistic boy I once knew. It was as if he had become a stranger, someone utterly repugnant.I sneered, "Have you confessed all of this to the police?""Yes, I have. But what difference does it make? My crimes have already been determined. Talking more won't change anything,"

"I'm not sure," Max said, his face pale. "When she came out of the shower, I asked her why she was buying medication from that website. She said her brother had mental issues, and the doctors in Winterland recommended this drug. She was just doing research to compare it with other medications.""She seemed really anxious, mentioning that long-term use of the drug could have side effects. An overdose could strain the heart, and anyone taking it shouldn't drive because it could cause sudden heart problems, leading to dangerous situations or accidents."I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "So, you bought the drug from that website?"Max nodded. "Yes, I bought it and waited for the right opportunity. My original plan was to switch it with the vitamin pills, but I was afraid that if it was discovered, I would be directly implicated. I couldn't risk becoming a suspect. Then, the day you asked me to buy blood pressure medication for Aaron, I knew my chance had come."Thinking about it,

"I used to wonder why I was born into such a miserable family. Why could others afford school fees while I couldn't? When the teacher came to our house to ask for the fees, and the whole town watched, do you know what I was thinking, Jen? I thought, 'It's not worth going to school.' When I told my mother that, she slapped me and said she would sell her blood to make sure I could go to school. She cried and cursed, saying, 'Remember how people bully us, you have to grow up and trample those people under your feet! You have to make me proud, do you understand?'""Later, when I was in middle school, though it was compulsory education, we still needed to pay for textbooks. The school knew we were poor and applied for free textbooks for me. But do you know what that meant, Jen? The textbooks had a red stamp that said 'free textbook.' The school even sent someone to our house to take pictures of us, sitting in front of our broken house with those textbooks. They told me to smile. How could

Max was utterly infuriated by my words. As I left, he screamed my name, grabbing the bars and yelling, "Jen! I'll kill you, you bitch! And Cindy too! I'll kill all of you!"I paused at the door and glanced back at Max. He looked like a crazed beast, thrashing wildly, his eyes bloodshot. His voice, tinged with desperation, cried out, "You ruined me! I'll kill every last one of you!"In that moment, I saw the true face of Max, a side I had never witnessed before. I shook my head and sighed. People like him, with such a pitiful yet hateful nature, are truly their own worst enemies. Leaving the visiting room, Max's wails faded into the distance. Outside, Luke and Taylor were waiting in the seating area, engrossed in a document. Taylor was speaking animatedly, while Luke listened intently, their heads close together. They look rather compatible.Hearing my footsteps, Luke looked up first and then stepped aside. His usual calm tone asked, "How did it go?"Taylor quickly put away the